Written by Dick Wagner
Edited by Susan Michelson
Foreword by Alice Cooper
Cover Art by T.D. Barckholtz, The Barckholtz Group
Cover Photo: Margaret A. White
©2012 Desert Dreams Productions, LLC

NOT ONLY WOMEN BLEED, Vignettes from the Heart of a Rock Musician (Kindle Edition) by Dick Wagner

It feels a little self-serving to write a great review about a book in which I am a character and I would never normally do this but...I am SO proud of Dick and this amazing accomplishment that I have to weigh in here. This is no pandering or self-serving, ghost-written "auto-biography" that sanitizes the past to protect the "author" or amplifies the glamor and excesses to sell units. This is a thoughtful recollection of slices of Dick's life. It's witty, artful, literate, sometimes cheeky, often philisophical and profound, gentle and loving, whistful and exuberant but, above all, musical. But that's Dick in a sentence. Reading this will certainly entertain anyone who has an interest in the "Roman" era of the music business. But it also offers insights into the complex and often insane life of the musician celebrity; the one close to, but not quite at, the top of the entertainment foodchain. In its honesty it does encompass sex, drugs and rock'n'roll - but also pain, yearning, sacrifice, adventure, growth and the joy of creating. 

Aside from being my go-to musician and writer on the majority of my projects in the 70's and 80's and now again in the new milennium, Dick Wagner is also my dear friend and a good man who has more than paid his dues over the years. To see him healthy and back in form again makes me very happy. To read this wonderful book makes me very proud. 

Bob Ezrin

For over five decades Dick Wagner's name has been connected to some of the biggest names in rock 'n roll. The likes of Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Kiss and Aerosmith, to name just a few, have all benefited from the Midas touch of the man they call the 'Maestro'. Wagner has worn many hats over the years, going from one of the most in demand session players in the business, to firmly establishing himself as one of the premiere singer / song writer /guitarist / producer and bandleaders in the history of rock 'n roll. So what else could there possibly left for him to do? Well write his own memoirs of course! 

In the aptly titled 'Not Only Women Bleed, Vignettes From The Heart Of A Rock Musician', Wagner takes the reader on a highly entertaining and compelling emotional roller-coaster ride that seemingly leaves no stone unturned. 

Unlike your typical rock ' roll bio, 'Not Only Women Bleed' is presented as a carefully crafted, vignette style book, that is not only easy to read, but more importantly, almost impossible to put down. Wagner wears his heart on his sleeve and while some might find his candid and open approach a bit shocking at times, it only helps to bridge the connection with the reader, as he deftly slides back and forth between the incredible amounts of personal triumph and tragedy that he's experienced along the way. While no one would dispute the fact that Dick Wagner definitely lived the rock 'n roll dream, scaling the heights of stardom fueled by an insatiable appetite for sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, this book is so much more than that. Dick takes the reader behind the scenes and provides valuable insight on what it was like to rub shoulders and work with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, famed producers Bob Ezrin and David Foster, as well as his former six string partner in crime, Steve Hunter. 

Like a Phoenix rising out of the ashes, 'Not Only Women Bleed, Vignettes From The Heart Of A Rock Musician' proves that Dick Wagner is a survivor. With the release of this book and his recent health issues now firmly in the past, he is finally free to look towards the future and concentrate fully on the creative rebirth that he's currently experiencing. Whoever coined the phrase 'life begins at forty' obviously never spent any quality time with the 'Maestro'. 

With "Not Only Women Bleed", Dick Wagner triumphantly brings us a high octane, balls to the wall, brilliantly arranged mosaic of interrelated true adventures -- successfully and authentically capturing a passionate, unyielding essence across an extended timeline -- taking his readers into the most inner circles of hedonistically holy Rock & Roll -- wild and wanton beyond imagination. I have never read such an honest accounting of a hidden lifestyle known by few and survived by even fewer. Thank you, Dick, for creating your music through the years and now, even more importantly, sharing your magical mind with unparalleled purity. Encore, Maestro. ENCORE!

By Brad Jeter (Marietta, GA USA)

I started reading it this afternoon! This is right up there with Keef's...amazing and what a great writing style and sense of humor! Just another thing to thank Mr. Wagner for! This book is one of those gems that draws you in regardless of your musical or generational allegiances. If you have every regretted not pursuing your crazy dreams of youth and wondered, what if? Well, you have just arrived at your destination and get ready for one heck of a ride! 

