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Editorial Reviews
"I've been mythicized, Mick-icized, eulogized and fooligized, I've been Cole-Portered and farmer's-daughtered, I've been Led Zepped and 12-stepped. I'm a rhyming fool and so cool that me, Fritz the Cat, and Mohair Sam are the baddest cats that am. I have so many outrageous stories, too many, and I'm gonna tell 'em all. All the unexpurgated, brain-jangling tales of debauchery, sex & drugs, transcendence & chemical dependence you will ever want to hear."
The son of a classical pianist straight out of the Bronx of old Archie comics, Steven Tyler was born to be a rock star. Weaned on Cole Porter, Nat King Cole, Mick—and his beloved Janis Joplin—Tyler began tearing up the streets and the stage as a teenager before finally meeting his "mutant twin" and legendary partner Joe Perry. In this addictively readable memoir, told in the playful, poetic voice that is uniquely his own, Tyler unabashedly recounts the meteoric rise, fall, and rise of Aerosmith over the last three decades and riffs on the music that gives it all meaning.
Tyler tells what it's like to be a living legend and the frontman of one of the world's most revered and infamous bands—the debauchery, the money, the notoriety, the fights, the motels and hotels, the elevators, limos, buses and jets, the rehab. He reveals the spiritual side that "gets lost behind the stereotype of the Sex Guy, the Drug Guy, the Demon of Screamin', the Terror of the Tropicana." And he talks about his epic romantic life and his relationship with his four children. As dazzling, bold, and out-on-the-edge as the man himself, Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? is an all-access backstage pass into this extraordinary showman's life.
Related Reviews
A COLORFUL LOOK AT A R'N'R LIFE THROUGH TYLER'S EYES
This book has surprised me. I expected wild stories, fun anecdotes, foul language from time to time, and plenty of music, drugs and sexual escapades. What I didn't expect was Steven Tyler opening up to share his childhood dreams, the extent of his drug habits and glimpses of his insecurities and faltering moments in life. This book shares the life of a unique human being, not an advertisement, as is the case with some celebrity biographies.
The first reviewer, Mr. Jefferson, does a fine job of describing the book, so there's no reason to duplicate his effort. I will say that he's absolutely right in pointing out the conversational style of the writing. At first, I thought it seemed a little disjointed, but once I "got in the groove", the experience was like listening to Steven Tyler talk about life.
If you're easily offended, don't even think about reading this book. If you survived the 60's/70's or if you listen to rock music or if you're intrigued to know the man behind the curtain of scarves, you can handle the wild ride inside.
The first reviewer, Mr. Jefferson, does a fine job of describing the book, so there's no reason to duplicate his effort. I will say that he's absolutely right in pointing out the conversational style of the writing. At first, I thought it seemed a little disjointed, but once I "got in the groove", the experience was like listening to Steven Tyler talk about life.
If you're easily offended, don't even think about reading this book. If you survived the 60's/70's or if you listen to rock music or if you're intrigued to know the man behind the curtain of scarves, you can handle the wild ride inside.
I liked ST back in my early high school years. Really didn't get onboard when Aerosmith had their 90's resurgence & I am NOT a major fan of American Idol. What drew me to this book was Steven's story in Rolling Stone. All I can say is I LOVE the book so far. I love his recollection of his boyhood days. Proof that not every person who struggles with drug abuse had a horrible childhood. His was almost idealic. When I am reading it IS as if he is narrating. If you are familiar with the way he talks...you will totally get the things he says and the stories will flow.
As publisher of Ecco, I've published books for 30 years and this is one of the most interesting book projects I've been part of - every minute of the three years Steven and I worked together with David Dalton to make this book what it has turned out to be. The best rock memoir I've ever had the pleasure to read - fun, enlightening and convincing. Whatever I imagined a memoir by Steven Tyler Rock Star was going to be, it was not this. Yes, the drugs, women and sex are here, but what emerges is the moving story of a remarkable man, committed to his art and to the life he so dreamed of inhabiting. As he would say, "YA THINK?" All told in Steven's inimitable voice, with every imaginable Tyler locution. You will find nothing like this book on the shelves - and it's likely there will never be anything like it to appear again.
If you were hoping to find out things about the band and Steven your sort of in luck.But you must wade through another 300 or so pages of Tyler complaining how everyone else is an a**hole and he isn't.After reading about how he has tried quitting drugs about 50 times you yell "enough already".I am a recovering addict myself and yes people slip but when he's telling you that he's snorting lunesta?? you just want to scream.As far as his ongoing battles with Joe Perry,again it's Joes fault it's Joes wifes fault it's the managers fault ETC.
He does surprise you with his musical knowledge as far as writing music and playing it,but again it's like pulling teeth to get to the good parts.Some parts were very interesting but again when he starts giving reviews of Re-Habs as you would a restaurant it gets very old very quickly.
Save the money and get this from your library.
He does surprise you with his musical knowledge as far as writing music and playing it,but again it's like pulling teeth to get to the good parts.Some parts were very interesting but again when he starts giving reviews of Re-Habs as you would a restaurant it gets very old very quickly.
Save the money and get this from your library.
If you ever had any fantasies of being married to a rock star, this book would set you straight. Tyler write a no-holds barred book. It was a little difficult for me to follow his train of thought, i.e. there were several different trains going in a lot of different directions. But, having gone to high school in the 70's, it was a totally fascinating read about all the bands of that time and the inside details. I can't imagine how a person that has ingested such a huge quantity of drugs can still be walking around, he is truly a miracle. It was a gritty, no excuses memoir, he makes no apologies for who he was or is, and seems to have arrived at a good place. I really enjoyed the book.
If there's a fifth, sixth dimension. . . . If? Oh, come on!
Steven Tyler has lived the life of a hundred rock stars -- endless amounts of sex, drugs, insane behavior and ear-blisteringly awesome rock'n'roll. He's practically a rock archetype!
So I was expecting that "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir" would be a pretty wild ride. Actually, it was more like being dragged behind a roller coaster on a little skateboard -- a wild, raucous, colorful explosion of Tyler's rock'n'roll life, constantly dancing between witty cleverness and manic exuberance.
Stephen Tyler had a fairly ordinary upbringing, which didn't stop him from being the mystical, mischievous wild-child of his New York family. And though his father was a pianist, he fell in love with rock'n'roll at an early age, cycling through several small-time bands and roaming through the wilds of 1960s New York City.
But his life REALLY changed when he met his "mutant twin," Joe Perry ("Joe is cool, Freon runs in his veins; I'm hot, hot-blooded Calabrese, a sulphur sun beast, shooting my mouth off"). And lo, rock history was made. Their band Aerosmith rapidly ascended to become one of the biggest in rock history, careening and soaring along with Tyler's own ups and downs -- marriages, children, drugs and the band's breakups and reunions.
"Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir" is very different from most rock memoirs, which are usually written when the rock star's brain has cooled down and grown up. Steven Tyler still seems to be shooting off crimson sparks in every direction, ranting and rejoicing with insane joy.
This is also how he writes. He rambles energetically about the events of his life with surprising clarity, but he often interrupts himself with weird asides ("No wonder I got Lead Singer Disorder") and meditations on sex, women, drugs, God, childhood... and of course, music ("The blues, man, the blues... the blooze! That achin' ol' heart disease and joker in the heartbreak pack, demon engine of rock...")
