Jorma KaukonenBeen So Long: My Life and Music

I've always loved Jorma's music and he brings it to life here, with his family's cultural, professional and educational history, Jack Casady and part of the Airplane story coming to life. Actually, it's more about the former and the Tuna work than the 'on the road' details or Airplane track by track, concert by concert stuff - which is fine, since this is a more accurate reflection of his art and experience. The Airplane stuff is almost secondary - fair enough. He also is honest and clear-eyed about his typical rock trials of drugs, alcohol and rehab. It's very detailed and specific, but - and this didn't strike me until I started feeling a bit overwhelmed and disinterested midway through - it's strongly distanced and unemotional about whole tale. Fair enough - but not a great read, even for a musical fan.

Fans of Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna and the 60s San Francisco scene will be left yearning for more - this memoire doesn't offer up a lot of insider anecdotes or tales of iconic events, just cursory 'I was there' type of reflections - it's really more of one man's sonewhat wistful, melancholic jog down memory lane. Nothing much about Grace Slick or all those iconic characters - it's really Kaukonen's family history, his childhood, and not much about what we fans were hoping for - but it IS his story and he had every right to tell it as he saw fit. I'd be lying if I said I was satisfied with this memoire. I skipped over the pages and pages of car/motorcycle talk - haha.

Really a far more boring read than the subject matter might indicate. Jorma could have used a solid editor/co writer as the book doesn't flow well, his reflections are repetitive, and there are many missed opportunities to add clarifying information or insights. Would have been nice to have more photos and what about some pics of Margareta's art? And beyond his many statements about his 'best friend Jack' he doesn't at all describe Jack's deep musical contributions. Wow. Really?He gives much credit to his wife Vanessa, and is clearly at a good place in his life, something he more than deserves as a pivotal figure in American music. And true to his roots, you'll find spends plenty of time playing the songs he loves and teaching others.The story is his own and here it it. Unlike some tomes from my favorite 60s musicians, I won't be reading this twice.

Jorma (Jerry), thank you for sharing. The honesty and courage to face yours fears, to pass along failures and successes, to publicly describe emotions “normal” people would deny is inspiring. Others have written surface stories about the times, the revolution, the people, the events. You have written about the struggle to fit in, to be yourself, to exist in a conflicted world. Thank you for your music. For my selfish reasons, I am glad you were here long enough for me to see you in a solo concert.

I found Jorma's work boring. Where are the Airplane stories? How many drunk stories do we have to endure. What about Jack Cassidy? He receives short shrift.I had high expectations, but I would sell the book for $1.00 if offered.LL

Jorma Kaukonen is best known for the music he created with the Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, among others and his collection of solo performances available on CD. This book goes beyond the music which teases always in the background and crosses into real life beginning in the 1950's to present day. Mr. Kaukonen shares his diary entries, his lyrics, poetry, musings on life and even his music with a CD included in the back of the book. It is his life story, the adventures, the challenges, the success and the failures that he does not gleam over but honestly puts out there for all to see. The confessions of St. Augustine or Rousseau pale over some of the life lessons that Kaukonen shares with his readers. There is also the history of the music that starts in his high school years with Jack Cassady to college where he met Janis Joplin, Paul Kantner, David Freiberg and many other people that come and go in his life same as people come and go in all of our lives. He takes us through the years of the Airplane and Hot Tune, from start to finish and all the bands and people in between. He shares with us the words of his Grandfather in a letter he only discovered recently that impacts him greatly. Kaukonen reminisces with his and Cassidy's last dinner with Paul Kantner in San Francisco and how lives long road twists and turns for all of us. Many people will be able to relate to the trials and tribulations Mr Kaukonen has faced as many if not all of those we too have journeyed down. People will be able to relate to this book in their own personal life journey. But it does not end there. His voyage continues with his Fur Peace Ranch in Ohio and his music and touring. People might want to clip the recent newspaper story of his reflections when told Marty Balin had passed as it is a continuation of the Saga depicted by his book. A wonderful read and history of a time that gets short shifted and twisted by many but not by Jorma Kaukonen. Buy this book and listen to the music.

A thorough & honest memoir from a charming & humble man. As a big fan of both Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, I pre-ordered this as soon as it was available.

Rarely do music biographies, especially autobiographies, contain such honesty and confessional detail. Jorma has detailed his life with all the downs and ups and has been deeply self-critical in a painfully honest way. Not only has he survived the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and so on - he now appears happier than at any time in his life. His Fur Peace ranch is an inspiration to others and his YouTube videos show an acoustic guitarist still on top of his game. This is a must read for all Airplane and Tuna fans but also a superb read for those who want a truly honest autobiography. And Jorma can write as well - with humility and great humour. My music biog of the year.

Discovered this book recently and I was really looking forward to hearing his story. Especially his take on Jefferson Airplane, the Hot Tuna story and his friendship with Jack Casady. All dealt with superficially or not at all. The airplane era is skipped over very briefly. Hot Tuna a bit more but nowhere near enough to satisfy my interest. Jack Casady gets a few mentions, but again not in enough depth - although it seems to me that Jack was very patient with Jorma over the years. Grace Slick and Paul Kantner get very few mentions. As a result I cannot recommend this book.

You would think that being in a successful band like Jefferson Airplane, would be the reason why Jorma would write a book seeing as he known for not much else. So, if the chance arises then tell about the band, it's members and the sort of things you did. What we get is in depth detail about cars, bikes and a few friends who no one knows anyhow. The Airplane part of his life is told in the blink of an eye and barely gets a fifth of the book. I wanted to know about all the members, the tours, going to Europe with The Doors and other bands that his band came across but no. This was an opportunity missed and I might read a Grace Slick view on things as it is more likely to be a better story.

A great musician reading his own book out loud with that familiar unique deadpan voice. What is not to like? Well, one guy reviewing from the USA applied standard literary criticism -like what is taught in college lit- and found the book to not conform to accepted literary and PC standards of giving complete credit to your marital and musical partners and adding other content.That guy did not convince me. I really enjoy listening to the author tell about his life. Again and again. For me that makes a good purchase and a good material thing to own.

After initially seeing previous reviews I was unsure whether to buy the book. Yet it is am enjoyable read even if I am not into bikes,technical aspects of guitars though at times it is a sad read yet it is a story of a awakening and renewal. Worth reading to anyone interested in family history, the 60s and the music of the Airplane and Hot Tuna and Jorma Kaukonen.