October 1997 -- Nino "The Greaseman" Mannelli released his first book titled And They Ask Me Why I Drink? on Pocket Books. Here is the front & back cover art
(click on the images for larger versions where you can read the fine print):
The 196 page hardcover contains a collection of Grease's stories and anecdotes presented in a sort of autobiographical format. The entire book is "in character"--meaning
his real name Doug Tracht is not mentioned once. The book is simply an extension of his radio show--The Grease Show in print, if you will--not a true autobiography of
the author. The disclaimer at the beginning sets the stage: This book is funny. The Greaseman is dealing with only a limited grasp on reality and anything he says must be
taken with a grain of salt. As his psychiatrist says, the guy is nuts, grab him.
Where can I buy the book?
I bought mine at the local Borders in it's first printing. It is now out-of-print, but you can find it online at these places:
The book jacket text
The text on the inside of the book jacket is a nice mini-biography of the Greaseman, so I thought I'd reprint it here to give you an idea of what to expect if you're
interested in the book:
Grease wasn't always the duck-walking, big-time Boss Jock we've come to admire. Oh no, far from it. Time after time, in a procession of professions, he had to lay his
doodads on the line and take a whacking. For comfort he turned to the bottle, women, and even a shrink--the story of his hideous experience and eventual triumph could fill a
book (gee, what a coincidence).
Now in his signature story-spinning style, Nino "The Greaseman" Mannelli is dropping all inhibitions (and trow) to share the lust-laden saga he calls his life. Follow
Grease on his tempestuous journey, from a dysfunctional childhood to his alcohol-consuming adulthood; from the atrocities of Vietnam to the indignities of West Virginia;
from his first hobble to his first wife (that pig, Estelle); and on the countless jobs--doctor, lawyer, lawman--he held before soaring to unfathomable heights on the
airwaves.
Complete with a glossary of Greasemanese terminology and a hilarious rap parody sing-along, AND THEY ASK ME WHY I DRINK? is an orgy of comedic wit filled with enough
hobbling, gobbling, and snarlin' to reach Shangri-la over and over again.
Nino "The Greaseman" Mannelli started his insanity at Ithaca College, where he began his twenty-eight-year broadcasting career. The "Greaseman" moniker was born in
his junior year, while working as a DJ at a Binghamton, New York, top-40 radio station in the 1970s. Today, Grease and his "Funny Little Honey," Anita, reside in a hillside
retreat overlooking the lights of Los Angeles. How SCHWEET!
My comments on the jacket text:
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