And yes, he has countless interesting stories to tell, whether it's searching for elves in the Sunapee woods or getting bawled out by Anita Pallenberg for buying a book on black magic.
Tyler himself comes across as a giant, exuberant man-child, still crammed with insane energy. He's obviously very clever and intelligent (he boasts about rigging up electric fences IN HIS BEDROOM), and he stirs in literary references with his rock'n'roll knowledge. But he also includes some wrenching moments that have obviously scarred him deep, such as when he learned of his daughter Mia's troubles with cutting and drugs.
There's obviously still a lot of noise in Steven Tyler's head, and his wild, deranged memoir sweeps you away and sinks you into the manic recesses of his brain. Warning: do not operate heavy machinery while reading this!
So I was expecting that "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir" would be a pretty wild ride. Actually, it was more like being dragged behind a roller coaster on a little skateboard -- a wild, raucous, colorful explosion of Tyler's rock'n'roll life, constantly dancing between witty cleverness and manic exuberance.
Stephen Tyler had a fairly ordinary upbringing, which didn't stop him from being the mystical, mischievous wild-child of his New York family. And though his father was a pianist, he fell in love with rock'n'roll at an early age, cycling through several small-time bands and roaming through the wilds of 1960s New York City.
But his life REALLY changed when he met his "mutant twin," Joe Perry ("Joe is cool, Freon runs in his veins; I'm hot, hot-blooded Calabrese, a sulphur sun beast, shooting my mouth off"). And lo, rock history was made. Their band Aerosmith rapidly ascended to become one of the biggest in rock history, careening and soaring along with Tyler's own ups and downs -- marriages, children, drugs and the band's breakups and reunions.
"Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir" is very different from most rock memoirs, which are usually written when the rock star's brain has cooled down and grown up. Steven Tyler still seems to be shooting off crimson sparks in every direction, ranting and rejoicing with insane joy.
This is also how he writes. He rambles energetically about the events of his life with surprising clarity, but he often interrupts himself with weird asides ("No wonder I got Lead Singer Disorder") and meditations on sex, women, drugs, God, childhood... and of course, music ("The blues, man, the blues... the blooze! That achin' ol' heart disease and joker in the heartbreak pack, demon engine of rock...")
And yes, he has countless interesting stories to tell, whether it's searching for elves in the Sunapee woods or getting bawled out by Anita Pallenberg for buying a book on black magic.
Tyler himself comes across as a giant, exuberant man-child, still crammed with insane energy. He's obviously very clever and intelligent (he boasts about rigging up electric fences IN HIS BEDROOM), and he stirs in literary references with his rock'n'roll knowledge. But he also includes some wrenching moments that have obviously scarred him deep, such as when he learned of his daughter Mia's troubles with cutting and drugs.
There's obviously still a lot of noise in Steven Tyler's head, and his wild, deranged memoir sweeps you away and sinks you into the manic recesses of his brain. Warning: do not operate heavy machinery while reading this!
The Errors in your book bother me.
I was excited to get this book, something I've been looking forward to for a couple of years. But it is not something I feel compelled to keep reading like some books make me want to do. I feel like Steven was likely using as he penned some of the chapters. Otherwise why such glamorization of something that took so much from you. At 63, I think that one would care more about what his children and grandchildren who may read the book would feel. I would care about their feelings and would take care not to trash their mothers and I wouldn't dedicate a book that that to my mom. The way he talks of women is disparaging.
Truly, the noise in Steven's head does bother me. I didn't think it would. I've been a fan for so many years. "Walk This Way" made me think I could understand the band and generally understood their personalities. There is a dichotomy between Steven's true self and his public persona. And what I thought I knew of Steven doesn't come through in his book.
I think fans of American Idol that are buying this will think so much less of Steven. I wonder what Tyler thought the masses would think of this. However reading these reviews many think the book it great, so perhaps I'm just wrong.
His long time "blue army" can put these stories in perspective. They can also pick them apart because we know our stuff! There are so many errors in the timelines and the songs etc etc. I thought that's what editors do-- or their staff check things like that. Even the pictures are dated incorrectly.
His story of the child he refers to as "Little Oral Annie" will likely shock the American Idol fans that buy his book. If facts are checked she was actually younger than 16.
I battled that in my mind for a while when I first heard of it. I let it go because I thought the things Steven and the rest of Aerosmith have done for me in my life, outweigh this.
I am in the middle of the book so I will wait before I decide completely, but right now I feel so disappointed because I really don't want to think this is what Steven wanted to leave as his legacy. At least not the Steven I've met as a fan not a friend, but still he was kind and soulful, not brash and mean.
This book was obviously cathartic for him, but what you say when you want to get something off your chest may not be something you want to be published for millions and be the legacy you've left with your name as the author.
Truly, the noise in Steven's head does bother me. I didn't think it would. I've been a fan for so many years. "Walk This Way" made me think I could understand the band and generally understood their personalities. There is a dichotomy between Steven's true self and his public persona. And what I thought I knew of Steven doesn't come through in his book.
I think fans of American Idol that are buying this will think so much less of Steven. I wonder what Tyler thought the masses would think of this. However reading these reviews many think the book it great, so perhaps I'm just wrong.
His long time "blue army" can put these stories in perspective. They can also pick them apart because we know our stuff! There are so many errors in the timelines and the songs etc etc. I thought that's what editors do-- or their staff check things like that. Even the pictures are dated incorrectly.
His story of the child he refers to as "Little Oral Annie" will likely shock the American Idol fans that buy his book. If facts are checked she was actually younger than 16.
I battled that in my mind for a while when I first heard of it. I let it go because I thought the things Steven and the rest of Aerosmith have done for me in my life, outweigh this.
I am in the middle of the book so I will wait before I decide completely, but right now I feel so disappointed because I really don't want to think this is what Steven wanted to leave as his legacy. At least not the Steven I've met as a fan not a friend, but still he was kind and soulful, not brash and mean.
This book was obviously cathartic for him, but what you say when you want to get something off your chest may not be something you want to be published for millions and be the legacy you've left with your name as the author.
Adventures of a Woodland Fairy on a Tour Bus
I have to give him credit for putting all cards on the table! I too am amazed that he can put complete articulate sentences together after that amount of HEAVY drug use. I was getting nauseous when he was describing what he has ingested at times...blaahhgg!! He is really blessed to say the least! I too a amazed the editor did not edit a bit more to keep the time line.....the book started out really fun about his childhood, and leading up to the Rock scene - The center of the book which is all about the drug craziness and scrapping literally made my head spin. He has alot to say, and says it in a rambling, spinning sort of way about those times....I skipped the end of Ch5 and lighlty skimmed through 6 & 7 because there was too much drug/raunch story redundancies. No real meat about those times just a bunch of stories that will appeal to the male audience and make the female audience see that fantasies about being with a Rock Star can really mess you up good!!.......However;
It is a fun story (We are listening to it on CD)...with quite a bit of reality enhancements for sure, as only Steven can do, but he admits that too! He adds quite a bit of fantastical/cosmic awareness at the time he was super goofed up on multiple substances. This is clearly built in hind sight...because, at the time he was in such a raging stupor!
