In the Back of the Van: The Story of One Unforgettable Summer

From the band’s first job on the Cape where they almost got arrested, to the famed Boston Tea Party gig, this book puts you on stage with the author as he plays drums behind Van Morrison. Witness Van’s blowup at the Psychedelic Supermarket, experience the magical night at the Rocky Point Amusement Park. This story chronicles the events of that memorable summer, and gives an intimate look at the famed songwriter and performer at a critical juncture in his life. Spanning the summer between Brown Eyed Girl and Astral Weeks, the author gives a glimpse of Boston in the year 1968, and some insight into the factors that were to influence one of the most productive musical outputs of our time. This is the story of that unforgettable summer.In the Back of the Van also takes you through the Author’s own musical journey from his first drum set, through his years studying at Berklee College of Music, to his experiences working and jamming around Boston with some of the best musicians of the day. A coming of age story with a touch of almost famous. Edition 2 also contains additional material from the 50th Anniversary of the Band, Controversy. Good job, Joe. Your book brought back a lot of memories, especially playing chess in the park. Tom Kielbania