JOE MATERA – LOUDER THAN WORDS: BEYOND THE BACKSTAGE PASS
EMPIRE PUBLICATIONS
BOOK REVIEW BY AARON BADGLEY
Joe Matera has had a very diverse and interesting career in music. The Italian-Australian musician, who is based in Australia, not only performs as a solo act, but is also a member of the Swedish rock band Rough Rockers. He has also worked with The Korgis. Beyond being a top-notch guitarist, he is also a writer. He writes for many publications, including Guitar World, and has written a book in 2021 titled Backstage Pass: The Grit And The Glamour. Louder Than Words: Beyond The Backstage Pass is his second book and the follow-up to his 2021 behind the scenes glance at rock ‘n’ roll.
Matera does not pull any punches with this book. He isn’t mean or vindictive, but he is honest. From the beginning of the book, when he writes about an extensive tour he is doing as a solo artist, other than the opportunities to see the world, it is not glamorous. When treating yourself means going to a McDonald’s in Prague, one has to wonder if the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle is all that it is cracked up to be. For Matera, stepping onto a stage and hearing a crowd does make it all worthwhile, but he doesn’t whitewash the experience. Matera makes it quite clear, traveling and touring is hard work. Micky Dolenz once joked that the work in music is traveling, playing is fun.
But don’t think for one moment that it is a depressing book. Far from it, it is very informative. Matera writes about interviewing musicians and the problems that can occur with even the most well-planned interviews. He is excellent at providing both sides of the coin. As an artist and as a writer. Again, Matera is honest and his style of writing makes everything very readable and a fun read, maybe at his expense.
What I found most interesting in reading Louder Than Words: Beyond The Backstage Pass is his view of how music and the business has changed. He writes a chapter about the impact of MTV and music videos, and he raises some very interesting and astute points. From a working musician’s perspective, he writes of how the need for a video representation altered the music. The music and the artist had to fit the video mould, not the other way around. He uses Billy Squier as a prime example. Matera interviewed Squier and he talked openly and honestly about music videos and the transition from going on television and simply performing to a ‘concept’ video. When Squier releases the first single and video from his album Signs Of Life, things fall apart for Squier.
Coming off two huge albums, this album does not do as well because of the video for the lead single, “Rock Me Tonight”. Matera writes:
“No one could have foreseen the effect the video would have on Squier’s career. In the aftermath of the video’s broadcast, Squier saw his audience dwindle almost immediately overnight.”
It is an excellent example that he uses to illustrate his point. And Matera does this throughout his book. He has lived this life and experienced the highs and lows.
With an introduction by Bryan Adams, this book is a fantastic journey into many aspects of rock ‘n’ roll that the majority of us never see. At points it is like Spinal Tap and one can see why a lot of musicians did not find that film funny. Perhaps it was a bit too real. Louder Than Words: Beyond The Backstage Pass is a brilliant book and a very interesting read. It provides an eye-opening view to this world of rock.
ISBN-10: 1915616123
ISBN-13: 978-1915616128
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