My husband ( who is Stevens age) listened to it along with me. He never knew anything about Steven Tyler or this era of Rock and Roll.
He was wide eyed and looking at me quite suspiciously, wondering .... Did you do that? Do you condone this? Do you idolize this?
lol..lol..lol.....well..what happened in the '70s stays in the '70s until someone writes about it!!! I am quite certain if I did what he did I wouldn't be alive to tell about it! It's made for great conversation between us.
It's a fun book, fun stories, take most of it with a grain of salt, and know it's an adventure of a Cosmic Sunapee Fairy Creature making his way through the big Cities on a tour bus, and finding his way back home again.
Steven in all his complexities is such a lovable character!!!
It is a fun story (We are listening to it on CD)...with quite a bit of reality enhancements for sure, as only Steven can do, but he admits that too! He adds quite a bit of fantastical/cosmic awareness at the time he was super goofed up on multiple substances. This is clearly built in hind sight...because, at the time he was in such a raging stupor!
My husband ( who is Stevens age) listened to it along with me. He never knew anything about Steven Tyler or this era of Rock and Roll.
He was wide eyed and looking at me quite suspiciously, wondering .... Did you do that? Do you condone this? Do you idolize this?
lol..lol..lol.....well..what happened in the '70s stays in the '70s until someone writes about it!!! I am quite certain if I did what he did I wouldn't be alive to tell about it! It's made for great conversation between us.
It's a fun book, fun stories, take most of it with a grain of salt, and know it's an adventure of a Cosmic Sunapee Fairy Creature making his way through the big Cities on a tour bus, and finding his way back home again.
Steven in all his complexities is such a lovable character!!!
I was so surprised...I now understand where the music comes from. Steven sees life in music...amazing. He has the ability to allow the reader a glimpse of what it's like to see music...
I was so surprised at how witty, very sweet and funny Steven Tyler really is...
I think the book is worth the read and it was actually the title of the book that made me Laugh Out Loud and think ~ Hmmmm maybe I will read this and I am glad I did.... I LIKE the MAN ~ He has had one hell of a journey ~ I really like the guy!!!!!
I think the book is worth the read and it was actually the title of the book that made me Laugh Out Loud and think ~ Hmmmm maybe I will read this and I am glad I did.... I LIKE the MAN ~ He has had one hell of a journey ~ I really like the guy!!!!!
steven is a charming and entertaining chap with a great story to tell, but there are just way to many pages of garbage here to make this an enjoyable reading experience. it's for die hard fans only. it could have been titled steven desperately in need of an editor or a writer who can construct a book. it looks to me like it was rushed out to capitalize on his American Idol stint, and only just made it too. J-lo has a number one hit single and now steven's topping the best seller lists. product placement is working a treat. save your money on this one. if you are looking for a good rock'n roll memoir Keith Richards book is much better.
I Love Me Some Steven Tyler and the Noise in Your Head is Okay With Me!
I'm loving this book as it's a fun and informative read. I've been an Aerosmith/Steven Tyler Fan since day one. Grew up in Boston, grew up on the boys. I've even worked a little with Aerosmith during my stint at Geffen Records. And I'll be loyal to them and Steven till whenever forever is. The book is fun and Steven Tyler, while he certainly does have lot to say, is quite a source of information on the history of Rock n' Roll (which I found more than fascinating) in addition to all the tidbits he offers about the band. I say Bravo! Bravo!
Does My Self-Absorption Brother You?
I'm a rock 'n roll fan and also a mental health professional that's been in the field for over twenty years. Tyler's book is an interesting read for the most part, but problably not for the reasons he intended.
Tyler basically comes across as completely self-absorbed and narcissitic. All his various problems and addictions are caused by unfeeling band members, managers, wives, girlfriend, etc. Nothing is his responsibility. In one section that's unintentionally funny, he talks about his serial infidelity (it's a rock 'n roll thing) and blames his wife for being unfeeling and uncaring. Doesn't she know screwing a lot of women is a job requirement? Why can't she understand Steven's just doing his job? He ends the chapter talking about how lonely it is to be a rock star. Poor guy.
Other than Joe Perry, his fellow band members are barely mentioned. Tom Hamilton co-wrote "Sweet Emotion" and Brad Whitford co-wrote "Last Child," two of the band's biggest hits; yet you never learn anything about them personally, or what they contributed to the band. Tyler does thoughtfully mention the various band members penis sizes (surprise, Tyler is the biggest dick).
To be fair, the book was entertaining for the most part. Tyler is obviously a talented singer and songwriter. However it's hard to get beyond the overweening self-absorption. As a mental health professional, the book is almost a treatise on narcissism (lack of empathy for others, grandiosity, a sense of "specialness" and entitlement along with the belief no one understands their "specialness").
If one wants to understand Steven Tyler's chronic drug dependence and endless rehabs that is where you start. A talented man.....not a very good human being.
Tyler basically comes across as completely self-absorbed and narcissitic. All his various problems and addictions are caused by unfeeling band members, managers, wives, girlfriend, etc. Nothing is his responsibility. In one section that's unintentionally funny, he talks about his serial infidelity (it's a rock 'n roll thing) and blames his wife for being unfeeling and uncaring. Doesn't she know screwing a lot of women is a job requirement? Why can't she understand Steven's just doing his job? He ends the chapter talking about how lonely it is to be a rock star. Poor guy.
Other than Joe Perry, his fellow band members are barely mentioned. Tom Hamilton co-wrote "Sweet Emotion" and Brad Whitford co-wrote "Last Child," two of the band's biggest hits; yet you never learn anything about them personally, or what they contributed to the band. Tyler does thoughtfully mention the various band members penis sizes (surprise, Tyler is the biggest dick).
To be fair, the book was entertaining for the most part. Tyler is obviously a talented singer and songwriter. However it's hard to get beyond the overweening self-absorption. As a mental health professional, the book is almost a treatise on narcissism (lack of empathy for others, grandiosity, a sense of "specialness" and entitlement along with the belief no one understands their "specialness").
If one wants to understand Steven Tyler's chronic drug dependence and endless rehabs that is where you start. A talented man.....not a very good human being.
I waited a long time for this book and in the beginning , was not impressed. What I was impressed by again and again is Steven's brilliance, especially his writing in the first 2 chapters. There were quite a few typos in the book ex: Bradford/St Holmes s/b Whitford/St Holmes. I also must question why Steven would come out with this book after he has polished his tarnished image via American Idol. In the beginning, the book was not saucy enough but soon became so in later chapters. Steven's writing is as complex as his brain and you can witness his almost multi-personality trains of thought in the book. Basically, Steven' just too damned smart!!!! Buy the book, it's a good one!!!!!
I've been a huge Aerosmith fan since I was ten or eleven years old, own all their cd's, plenty of t-shirts and been to two concerts. Of course Steven Tyler is that band, and even as a developing teen I couldn't help but be totally in love with him.
When I heard his biography was coming out I marked the date on my calendar and waited with painful impatience. This biography is very truthful about all the periods in Steven's life, the rougher parts especially. This book is not sugar coated, which can happen a lot when celebrities want to keep a perfect image of themselves. Some things in the book made my jaw drop, literally. I don't want to mention them now and spoil everything, just read it and find out.
