When the name Bob Seger comes to mind most of us probably think about the fact that he’s sold 50 million albums or been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, but when you compare the songwriter to most of his multi-platinum counterparts you’ll realize that Seger has kept his personal and professional life relatively private—until now, that is. That’s right, the new book Travelin’ Man: On The Road And Behind The Scenes With Bob Seger is a collection of images that was assembled by Seger’s longtime tour manager/photographer Tom Weschler. In addition to featuring an in-depth narrative and interviews the book also features a foreword courtesy of John Mellencamp and afterward penned by Kid Rock, two artists who have continually touted Seger’s influence on modern rock music.
For over four decades Seger has been crafting some of rock’s most memorable anthems such as “Night Moves” and “Turn The Page,” and Travelin’ Man: On The Road And Behind The Scenes With Bob Seger manages to beautifully capture some of Seger’s biggest career milestones including his first gold record in 1977, Seger’s first meeting with Bruce Springsteen in 1978, exclusive shots of Seger both live and in the studio and, of course, his induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame five years ago. A mix of both color and black-and-images, the book manages to show Seger’s career trajectory in a way that’s both classy and iconic and it effectively shows how all the hard work Seger put in at clubs during his nascent days ended up paying off for him tenfold when he eventually headlined places like Cobo Arena in his home state of Michigan.
However in addition to all of the amazing images in Travelin’ Man: On The Road And Behind The Scenes With Bob Seger the real draw of the book is learning the stories behind the songs—and Weschler is teeming with exclusive information about Seger’s creative process and what he was going through during his career. It also introduces you to the cast of characters that Seger surrounded himself with from his bandmates to record executives, all of which come together to form a jigsaw puzzle of Seger’s life. For example, we bet that you didn’t know that Seger’s classic “Turn The Page” was written in a station wagon on the way to Chicago after a strange encounter his group had with some locals at a restaurant in Dubuque, Iowa. Trust us, this is the type of stuff that you’re not going to find anywhere else.
Ultimately if you’re a fan of Bob Seger Travelin’ Man: On The Road And Behind The Scenes With Bob Seger is an essential addition to your coffee table, but even if you’re not familiar with his music, this tome is an inspiring character study on one rock’s most guarded icons. The fact that it also features photos with document all the excess and grandeur of the ‘70s rock scene is just a bonus. But don’t take our word for it, go pick up this book and we guarantee that once you start, you won’t be able to stop turning the page. (Sorry, we had to.)