This Then and Now is brought to you by the book I am currently reading – King Dork by Frank Portman. aka: Dr. Frank

Dr. Frank is the lead singer of a band I like very much, The Mr. T Experience, aka: MTX. He also rights a blog I read regularly. This is his first book, and it’s wonderful. Funny. Touching. And chock full of rock – n -roll. I’m only a third of the way through, so I am going to use the blurb to tell you what it’s about.

Tom Henderson (a.k.a. King Dork, Chi-mo, Hender-fag, and Sheepie) is a typical American high school loser until he discovers the book, The Catcher in the Rye, that will change the world as he knows it. When Tom discovers his deceased fatherís copy of the Salinger classic, he finds himself in the middle of several interlocking conspiracies and at least half a dozen mysteries involving dead people, naked people, fake people, ESP, blood, a secret code, guitars, monks, witchcraft, the Bible, girls, the Crusades, a devil head, and rock and roll. And it all looks like itís just the tip of a very odd iceberg of clues that may very well unravel the puzzle of his fatherís death andñoddlyñreveal the secret to attracting semihot girls.

Being in a band could possibly be the secret to the girl thingñbut good luck finding a drummer who can count to four.

Music plays a big part of the book, especially rock and bubblegum pop from the 70’s. Which naturally I love, since that music is from my childhood. I had to dig out Sweet’s Desolation Boulevard the other day, and listen to it loud, after reading the first few chapters. How can I not love a book that specifically mentions the importance of a song like Wig Wam Bam?

Wig Wam Bam – Sweet

Sometimes it feels like cheating to use the Donnas in a Then and Now, they’ve covered plenty of songs. But extra special chocolate chip fudgey props to them for covering this one! Now if I could only get someone to cover Spark’s Eaten by the Monster of Love.

Wig Wam Bam – The Donnas