You can't help but feel like you're living in the 60's, 70's and 80's (which I had to imagine since I wasn't alive during those periods) living the music releases that are now classics. You can't help but listen to all the great Aerosmith songs as he talks about writing them and even jotting down some of the lyrics in the book.
Great book overall, great pictures, cover and even a glossy, long cover spread. Get to know the real Steven Tyler, the God of Rock n' Roll.
When I heard his biography was coming out I marked the date on my calendar and waited with painful impatience. This biography is very truthful about all the periods in Steven's life, the rougher parts especially. This book is not sugar coated, which can happen a lot when celebrities want to keep a perfect image of themselves. Some things in the book made my jaw drop, literally. I don't want to mention them now and spoil everything, just read it and find out.
You can't help but feel like you're living in the 60's, 70's and 80's (which I had to imagine since I wasn't alive during those periods) living the music releases that are now classics. You can't help but listen to all the great Aerosmith songs as he talks about writing them and even jotting down some of the lyrics in the book.
Great book overall, great pictures, cover and even a glossy, long cover spread. Get to know the real Steven Tyler, the God of Rock n' Roll.
ST did a great job with this book! As others have mentioned it is written in a very conversational style and you can literally picture yourself in a room with him as he's telling his story. I felt he was being very honest (as he sees it-as someone else pointed out) The good, the bad, and the ugly is all there. The book is very well titled too. His conversation is filled with imagery, allusions, and insinuations and you very much get the impression that his mind is constantly ON, like a TV flipping stations or something. He does reveal a very sensitive side of himself that most people probably didn't expect from him. Very well done!
This book is more like listening to a spoken, out of sync babbling diatribe than reading something that was well-written and thought out. An editor might have been helpful in getting rid of the endless cliches, bad English, high school slang and metaphors, lame jokes and inane observations. Reading this is like listening to naive teenager philosophize about issues that are clearly beyond his grasp. There is a thread of sexual commentary that is not only TMI, but kind of creepy in its details, considering Tyler is now a 63 year old man.
As a musician, Tyler is clearly a stand out in the rock and roll genre, both as a great singer and song writer. His descriptions of his personal life and demons are sad and depressing to read. He is totally honest, yet endlessly self-destructive and narcissistic. The honesty doesn't mitigate the amount of wasted potential of the book. I agree with another reviewer that this was published to capitalize on the American Idol judge's latest foray into fame and fortune. Reading the book gave me the sense that with all of his good fortune, there is a bottomless pit of need, delusion, obsession on all fronts, and a desire to spew it all out on the reader regardless of structure or focus. Being a fan of Aerosmith, I would hold to the dictum that some things are better left unsaid.
As a musician, Tyler is clearly a stand out in the rock and roll genre, both as a great singer and song writer. His descriptions of his personal life and demons are sad and depressing to read. He is totally honest, yet endlessly self-destructive and narcissistic. The honesty doesn't mitigate the amount of wasted potential of the book. I agree with another reviewer that this was published to capitalize on the American Idol judge's latest foray into fame and fortune. Reading the book gave me the sense that with all of his good fortune, there is a bottomless pit of need, delusion, obsession on all fronts, and a desire to spew it all out on the reader regardless of structure or focus. Being a fan of Aerosmith, I would hold to the dictum that some things are better left unsaid.
Waste of time and money, from a huge Aeromsmith fan
As far back as I can remember, I have loved Steven Tyler and I have loved Aerosmith, who doesn't? I have every studio album they have done and I am eagerly awaiting this new album they are supposedly working on. I even love him as a judge on American Idol. As far as I'm concerned, what ever this guy touches turns to gold, except for this book.He just seems to ramble on and on and on . . .
Every time you think you're getting to hear a good story about one of their albums, or something else you've been looking forward to hearing about, he goes of on some little tangent about drugs or something without ever finishing the story he was telling. If you are a fan, I would say to spend your money on some of his music rather that this book. I guess you might like it if you were'nt expecting a memoir. If you where expecting to hear a few strange stories without actually finding out anything about his career or his life than, get this book.
The man is an awesome performer, writer, singer etc but I wouldn't consider him an author. Don't bother with this, you won't get any insight into his life.
Every time you think you're getting to hear a good story about one of their albums, or something else you've been looking forward to hearing about, he goes of on some little tangent about drugs or something without ever finishing the story he was telling. If you are a fan, I would say to spend your money on some of his music rather that this book. I guess you might like it if you were'nt expecting a memoir. If you where expecting to hear a few strange stories without actually finding out anything about his career or his life than, get this book.
The man is an awesome performer, writer, singer etc but I wouldn't consider him an author. Don't bother with this, you won't get any insight into his life.
I'm so glad I ordered this book before release date. From the first page, Steven's voice was in my head and he was the narrator.This made reading so much more exciting. The book is written just as Steven speaks using his personality through out. I loved reading about his childhood antics and what makes Steven Steven!
Important: Open Window Before Opening Book
Amazingly, Steven Tyler's huge ego leaps from the pages and sucks the oxygen out of the room! I suspect this book was written to coincide with his American Idol gig now that Tyler's on TV every week -- "ya think?" Anyway, you won't find any new ground being broken here. It's just a typical rock star bio and as it turns out Tyler didn't get to the party early enough to put the "c" in cliche. He only followed the others along the well trodden path of/to excess. I was hoping the noise in Tyler's head would bother me, but turns out it's only white noise and put me to sleep. Yawn.
you name it and this book pulls no punches nor holds back, it is the kind of book that you expect from a artist who has walked in Steven Tylers shoes. excess and thensome. band ego, creative ego, comparrisons, expectations, decsions and what got him to American Idol and everything else in between. this book captures the peaks and valleys and everything else in between. it was just what i expected and Tyler has lived quite a life. he is a very musical charismatic cat who understands the game and business of rock and roll. it is cool to hear about Aerosmith and the many journeys they went over the years etc.. humor, saddness and so much in between a must read on a cat that truly has had nine lives.
Yes, Thanks, It Did Bother Me . . . . .
Disclaimer: I love Steven and wanted to love his book.
In a biography, text message/Facebook-status style is really distracting. Perhaps this is intended for a generation of readers who have the short attention span inherent to internet reading. There's no flow to this stream-of-consciousness hypertext and you can't get into the story without a lot of conscious effort to not be distracted by the style. I really wanted to be absorbed by this, but "Walk This Way" is overall a much better book.
In a biography, text message/Facebook-status style is really distracting. Perhaps this is intended for a generation of readers who have the short attention span inherent to internet reading. There's no flow to this stream-of-consciousness hypertext and you can't get into the story without a lot of conscious effort to not be distracted by the style. I really wanted to be absorbed by this, but "Walk This Way" is overall a much better book.
Fasten your seat belts this is a wild ride and I loved every minute of it.I couldn't put this book down! Tyler is so funny in writng from the heart about everything hes been though in his life and as a child of his generation, I related to it but the fun is hearing his innermost thoughts on each song he wrote,and where the lyrics came from. Its about the drugs he and the band pulverized themselves with, the fights, the loves, the people closest to him and his way back to sobriety. But being inside the mind of Steven Tyler is like riding a meteor! Lock on and Go!
demon of screamin never lets us down
this book is great. it's a TRUE rock memoir. he takes us through so many different experiences and it's hard to put it down. he's truly a poetic person with this very luminous spirit and that shows through this writing. highly recommended!
