A powerful and heartbreaking read, this memoir of bipolar disorder and drug addiction is by Mary Forsberg, who was married to Scott Weiland (frontman of rock bands Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver). Mary had a turbulent upbringing, with a fractured family, often moving house and having little money. In her teens, she became a model and started to enjoy her life, which is when she first met Scott in the early 90s. He was a driver for her bookings while he and his band tried to break through. She somehow knew they would marry, but it didn’t happen until much later. By that time, he had already got into a lot of trouble with the band and his personal life due to his addictions. Scott and Mary were both bipolar and often in rehab. Mary was eventually able to get clean and sober, after a crisis in which she was finally diagnosed and given the right treatment. With the support of her friends, family, doctors and the love of her two children, things were looking brighter for her. Not so for Scott; the book ends with their divorce and the reunion of Stone Temple Pilots. It was published in 2009, so it’s sad to read now, knowing what came after. Scott’s own memoir was published in 2011, but in 2013 he was fired from the band, and he died in 2015, aged 48.

I was wary of reading the book, when it appeared in my recommendations. I knew it was going to be dark and heavy, despite some lighter anecdotes and a much-needed sense of humour. It includes graphic descriptions of drug use, plus references to self-harm and a lot of emotional distress. However, I’m glad I read it because it gives an informed perspective on the psychology of addiction and an understanding of bipolar disorder. Importantly, it does not glamorise the rock star lifestyle with its easy access to substances and is remarkably respectful to Scott despite everything. I can’t find much about what Mary is doing these days but I hope she continues to be well. A cynical reader might say that without the name Weiland attached to the book, it could be any tragic tale of addiction and mental illness. Not to trivialise it, but there are so many, and not all are about rock stars. True, the main reason anyone would read it is for their interest in Scott; but I really admired her determination to have a separate identity, to get sober and be there for her kids. There is a section of photographs, not always flattering, which show the reality of Mary’s life. It may not be the best-written memoir I’ve ever read, but it’s one of the most compelling and honest, and I’d definitely recommend it, if you can cope with reading about the themes discussed in this review.

Published by HarperCollins, 2009.