THE RISE OF THE MAD MARCH

By ROBERT ESPENSCHEID JR.

New Adult / Coming of Age / Friendship

Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing

Pages: 374

Publication Date: May 9, 2025

Synopsis

This one is for all the rock bands who never headlined the big stage, who never needed protection getting to the limo, who never made any money, who never got signed, who had no answer to the cry of  “why aren’t you guys famous?” It’s for those who wrote killer songs never heard on the radio, who never made a Rolling Stone cover—or even a mention inside. It’s for those whose collars were always blue, who were promised this and wound up with that, who always opened and never closed.

America, 1973. Christine on lead, Henry on rhythm, Gretchen on bass, and Melissa on drums. A chaotic rise, fighting amongst themselves, battling self-destruction, finding their sound, learning to trust, finding a helping hand, overcoming convention (girls can’t play guitar) to become one band, on one tour, for one month – New York to LA and all the stories in between.

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Review

This book surprised me. Set in the 1970s, it is the perfect time period for these young women to discover themselves and that perhaps life is better than they think.

The story centers around a small band trying to turn their love for music into a full-fledged band. Their journey along the way is inspiring and comical, and it gave me pause to think about how I would have acted or reacted in different situations.

Henry is the ringleader. He pours his heart and soul, and money, into this band. Nothing is cheap when it comes to making music, but they find supporters along the way who want to help them succeed and do it the right way. It is obvious from earlier “gigs” that they need help. Watching this band grow from haphazard playing into a more professional setup is inspiring.

I thought that Henry was older than he was, so during a scene with the two young women, who were around 20 years old, it gave me pause. I later realized he was in his late 20s, so it made more sense.

The young women in the band also have their own stories. Gretchen is tough, but I think she has a softer side that she has to hide to protect herself. Melissa is the glue that holds them together and is more down-to-earth. Christine also has issues with her parents, especially her mom. They want what is best for her, but don’t really know her and what her passions are in life. The guitar is one of them. Despite Gretchen’s dislike of Christine initially, she comes to her defense. This friendship was bound to happen!

I enjoyed the small breaks between chapters, especially the interview with thirteen-year-old Jersey Moon. Despite his young age, the interviews add depth to the story.

This book is for all the bands that hope to make it big. It can happen! It might be harder now, but never stop believing in your dreams.

We give this book 5 paws up.

About the Author

Rob Espenscheid, Jr. is a Connecticut native and a 1966 Wake Forest College graduate. After an Army RVN stint in 1969, Rob pulled up stakes and moved to the rural Midwest, settling in southern Iowa in the early 1970s. Prairie life provided a career tuning and repairing pianos from cattle country small towns to collegiate concert halls. When not tinkering on a piano, he can usually be found either on a golf course or working on a manuscript. In 1998, family connections led to a move, with his wife Sharon, to Smithville, Texas.

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