Interesting look at the life of a Rock Star
This was a fun read. I graduated high school in '85 so I was listening to Permanent Vacation and Pump back then. I also watch American Idol today. It is fun hearing from Steven Tyler himself about how the band formed and all the wild stories about what it was like being in the band. At least half the book is about all the drugs, alcohol and rehab that went on through the years. The other half is about all the troubled relationships, sex, and music.
The book is interesting from a whole lot of angles. Steven Tyler is a unique individual. When reading the book you feel like he is talking directly to you.
The book is interesting from a whole lot of angles. Steven Tyler is a unique individual. When reading the book you feel like he is talking directly to you.
I love Steven Tyler! the book, well....
I understand some of the other reviewers criticisms of the book--he writes exactly like he talks--kind of all over the place, starting a story and then forgeting to finish it, etc. He does mention his ADHD at one point, and it makes sense--this is exactly a book someone with ADHD and no editor would've written. However--I still read it compulsively, leaving dishes unwashed, laundry undone, etc. until I got to the end. It's Steven Tyler, for God's sake! As a living legend, pretty much anything he writes is interesting...to me,anyway. This is NOT a cohesive story about how Aerosmith became the Gods of Rock. If you want that, read "Walk this Way" by...whoever wrote it. It does give you insight into Steven Tyler, though--mostly how he sees himself and the world. I thought he was charming, insightful and intelligent, if a bit scattered. Love ya, Steven!
Loved the prose. Loved the insight. Loved to learn what makes Tyler write songs the way he does. And, most of all, loved the simple truth coming out on almost every page of this book.
He's still got it! While it's obvious that his ADHD is coming thru in his rambling writing, it's ok because we would expect no less. Awesome book. Great read.
With Tyler's recent re-entry into the public domain with his appearance on American Idol, I falsely assumed his book would be as interesting as he has been with this television presence. Afterall, surely a man of his fame and talent would have some wisdom and good tales at the age of 63?
First of all, the writing wasn't enjoyable or all that easy to follow. Free associations abound at the expense of good writing and often require the reader to muddle through pages and pages of text to get to the point of a chapter.
Tyler's autobiography tells of a man who has struggled for his entire adult life with addictions and the dysfunctional relationships that follow. Tyler opens his life without veils to the reader and in doing so he indeed chooses to divulge the ever present noise of drugs that has been the focus of his days with Aerosmith and his personal life.
I did finish the book although it was with the hopes that the later half of the book would reveal his post drug memoirs.
He openly points out that he is seeking other monetary adventures as his stability with Aerosmith is tenuous at this time...writing his memoirs might be a money maker for him but for the reader it's rather a boring investment of time.
(For any reader who wants a good read about the life of a Rock & Roll icon,chose Keith Richards book instead.)
First of all, the writing wasn't enjoyable or all that easy to follow. Free associations abound at the expense of good writing and often require the reader to muddle through pages and pages of text to get to the point of a chapter.
Tyler's autobiography tells of a man who has struggled for his entire adult life with addictions and the dysfunctional relationships that follow. Tyler opens his life without veils to the reader and in doing so he indeed chooses to divulge the ever present noise of drugs that has been the focus of his days with Aerosmith and his personal life.
I did finish the book although it was with the hopes that the later half of the book would reveal his post drug memoirs.
He openly points out that he is seeking other monetary adventures as his stability with Aerosmith is tenuous at this time...writing his memoirs might be a money maker for him but for the reader it's rather a boring investment of time.
(For any reader who wants a good read about the life of a Rock & Roll icon,chose Keith Richards book instead.)
I love the noise inside your head!
This was a raw, honest story of ST life. Its his side of the story and his right to tell it. Thanks for trusting your fans with your honesty and giving us a look into the personal, soft and compassionate side of you...known to us as this incredible rock god. I have been a huge fan since 76 and a huge fan still. Life has taught you so many lessons and you came out of it with a deeper understanding of self and whats important to you. I'm certain this story has and will, speak to many. It did for me...thanks ST. If you have ever been fascinated with the rock and roll lifestyle and a fan of the "wings", this will certainly give you a look at the reality of this life good, bad and everything in between..
"Noise" is not your typical celebrity autobiography. It is written the way Steven talks, in a very conversational fashion. I like that it's not polished up and over-edited for proper sentence structure, grammar, etc. You can imagine Steven is speaking his life story to you. Be forewarned that this book contains all variations of the F-bomb, I believe, more times than the Bible says the word "God."
Steven is unapologetic about his passion for drugs and sex. He is explicit in his description of both (including the band's run-in with some groupies calling themselves the Little Oral Annies in the 1970s). I found the book to be very educational on the use of pot, opium, heroin, cocaine and more. Steven has been in rehab eight times, and he describes his experiences there.
A lot of the drama in "Noise" centers on the dynamics of Aerosmith. The other band members have had addictions of their own. Usually, though, it was the band versus Steven. This resulted in Steven forming a "new" Aerosmith in the early 1980s. The band turned the tables on Steven in more recent years, actively seeking a new lead singer when Steven had no intention of leaving the band!
There are a couple of things that I was disappointed weren't in this book. First, Steven doesn't talk about when he met his daughter Liv for the first time. She was brought up believing that Todd Rundgren was her dad. She found out the truth when she met Steven and her look-alike half-sister Mia backstage at an Aerosmith concert when she was a kid. I've heard Liv tell the story. Yet Steven doesn't include this in the book.
Also, he doesn't talk about the band's huge comeback in 1986, thanks to Run DMC's remake of "Walk This Way." That was a big deal. Not only did the original members of Aerosmith get back together again, but that was their first MTV hit and the first time rock and rap had merged that way.
"Noise" is peppered with lots of Aerosmith song lyrics, along with stories about when, where and how historic songs like "Dream On" and "Walk This Way" were written.
Sometimes, it's hard to wrap your brain around what Steven is trying to say. Example: "It all really is cosmic, man! Music of the f***ing spheres! The third rock from the sun is one big megasonic piezoelectric circuit, humming, buzzing, drilling with freak noise and harmony."
Um, yeah, Steven. Whatever you say!
Steven is unapologetic about his passion for drugs and sex. He is explicit in his description of both (including the band's run-in with some groupies calling themselves the Little Oral Annies in the 1970s). I found the book to be very educational on the use of pot, opium, heroin, cocaine and more. Steven has been in rehab eight times, and he describes his experiences there.
A lot of the drama in "Noise" centers on the dynamics of Aerosmith. The other band members have had addictions of their own. Usually, though, it was the band versus Steven. This resulted in Steven forming a "new" Aerosmith in the early 1980s. The band turned the tables on Steven in more recent years, actively seeking a new lead singer when Steven had no intention of leaving the band!
There are a couple of things that I was disappointed weren't in this book. First, Steven doesn't talk about when he met his daughter Liv for the first time. She was brought up believing that Todd Rundgren was her dad. She found out the truth when she met Steven and her look-alike half-sister Mia backstage at an Aerosmith concert when she was a kid. I've heard Liv tell the story. Yet Steven doesn't include this in the book.
