Book Review: Official Truth — 101 Proof

6StringMercenary
Aug 25, 2017 · 3 min read

Review 3 — August 25, 2017

Official Truth — 101 Proof by Rex Brown

Summary of the Subject/Material

As the sub-heading indicates, this is an insider’s account of the band Pantera, written by the founding member and bassist Rex Brown. Included as supplemental to Rex’s memoir, the book contains countless pull quotes from others close to the band, in the inner circle, or business partners. In this approach, the book does a great job framing Rex’s life and role, then bringing together people on his behalf to fill in the story and details he brings up.

From the birth of the band through beyond the ability for it to ever re-form following the murder of Dimebag Darrell, this book is a definitive resource.

The Best Part About Reading This Book

Let’s just roll with it: Being a rock-star is awesome.

Reading the history of Pantera, the years on the road in a van instead of going to High School, having to change singers, and then, somehow, things finally catch on after almost 10 years…dreams can come true.

In Texas, work hard, party hard, bring the heat and people will take notice. Rex’s tone throughout the book is one of appreciation, admiration, and, to be fair, human frustration when things start to get complicated. All kinds of personal anecdotes about hanging out or jamming with other big names are like icing on the cake though.

The Least Enjoyable Part About Reading This Book

Every worst fear I ever had about touring with friends was described in detail in this book. Close quarters bring out the sandpaper in us all, and hearing about the friction between Rex and Vinnie, and Phil and everybody not named Heroin, ugh, it is not a nice thing to check out. Rex, to me, has one of the most eloquent and fairly “objective” perspectives while also admitting to a major dose of being whisky blind and self-destructive as well.

So as much as I would point to the murder of my hero Dimebag Darrell as one of the hardest parts to read in the book, it’s not, because Rex presented a bigger picture. Family, health, relationships — he chronicles a lot of personal battles which frame losing a 20+ year band relationship could also make a bit more difficult. It’s not enjoyable learning about another’s suffering, but in this book, the depth of the wisdom is worthwhile.

Level of Difficulty

This is a very easy to access read, mostly because the tone Rex uses for his narrative is friendly and easy going. Sounds like one of the smartest, funniest guys at the bar telling stories. Then, for variety, there are quotes by all sorts of relevant people to give added zip.

For a Pantera fan, this is at least a two or three read book because of how fast it is to tear through. A lot of the content reads like adventure travel writing, because, well, that’s what Rex lived. The book embodies that pace at times.

Who is the Ideal Audience?

Music Fans who can at least answer honestly, at minimum, “Pantera? Yeah, I’ve heard of them” will get a big reward out of the book. It’s obvious that Metal fans — or Ozzfest fans — would want to check this out. There’s a very distinct Working Class, Texas flavor to the book that really is owed to Rex Brown being a tough, determined guy.

Basically if you think guys like Elon Musk or Peter Thiel are impressive Human Beings, you don’t know shit and need to read this like yesterday.

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