The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon

An incredible autobiography of the singer of one of the most influential bands in NYHC history. John Joseph adds a lot of feeling and emotion to his writing. He paints such a vivid description of 80's New York-from Alphabet City to Coney Island. It is a story of "Survival of the Streets". A story of "Hard Times". It is a story of "Street Justice". Hold onto your sets because Babylon is coming!

This book was like a reality check. What ever your story, you can get what ever you want in life. John opens up to abuse as a child to manhood and a few "woops" on the way. He always finds a way to rise to the top of his game in life. Cro-Mag fan's will love the inside dirt and new ones to the "Cro's" or to John Joseph will find a wonderful story of the trials and tribulations that made J.J. who he is today.

Living in Alphabet City in the early 1980s, I remember the energy and brutality of a Cro-Mags' concert. I continue to go to shows as I grow older, but every band I see pales in comparison. However, reading this book brought back all the emotion and excitement of a 1980s hardcore show. To say I was hanging on Joseph's every word doesn't do the book justice - I was glued to every page. Yeah, the man is a musician, but don't let that fool you. John Joseph is an incredible storyteller with the unique ability to take you along for the ride. For those of you who grew up in NYC in the 1980s, Joseph's incredibly detailed stories will bring you back twenty years. And for anyone else, this book is like a summer abroad in Manhattan before it became Disney World. Still, the most amazing part of the book is John's life. For a person with such a tough image, it's admirable that he gives you such exclusive access to a life full of highs, lows, and everything in between. Yeah, this book isn't likely to get into Oprah's Book Club, but it's the kind of story that everyone can relate to in one way or another. An absolute must-read.

You will never be same after getting to know John Joseph's life story. It blows my mind that someone who saw so much poverty, violence and suffering ended up being such a productive and compassionate member of society. Joseph describes the old New York City of the 70s and 80s so vividly and hilariously, I felt like I'd seen it myself. This guy is more than just a talented musician, his writing is killer.

I picked up this book because I've been a Cro-Mags fan for a while and always found them somewhat fascinating, the exteremely influential New York hardcore band associated just as much with violence and agression as with Hare Krishna philosophies. Admittedly, when I got the book and saw how big it was, I found myself a little intimidated; John Joseph could definitely sing and write lyrics, but I had no idea if he could write an interesting four-hundred-plus page book. What I found was that John could definitely write, and pretty damn well. The book starts out with a fast pace, which continues straight through to the end, and really just gets better and better as the story unravels. John writes about his childhood, homeless living on the streets, his time in the Navy, time with the Hare Krishnas, and naturally, the Cro-Mags. I would agree with the review above that the Cro-Mags section of the story isn't even the most interesting of the many stories in this book. Between anecdotes, John talks about his spirituality and beliefs regarding religion, the after-life, and life philosophies. These sections blend very easily with the episodic moments in the book and with the longer stories. His outlook and message are very positive, and I would recommend this book to just about anybody, not just hardcore or Cro-Mags fans.