Christian Staebler

Sonia Paoloni

Experience the riveting, powerful story of the American Indian civil rights movement and the resulting struggle for identity told through the high-flying career of west coast rock n' roll pioneers, Redbone. You've heard the hit song "Come and Get Your Love" in the movie Guardians of the Galaxy, but the story of the band behind it is one of cultural, political, and social importance. Brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas were talented American Indian rock musicians that took the 1960s Sunset Strip by storm. They influenced The Doors and jammed with Jimmy Hendrix before he was "Jimi," and the idea of a band made up of all American Indians soon followed. Determined to control their creative vision and maintain their cultural identity, they eventually signed a deal with Epic Records in 1969. But as the American Indian Movement gained momentum the band took a stand, choosing pride in their ancestry over continued commercial reward. Created with the cooperation of the Vegas family, authors Christian Staebler and Sonia Paolini with artist Tibhault Balahy take painstaking steps to ensure the historical accuracy of this important and often overlooked story of America's past. Part biography and part research journalism, Redbone provides a voice to a people long neglected in American history.

Redbone: the True Story of an American Indian Rock Band

Redbone is probably the most educational graphic novel I’ve ever read.  I knew the band, as most do, for their song “Come and Get Your Love,” featured in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film.  With this resurgence came an opportunity for the band’s fascinating story to be told, and I find it very interesting that a comic format was chosen for such weighty material.  It’s a story well balanced and well told, and I think this was the perfect medium through which to share that story with the world.

Redbone was the first all American Indian rock and roll band.  Their founding members, brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas, passed as Mexican for years when they first entered the music scene.  In the 60s they shared a stage with acts like Sonny and Cher, The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix, the latter of whom helped plant the idea of an all Native band in their minds.  The band experienced a good bit of popularity in the 1970s, especially in Europe.  They songs were often viewed as “too political” in the US, unfortunately.  But they rose to fame around the same time as the American Indian Movement (AIM) came into being, and they did their very best to lend their name and music and support to the movement in whatever ways they could.  I learned so much about very aspects of Native life that I knew a bit about, but not nearly enough.  For instance, I learned how late into the 20th century forced assimilation boarding schools were still heavily in operation.  I learned more about Wounded Knee, and it blows my mind that such horrendous treatment was not only still ongoing at that time, but still exists today.  I feel like a much more informed human being for having read this book.

While this was incredibly informative, I do with the story had been plumbed a bit deeper, and that the art style had been a touch less abstract.  But, while not my favorite graphic novel I’ve read, Redbone is one of the ones I have no doubt I will think back on the most.  This was a great read that I highly recommend for anyone looking to broaden their education on the 20th century American Indian experience, especially if they are also a music history fan.

Celeste Richardson

Redbone is probably the most educational graphic novel I’ve ever read.  I knew the band, as most do, for their song “Come and Get Your Love,” featured in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film.  With this resurgence came an opportunity for the band’s fascinating story to be told, and I find it very interesting that a comic format was chosen for such weighty material.  It’s a story well balanced and well told, and I think this was the perfect medium through which to share that story with the world.

Redbone was the first all American Indian rock and roll band.  Their founding members, brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas, passed as Mexican for years when they first entered the music scene.  In the 60s they shared a stage with acts like Sonny and Cher, The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix, the latter of whom helped plant the idea of an all Native band in their minds.  The band experienced a good bit of popularity in the 1970s, especially in Europe.  They songs were often viewed as “too political” in the US, unfortunately.  But they rose to fame around the same time as the American Indian Movement (AIM) came into being, and they did their very best to lend their name and music and support to the movement in whatever ways they could.  I learned so much about very aspects of Native life that I knew a bit about, but not nearly enough.  For instance, I learned how late into the 20th century forced assimilation boarding schools were still heavily in operation.  I learned more about Wounded Knee, and it blows my mind that such horrendous treatment was not only still ongoing at that time, but still exists today.  I feel like a much more informed human being for having read this book.

While this was incredibly informative, I do with the story had been plumbed a bit deeper, and that the art style had been a touch less abstract.  But, while not my favorite graphic novel I’ve read, Redbone is one of the ones I have no doubt I will think back on the most.  This was a great read that I highly recommend for anyone looking to broaden their education on the 20th century American Indian experience, especially if they are also a music history fan.

Callie Anna

Was definitely missing some cohesion to the page design, but the story and illustrations are great!

Mahogany Skillings

This graphic novel talks about the origins of Redbone. But more than that, it shows the racism and destruction that had to be overcome for the group to exist at all. This is a great biography told from Pat Vegas' perspective. It was great to learn how many albums the group released and the activism that was included in their songs.

Gabriel Noel 

ARC given by Netgalley for Honest Review
[3.5 stars] "Redbone" is a well written story about the becoming of the band. The art is bright and invokes a funky visual in the readers mind. The way it is sequenced on the pages may make it hard for readers with dyslexia or adhd to follow. The story is well told and I'm glad more native representation is happening in books. This title is suitable for older teens and adults.

Redbone: the True Story of an American Indian Rock Band

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