Preview
  • Take a Walk on the Dark Side

  • Rock and Roll Myths, Legends, and Curses
  • By: R. Gary Patterson
  • Narrated by: Mike Dawson
  • Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (122 ratings)

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Take a Walk on the Dark Side

By: R. Gary Patterson
Narrated by: Mike Dawson
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Publisher's summary

Take a Walk on the Dark Side is the ultimate book for today's rock and roll fan: a fascinating compendium of facts, fictions, prophecies, premonitions, coincidences, hoaxes, doomsday scenarios, and other urban legends about some of the world's most beloved and mysterious pop icons. Updating, revising, and expanding on material from his cult classic Hellhounds on Their Trail, Patterson offers up a delectable feast of strange and occasionally frightening rock and roll tales, featuring the ironies associated with the tragic deaths of many rock icons, unsolved murders, and other tales from the fell clutch of circumstance.

Beginning with the fateful place where it all started - a deserted country crossroads just outside Clarksdale, Mississippi, where Robert Johnson made his deal with the devil - through the Buddy Holly curse (rock and roll's first great tragedy) and beyond, this incredible volume uncovers some of rock and roll's most celebrated murders, twists of fate, and decades-long streaks of bad luck that defy rational explanation. In it you'll find:

  • Facts about Jimmy Page and the Zeppelin curse.
  • Chilling quirks of fate surrounding the deaths of musicians in the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
  • A provocative look at "The Club", membership in which requires an untimely death at age 27 and whose inductees include Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin.
  • Cryptic messages in song lyrics that have proved eerily prophetic.

Carefully researched, wildly enjoyable, and often harrowing, Take a Walk on the Dark Side takes the listener on a mysterious ride through rock and roll history. Narrated by Mike Dawson (Left of Boom, Mistrial, The Adam Carolla Show)

©2004 R. Gary Patterson (P)2017 R. Gary Patterson
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What listeners say about Take a Walk on the Dark Side

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Mostly contrived but interesting.

Worth a read/listen, since it's pretty comprehensive, but most of *legends* and *myths* are a stretch at best but mostly contrived especially when it gets into the numerology stuff.

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

Enlightening

What an in depth summary of things I've heard of were true or rumors, but never could substantiate. The voice used for this audio version was epic.

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7 people found this helpful

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

A REAL WALK ON THE DARK SIDE

I totally enjoyed this audiobook. I've read other works by R. Gary Patterson but wanted to read this one again. Too bad his other books are not available in audio form. This book is well organized, moves along quickly but still takes the time needed to completely cover the person or event being discussed. There's so much information, much of it unknown to many people and they will be surprised by some of the info on their favorite classic rock musician. I miss hearing Gary's interviews and will miss never having any new works by him. His stories are great, like the dirt from the crossroads! Wow. Very good book.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Left me wanting more

This one provided information that was new to me and left me wanting more. This book, in my opinion, belongs in a set with Weird Tales from the Canyon. For almost any music/music history lover, this is a fascinating listen. To be fair, much of the material is just a deeper delving into the topics music fans have probably already heard. But it does go deeper into these topics. I wish I could find more books like this.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Interesting tale, mostly coincidence

I think the author was looking to hard to find spooky coincidences across rock history. Not tough find.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Too much fun!!!

The late/great R. Gary Patterson of Coast to Coast Fame does a wonderful job of creating a thought provoking exploration of the myths, legends, and curses of Rock and Roll. From Blues Legend Robert Johnson, who is believed to have made a pact with the Devil at the paranormal charged crossroads, to guitar great Jimmy Page's obsession with Occult Legend/Satan incarnate Aleister Crowley, this intriguing book is pure entertainment from beginning to end. It includes the 27 club and bizarre coincidence/synchronicity involving all that leave one wondering if there is, in fact, something to the idea that our rock idols and performers are, indeed, on a Highway to Hell that definitely involves the existence of the paranormal and even the mythical Devil himself. Therefore, listen at your own risk! This is quite a memorable listen to say the least. Mike Dawson, the narrator, even has that deep gravely voice of someone who might even be familiar himself with the rigors of the road.

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

Mike Dawson is the best.

Fantastic stories from the history of Rock! Mike Dawson makes everything sound better! highly entertaining listen!

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

RIP R. Gary Patterson

if you're a fan of rock n roll you will enjoy this book. The narrator's voice is a perfect fit for this subject matter.

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

That’s Rock&Roll!

This was a fantastic compilation of all the tales and legends that rock fans heard through out multiple generations. Narrator, Mike Dawson is amazing! I’d listen to him read a phone book.

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

Great listen, amazing

Great listen and Dawson's narration rocks a can't miss lots of interesting bits off information

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