Hard Days Hard Nights... a review

Today's Review it Wednesday is a bit different. We're not talking green living... we're talking Rock 'n' Roll!
 

I recently became acquainted with Pittsburgh legend, Pat DiCesare (of DiCesare Engler Productions) when we both presented workshops at a writers' conference in Leesburg, Virginia. We had dinner together with a group of others and then spent some time together at the Pennwriters conference here in Pittsburgh last month. Pat is a down-to-earth great guy. You'd never know, when meeting him, that he was responsible for bringing the Beatles to Pittsburgh in 1964 or that he promoted nearly every major rock and pop act that came to Pittsburgh and the tri-state area... acts like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jethro Tull, Aerosmith, Chicago, Janis Joplin... the list goes on. Pat DiCesare has a fascinating story to tell. From his humble beginnings as part of a large Italian family to his tales of dealing with celebrity personalities, Pat maintains a humility and grace rarely seen in people of his stature.

 
Of course, he can't sit down with each of us and share his experiences one-on-one. So he did the next best thing. He wrote a book. Not just any book, but a really, really good book. If you're one of the thousands who attended a concert promoted by Pat DiCesare, or if you simply love true stories about rock stars who seem bigger than life, you have to pick up a copy of his book, HARD DAYS HARD NIGHTS. You won't be disappointed. 



Pick up a copy and find out why, despite all his hard work and considerable expense, Pat couldn't even attend the Beatles concert he promoted. It was September 1964 -- see if you can figure it out.

Discover why Janis Joplin was delayed in her dressing room the night of her concert and what she was wearing (or not wearing) underneath her fishnet dress.

Find out who demanded cases of Dom Perignon in their dressing rooms and what Pat did when he could only locate 3 bottles in all of Pittsburgh. Hint: someone's going to have a hissy fit.

The stories go on and on. And even for someone like me, who was never that into rock 'n' roll and going to concerts, the book is a fascinating read. It would be the perfect Father's Day present... I know it's cutting it close, but you could always slip an IOU into a card and let your husband or dad know the book is on its way. 

You can also buy the books directly from Pat DiCesare at book signings across the region. Or, if you know a group who may be interested in having him as a guest speaker, I highly recommend booking him. Visit his website for more information.

When you pick up the book, you'll notice the endorsements on the back from Alice Cooper and Shep Gordon, Tommy James, and Lou Christie. And this blurb:

Pat DiCesare is widely considered to be one of the fathers of the rock 'n' roll concert business, not only in Pittsburgh, but nationwide.

As he says in the final chapter of the book, "They were hard days and hard nights, but they were the best days of my life." That shines through on every page.

It's an honor to know Pat DiCesare. Read his book and you'll feel as if you know him, too.

Reviewing it for you,