Mud ride A messy trip through the grunge explosion

Turner, guitarist for the Seattle grunge band Mudhoney, offers his recollections about the rise and fall of the grunge scene. He begins with his childhood in an upper-middle-class suburb of Seattle, where he became obsessed with bicycles and skateboards. Citing hardcore punk and garage rock as major influences, the musician outlines his entry into music with the seminal rock band Green River, in which he created a fuzzy, grungy sound with the Super Fuzz distortion effects box. Turner quit the band after their first record; he wasn't happy with the group's direction. He continued his career with the formation of Mudhoney in 1988 and its signing to Sub Pop Records. They experienced nearly instant prominence as one of the first Seattle grunge outfits, only to be eclipsed by the mega-success of Nirvana and Pearl Jam in 1991. The book also notes Mudhoney's transition to a major label and Turner's own Super Electro recordings. The book also covers his move to Portland, OR, fatherhood, and solo acoustic projects. VERDICT There aren't any shocking revelations about the band or its music, but this book, with its insider's perspective, takes music fanatics on an enjoyable romp through the grunge heyday.--Dr. Dave Szatmary