Road Mangler Deluxe: The Autobiography of Phil Kaufman...Rock'n Roll's Most Outrageous Road Manager

I love this book! It's the funny and heart-felt inside story of the life and times of a rock music insider.Heck,he was the manager for some of thee best darn musical acts in the history of rock and country music.Period.He was not just their bodyguard,he was their friend and mentor as well.He laments about not being there to protect Brian Jones from the druggy landscaper ,who beat him over the head with a shovel.Jones was then dumped into a swimming pool,to make it look accidental.Phil Kaufman was earlier fired by the Stones ,that crazy and care-free Summer of 1969.It's not his fault Brian later died.It's amazing their musical act is still top-notch after touring for fourty plus years. Later ,Phil helped Manson record an album called ,"LIE". Everyone in the music industry,did not want anything to do with Charles Manson.And even Terry Melchoir and Dennis Wilson gave up on Manson and his Family,when the sessions began to fall apart.(Manson sounded more like Bobby Darrin the Crooner than a psychodelic hipster.)Manson's music is awesome ,yet their sinister religious beliefs led to the terrible slayings that landed most of the Family ,on ice .Manson was very charasmatic and had impressive song writing and singing ability.Yet, his age played a strong barrier in an industry obsessed with beauty and youth.Phil blames himself for the LaBianca murders,because Phil was one of Manson's targets.Phil was not home ,at his bungaloo,so the Mansonites went next-door to the LaBianca's mansion.So,the urban myth goes.It turns out that Leno LaBianca owed large amounts of money ,in gambling loses .He was using money from his super-market empire to cover some of his loses.I think Manson's heroin supplier was aware of this.And directed the Mansons to go next-door,if Phil was not at his bungaloo.Of course,'someone' had called Phil away from the scene ,earlier that evening.It's no surprise and no one blames Phil for leaving the hippy-dippy L.A. scene for the real Music City of Nashville. -Ps-Gram(O'Kelley)Parsons died way to soon.Gram Parsons was like the real-life Keith(Cassidy)Partidge in many ways. -If you know the story, behind the music, it adds to the enjoyment of reading this excellent musical autobiography.Bright Blessings and God Speed to Phil Kaufman.Buy this book !

Incredible tale of an amazing guy. We have known each other for over 60 years and I can vouch for the accuracy of his story. Many men lead lives of quiet desperation - not Philip Kaufman. His every moment is an adventure filled with humor and exuberance.

I first became interested in Phil Kaufman after watching the bonus footage section on the DVD "Grand Theft Parsons". After a little internet searching I came across this book. I am so glad that I did! What an amazing story. If there weren't photos & liner notes to back up this man's tale one might not believe it. Phil, known as "The Mangler", has gone from being a former inmate & friend to a pre-Helter Skelter Charlie Manson to the Executive Nanny of the Rolling Stones. He has been an inspiration to the likes of Frank Zappa & fulfilled the now infamous last wish of his friend & colleague Gram Parsons. He has traveled the world with such acts as Joe Cocker & long time friend Emmylou Harris. He has acted in Hollywood, riden across England by Harley & has Mangled his way through rock & roll. His body's tattoos seem to be as colorful as his vocabulary & memory. In the words of actress Elizabeth Ashley, the Mangler seems to truly be "terribly funny, mythological & charismatic". To read him is to love him. Even if you are not interested in the music industry, you have to read this man's story. It will keep you laughing & dazzled the whole way through. May Phil continue his Mangling ways for many years to come!

I first read about Phil Kaufman in the book, Hickory Wind: The Life And Times Of Gram Parsons by Ben Fong-Torres. I wanted to learn more about Phil and his friendship with Gram Parsons so I bought the book Road Mangler Deluxe. I'm glad I did. After reading his book I think he's one of the most interesting people in the music business. He's done quite a few things in his life. He's been an actor, an unsuccessful drug smuggler which lead to his time in prison, he was an executive nanny for the Rolling Stones and he's been a road manager for The Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart and Frank Zappa just to name a few. He still works for Emmylou Harris. He's known her since his days with Gram Parsons. He even knew Charles Manson. He first met Manson while serving time at Terminal Island prison in Califorina. Phil was there because of his previous drug bust. I think Manson's crime at this time was forgery. After both were out of prison Phil produced a record album for Charles Manson called LIE which was released in 1971. By that time Manson was back in prison because of the Tate/La Bianca murders. Road Mangler Deluxe is full of great stories about Phil Kaufman's colorful life. Gram Parsons was lucky to have Phil Kaufman as a friend. We should all be so lucky.

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