Advance praise for Backstage & Beyond:

“These are wonderful stories across the whole range of popular music, by one of rock’s finest journalists. As history lengthens and some of these legends move on, these become increasingly precious fragments of lives lived at the sharp edge of music.” —Richard Thompson

“You can’t beat Jim Sullivan’s writing for insightful, intelligent glimpses into this rock world we inhabit. And his new book, in addition to inviting us behind the scenes to get to know the artists, ties together the various personalities, and their music, to further enlighten. Notably, the people he interviews really like him. That matters.” —Tony Levin (King Crimson)

"Jim Sullivan has been on the front lines of rock and roll for 40-plus years, armed only with a notebook, a tape recorder and a deep knowledge of the music he fell in love with as a kid. The veteran journalist has had bracing encounters with pioneers, classic-rock icons and punk upstarts, cult artists and arena acts, guided only by his discerning taste and his ability to ask the right questions in the right way no matter how difficult or ornery the subject. These chats and rants go beyond the surface bromides we already know about these larger-than-life personalities and unlock the deeper stories they rarely share — by turns triumphant, tragic and never less than illuminating." —Greg Kot (Sound Opinions)

“There’s a lot of history here, and a lot of reflecting on that history. For me, it’s interesting to see the conflict many artists have as they try to evaluate their own work and its place in the scheme of things. Jim Sullivan has been able to coax some of those reflections out of a broad spectrum of artists and it’s fascinating to read. I’ve always known Jim to be a witty and insightful writer - and I’ve known him for a long time.” —Greg Hawkes (Cars)

“In Backstage & Beyond, the latter word is of most import. We may have listened to the records, experienced the concerts or wandered backstage for brief encounters, but Jim Sullivan penetrates the minds of the artists. With candor and intimacy, these musicians reveal themselves to him. He takes us beyond the revelatory to the very creative process itself.” —Boston DJ/radio Program Director Oedipus

"The marquee names first draw you in, but it’s what’s behind the storefront that’s really the main attraction here. Sullivan fashions a kind of extended narrative, from interviews, performance reviews and his own thoughts and rethoughts on the music and the musicians who make it. The Jerry Lee Lewis chapter (itself worth the price of admission) segues to one on Mott’s Ian Hunter, whose hero was Lewis, which leads to Bowie, who made hitmakers of Mott, then to Bowie, Iggy, and Lou Reed, and… Sullivan’s informed commentary and the professional and personal revelations he elicits from his subjects place Backstage & Beyond several leagues above the average rock read. At this late date, that’s saying something."
—writer/editor/broadcaster Gene Sculatti (The Catalog of Cool, For the Records: Close Encounters with Pop Music)

"The thing with Jim Sullivan (other than his being a serial golfer who always beats me) is that he is a sly bugger. He’s been doing this for a long time, having a way of gently sitting down to talk with you like a friend — not necessarily an old friend, but a decent one who you feel relaxed with and comfortable enough around enough to share what you think, what you know, and what you’ve experienced. There’s not a hint of his digging at you or pushing for uncomfortable truths; there are plenty of those writers around, thank you. It’s a chat, however long, that can open us up without regret or rancour. Maybe it’s his tone of voice, perhaps his body language — I honestly can’t pin it down. But having been on both ends of his many years of reviews and interviews with all manner of artists - subject and reader — I am always drawn to his writing; because I know he won’t have ambushed anyone or left them (us) feeling caught out, yet still end up with insight and history shared and some great stories. For isn’t that what we essentially do? We tell stories - soft and loud, inane, fierce, pointed, reflective, sometimes embarrassing, sometimes regretful; some of us are ranters, some shouters and pointers, some reserved and mostly private off-stage. We are the world. With Jim’s writing, it always feels like the interviewee thinks, “Well, that was pretty good.” at the end. I’ll take it. So should you. Well…you should buy it, I mean.” —Hugo Burnham (Gang of Four)

"With a twinkle in his eye, Jim cuts through the business, and speaking from his heart, he gently gets you to do the same. You learn a great deal about an artist from a Jim Sullivan interview, including yourself!" —Dave Wakeling (English Beat)

"Jim Sullivan has always been unafraid to be a fan, a friend or a foe of his subjects. Underneath it all is an undying love of music itself." —Peter Prescott (Mission of Burma)

“In Backstage & Beyond, Sullivan’s evocative writing makes you feel like you’re right there with him, drinking till dawn with your favorite rock stars, back in the days when no one could get no satisfaction! Every story feels so real, your head will be splitting by morning. Loved it!” —Jen Trynin

"Jim is one of those journalists that you feel comfortable with. No hidden agenda. If he likes your band he says so. If he doesn't, same. He's always been kind about us. The thing is, unlike a lot of writers, if Jim said we did something that sucked, I would pay attention. That's why these writings are worth reading. He's the real deal. (Now, he'll probably tell me we sucked last time he saw us!)" —Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers)

“How has Jim Sullivan maintained his access to the coolest artists in rock and roll for over 40 years?... he's a mensch who knows his sh*t!” —Andy Shernoff (the Dictators)

“When I was a cocky young whippernsapper of a musician, songwriter, record store employee and student of English literature out in Los Angeles, I tended to appreciate the critics as much as the artists themselves.  As far as I was concerned, James Boswell was as important as Samuel Johnson and at various times I felt the same for Lester Bangs and Lou Reed. This book reads like a Norton’s Anthology, a collection, a distillation of what mattered as only the best critics with the most heart can do.” —Steve Wynn (solo, Dream Syndicate, Baseball Project)

“In our parallel, constantly morphing and competitive worlds of rock journalism and rock MAKING, Sully is a Jimmy Page in a vast sea of timid, punter music writers. Jim has always asked and continues to ask the questions we all WISH we had the cojones to ask our music gods and goddesses and manages to do just that with a deep knowledge and sensitivity to what matters most which is of course the music. His work and decades long legend speak for themselves as you shall read right here.” —Johnny Hickman (Cracker)

“This epic oversized two volume Masterpiece is a plethora of Rockstars interviews spanning nearly five decades. It gives you a very cool peek behind the curtain of some of the biggest names in the music business both past and present. It's packed with a treasure trove of info about some of your favorite artists onstage and off, when all the debauchery occurred. This book is an outstanding read and a Must Have for all R&R collectors everywhere. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself. Buy it.....you won't regret it!” —Vera Ramone