• Shell Shocked

  • My Life with the Turtles, Flo and Eddie, and Frank Zappa, etc.
  • By: Howard Kaylan, Jeff Tamarkin
  • Narrated by: Howard Kaylan
  • Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (200 ratings)

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Shell Shocked  By  cover art

Shell Shocked

By: Howard Kaylan,Jeff Tamarkin
Narrated by: Howard Kaylan
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Publisher's summary

If Howard Kaylan had sung only one song, the Turtles' 1967 No. 1 smash hit "Happy Together," his place in rock-and-roll history would still be secure. But that recording, named in 1999 by BMI as one of the top 50 songs of the 20th century, with over five million radio plays, is only the tip of a rather eye-opening iceberg. For nearly five decades, Howard Kaylan has been a player in the rock-and-roll revolution. In addition to his years with the Turtles, Kaylan was a core member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and the dynamic duo Flo & Eddie, and part of glam rock history with Marc Bolan and T. Rex.

He's also given street cred and harmonies to everyone from John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen and Alice Cooper to the Ramones and Duran Duran, to name just a few. Howard Kaylan's life has been a dangerous ride that he is only too happy to report on, naming names and shedding shocking tales of sex, drugs and creative excess. Shell Shocked will stand alone as not only one of the best-told music-biz memoirs, but one with a truly candid and unmatchable story of rock-and-roll insanity and success from a man who glories in it all.

©2013 Howard Kaylan (P)2013 Howard Kaylan

What listeners say about Shell Shocked

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Turtles DO Rock...Really!

I rarely give an unqualified 5 star rating...wait, I NEVER give a 5 star rating, but this audiobook rocks! Baby boomers know the Turtles as an iconic MOR pop band that ruled the pop charts in the late '60s (They knocked the Beatles out of the #1 position at one point) and then had a stereotypical breakup due to the usual: musical differences, drugs, changing public preferences, management, etc. It's all told here by Howard Kaylan (with a "Y"!) in an honest and very funny autobiography that grabs you from the first sentence and never lets up.

With a refreshing lack of ego, Mr. Kaylan dishes the whole storyline of the Turtles to the Mothers of Invention to Flo & Eddie and beyond. Be forewarned: YOU WILL LAUGH OUT LOUD so pick your listening times carefully. I often listen in bed before going to sleep but I couldn't do that with this book - I kept waking up my slumbering spouse with my chuckles and laughter. I also had to avoid many concerned looks in the Doctor's office, on public transportation, in the grocery store...you get the idea.

This production shines throughout. Mr. Kaylan provides a perfect wedding of writing and narration. Even my pet peeve about mispronunciation is absent here - a first in 13 years.

If you have the slightest interest in The Turtles, the '60s and '70s or pop music in general you will love this book.

You CAN'T MISS this one!

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A delightful listen!

Any additional comments?

I loved The Turtles music growing up in the late 60’s, so I jumped on this audiobook as soon as I saw it and wasn’t disappointed. Howard’s narration is like hanging out with an old friend and swapping rock and roll war stories. The stories of his interactions with rock and roll royalty are worth the price of admission alone. The stories of his personal misbehavior and of the show biz sharks that bit them are riveting. Then there are the Mothers of Invention stories, most notably his firsthand account of the concert in Montreux that was the inspiration for Deep Purple’s immortal Smoke On The Water. All in all a pleasant listen…, that I’ll probably do again in the near future. So if you’re a former child of the sixties, or just love that music, this book is for you.

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5 people found this helpful

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  • b
  • 07-13-13

WARNING: contact buzz and non-controlable laughing

Any additional comments?

If you think having Howard Kaylan sing to you is fun, wait till he reads to you...one of the most incredible personalities in music tells his story with the same exuberance as he lived it, with all the 'warts, stars and ex-wives' included...one of the best current autobiographies available

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So glad he read it himself

I have already known so much about the story of the turtles and their aftermath, but to hear the man tell all of these little details is so wonderful. I don't know if I would have found the "Checkpoint Charlie" EP

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

If you loved Frank Zappa,Flo and Eddie this rocks

the Turtles story Rocks it.And FZ and. The smoke on the water story makes this book worth a listen.HK tells of Groupies ,drugs,Zappa and everything about the Turtles and 70 and 71 Mothers .

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very entertaining!

I feel like I want to hang out with Howard and listen to him tell stories.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting and hilarious

First of all I really Love Howard Kaylan’s voice and his narrative made me feel like we were new friends and he was telling me all his wild stories over a drink or two. Very interesting insight on the behind the scenes of the psychedelic 60’s and 70’s.
Great story telling and made me laugh out loud a few times.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Rock History at it’s finest.

Perfectly Recorded and performed. All music fans from Metalheads to, “Trap-music,” zombies best know this stuff.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What a life!

I love this man's honesty! He possibly, may have lived the most artistic, rock 'n' roll life ever! Her and Mark Volman sang on some of my favorite songs and albums. Dabbled in so many artistic ventures, and scraped by, willing to try almost anything. Just when you think he's out of luck, his luck doesn't run out! He proves that an overweight, less than typically handsome gent can out kick his coverage with beautiful women an improbable number of times! His Zappa & Bolan relationships touched me deeply because they both seemed like impenetrable enigmas who weren't friends with that many people. And their talents, while not at all alike, were impressive. When he recalls their deaths, I felt like I was eavesdropping on something way too personal, and I didn't deserve to hear his personal feelings, they were that raw.

He made many missteps and hurt a number of people, but strip that away (if he'd stayed single, much less emotional shrapnel happens.) This man lived (lives) life to its fullest. An example (of sorts) to follow for his rabid, tenacious inability to say "uncle" when life puts the squeeze on him. Listen to this book and find a new admiration for the author and The Turtles. As well as an equal dislike for the music biz and it's toadies. (So many scumbags)

Lastly, he's got big brass balls. He and Mark Volman sued De La Soul (and rightly so) for sampling their music and not paying them.) The press labeled them as heartless, and trying to suppress "urban" music. When in fact, rap groups were sampling entire melodies that were copyrighted! They took a lot of shit for it, but they won, because they were right! Theft is theft.

This was so much fun to listen to. I could not wait to finish it and was sad when it ended. (Much like his many marriages)

Buy. Download. Listen.

Do it now. You won't regret it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A down to earth legend that kept journals!

A true legend that despite the ups and downs of show biz manages to see his vast experiences through the eyes of an enthusiastic fan. If you don’t know much about the Turtles, Flo and Eddie or Frank Zappa and the Mother’s,... it doesn’t matter, take my anonymous word for it, it’s all quality, you’re in good hands. Extremely entertaining, for any true fan of rock n roll, enjoy the ride!

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