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Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk Paperback – August 9, 2016

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,089 ratings

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“Ranks up there with the great rock & roll books of all time.”—Time Out New York

“Lurid, insolent, disorderly, funny, sometimes gross, sometimes mean and occasionally touching . . . Resounds with authenticity.”—
The New York Times

“No volume serves juicier dish on punk’s New York birth . . . Tales of sex, drugs and music that will make you wish you’d been there.”—
Rolling Stone

A contemporary classic,
Please Kill Me is the definitive oral history of the most nihilistic of all pop movements. Iggy Pop, Richard Hell, the Ramones, and scores of other punk figures lend their voices to this decisive account of that explosive era. This 20th anniversary edition features new photos and an afterword by the authors.

“Utterly and shamelessly sensational.”—Newsday
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Legs McNeil lives at the “Schwenksville Narrative Oral History Institute.” He was the former Resident Punk at Punk magazine, a senior editor at Spin, and regularly contributes to Vice online.

Gillian McCain is the author of two books of poetry. Legs and Gillian’s most recent book is Dear Nobody: The True Diary of Mary Rose, and they are currently at work on a new book about the California music and counterculture scenes of the 1960s.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press; 20th Anniversary edition (August 9, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802125360
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802125361
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1.5 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,089 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
2,089 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and a must-read for anyone interested in the punk movement. They appreciate the in-depth history and insightful storytelling. The interviews are thorough and weaved together seamlessly, creating a linear narrative that flows well. Readers describe the humor as funny and shocking at times. The book arrived in excellent condition with a good cover and soft pages. Overall, customers praise the flow of the story, saying it feels like a novel.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

115 customers mention "Readability"112 positive3 negative

Customers find the book engaging and informative. It provides an authentic perspective on the punk movement and its influence on New York City. Readers appreciate the personal stories and insights from those who experienced it firsthand. The book is described as a must-read for anyone interested in rock and roll history.

"...For me this is the definitive story, and by far the best overview, of the insane world of Punk music I've ever read." Read more

"...It's also a fantastic read. I started reading it on a cross-country flight and stayed up all night finishing it...." Read more

"A must read for anyone interested in hearing about the dirty details of the budding punk scene in NYC in the early to mid 70s...." Read more

"...It was a pretty quick read. I missed it after I was done." Read more

51 customers mention "History"51 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history of punk. They find it insightful and complete, with good insights on the driving force behind the music. The stories are fresh and provide a more atmospheric view of the world of punk music. There are plenty of references to and analysis of the music itself.

"...the definitive story, and by far the best overview, of the insane world of Punk music I've ever read." Read more

"...It's unusual in that it goes into great depth explaining the genesis of punk; this book makes it clear that the foundation was laid long before the..." Read more

"...It's really an oral history in the sense that the book isn't so much written as assembled out of tape-recorded interviews...." Read more

"...rock music , especially punk from the 70's and this book also gives a history lesson on what..." Read more

23 customers mention "Story quality"23 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the stories in the book. They find them fascinating, sad, and sometimes hilarious. The narrative is well-constructed, bringing together each person's story to build an engaging narrative. Readers appreciate the history and cautionary tales about drugs.

"...For me this is the definitive story, and by far the best overview, of the insane world of Punk music I've ever read." Read more

"...And , this data is served in generous amounts ; no holds barred by its subjects ...." Read more

"...These stories and events are well before my time and before I read this book I didn’t even like punk but this book converted me many years ago lol...." Read more

"...No analysis, no legend-building, just the crazy tales of a crazy time." Read more

17 customers mention "Interview quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's interviews. They appreciate the candid first-person narrative told through unedited first-person interviews. The book is full of real conversations with punks, candid details, and a documentary-like storytelling style.

"...It isn't a Q/A format, it's a narrative stitched together from interviews with many of the principals of the New York Punk scene in the 70's...." Read more

"...Very thorough." Read more

"All the interview are so intriguing, but most of the interesting stories are transplanted into rocumentary films like Punk Attitude or End of Century..." Read more

"...to the NY music scene in the 60's, 70's and 80's and is totally candid-who slept with who, who shot up what, who crossdressed, who pissed the bed......" Read more

8 customers mention "Humor"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the humor in the book funny, shocking, and at times sad.

