Bet My Soul on Rock 'n' Roll

February 4, 2022

With this candid memoir, cowritten by Ostrosky (coauthor, No Regrets), Beauvoir, a Haitian American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, and entertainment executive who played bass for the groundbreaking punk and heavy metal band Plasmatics, tells his story. He recalls stories over the course of a musical career that has spanned more than 40 years: playing with Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, writing songs with Paul Stanley of KISS, appearing on MTV in the early 1980s, living in Sweden, touring the world, and more. As a Black man, Beauvoir often had to forge his own path in spaces not always open and accepting to him, and he discusses the racism he has endured and what it means to be a Black rock artist. He relates the recording and business side of rock and roll and discusses his work cementing deals and contracts throughout his career. However, though this is a unique look into Beauvoir's life, clumsy writing and overuse of exclamation points may turn off some readers and detract from the larger narrative. VERDICT Flaws aside, many fans of rock and roll will appreciate this account.--Rebekah Buchanan

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2022
Jean Beauvoir is known best as the bass player in the punk band Plasmatics, with his signature platinum mohawk, and whose legendary stage antics included chain sawing guitars and blowing up cars. Haitian American Beauvoir was only 19 when he joined the band, but he was already a seasoned pro, having performed during his high-school years with R&B singer Gary U.S. Bonds. In this conversational autobiography written with John Ostrosky, Beauvoir details the ins and outs of a unique career in the music business, including collaborations with such artists as Little Steven, KISS, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake, and the Ramones. Beauvoir has faced racism throughout his career, which could be blatant--being asked to stay on the bus while his white bandmates ate in restaurants--or more subtle, as when he was passed over by record labels that didn't know whether to categorize his music as Black or white. Beauvoir transcended these challenges, creating a singular position for himself in the world of rock and as an activist.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.