BOC: A "dizzying excursion into Pearlman's world"

[jswartz@mitre.org]

>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Just read the Popoff book. I feel bad about how ogre I've been
>>>>> portrayed. I know I was obnoxious then but I've worked hard to be
>>>>> more
>>>>> diplomatic in my criticism over the past 20 years. But I can still
>>>>> obsess over the music (now I'm more into lyrics though) and I think
>>>>> that is intimidating to those who do not. Really though I still think
>>>>> these guys were a bit sissy-like. The Dictators never would have
>>>>> sacked
>>>>> me and if I'd been with them (almost happened too) they might have
>>>>> had
>>>>> a hit. Geez, that's not too diplomatic though is it? ;-) sorry. Am
>>>>> I a
>>>>> product of Pearlman's neurosis?
>>>>

I've also just finished Popoff's book.  Perhaps it is because I've had
contact with Al over the years, but I can say that I did not get the
impression that he was an "ogre" at all.  Yes, some of your crazy
behaviour was mentioned (as George Bush has said, "When I was young and
stupid I was young and stupid", and he got to be president, so
there...).  Personally, I was much more put off by some of the comments
of Pearlman, Meltzer, and Krugman.  Of course, I wasn't in the studio
with you guys, but I still think they take way too much credit for the
band's successes, and have no qualms about pointing out how if everyone
had just listened to them, the band would have had fewer failures.

John