Howling at the Moon by Walter Yetnikoff, with David Ritz

Walter Yetnikoff’s memoir, Howling at the Moon, pulls back the velvet curtain on the record-biz boom of the 1980s through the eyes of the man who ran it.

Born to a working-class Brooklyn family, Yetnikoff worked his way from law school grad to president of CBS Records, wielding more clout than any label boss of his era. He coached Barbra Streisand, soothed Michael Jackson, sparred with David Geffen, outfoxed Rupert Murdoch, and nearly squared off with Mick Jagger—while riding a personal roller-coaster of cocaine, alcohol, and staggering excess.

At the apex of his power a doctor warned he had three months to live, precipitating a crash-and-burn that matched his meteoric rise. Co-written with acclaimed music biographer David Ritz, Howling at the Moon delivers a raw, fast-moving portrait of glamour, chaos, and survival inside the high-stakes world of pop music.

Details:

• ISBN: 9780349117973
• Pages: 305
• Publisher: Abacus (2004)
• Format: Paperback