Keith Stern’s book, For Entertainment Only, is a sprawling memoir that takes you behind the scenes of the music scene and the movies. Beginning early at age 11, Stern finds himself sitting at a table next to John Wayne in Trader Vic’s, happy to find he fits the stereotype of a ‘man’s man’.
As a teenager, he steps into a world of Beetles, beaches, and babes, but growing up ‘different’ with somewhat dysfunctional ancestors leads him into the path of showbusiness, following the path of TV idols and recording artists.
He loved photography, watching and discovering new bands, and yet, he lived during a fascinating time for activism. A section of the book devoted to Vietnam (family string-pulling let Stern avoid the draft) and to Tricky Dicky Nixon set the story of star-spotting and befriending into historical context.
Being American and gay, Stern devotes some time to the discussion of religious evangelism and the cult of Scientology. It’s a tough narration but a one threaded through with hurt, as persecution and the word of the Lord often seem to walk hand in hand.
Hearing an account of the legendary Chelsea Hotel from someone who was in the midst of it will impress some readers, while many will leaf to the end of the book to hear about Stern’s involvement with the Lord of the Rings franchise.
Stop off to hear about CBGB, the Milestone, and other clubs, and thumb the pages for anecdotes about a variety of music artists from Paul McCartney to Iggy Pop. Marvel at the reality of 1980s LA, with its no-go areas and swanky Beverly Hills post boxes.
Elsewhere, Stern discusses his book (and accompanying website), Queers in History, and the Internet revolution of the mid-1990s that offered a new career path: making websites, notably Ian McKellen’s site that gives information and solicits interactivity.
A segue about a psychopathic younger boyfriend can be skipped, but For Entertainment Only is a chatty, occasionally indiscreet, memoir that will interest those who retain a fascination with the trappings of fame – for example, if you didn’t know director Peter Jackson took the set of his Hobbit films home to make a quirky guest house, now you do!
Stern’s For Entertainment Only is somewhat unfocused but heartfelt, and is useful reading for those who wonder about PR and publicity, and whether the snow on movie screens is real.
For Entertainment Only by Keith Stern is available from all good booksellers, with information here.