Susan Masino is a veteran music journalist who has written extensively on AC/DC and has returned to them for her newest book, AC/DC FAQ: All Thats Left to Know About the Worlds True Rock n Roll Band. Today she tells a little about the book and her other projects.
Music Tomes: What makes the AC/DC FAQ different than your previous book, The Story of AC/DC: Let There be Rock? Would you call this a companion piece?
Susan Masino: Definitely! The Story of AC/DC-Let There Be Rock was published in 2006 and updated in 2009. In the new AC/DC FAQ book, it covers everything up to end of 2014, and has lots more information on the band. As the Let There Be Rock book was a straight up biography, the FAQ book covers all kinds of stories, statistics and rock and roll antics along the way.
MT: What draws you to AC/DC?
SM: Having known them for almost 38 years, the fact that I have been able to maintain a professional relationship with them, and still talk to them backstage about the old days, gains them in a special place in my heart. Although their music, the beat, the rhythm, the passion and the joy they convey would still attract me even if I didn’t know them. Their blues based rock and roll rhythm makes you happy, energized and urges you to get up and dance! I love that about them.
MT: Did you read Jesse Fink’s The Youngs? What did you think of it?
SM: I scanned his book, and personally I was taken aback by his attack on other AC/DC authors, including myself. Writing a book about the Youngs, in my opinion, had nothing to do with authors that have written previous books. The obvious mean spirited demeanor was a definite turn-off. Although I am glad that gentlemen like former drummer Tony Currenti, got to tell his story of playing with AC/DC.
MT: What are you currently working on?
SM: For the next few months I will continue to promote the new book, and I am playing with some new ideas for my next. Later this summer I will also be co-hosting a radio show called Rock The Paranormal with Susan Masino and Joel Sturgis, that will air on EBN Talk Radio. We will cover the history of rock music while weaving in paranormal rock and roll stories.
MT: Can you recommend some of your favorite music tomes?
SM: Life by Keith Richards, Crazy from the Heat by David Lee Roth and Rockers and Rollers by Brian Johnson.