Also, he doesn't talk about the band's huge comeback in 1986, thanks to Run DMC's remake of "Walk This Way." That was a big deal. Not only did the original members of Aerosmith get back together again, but that was their first MTV hit and the first time rock and rap had merged that way.
"Noise" is peppered with lots of Aerosmith song lyrics, along with stories about when, where and how historic songs like "Dream On" and "Walk This Way" were written.
Sometimes, it's hard to wrap your brain around what Steven is trying to say. Example: "It all really is cosmic, man! Music of the f***ing spheres! The third rock from the sun is one big megasonic piezoelectric circuit, humming, buzzing, drilling with freak noise and harmony."
Um, yeah, Steven. Whatever you say!
STEVEN IS AT IT AGAIN, BEST SINGER OF ALL TIME. GREAT AUTHOR.
I am so glad that Steven Tyler got back in the limelite
on American Idol. His fan base was huge for the last
40 years and it is even bigger now. Not only is he one
of the greatest performers of all times, I find that he
is a great author, writing a book that is so endearing
and pure in some ways, and hard core in other ways.
I can't put the book down. You will love him even more
if you read his book!!!!
on American Idol. His fan base was huge for the last
40 years and it is even bigger now. Not only is he one
of the greatest performers of all times, I find that he
is a great author, writing a book that is so endearing
and pure in some ways, and hard core in other ways.
I can't put the book down. You will love him even more
if you read his book!!!!
A fun read and a wild ride, but I'm not quite buying some of his stories. When Tyler stole a bag of drugs and money from the Mafia, all it took was a warning from one lone roadcrew member and the Mafia just backed off for good? Gets busted for drugs and the cop who busted them happened to get killed the day before the trial started and the case had to be dropped? Also, how many women does he identify as his "first girlfriend," at least three?
I would take much of this with a grain of sea salt, but still an entertaining read. For you American Idol fans, there's nothing more than a quickie, clearly rushed chapter-ette at the end that must've been tacked on at the last minute. This book is mostly about Aerosmith, sex and drugs. And rehab. Lots of rehab.
I would take much of this with a grain of sea salt, but still an entertaining read. For you American Idol fans, there's nothing more than a quickie, clearly rushed chapter-ette at the end that must've been tacked on at the last minute. This book is mostly about Aerosmith, sex and drugs. And rehab. Lots of rehab.
yes the voice in your head bothers me!!!
good story, bad telling. i found it hard to follow the rambling, out of order stories. the stories were good and interesting, but mostly in a conversational way, it's like you're in a room talking with him. i am surprised his editor let him keep it like that. okay read, good stories, but sometimes it's like one huge run-on sentence. fascinating drug stories; as a former addict myself, in 3 days i will be 8 years clean, i can relate to some of those.
Best as a companion piece to Walk This Way
Let me preface by saying that I am a big Aerosmith fan. I read their 1997 autobiography Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith within the span of a weekend, when it was first released and thoroughly enjoyed it. Having said that, I think I would have been lost reading Steven Tyler's memoirs without having read Walk This Way. To his credit, Tyler admits early on, that his prose is not necessarily linear. Consequently, reading through this is like jumping back and forth between 1970, 1990, 2000, and back again. He will also mention figures without necessarily introducing them. For the casual fan, you will know exactly who he means when he talks about his bandmates, producer Jack Douglas, and possibly some of his more notorious relationships, such as with Bebe Buell and Cyrinda Foxe. However, had I not read Walk This Way, I think I would have been scratching my head at the names Kelly and Rabbit (who were members of the Aerosmith road crew in the 1970s) that were mentioned frequently in this book, but were never clearly introduced.
If you are looking for an easy-to-follow timeline of events throughout Aerosmith's and Steven Tyler's career, you will not find it in this book. If you are looking for the thought process of a creative talent, you will sort of find this. The problem once again is that Tyler can get caught up in his own ego, that he brings tangential information often without tying it back to the original topic. Tyler frequently pulls excerpts from his songs to supplement his narrative. You will clearly find his love for the ballad "Dream On," as he pulls lyrics from this on at least 3 occasions within the book.
Of course, Walk This Way culminated with the 1997 album and tour for Nine Lives. So Tyler's memoirs further the story a bit and give a nice glimpse into events since then, such as the chart-topping release of "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," road injuries, subsequent cancelled tours, Tyler's relapse into drug addiction, his infamous fall from the stage in South Dakota, divorce, further internal struggles within Aerosmith, and American Idol. Aside from the jumpy narrative, this was still a fun read and recommended for any fan of Aerosmith (though only after you've read the 1997 autobiography of the band).
If you are looking for an easy-to-follow timeline of events throughout Aerosmith's and Steven Tyler's career, you will not find it in this book. If you are looking for the thought process of a creative talent, you will sort of find this. The problem once again is that Tyler can get caught up in his own ego, that he brings tangential information often without tying it back to the original topic. Tyler frequently pulls excerpts from his songs to supplement his narrative. You will clearly find his love for the ballad "Dream On," as he pulls lyrics from this on at least 3 occasions within the book.
Of course, Walk This Way culminated with the 1997 album and tour for Nine Lives. So Tyler's memoirs further the story a bit and give a nice glimpse into events since then, such as the chart-topping release of "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," road injuries, subsequent cancelled tours, Tyler's relapse into drug addiction, his infamous fall from the stage in South Dakota, divorce, further internal struggles within Aerosmith, and American Idol. Aside from the jumpy narrative, this was still a fun read and recommended for any fan of Aerosmith (though only after you've read the 1997 autobiography of the band).
A NO-HOLDS-BARRED LIFE REMEMBERED BY THE MAN WHO LIVED IT
Many of us may have been introduced to Steven Tyler in his role as judge on TV's phenomenally successful American Idol. If so, whoa, listen to his no-holds-barred memoir DOES THE NOISE IN MY HEAD BOTHER YOU? In truth, this bio is as much of a record of rock `n' roll as it is of Tyler himself. We're taken to an earlier time and place then brought back again to the present. While we enjoy hearing his remembrances, especially as read by Jeremy Davidson, how Tyler lived through it all is just short of amazing.
Arguably one of rock's most famous best known frontmen Tyler seems to understand exactly what being a rock star means - at times watching him on Idol one almost thinks he's presenting himself as he wants to be perceived. Is this the true Steven Tyler? According to his memoir it is. As has been said what we see is exactly what we get, and there's a great deal to get in this audio.
Tyler describes his youth as being a mountain boy, summers at his family home in Sunapee, New Hampshire, where he spent time killing birds with his sling shot and BB gun. Despite that bucolic existence by the age of 15 he was getting high and determined to become a rock star. It was 1969 in Sunapee when he saw Joe Perry and Tom Hamilton perform with their band - that was the beginning.
Five musicians went to Boston in the late sixties and became the group we were to know as Aeromsith. That band's rise is now history: sold more than 100 million records, won umpteen Grammys, American Music Awards, Billboard Awards, MTV Awards and, yes, an Oscar.
