Steve Wynn Talks About His New Memoir, ‘I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True’
By Bruce Haring
Steve Wynn’s U.S. Storytellers evening supporting his memoir (I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True) and new album (Make It Right) kicks off in two weeks on October 8 at New York’s City Winery with the fabulous Tammy Faye Starlite opening—the first of 20 shows.
The Daily World Reporter asked a few questions about his debut memoir and tour.
Daily World Reporter: How does the process of book editing compare to studio production?
Steve Wynn: The one biggest similarity is that it’s hard to know when to stop. And that nitpicking and changing one problem can lead to 10 more loose threads that don’t make sense. But on a record, those little broken bits end up being the most charming and most memorable moments. Not so with a book. Nothing charming about questionable grammar, inconsistencies in story, misspelled names and misremembered tales. So, you just gotta keep digging to make sure that page 200 reads as true as page 20. It’s a process.
DWR: Did you self-edit yourself a lot when writing?
SW: Nope. I’m a fast typist so I just let the fingers fly and worry about the editing and second thoughts later. In that way, it is pretty similar to the way I like to make records and write songs. Work quickly, don’t let your brain and insecurities get in the way, and fix it later. Or as Nick Lowe used to say, “Bash it out, tart it up later.”
DWR:Feedback from those mentioned in the book – anyone angry?
SW: Wow, not yet thankfully! But I made a point in saving most of the critical assessment for myself. I’m pretty sure I’ll never hear back from Karl Precoda, though, and sadly, Sandy Pearlman is no longer with us. Too bad–I wish I could have met up with him one more time to talk about the past. I hope he would be okay with the way I depicted the Medicine Show sessions. It was pretty honest.
DWR: Who is reading on your tour?
SW: I’d generally say that of my bandmates, Peter Buck and Dennis Duck are the biggest on-tour readers, though I’ve been known to crack a digital spine.
DWR: You vow to do a part two book. What is the concept?
SW: You know, I always have an idea about what my next album will be like, and then I completely change my mind once I get started. I think it will be the same with the next book. It would be easy and make sense to pick up where I left off. But, who knows, maybe it will just be a guide to where to get the best burgers on tour.
DWR: Is there a novel in you?
DWR: What is your take on how AI will affect the book, film and music industries?
SW: I just saw a commercial about how Apple AI will summarize what you read and write. I hate being summarized! Bah, humbug, get off my lawn. I had very good editors on this book, but they were all flesh and blood. I’d like to keep it that way.