I never seem to tire of music biographies and endlessly reliving music scenes I only participated in from afar: New York City in the 70’s and 80’s, London in the 80’s and 90’s.
What rings through in all these histories, and what makes Rob Corsie’s Road Cases another great installment in rock n roll biographies, is that the adventure, chaos, tenderness, and sadness is all manifest through the people that inhabit the scene.
Sharing these stories helps to make the performers we love and worship more real. It is through the lens of Rob Corsie’s gratitude and openness that these stories showcase the passion, vulnerability, tenacity, and complexity of these musicians.
Road Cases is a high octane, behind-the-scenes collection of rock ‘n roll adventures by Hanover’s very own Corsie. Spanning a 20-year career working and touring with some of the greatest stars of the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s, Corsie showcases his skill as a technician and as a critical cog in the wheels of rock n roll.
As you would expect, working with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Lynryd Skynyrd and many others, this collection is about a whole lot more than his technical abilities. It is the wild, erratic and often drug and alcohol fueled lifestyle that goes along with being part of the machinations of the rock n roll circus.
Rob’s list of collaborations with is incredibly wide-ranging: Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Meatloaf, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Billy Idol, Glen Danzig, Steve Vai, Jerry Only, Geezer Butler, Adam Sandler, Sharon Stone and Henry Winkler. He rubs shoulders with Michael Jackson, BB King, Axl Rose, James Taylor and Lemmy Kilmister and finds himself sitting in on a jam session with one of his heroes, Les Paul.
Sure, it’s a charmed life, but it doesn’t happen by accident. It is clear that success in such a critical supporting role takes skill, passion, a relentless work ethic, and the ability to deftly manage the mercurial personalities of rock stars and artists.
Throughout the book, Corsie uses enough detail to support his storytelling while also respecting boundaries. He selflessly shares his admiration for the people he worked with and learned from, (except Glen Danzig which fits with his reputation for being a jerk!).
The stories range from his appreciation of musical talent to the excess of drugs and alcohol and the randomness that fits in-between, especially when a tour hits the road for long stretches. Not surprisingly, temptation exists in every new town, which leads to many indiscriminate and often hilarious situations.
Rob’s adventures revisit a time when you discovered new bands at the record store and listening to the radio, not through Tik Tok algorithms. They also remind us of the essential role that local venues play. For Rob it all started at local bars in Hanover and Walkerton, stoking a passion for live music. In that era, you had to piece together an impression of your rock heroes through radio DJ’s, liner notes and music magazines.
Rob’s stories are nostalgic reminders of the rawness of rock n roll. They are also reminders of how many talented people behind the scenes are required to create a song, an album and the live experience.
If you love rock n roll you are going to love this book. The stories are short and snappy, entertaining, and often hilarious. They are insightful and vary widely from music appreciation to life on the road and the moments that make life in the rock n roll business crazy, adventurous and shockingly unpredictable.
You can find Road Cases here.
Written by Carey Low
Photos provided by John McVicar
