1960s rock history
A01=Larry. R. McNeny
American rock culture 1960s 1970s
Author_Larry. R. McNeny
behind the scenes rock memoir
Carl Radle Tulsa sound
Category=AV
Category=AVLP
Category=AVN
Category=AVP
Category=DNBF
Category=DNC
Category=KNTF
classic rock fans book
classic rock memoir
Dallas musician story
Dallas to LA music story
eq_art-fashion-photography
eq_bestseller
eq_biography-true-stories
eq_business-finance-law
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_music
eq_new_release
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
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insider view music business
Iron Butterfly history
Los Angeles music industry 1960s
Mitch Ryder music memoir
music management memoir
resilience in rock music
Southern California Battle of the Bands
Southwest music history
TCU Press Texas Music Series
Texas music memoir
Texas rock 'n' roll history
The Troggs rock band
The Who tour stories
Tulsa music scene
Product details
- ISBN 9780875659596
- Dimensions: 152 x 229mm
- Publication Date: 31 May 2026
- Publisher: Texas Christian University Press
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Hardback
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Blood, Guts, and No Glory is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at chasing rock 'n' roll dreams in the 1960s and 1970s. Larry McNeny began as a teenage musician in Dallas, Texas, building a regional band that shared stages with legends like The Troggs, Mitch Ryder, Iron Butterfly, and The Who. But when stardom slipped away and his bandmates scattered, Larry discovered his true calling: the business side of music. From booking gigs and negotiating deals to rubbing shoulders with rock's elite, Larry's relentless drive eventually led him to Los Angeles and then Tulsa, where he landed in the orbit of Eric Clapton and bassist Carl Radle. Immersed in the whirlwind of tours, trades, and backstage chaos, Larry learned that success in the music industry often came with sacrifice—and that the pursuit of glory was as grueling as it was electrifying. Part memoir, part music history, Blood, Guts, and No Glory captures the grit, heartbreak, and unexpected turns of a life lived at the heart of rock 'n' roll. A standout in the TCU Press Texas Music Series, this book resonates with readers of music biographies, cultural history, and classic rock fans eager for an insider's view of the industry's golden age.
Larry McNeny was born in Dallas, Texas, where an early love of music replaced the usual childhood sports. Inspired by the Beatles in the 1960s, he picked up a guitar and spent nearly a decade playing clubs and dances across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana before heading to Los Angeles in pursuit of a record deal. After winning multiple Battle of the Bands competitions in Southern California but still coming up short on a contract, Larry turned his attention to the business side of the industry. As the one who booked gigs, rented vans, arranged travel, and handled the money, he discovered his true strength in music management and business strategy. That shift launched a career that became, as he says, "history—or in this case, my story."