Today we find the group's dynamo Steven Tyler on one of our most watched TV programs where he continues to entertain and intrigue - a rock star like no other, DOES THE NOISE IN MY HEAD BOTHER YOU? is his story. Enjoy!
- Gail Cooke
Until American Idol I didnt know a thing about Steven Tyler, not even his music. So I bought the book. It was ok, I finished it and liked it. Everything seemed to be out of order. Would go from one thing to another in a chapter. Maybe nobody did the editing for him. Is like something like I would write if I were to write a book, not knowing where to start and how to put in down in paragraphs and chapters. But I did like the book.
This book is in Steven Tyler's voice .... his speaking, singing, wild, original, rhythmic VOICE ... You can HEAR him speaking it into a mike. I have a feelin' that that is how he "wrote" it. I don't see him at any keyboard other than musical. The only "dead" parts of the book were probably written by the transcriber/editor. Not too many of them. No matter. Reads like an epic poem. Only better.
A horrible effort. Read J. Kramer's book instead.
Being a mega-fan of Aerosmith and firmly believing that the Get Your Wings, Toys In The Attic and Rocks albums are the holy trinity of American hard rock I was looking forward to this book with baited breath. Having finished it a few days ago I must admit to being hugely disappointed.
The entire book has rush job written all over it, Tyler was definitely trying to capitalize on his American Idol success. The number of errors is mind-numbing and frustrating for even the most casual fan, here's some of them;
1) Tyler describes penning 'Pandora's Box' for the Rocks album in 1976, when in fact that song appeared on the Get Your Wings album of 1974.
2) Tyler attributes the lyrics to 'Combination' erroneously to 'Bright Light Fright' which appeared a year later on the Draw The Line album.
3) Tyler mentions the inspiration for the song 'Dude Looks Like A Lady' as being derived from a conversation he had with Motley Crue in New York in 1991, the song appeared on the Permanent Vacation album in 1987.
Tyler is no doubt a narcissist and misogynist, he details a sexual relationship with a fourteen year old girl quite graphically, he was twenty six at the time and the whole episode reeks of exploitation.
He later professes indignity that his wife would chastise him for his on the road infidelities stating that it was only 'sex', but claims incredible betrayal when the same woman leaves him after having an affair with a construction worker.
He also confesses to physically abusing the late Cynrinda Foxe-Tyler, his first wife, the details of this abuse were detailed explicitly in her book, Dream On.
Another disturbing passage features Tyler learning of his daughter Mia's self-mutilation when she appeared on Good Morning America, he mentions being horrified that people like Oprah would think he was a horrible father. The fact that he would worry more about how he would look rather than his daughter's well being was troubling to me.
Elsewhere in the book, Tyler randomly attacks friends, ex-girlfriends and bandmates with no rhyme or reason. These attacks reached their nadir when he insulted a bandmate's penis size, a person he once claimed to be good friends with. Really terrible and immature stuff.
Tyler writes in a rambling, stream of consciousness style that borders on incoherent at times. It really adds nothing to the book and negates the impact of some stories that could have been fascinating. It would have been nice to learn more about his overall experience of being a rock star and his relationships with the other guys in the band. Instead the book sometimes feels like a beginner's guide to pharmacology, the amount of space wasted on drug related issues is exorbitant and dull.
Overall, Keith Richard's Life is a much better book, however I strongly recommend Joey Kramer's Hit Hard as one of the most poignant and effective memoirs ever. Kramer's life journey should serve as an inspiration of personal growth and self-discovery, Tyler's makes me wish I had not read it and instead just stuck to the music.
The entire book has rush job written all over it, Tyler was definitely trying to capitalize on his American Idol success. The number of errors is mind-numbing and frustrating for even the most casual fan, here's some of them;
1) Tyler describes penning 'Pandora's Box' for the Rocks album in 1976, when in fact that song appeared on the Get Your Wings album of 1974.
2) Tyler attributes the lyrics to 'Combination' erroneously to 'Bright Light Fright' which appeared a year later on the Draw The Line album.
3) Tyler mentions the inspiration for the song 'Dude Looks Like A Lady' as being derived from a conversation he had with Motley Crue in New York in 1991, the song appeared on the Permanent Vacation album in 1987.
Tyler is no doubt a narcissist and misogynist, he details a sexual relationship with a fourteen year old girl quite graphically, he was twenty six at the time and the whole episode reeks of exploitation.
He later professes indignity that his wife would chastise him for his on the road infidelities stating that it was only 'sex', but claims incredible betrayal when the same woman leaves him after having an affair with a construction worker.
He also confesses to physically abusing the late Cynrinda Foxe-Tyler, his first wife, the details of this abuse were detailed explicitly in her book, Dream On.
Another disturbing passage features Tyler learning of his daughter Mia's self-mutilation when she appeared on Good Morning America, he mentions being horrified that people like Oprah would think he was a horrible father. The fact that he would worry more about how he would look rather than his daughter's well being was troubling to me.
Elsewhere in the book, Tyler randomly attacks friends, ex-girlfriends and bandmates with no rhyme or reason. These attacks reached their nadir when he insulted a bandmate's penis size, a person he once claimed to be good friends with. Really terrible and immature stuff.
Tyler writes in a rambling, stream of consciousness style that borders on incoherent at times. It really adds nothing to the book and negates the impact of some stories that could have been fascinating. It would have been nice to learn more about his overall experience of being a rock star and his relationships with the other guys in the band. Instead the book sometimes feels like a beginner's guide to pharmacology, the amount of space wasted on drug related issues is exorbitant and dull.
Overall, Keith Richard's Life is a much better book, however I strongly recommend Joey Kramer's Hit Hard as one of the most poignant and effective memoirs ever. Kramer's life journey should serve as an inspiration of personal growth and self-discovery, Tyler's makes me wish I had not read it and instead just stuck to the music.
I had to turn it off ( audio book). This guy thinks he is gods gift to the world.
Keith Richards book is so interesting, and this book was horribly boring.
I wish I could get my money back.
Keith Richards book is so interesting, and this book was horribly boring.
I wish I could get my money back.
Definitely not your average guy
I was one of the loyal midwest fans that helped to launch Aerosmith in the 70's. Saw the first 3 album tours (Aerosmith, Get Your Wings, Toys in the Attic) when they came through town. This is what teens and young adults did back then. It seems like we were at a concert every month. We partied hard and pushed equally as hard to get in front of the stage in the years when stadium seating was the norm. No one could force anyone to stay in their seats at an Aerosmith concert! Steven strutted like a peacock and his feathers were the colorful fabrics on the mike stand. Joe Perry was equally as mesmorizing. These were the days of 70's rock and roll and I lived it.
Loved the narration style and had a great time reading the well told stories. My favorite moments were the description of a little boy who loved being read to by his mother, and burgeoning youth whose best times were out in the fields and lakes. The f-bomb is thrown around so much that there could probably be 30 pages deleted if it were removed. That was a bit wearing for me. In all of the huge ego that fills this book, I really liked the moments of humility that comes from living through the insanity of drug addiction. The challenges with his feet helped me to understand how easy it would be to get back into the cycle of addiction. I hope he continues to dig deep into the hearts of his adult children. They are beautiful. May God give him the strenght to live out his remaining years, one day at a time.
