This book is dark, funny and chaotic. Although the cover and blurb suggest it’s stuffed with crazy and sordid tales (and there are plenty of those), it’s really a dive into the grim aspects of fame and the music industry. Many of the stories are sad or thought-provoking, rather than wild. The book also taps into the 90s/2000s nostalgia wave. It has a very specific era and place, Hollywood’s Sunset Strip, specifically the Roxy Theatre (where the author was a general manager for many years), Rainbow Bar and Grill, and Whisky A Go Go. The author, JD, narrates the book in an evocative, gritty way. He was in various bands which never made it big, so he knows first-hand about chasing the dream of rock stardom. He met so many music legends in his time at the clubs and witnessed the dark side of success. At times, it seems like a roll-call of everyone who has been lost, from his friends, family and bandmates, to the most famous. There are chapters on celebrities who are no longer with us, including Amy Winehouse, Brian Wilson, Prince, Scott Weiland, Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, Ozzy Osbourne and Anna Nicole Smith. JD brings his own perspective to these encounters, which I think is valuable. Some of the other celebrities (not any of the above) are not portrayed in a good light and JD is incredulous at their diva behaviour. I’m not going to name who they are, you’ll have to read the book to find out! Luckily they are not musicians I especially liked to begin with, or I’d be disappointed in them. I hope he didn’t get into trouble, despite the lengthy disclaimer at the start of the book. The author also emphasises how low-paid the work was at the clubs for most of the staff. It sounds totally exhausting and stressful. The book is enhanced with photographs of flyers, signed posters, the inside of the club and portraits of the musicians, sometimes with black bars across their eyes. Although the book is quite heavy at times and has some gross anecdotes, it’s a lively and entertaining read.

Published by Stonehouse Press, 2025.