Rebel Heart
Bebe Buell w/ Victor Bockris
St. Martin's Press-New York-2001 (US Import)

If you want a good fantasy read this could be the book for you. Miss Buell seems to have been everywhere anything in rock'n roll was happening at any time during the past thirty years. Apart from committing to paper (and to vinyl) some of the worst lyrics ever written Bebe Buell has never really harmed anyone. She did float from bed to bed but so did everyone in the 1970's.

According to her recollections the first four men she bedded were (then boyfriend) Todd Rundgren followed in quick succession by Iggy Pop, David Bowie and Mick Jagger-Jimmy Page came soon after. Next in line was Steven Tyler-with whom she conceived daughter, Liv. Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello, Stiv Bators, and Jack Nicholson. If nothing else the girl's got a more or less impeccable record-two runts aren't too bad for one litter.

Victor Bockris, on the other hand, should be ashamed at some of the mistakes that have made it into the manuscript. Whereas Miss Buell is dealing with a fragmented memory Bockris, by virtue of his role as 'cultural chronicler' should at least ascertain that the facts are right. Veracity is seemingly too uncommon an item to expect these days. This book is annoying because of all the errors, not because of the story it tells. Bebe led, and still leads a cool life-but why all the gaffes?
One has the feeling that Buell has spent much of her life trying to justify herself, "He was another one who thought I was a great singer." "Pop stars of the day all wanted to meet me." "He was always really intrigued by my wit and intelligence." "His unrequited lust for me, which was oozing from every pore in his body." And this selection is 9 pages of the book-multiply by 372 and you get a better idea. Sometimes you don't have to try so hard-acceptance will find you.

The latter years are taken up more with Liv's career than with Bebe's romances. When her management of her daughter's affairs finished the mother went back to her other love, playing rock and roll. Good luck, darling-dream on! Not so much a 'kiss and tell' as a 'kiss and, oh, well!' If you're the sort of person who took Spanish Tony's Up And Down With The Rolling Stones as gospel then this Americanised, girl version, is the book for you.
Nikki Sudden-Berlin-January 8 2002