Psst: Enthralling new memoir

Last update: October 5, 2009 - 5:42 PM

In his enthralling new memoir "Corn Flakes With John Lennon and Other Tales From a Rock 'n' Roll Life" (Rodale, $24.99), longtime Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn focuses mostly on his relationships with and revelations about music's biggest and most transformative stars: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Kurt Cobain and Michael Jackson.

In 1984, Hilburn was hired by Doubleday editor Jackie Kennedy Onassis to write a book with the Gloved One about the Jacksons' Victory Tour. The project got scrapped in favor of a photo book, with Hilburn merely contributing captions. In this memoir, Hilburn tells some of the Jacko tales, including the superstar's rivalry with Prince.

"Have you seen 'Purple Rain' yet?" Jackson asked as soon as Hilburn entered his suite. "Is it any good?" "Michael, it's not magical," Hilburn said. Prince's name continued to come up, Hilburn writes, and "I sensed that Michael was testing my allegiances." Well, Hilburn makes a confession in his memoir: "Though I never told Michael this, I was far more impressed by Prince, the artist, than by Michael in his pre-'Thriller' days. Prince was born for the stage, spontaneous in a way Michael wasn't, and his music had deeper and more consistently provocative themes."

Hilburn writes about how Jackson kept track of how long "Purple Rain" stayed at No. 1 -- 24 weeks, compared with 37 weeks for "Thriller," Jacko pointed out to the critic. "I tried to kid him back by warning that there was always the next one for Prince," Hilburn writes, "but Michael just giggled."

JON BREAM

JACKO PRINCE VS.

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Here are some of Books Editor Laurie Hertzel's favorite sites and blogs. Got a literary link to share? E-mail Laurie.

Twin Cities Literary Scavenger Hunt Home page for the scavenger hunt, which runs now through Dec. 26.
Reading Minnesota A blog that features Minnesota writers, illustrators, publishers, bookstores, and reviewers.
Talk of the Stacks An author series from the Library Foundation of Hennepin County.
Poets & Writers The website for Poets and Writers Magazine--podcasts, author interviews, and writing resources.
Creative Writing A place to keep apprised of writing competitions in the United States.
Gather Minnesota Readers The Website for Minnesota Public Radio's books blog.
The Loft Literary Center The Website for the Loft, a local place for writers and readers.
Good Reads A way to track what you're reading, and what your friends are reading.
Lost Manuscripts Just what it sounds like - a blog (sporadically updated) devoted to missing and destroyed manuscripts.
Maud Newton Very hip, reviews, links, a little attitude.
bookreporter.com A plethora of online book reviews and reading guides.
Rain Taxi Rain Taxi Review of Books.