The Devil of Shakespeare - Softcover

Billy McCarthy (aka Billy Dior) was born and raised in the Chicago outskirt suburbs of West Pullman, Roseland and Calumet Park. A self-taught drummer and classical pianist, he is most notable as a rock drummer with ’80s Atlantic Records recording artists D’Molls and a published author of two books: The Devil of Shakespeare (a thriller published in 2004), and Beat Me ’Til I’m Famous (a memoir published in 2017). He is also the producer of Ferocious Drummers, a documentary film in the making on famous drummers. The Devil of Shakespeare is the first novel in literary history to include a CD and song to a novel. The music was written by McCarthy and features platinum recording artists James Young (JY, Styx), Jani Lane (Warrant) as well as Ron Flynt (20/20), Chip Z'Nuff (Enuff Z'nuff), and McCarthy. As a musician, Billy toured exclusively under Creative Artists Agency(CAA). His booking agent was the late Bobby Brooks at CAA, who died tragically in a helicopter crash with legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. McCarthy has recorded with the likes of record producers Eddie Kramer (Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Frampton) in his former band Kid Rocker, and Kevin Beamish (Kenny Chesney, REO Speedwagon) who produced D’Molls. He was managed by deceased famed music managers Bill Aucoin (KISS, Billy Idol) and Gerry Tolman (Crosby, Stills & Nash). In 1983, McCarthy and C.C. Deville formed the LA band Screamin' Mimi's, who introduced, "Talk Dirty to Me," to a live audience in 1984. McCarthy also drummed briefly in this period with guitarist Izzy Stradlin of Guns N’ Roses. McCarthy was the exclusive music producer for comedian Rodney Dangerfield's son, Brian Jessy, a reclusive unknown folk artist whom McCarthy pens a genius songwriter and singer on the level of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Don Henley. McCarthy hosted his own radio show on KIEV in LA, and had a brief stand-up comedy run in Austin, Texas, and LA. He abruptly quit comedy, citing the main reason in his memoir, Beat Me ’Til I’m Famous: “Those [comedians] I met were for the most part social recluses and had dry personalities offstage ... most were miserable wannabes and spiteful souls.” Billy McCarthy has appeared in national print media, including VH1, MTV, Fox, ABC, PBS, Chicago Tribune, Publishers Weekly, Chicago Reader, Red Eye, Hollywood Reporter, and more. Billy McCarthy resides in Chicago. Connect on FB: https://www.facebook.com/beatmebilly/ https://www.facebook.com/FerociousDrummers