David J. Schow - The Kill Riff

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David J. Schow - The Kill Riff (Futura 1990, MacDonald, 1989)

Blurb:

JUSTICE

Lucas Ellington's daughter is dead, trampled by an out-of-control mob at a rock concert turned riot. There was no trial, but Lucas has identified the murderers - the band, Whip Hand.

VENGEANCE

Two of Gabriel Stannard's old bandmates are dead. Whip Hand's former lead singer knows who killed them. Stannard will not be a passive target.

MADNESS

Rock and roll forever ... until death.

Before you even get to the story, there's a scowling disclaimer from Schow, perhaps wary that we will recall rock and pop concert tragedies past and think .... Ah! I know who he's gunning for!

"The stuff that happens in The Kill Riff is made up. It is NOT REAL. The people are not real people. This is what is meant when you read "any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental." If you claim this book has made you do weird things, you should be locked away where you cannot hurt anyone.
Repeat: I made it all up. That's why it's called fiction — DJS

Sixteen-year old Kirsten Ellington is among thirteen audience members killed in a riot at LA's Civic Auditorium during a set by metal mutha's Whip Hand. Her father, ex-Viet vet Lucas Ellington is still reeling from an acrimonious divorce and the suicide of his wife, Cory, when the tragedy occurs and it tips him over the edge. Having mock-assassinated Whip Hand's lead singer Gabriel Stannard on the courtroom steps with a toy gun during the protracted trial, Ellington is "advised" by the band's lawyers to attend a psychiatric clinic at their expense.

After the customary twenty second postponement out of respect to the deceased and their families, the tour continued. Death sells and Whip Hand coined it in . Now they've split, with each member either going solo or joining other bands like the notorious 'Gasm ("classic black leather nonsense" according to Garris of the On The Brink record shop and going by such contributions to modern rock as Bend 'n Spread 'Em and Cock Knock, he's like as not a good judge in such matters. 'Gasm also feature in the Schow short Odeed.

A year later and Ellington is pronounced "cured", even if he's still plagued by nightmares/ revenge fantasies. He's also fallen for his shrink, the beautiful Sara and the attraction is mutual. But still those visions of Kirsten all crushed and broken; still that sense of unfinished business; still that need for vengeance.

Ellington's old buddy Burt has kept his job open at the Kroeger Concepts Ad agency and isn't the least put out when Lucas requests immediate the loan of a tape-deck and time off so he can go get some fresh air at his remote cabin in the mountains near Point Pitt.

Cue Rambo versus rock stars.

Axeman Jackson Knox's sound-check at the Rocklands is more eventful than most on account of the antipersonnel mine Lucas have rigged to his monitor which leaves the guitarist looking like "someone had pushed him through a tree shredder. As a sales boost for his current album, Panic Stop, it's a Godsend and one which it is to be hoped the various pieces of Jackson would appreciate. "Write a jerk-off wet-dream child-molesting ditty about that, you overpaid baboon ...."

Next, Brion Hardin, keyboard wizard in residence with Electroshock, is repeatedly stabbed in his hotel room. Ellington dresses this one up as the work of a Religious nutter with a down on 'Satanic Metal'.

Up until now Schow has loaded the novel to ensure that the readers' sympathies are with the bereaved father, but after the spectacular onstage slaughter of 'Gasm (for which he's only partially responsible), he skillfully turns the story on it's head.

And that's when it starts getting really good ....