Liar, Alleged
A Tell-All: Celebrities, Sex, and All the Rest
by David Vass
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Pub Date 17 Sep 2023 | Archive Date 1 Jul 2024
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Description
In the 50s, gays took on stereotypical roles David Vass did not embrace. “I wasn’t a top, bottom, butch or fem - I scared the shit out of all the homos I met!” Entertaining, humorous, and shocking, he reveals secrets of the record labels (how he became a mafia money runner), juicy, never-before-told anecdotes about legendary celebrities - Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe and Tony award winners that he technical directed. Over 100 World Class difficult personalities were kept in line by Vass. Many shared their secrets with him.
“At seven, I stopped talking for two years because of a speech impediment and started writing. Diaries were the first of my addictions. I wrote down everything that happened to me for seven decades. These outrageous experiences are the bones of my book; I hope none of the mobsters I knew will leave a horse’s head in my bed!”
David’s story is still relevant, given today’s political backpedaling of our civil liberties. His life is raunchy, hilarious, twisted, and brutally honest. A laugh-out-loud page-turner: gay little boy of the 50s, stumbles into the dangerous world of strip clubs in the 60s where he learned his talent as a technical director. Working the hottest clubs and iconic theatres, record labels lined up to contract him for his ‘celebrity-whisperer’ talents and his connections to the mob in the 70s.
The fun he had in prison; “best sex of my life”, thrills with pills, robbing his mother in drag thinking she wouldn’t recognize him. She did. His salacious adventures in a pre-AIDs world. A homo-hobo, Vass’s mash-up is brutally honest and a cautionary tale laced with inspiration.
Advance Praise
An engrossing show-biz account, deftly mixing sexual energy with poignant character sketches …Vass’ writing is full of brilliantly revealing, nuanced profiles of celebrities, informed by his years of raptly studying their flaws so as to soften them with artifice … a perceptive examination of the truth lying beneath the entertainment industry’s surface fakery … an absorbing account of the art of lighting and sound mixing in stage acts, with many vivid details and acerbic commentary … raucous memoir
- Kirkus Star Winner Review
A deliciously salacious chronicle…Vass recounts his story with panache and honest self-reflection, making this work hard, if not impossible, to put down…a clear, concise, and buoyant prose style that is filled with both wry humor and surprising tenderness…a knack for keeping readers invested on every page…chronicling his encounters and friendships with actors, musicians and celebrities, Vass offers readers a fascinating, literal 'behind-the-scenes' glimpse into the nuts and bolts of music and theater…Vass writes candidly and openly about both his personal and professional endeavors, struggles with addiction, sexual relationships and his lifelong refusal to become confined to a label… most impactful are the touching anecdotes he shares about seemingly larger-than-life individuals who face their own demons and quiet tragedies
- Book Live Prize
… a crazy trip across the decades in this tell-all that is equal parts outrageous exposé and lively humor, while remaining utterly genuine … a tone as audacious and self-assured as the writer, Vass describes his remarkable existence, dispelling myths and negotiating the perilous entertainment world … defying the expectations of the 1950s gay scene … the mood for a story that is unabashedly surprising, hilarious, and engaging … reveals his surprising position as a mafia money runner and shares delicious, never-before-told anecdotes about great celebrities, pulling back the veil on the record labels … Unexpected turns occur, including a stint in prison that he calls the "best sex of my life," drug-fueled delights, and a bold event where he robs his mother while disguised as a drag queen—a moment that skillfully blends humor and intimacy. Vass's candid assessment of his scandalous adventures in a world pre-AIDS lends the narrative substance and emphasizes the perseverance required to get by during a time when the LGBTQ+ community faced unique challenges … more than just a memoir; it's a moving story filled with inspiration that should be read carefully. Vass's blend of sardonic humor and ruthless honesty results in a story that is still relevant, particularly considering the political landscape of today and the continuous fight for civil rights … a moving story filled with inspiration that should be read carefully. A blend of sardonic humor and ruthless honesty results in a story that is still relevant, particularly considering the political landscape of today and the continuous fight for civil rights … the narration is brazen, his voice unapologetic … captivating and thought-provoking, drawing readers into an absurd and inspirational universe that stays with them long after the last page is turned.
- 5 Star Review - Gold Badge, Review by Michael Beas
“Highly recommended! In his new memoir, “Liar, Alleged: A Tell-all: Celebrities, Sex, and all the Rest,” David Vass recalls his life behind the scenes in show business, growing up gay during the 1950s and ‘60s, and much more... It’s raunchy, yes, but well worth checking out for those who love reading about show biz and for those who have an open mind about sexuality.”
- Review by Bay Area Reporter, David-Elijah Nahmod
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9798989074501 |
| PRICE | US$5.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 281 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Ann M, Reviewer
This is a juicy dishy book that is a coming of age queer memoir through the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and up to present day. Honestly, this book is very explicit and funny and I could not put it down. This book is not for the faint hearted and you will be clutching your pearls throughout! The author gives an insider view to show business, working as a tech person for many famous clubs and entertainers. I loved his interactions with Anita O' Day, Ella Fitzgerald, and Peggy Lee as well as many others. At the end of the book, he has tidbits of other celebrities and hints at other gossip that would be in his next memoir -- yes, please, I can't wait to read that one too. A rollicking, funny, poignant read!
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.
