Book Review Christian Opus Lawrence - Break When I'm Dead

Books of this kind are rare. That's why I took the time to read this release so intensively. I almost would love to see it never end but finally have reached the last page.

"Break When I'm Dead" tells the story of the active drummer Christian Lawrence, better known as Opus. His band Dead By Wednesday just finished a tour through Europe in April 2023.

A massive insight look into the life of a real underground drummer.

It's a absolute honest and most of all open and intensive look into the life and soul of a musician. Also I've never met Opus in person it feels now to me as if I've been able to be with him at the most important stations of his life.

The start introduces us to the childhood of the author. He decides early to focus on music and drumming. The first band he forms are Garagantua Soul. You can almost feel how much energy and dedication it takes to be in a band like this. Christian tells us about the highs and lows and why the band ended the way they did. 

The cool extra of the book comes to life in this section for the first time. Christian hands the pencil over to other people (here: Kris Keyes) and let's them tell the story from their own perspective. It colors the release and makes it even more fun to read. These insight words of other authors can be found at later chapters, too.

Opus has also been a actor in Reality TV formats for a limited time. I think that's the only period where music becomes left behind a bit. But it's not meant to last forever so he moves on with a new band called Dead By Wednesday.

If you ever wanted to know how release projects like that of the concept album "The Darkest Of Angeles" by Dead By Wednesday come together - here's your chance to have a fully detailed look. It also clears up why particular musicians fit to Dead By Wednesday and why not.

Finally Christian joins the live band for David Ellefsons band project that records and tours with the "Sleeping Giants" album. This chapter shows the differences to perform with well known names compared to being in a underground band and what this means in terms of favors but also disappointments.

Opus has chosen the drums as his tool of expression.

I can only recommend reading this fine release. It's a big book full of fun, ups, downs, sad stories but also behind the scene news that you may not be aware of like me. I've always wanted to know how it's like to be underground and this book gave me the chance to be on board. In fact it's a rollercoaster ride so reading Christans words never becomes monotone but I've always wanted to know more once I came to the end of one section.

The only warning I would hand out is to everyone who is still full of illusions of the music industry. "Break When I'm Dead" will put you down on earth. It's not a publicattion that repeats all the cliches of the music business. Those may happen from time to time and they also do on the pages of this book but the focus remains on how it is to create, record and tour as a musician most of the real lifetime.

It's not expensive (5 Dollar for the pdf/ebook and 20 Dollar for the paperback) so please consider buying a book that gives you something no one else can give you - a backstage pass to the life of a drummer.

This page gives you a overlook on places where to buy the electronic version and the paperback at various services and online retailers. 

https://books2read.com/breakwhenimdead

There's also a link for a purchase directly through the publisher Scout Media Books.

http://www.scoutmediabooksmusic.com/christian-opus-lawrence

The book will also be available at all Barnes & Noble and Walmarts everywhere.

Book Review: Don't forget the business in the music business - Antonio Ponce (2016)

A book that keeps it short and instead of too much anecdotes it's filled to the brim with useful instructions and hints for bands who have passed the first basic steps.

The cover of Antonio Ponce's hintbook - Don't forget the business in the music business, (c) by Antonio Ponce, used with kind permission

Summary

Having a first look at this publications reveals that it won't be a long read. All in all it comes along with 78 pages of information. Don't let this keep you away from having a eye at it. The author knew that time is always short so he kept the words sharp and precise. He only focusses on what's really worth having a closer look at.

This said it should be mentioned that this hintbook is intended to bands that have already passed the first steps. You should have your instruments ready, learned how to play it properly and have assembled a bunch of people together that really can stick with each other. Songwriting is only touched slightly when it comes to things like sound and style. That's exactly where this business guide starts out.

You'll get direct tipps that can save you a lot of money and the boring surfing around and wasting time to figure out all the basic steps on how to lay down your basics for a proper band. Some chapters contain more information while others are held shorter. One thing was great for me: the book is also a good read for your own real life. It's of use not only to musicians but also to other people following their dreams...

It should also be said that these pages won't make you a superstar or anything like that. I think there is nothing like that around. A book also can never perform the steps for you that are necessary. If you keep that in mind you'll be satistied with your investement.

The only thing I would add in a second edition is something like a calculation sheet in a electronic format or at least a short example directly in the book. This would round out the chapter of keeping a close eye on the tight budget perfectly. It could help as a start you have directly at your hand because reading something is fine but how to turn it into real action? Anwer: here is a sheet to give you a proper start.

Purchase-Link 

Since the book comes along for only 5 Dollar as a pdf file via the website of AP Jones Publishing I think it's a good starting point to bands that always have to trouble with money. But who doesn't have trouble with this in this world we live in? So don't be afraid, you are not the only one. As a alternative you can also pick it up as a Kindle file through Amazon.

If you want a copy as a real book you'll need to put in more money, it's available for around 20 Dollars on the website of the publisher AP Jones Publishing.

Contact Data

You can get in touch with the author directly using Facebook.

