From poet Mick Stern on TOUCHED BY GRACE:

To paraphrase the ancient Greeks, "Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make rock and roll stars." In Gary Lucas’s absorbing first-hand account of the brief, dazzling career of Jeff Buckley, the young singer’s fate seems almost absurdly overdetemined. Heir to the talent of a father he never knew, handsome, insecure, a great but naive artist adrift in the shark-infested music industry, he evidently had no inner compass. As his chief collaborator both in song-writing and performance, Lucas records his efforts to provide Buckley with some guidance and common sense, but Buckley was apparently not paying attention. Only Lucas’ efforts to expand the singer's musical education bore fruit. Lucas himself achieved his special nexus of fame as an avant-garde rocker in the old school of hard knocks. In terms of longevity, he has more in common with the old blues masters than he does with than the lastest pop idol. One of the most interesting aspects of this book is his description of the treachery and egotism of the music industry, and how hard it is for a non-commercial musician to survive. In addition to providing Buckley’s fans with a feast of anecdotes, this book tells it like it is in the music biz, especially for independent and alternative musicians. Lucas writes in clear, straightforward prose, like Keith RIchards, except his vocabulary is bigger.