YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT

Here's something that doesn't happen often -- two rock-star guitarist autobiographies released on the same day.

On Tuesday (Oct. 30), Ronnie Wood's Ronnie (St. Martin's Press) and Slash's Slash (Harper Collins) arrive on shelves, but only one is really worth reading cover to cover.

Having played with the Jeff Beck Group, The Faces and The Rolling Stones, Wood certainly didn't lack for material. Ronnie, however, is a disappointment, short on depth and insight.

Like a Wood solo album, Ronnie does have its moments. There are worthwhile bits involving Rod Stewart (his Faces bandmate) and Jimi Hendrix (who was briefly a roommate of Wood's in England). Anyone looking for a unique, inside peek into the world of the Stones, either from a personality or musical perspective, will not be satisfied.



Slash (who wrote his book with former Rolling Stone writer Anthony Bozza) offers that and more about Guns N' Roses in his memoir. The Appetite for Destruction segments could be a separate book. During those passages, he recalls the joy of "finding that perfect Les Paul/Marshall combination where the depth of the guitar's tone and the crunch of the amp come together perfectly." And his memory of Martin Chambers' audition to replace ousted GNR drummer Steven Adler is funny.

As expected, there is plenty of debauchery in Slash's book -- many GNR tales involve drinking, drugs or strippers -- but he's not bragging, just reporting in detail what he and his GNR mates did (any many times somebody paid a price). Excess does indeed make for a good read.

A SHORE THING

Tuesday (Oct. 30) is a big day for singer/songwriter Nicole Atkins.

That's when the Jersey Shore-raised musician's first album for Columbia, Neptune City, arrives in stores. On top of that, she and her band, The Sea, are scheduled to perform on CBS' Late Show With David Letterman.

Her official site is www.nicoleatkins.com.