"...Sad and squalid at times, laugh-out-loud funny at others, The dirt is dished by people who were maling the scene...." Read more

"...It's also very funny, shocking and at times very sad...." Read more

"Love the format of being written in people's own words. Funny, candid photos. Gave me information about Iggy Pop, and The Ramones, among others...." Read more

"...It was great to read all those great childhood musicians. Raw. Honest. Sad. I saw movie CBGBs before and it inspired me to read this book." Read more

8 customers mention "Sturdiness"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's sturdiness. They find the cover made of good material and the pages sturdy and soft. The book arrived in excellent condition and looked brand new.

"...Obtaining a mint condition first edition copy on Amazon from a choice book store has allowed me to place it and my original copy with a collection..." Read more

"...The copies i received were in fantastic condition. A++." Read more

"The book, physically, has sturdy, soft pages. The cover art is amazing. The book itself is one of the best oral histories I read...." Read more

"...This paperback is very nice and sturdy though. Makes a very nice gift." Read more

7 customers mention "Flow"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book flows well like a novel. They appreciate how it feels like a coherent narrative, never feeling repetitive, and that the interviews are cleverly woven together to provide a dynamic timeline.

"...content other than these interviews which are carefully and cleverly woven together to provide a dynamic timeline of this ugly step child sub-genre..." Read more

"...Despite this, it feels a lot like a coherent narrative...." Read more

"...It just flows so easily and feels like you’re one of the crew reminiscing about the good ol days...." Read more

"...She is constantly reading me parts of the book. I would say it was a good gift to give!" Read more

6 customers mention "Authenticity"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's authenticity. They find it provides first-hand accounts and insights about bands and people during the music's era. The book provides interesting insights into their lives.

"...This book provides first hand accounts and insight about the bands and people who created that unique sound and mode. A paperback version of..." Read more

"...It makes these punk icons seem like real people, not just Pharaohs on a stage." Read more

"...vomit to make it more "real". A true account for mthose who were there...." Read more

"...involved in the scene then this book will give you some interesting insight into their lives. Very amusing...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2015
    As crazily complete an account of a musical movement as you will ever read. I hate to say it, but this is my era and I was completely engrossed by the depraved and drugged out path Punk took through its all too brief lifetime.

    The book is entirely made up of interviews from everyone who could possibly have anything to say about the seedy history of Punk music. There is no descriptive content other than these interviews which are carefully and cleverly woven together to provide a dynamic timeline of this ugly step child sub-genre of rock and roll. Everyone is interviewed, from musicians to producers to journalists to drug dealers to drag queens to groupies. This complete cast of characters from both sides of the Atlantic creates a narrative so seedy that sometimes you feel you have to bathe after reading it.

    And that is as it should be because the story in its decadence is completely mesmerizing.

    Everybody is here, The New York Dolls, MC5, The Dictators, The Dead Boys, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, Patti Smith and that only gets you half way through the book. I am also happy to report that as a huge fan I was gratified to learn that the number one degenerate from which all Punk sprang (or, more appropriately, seeped) is the king himself, Mr. Iggy Pop; a man pretty much at the center of this descent into musical madness.

    For me this is the definitive story, and by far the best overview, of the insane world of Punk music I've ever read.
    58 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2016
    I found Please Kill Me insightful, informative and fascinating. It told me a lot of things I didn't know, even though I followed the punk era closely in the magazines of the time; caught the tail end of it when I moved to NYC in the '80s; and actually became acquainted with a few of the people mentioned in the book. From what I know, at least, it's pretty accurate.

    Please Kill Me is not meant to be uplifting. It's a book about a bunch of mostly messed-up, at best semi-stable people of limited talent, who nonetheless came together to create something great. It's the story of those people, not the specific chords they played or the amplifiers they used. It's unusual in that it goes into great depth explaining the genesis of punk; this book makes it clear that the foundation was laid long before the Ramones ever played a note.

    It's also a fantastic read. I started reading it on a cross-country flight and stayed up all night finishing it. It's especially compelling when you contrast it with the sanitized, glorified shopping mall that now calls itself New York City.

