Review: Rock Bottom: A Novel
11:00 AM by Michael Shilling
Hachette Book Group (January 9, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0316031925
ISBN-13: 978-0316031929
400 pages
This is the story of the Blood Orphans The Blood Orphans are a rock band in serious decline. At one time they had it all and were on the road to rock and roll stardom. Then they had one horrible review and everything went south from there.
The book highlights their very last day on their last tour as they are getting ready to perform at a small venue in Amsterdam. We get introduced to Christian turned Buddhist lead singer Shane who can't stop preaching from the stage, drummer Darlo the son of a porn king millionaire fighting his sex addict demons, Bobby, the bass player who's eczema stricken hands have earned him the nickname Mummy, Adam the quiet , talented lead guitar player, and of course Joey, their coked out manager.
Their last day is both funny and tragic. We see the death of their dreams and what it has meant to each of them. We get a look into their raunchy, pathetic life on the road. This book is as much about the actual band itself as it was a commentary on the transitory and destructive nature fame.
Over all this book was a good read. It was such an interesting look into a dream so many people have had, and what happens when you let fame get the better of you. I loved watching them evolve over the course of the book. On the other hand the book is very graphic and raunchy and the language is coarse. I don't think any of it was outside the realm of what you could expect in a rock "memoir". I enjoyed this book immensely.
I received this book from Hachette Books...Thanks!
Click here for reading group guide to this book.
Blood Orphans website here.
Purchase your copy here
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