Book Review: Terry Chimes - The Strange Case of Dr. Terry and Mr. Chimes

Note: If you have a own band or project that you think might fit in well here for a review or as a presentation / introduction please drop me a line or two in a E-Mail. Please see my profile for my E-Mail adress. I appreciate new suggestions very much so please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm also interested in band news / updates / tourdates so please keep the stuff coming. Thanks!

Introduction

Have you ever dreamt of being a rockstar? How would it be to live a life like this? If you've ever asked yourselves then the answer is not to far away. This book will tell you about it - but in a clear and direct way without all the common legends and images attached that we all know already.

Terry Chimes used to be the drummer and is one of the founding members of The Clash!

Besides that I think many of the readers of this site will know him from his work with Black Sabbath where he played drums during The eternal idol tour. He also worked with Billy Idol, Hanoi Rocks and many other bands.

(c) Crux Publishing, used with kind permission

Rise up to the shining! (taken from the lyrics of the song "The Shining" from Black Sabbath, Album: The Tragic Idol. Make sure to see the promotional video for this song. You can see Terry playing drums in many scenes.)

So what is this book all about? The good first half goes out to the musician part of Terry Chimes. He describes how The Clash came together and adds in some anecdotes of that time. There are many memories I think in there that fans of that band will like to know about. He then goes over to his other bands and projects he has been involved with. That's the way the book is structured.

Most of the content is based upon the memories and stories of the author but the very end of many chapters also holds a photo gallery that shows a few, often rare pictures that are related to the content of the chapter.

Anyway, while reading through all of the entertaining moments of his musical career you will surely spot the point that there's a second side living inside Terry Chimes. This side tends more towards the healing arts.

The journey of the wounded healer (taken from one of the names of the chapters in the book)

So after 15 years there's a big change in the life of the drummer Terry Chimes. He finally decides to leave the world of the music business behind to find serenity by studying the skills of a chiropracticor and acupuncturist. This finds him to be such successful that be builds up a own chain of clinics and also ends up consulting other people in how to run their own business.

Is it "just" a autobiography of a musician and why should I read it?

The book is not only a autobiography but it is far more. It is of course a gift for everybody who is interested in the bands Terry Chimes played in. But it is also a look into the soul of a drummer. How does he think about the things he has done now and then? And why the heck did he change that much that he is now more of a healer than someone bashing the drums away? You may think that being a rockstar should be the first choice to have the most fun out of life but you may think differently if you've read through the full book (please do so).

It is also a good way to see how decisions have a impact on our lives. The book is filled with truth and wise words. If you read properly you'll find many of the fine diamonds all along the way that will made it well worth all of your precious time you've put in to read. Most of all it is a very entertaining experience.

(c) Maxine Chimes, used with kind permission

It is never a boring chain of "Now I did this, then I did that" and so on but it comes with many also smiling memories and anecdotes shining through. I've often agreed to what he is talking about and found out that I've made similar experiences in everyday-life. It's these moments that you feel that these people you often adore so often for the music they've given you (maybe one of the biggest gifts I've ever been blessed with) are really just normal human beings living by the same doubts and decisions and the mistakes we all inevitably run into then everyone else does.

Everything is well explained in this offer. Even if you're not too familar with the music or healing business you don't need to worry. All things are explained directly in the text so you don't need to look them up anywhere else. The book comes in english language but the text is kept short and straight forward so if you're having basic english knowledge you should be able to understand the content straight away. Sometimes I had to look a word up here and there but it doesn't really bother the reading experience.

Obviously it contains the topics you all expect from such a book. Nevertheless it is not a publication of scandals or cheap rumors but kept up to facts. I think that's what I enjoyed most - a clean, dry and down to the bottom look upon things as they are. Not the fame look or all the stereotype looks upon Rock music business but instead a look inside how it really is to live such a life.

Is it all just past?

No, happily it is not. Of course it is a book that takes you down the memory lane of the author. But Terry Chimes is still active and making music! He has a new band running called "The Crunch". Go and check out some fresh music from his new band below.

Learn how to get your music heard at ReverbNation.com

Can I have a look inside first?

Yes, nearly all of the retailers I list below offer the first chapter of the book for free online reading. For example just go to Amazon and hit the "Look inside!" button directly over the front cover image. A new window will open up with the first chapter ready to read.

Where to get the book

There'a a large number of stores offering The strange case of Dr. Terry and Mr. Chimes. Here's a list of retailer for purchasing the book in a ebook format. If you don't have a ebook device I can tell you that Amazon at least also offers a free software that let's you read the book on your PC, smartphone or tablet. All you need is the proper app for your device. Here are the direct links to the online-shops:

Amazon

iTunes

kobo/America

kobo/England

If you'd like to have a paperback of the book just go to Amazon/England or Amazon/Germany they offer the good old paper versions as well. The bookstores of the german Thalia company do also offer the paperback version on their website and I think you should also be able to go into one of their stores and order it directly over the shop. I lnow they have a big chain of stores here in Germany.

You may also have a look upon the website of the publisher Crux Publishing to find out about other books they offer. Also make sure to see the personal website of Terry Chimes which contains much more informations about both lifelines of Terry Chimes.