    I wrote this review after seeing too many denigrate the book because it presented a different picture of the people and the music than they expected. This guy was right in the middle of it all, and earned his knowledge through personal experience. There are only a few other people who can match his depth of understanding on this topic, or his passion for it.
    78 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2014
    A must read for anyone interested in hearing about the dirty details of the budding punk scene in NYC in the early to mid 70s. I'd never read an "oral history" style of book before, so it took some time before I got used to it, but once I did it was an engrossing read. Tip for any of you reading this on an e-reader - make sure you bookmark the end of the book ("Cast of Characters") so that you can refer back to it when new folks are introduced. I failed to realize that until I finished the book. Whoops. Awesome book!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024
    I loved this book. It was really up my alley. There are a number of the stories that I've heard before, but, many of these were told as first hand experiences by the authors, which I really enjoyed. It was a pretty quick read. I missed it after I was done.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2003
    You have to take the subtitle to "Please Kill Me" seriously. It's really an oral history in the sense that the book isn't so much written as assembled out of tape-recorded interviews. It isn't a Q/A format, it's a narrative stitched together from interviews with many of the principals of the New York Punk scene in the 70's. Despite this, it feels a lot like a coherent narrative. It almost feels like a television documentary, except they never had to resort to a narrator's voice-over to fill in the gaps. Having contributions from everyone from, uh, Lou Reed to Joey Ramone gives the book some immediacy (and legitimacy) that's probably essential to writing a decent history of punk.
    There are things you might argue are missing -- for example, the book seems to devote more time to sex and drugs than it does to, say, music. And it basically draws the line at covering anything beyond the New York scene, a reasonable decision that isn't immediately obvious from the cover. One could imagine very different but equally valid punk histories. But it's long enough and interesting enough, and the authors readily admit to having much more interesting material than they could reasonably include.
    Readers to whom all of this is old hat, or who get bored by tales of degenerate behavior, might find the book less engaging. But I found it engaging and readable, a fun way to learn more about punk's beginnings.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024
    I began listening to punk rock when I was 13. I'm 37 now and I am amazed at what I've learned about punk. This book is essential if you want to know where this subculture phenom known as Punk Rock began. The book lays out who/when/where/why punk happened.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Kim D. Hulster
    3.0 out of 5 stars Leuk boek
    Reviewed in Belgium on December 15, 2024
    Leuk boek
  • gt
    5.0 out of 5 stars A truly immersive read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 1, 2024
    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    "Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk" is an absolute gem for anyone passionate about music history, punk culture, or just riveting storytelling. From the very first page, I was hooked by the raw, unfiltered accounts of the iconic figures who shaped the punk movement.

    What sets this book apart is its unique format, presenting the history of punk through firsthand interviews and anecdotes from the people who lived it. It's like being transported back in time, witnessing the birth and evolution of punk rock through the eyes of its pioneers.

    Legends like Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, and Joey Ramone come to life on the pages, sharing candid and often outrageous stories that pull no punches. The honesty and authenticity of these accounts make "Please Kill Me" a truly immersive read, offering insight into the gritty, rebellious spirit that defined an era.

    As a music lover and history enthusiast, I couldn't put this book down. It's equal parts entertaining, enlightening, and inspiring, leaving me with a newfound appreciation for the revolutionary impact of punk rock. Whether you're a die-hard punk aficionado or simply curious about this influential subculture, "Please Kill Me" is a must-read that will leave you thoroughly entertained and thoroughly informed. Highly recommended!
  • Rajendhran Tp
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in India on June 15, 2023
    Reading
  • Iván Vargas G.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesante libro
    Reviewed in Mexico on July 18, 2019
    No es un libro que te leas en una sentada, sin embargo, es interesante las distintas opiniones de cada uno de los participantes del movimiento. Te dan un panorama diferente de cómo eran realmente las cosas
  • Client d'Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars History. Simply.
    Reviewed in France on September 24, 2020
    Diving into the history of punk. 90% very interesting stuff. Very lively. A must-have for all the fans of bands claiming to be Iggy Pop lovers.