Book Review: Redbone

Redbone by Sonia Paolini and Christian Staebler and illustrated by Thibault Balahy is a graphic novel covering the 1970’s rock band by the same name. Those of you who know 70s rock and roll better than I did before reading this book would know “Come and Get Your Love”, most recognizable to Marvel fans as part of the Guardian of the Galaxy mixtape. However, the song I found myself loving most was “We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee.”

Redbone, which is Creole for a person of mixed heritage, was the first band with all Native American members to gain major popularity. The story is presented as a series of conversations between the surviving member of the band, Pat Vegas, and a relative. Told in sections divided by years, this graphic novel starts the story with Pat and Lolly Vegas, two brothers that began singing L.A. clubs in the early 1960’s, and follows them as they grow in popularity. The brothers had to change their name because the original name of Vasquez was “too Mexican” for the audiences of the time. At some point in the late 1960’s, they met Jimi Hendrix, who gave them the idea of starting an all Native band. The two brothers set out to find another guitarist, Tony Bellamy, and a drummer, Peter DePoe. Redbone covers both the band's artistic journey in finding their sound, their activism, and involvement with AIM (The American Indian Movement), and how the two blended together. I was personally unfamiliar with the band, and found this to be a great introduction to their history. Listening to their songs and watching YouTube video interviews as I read elevated the experience. Whether you are a big Redbone fan of any age or wish to learn more about 1970’s rock and modern Native American history, this book is a great introduction to both.

This book, and other great music biographies, can be found locally at your favorite bookstore: Artefaktual Comics in Philippi, WV!