Title: Dark Side of Liberace
Author: Spero Pastos
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-5144-5808-2
Pages: 252
Genre: Biography / Entertainment & Performing Arts
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent
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Before Lady Gaga, Prince, and Elton John, there was Liberace. The flamboyant star of the golden age of Hollywood had an exciting life on the surface, but also harbored a lot of demons. Spero Pastos tells all in a salacious and fascinating biography of the legendary pianist in The Dark Side of Liberace.
Władziu Valentino Liberace, or Lee as he was known to friends, was a glamorous star in the 1950’s who combined classical and pop music to gain millions of adoring female fans. While women loved him, Liberace was a closet gay man who had unsafe sexual dalliances with many men, which led to his dying of AIDS in 1987. Liberace lashed out at those who threatened to out him and even sued publications that said he was gay. While Liberace was decked out in furs and had candelabras on his pianos, he was a tortured, insecure man in private. Liberace was a talented legend to many, but also was a complex man who was a victim of the homophobic environment he lived in as well.
Pastos captures Liberace’s life so vividly in this biography. His interviews with Lee’s friends and lovers provide more insight into his life. Pastos delves into his personal life and why Liberace had to remain closeted in the McCarthy witch-hunts of the 1950’s. The contrast of Liberace’s wild sexual proclivities and the repressed times of the 50’s shows how he struggled to present a perfect façade while dealing with the harsh realities of fame. Pastos astutely writes about the turmoil and bullying that burdened his life as an effeminate young gay man that shaped his decision to stay in the closet.
The Dark Side of Liberace is a great read for fans of Liberace or classic pop music. This juicy biography is a must-read for readers who love stories about the seamy side of Hollywood and Las Vegas. Fans of tell-all celebrity biographers like Kitty Kelley will love Pastos’ work. The book is also a fitting companion to the campy HBO biography of Liberace, Behind the Candelabra.
The biography is steamy with many tales of sex, drugs, and beautiful clothes, but also provides thoughtful insight. Pastos writes movingly about Liberace’s tumultuous family life and his talent as a classically trained pianist that influenced his life. He also effectively writes about how Liberace’s gender-bending persona paved the way for many artists that followed him. The Dark Side of Liberace is a perfect book for anyone who wants to learn about an American musical legend.
