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Denver Music Promoter Barry Fey Pens Tell-All Book

DENVER (CBS4) - He's been Denver's premiere rock and roll promoter for more than 40 years, and now Barry Fey has a new book that tells the backstage stories of those years.

CBS4 Critic at Large Greg Moody reviewed the book and interviewed Fey.

"Barry Fey is one of the great characters of Denver history. He's seen it all and he's pretty much done it all when it comes to rock and roll over the past 45 years," Moody said. "Now the man has a book, and the man comes clean each and every page. It's not always pretty, but it's always Barry."

If you begin your career as a promoter at the dawn of rock and roll, you're going to have some stories to tell.

"In 1997 people said, 'You've got such great stories, you've got to write a book,' " Fey said. "That was a mantra I've heard for years."

And if you're Fey, you're going to tell them honestly.

"If I'm going to try to write a book, I've got to be me," Fey said. "I owe it to the people, especially this community, to tell them the truth. Everything in here is the truth. At least from my eyes."

Including the very famous tale Of Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses leaving the stage.

"And Axl had left the building, unbeknownst to me. He did one song, ran off the stage and jumped in the limo," he said. "A couple of weeks previous to our show he had done the same sort of thing and there was a riot, people were hurt and there was a lot of damage … unlike what Lars says, I did not put a gun to Axl's head. It was in my back pocket."

There's a lot more in the book -- big names and small -- shocking and emotional. But like listening to Fey talk -- it's magic woven on the page, according to Moody.

"'Backstage Past' is history of a golden age of music," Moody said.

"I am the quintessential example of being at the right place at the right time," Fey said.

Fey's 'Backstage Past' is $25 in hardcover from Lone Wolfe Press. Can catch a break on that price on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, Kindle or Nook.

Fey has a signing Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Twist & Shout on Colfax and Elizabeth. He has another next Tuesday at the LoDo Tattered Cover at 7:30 p.m.

"I've heard all these stories over the years and I never thought Barry would have the guts to write them down. But Barry being Barry -- he did," Moody said.

LINK: Backstage Past

- Greg Moody is CBS4's Critic At Large. His reports on CBS4 News are featured on the CBSDenver.com Entertainment section.

- Also, don't miss Moody's entertaining bio, his Top Spots in Denver lists, and his frequently updated Moody's Picks page.

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