What an adventure Dick Wagner's book NOT ONLY WOMEN BLEED presents to his readers. I read it the first time, skimmed back through parts then began reading it again. From the dreams of a young boy to make his mark in the music world to the man that has "been through it all" Mr. Wagner presents his life to us with no holds barred. His remarkable sense of humor is evident throughout even the worst of times other than the personal tragedies. From the dreams of youth to the successses of a man, Mr. Wagner lays his soul bare and is brutally honest. He is simply telling it like it happened. The ups and downs he pushed through made him the successful man he is today. Is there any wonder that he has thousands of fans that have followed his career and are now enjoying his come back after major health problems. The man is a creative genuis, don't miss this entertaining, spellbinding book.

I have been a fan of Mr Wagner's since I was 12. I am 48 now.

I have been blessed with the great fortune of being able to call Dick a friend for over 25 years. I thought I knew everything about Maestro's musical career, and then I read the book.

There is a ton of information, stories and pictures in Not Only Woman Bleed that I had never seen, read or heard before. For that reason alone it is well worth the price.

Dick takes the reader on a wild ride from his playing high school dances to becoming one of the most respected American guitarist/composer's of our day and performing on sold out world tours. An amazing read start to finish no matter what style of music you listen to.

Perfect gift for any musician on your shopping list!

First up...bottom line on Dick Wagner's "Not Only Women Bleed." It's a VERY GOOD book! Make that, it's an EXCELLENT book! A must for your library!

The sub-title says it all: "Vignettes from the Heart of a Rock Musician." Every chapter is right from Dick's heart, a heart that we all pray beats for another, let's say another 40 years. After Dick gets into his 100's, I'm going to suggest he slows down.

He is a musical genius and one of the world's greatest guitarists... Meant from my heart. That's not Hollywood hype. If I have anything to say about it, he will one day be awarded his rightful place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. No one deserves it more.

Knowing Dick and his talent to create with words and music, this book comes as no surprise. It reads like a Dick Wagner song. The only thing missing is the music. My suggestion: as you read the book, put on a couple of CDs. Start with The Bossmen, then The Frost, a Cherry Slush single, throw in a couple of Lou Reed and Alice Cooper, then end up with some of Dick's solo stuff. The book...the music...you've got the makings for an enjoyable and very entertaining addition to your life. It's so cool, you may want to relive it again and again. I'm on my third time. Or to paraphrase Dick, I CANNOT STOP...reading this book! 

I thank Dick Wagner for the music and the memories. I thank Dick for putting those memories in a book that I highly recommend to anyone who wants to play music, anyone who plays music and anyone who enjoys music. I think that just about covers everyone.

And, if you don't like music, how about a great story about a guy with a great heart...though slightly damaged, still a heart filled with vignettes, proving that...NOT ONLY WOMEN BLEED, and also the world of rock and roll is a world filled with highs, lows and one-of-a-kinds like Dick Wagner.

First, full disclosure. I've been a Dick Wagner fan since sometime in the mid-1960's and was very excited to see this book hit Amazon. That said, if you're a fan of the hard rock genre, this book is for you. This guy helped invent hard rock and was in fact a "rock star" before the title was invented. Wagner started out rehearsing in basements, playing high school auditoriums, roller rinks and tough Michigan saloons. With his God-given talent and hard work he got about as high as you can get in the music business, playing with and writing for the most famous and commercially successful bands in America. The great road stories about drugs, hot chicks, the travel, the bad meals, the dirty deals and the hard living are all dealt with honestly in Wagner's conversational narrative style. The best news is, Dick Wagner is still out there, writing music, recording and hopefully touring soon. The book made this sixty-something baby-boomer feel young again. Dick Wagner has done it all in rock n' roll and it's all here for the reading. Caution: Do NOT start reading this book near bed time!

I finished reading the book. I have to say that the insights Dick provides into his life are engrossing. I found myself nearly obsessed by his stories of life on the road. Although I found it very interesting, I do rather like listening to his music. By that I am not saying it's a bad book (quite the opposite, in fact), I'm just saying his music is where he really bares his soul. Hearing some of the back stories of the songs makes listening to them a brand new experience all over again. Kudos!