Loved the narration style and had a great time reading the well told stories. My favorite moments were the description of a little boy who loved being read to by his mother, and burgeoning youth whose best times were out in the fields and lakes. The f-bomb is thrown around so much that there could probably be 30 pages deleted if it were removed. That was a bit wearing for me. In all of the huge ego that fills this book, I really liked the moments of humility that comes from living through the insanity of drug addiction. The challenges with his feet helped me to understand how easy it would be to get back into the cycle of addiction. I hope he continues to dig deep into the hearts of his adult children. They are beautiful. May God give him the strenght to live out his remaining years, one day at a time.
I really enjoyed this book.I read many bios and it was one of best ones I have read.I loved learning about his childhood and other little details no one knew till now.You can tell just how in love he is with the song "dream on" . I do feel there are a few things he could have talked way more about like Liv.He barley brought her up at all,maybe 3 times tops.I do think tho that this book is very worth the time it takes to read and am very happy I bought it.
I usually dont pick up a book written about ones self but I have to say that this was a great read. I loved the story about celebrity rehab. That is a riot. Loved this open and honest book. No self indulgence
I am so enjoying this book. I have the audio version and I am on cd #6. The "reader" is very good also. Feels like Tyler is reading it. Great buy and it makes my hour commute time fly by.
Great Singer - Funny Personality - Good Reading!
I love his music and thinks he is very funny after watching him on American Idol. He has led some life and this book puts it all in perspective. A must read for anyone who likes him or his music.
Usually not something I'd read, but my other half got it for me. I was surprised that it was better than I thought it'd be.
I am a fan of Aerosmith's music and was a fan of Steven Tyler on American Idol. I am so sorry that I ever read this book. This man is the most narcissistic, mysognyistic, vile human being. He is in love with himself and his drugs and nothing else. He had nothing positive to say about any of the people in his life. He does a one page recap of his personal relationships at the very end of the book including his children, who are barely mentioned otherwise in the book. Clearly he was a horrible father to these poor children and an atrocious husband/partner to all of the wives/women in his life. YUCK. Don't waste your time. If you want to read a rock 'n roll memoir, I recommend Nikki Sixx's book--he at least has a soul.
Progressively boring attempt at writing.
I don't want to say that this book is a total mistake, because it actually isn't. I was literally laughing out loud for approximately the first half of the book. Then something started to happen. Steven gave dire accounts of the downfall of Aerosmith while throwing in clever little tidbits to try to soften the blow...but they didn't work at all for me. In fact they became increasingly annoying.
Then I assumed that things may improve as they did restructure themselves and become even bigger than they were initially. But instead of interesting aspects of not only Steven's life and Joe's of course...it became a whining account of the inability to get off of drugs ad nauseum. No pun intended. Steven must assume that people will enjoy seeing endless accounts of his disgusting addictions that nearly cost him his life and may have now possibly ruined his career. It disappointed me that "Aerosmith" did not agree to play at the finale of "American Idol", but it certainly did not disappoint me after reading Steven's account of the band and their inability to mature and become responsible people. Steven scoffs at their behavior as "goes with the territory" that rock stars are extremely spoiled and immature individuals and attempts to convince the readers that this should be an accepted part of life. Enough said right there.
I rarely stop reading a book that begins so promisingly and entertainingly...but in this case I closed it after viewing the second section of photographs when it continued the sorrowful and self-righteous account of his life as Steven Tyler in arguably the greatest rock band from The U.S.A. I left this book realizing how intelligent and creative Steven is, but very sad that he has reached his pinnacle...as witnessed by his latest release of a single song that is very very predictable and mediocre. Smoking pot and drinking some is really all you need Steven. No actually, all you need is love...as some very popular and sage songwriters told us many decades ago. Love yourself Steven and stop making excuses and whining before the lights go out on your stage for good.
Then I assumed that things may improve as they did restructure themselves and become even bigger than they were initially. But instead of interesting aspects of not only Steven's life and Joe's of course...it became a whining account of the inability to get off of drugs ad nauseum. No pun intended. Steven must assume that people will enjoy seeing endless accounts of his disgusting addictions that nearly cost him his life and may have now possibly ruined his career. It disappointed me that "Aerosmith" did not agree to play at the finale of "American Idol", but it certainly did not disappoint me after reading Steven's account of the band and their inability to mature and become responsible people. Steven scoffs at their behavior as "goes with the territory" that rock stars are extremely spoiled and immature individuals and attempts to convince the readers that this should be an accepted part of life. Enough said right there.
I rarely stop reading a book that begins so promisingly and entertainingly...but in this case I closed it after viewing the second section of photographs when it continued the sorrowful and self-righteous account of his life as Steven Tyler in arguably the greatest rock band from The U.S.A. I left this book realizing how intelligent and creative Steven is, but very sad that he has reached his pinnacle...as witnessed by his latest release of a single song that is very very predictable and mediocre. Smoking pot and drinking some is really all you need Steven. No actually, all you need is love...as some very popular and sage songwriters told us many decades ago. Love yourself Steven and stop making excuses and whining before the lights go out on your stage for good.
I could stay awake just to hear him singing...
I knew when I read the first pages of Steven Tyler's new book, where he tells us that as an infant he was grabbed by the scruff of his diaper by a fox and dragged into the woods and brought up with the animals and children of the woods, that this biography was going to be one wild ride! I wasn't disappointed. But I learned a lot about Steven Tyler, in his own words, that I didn't know before. This book reads the way he talks, moving quickly from one subject to another, interjecting things that remind him of other experiences, then jumping off to something else. I had to laugh when he said in a few places, "Now where was I going with this?" Sheesh, how many times have I said that myself? (Must be a baby boomer thing, he's a year older than me.) It's almost like you were sitting there with him, listening to him talking and I thought it worked very well. I suspect it may have been dictated into a machine and transcribed later. I mean, can you imagine Steven sitting there typing out some 400 pages? He is surprisingly candid in what he shares, a lot of the bad times along with the good. He doesn't sugar coat any of it. If you've ever heard him onstage, you know that his language can be pretty descriptive, interspersed with a lot of naughty, naughty words. If this kind of language offends you, you probably won't like this book. And he does meander around a lot. I thought that made it sound more authentic but I could see where it could annoy some people.
His descriptions of himself in the book range from a wild, ego driven entertainer, to a sometimes sad and introspective man. You could see the vulnerability. There is a lot of tenderness under all of that screaming and yelling. I see that in his personality as a judge on this season's American Idol, watching him critique the contestants, almost always finding something very positive and encouraging about their performances.
Steven Tyler IS Aerosmith. I've always liked Aerosmith's music, but the only one in the band that I really noticed is Steven, the screamin' demon, the wild man with the scarves tied to his mike, jumping and dancing all over the stage. The band isn't like the Beatles where each member is a strong personality and well known in his own right. It's more like Paul McCartney and Wings. How many people would recognize any of the "Wings" if they saw them walking down the street? Nor would I recognize any of Aerosmith's band members other than Steven Tyler. Well, maybe Joe Perry, because he's "the guy who kinda looks like Keith Richards". He writes about the other band members in the book and their often dysfunctional relationship with all the break-ups and back together again times.
After seeing Steven on the 2011 Country Music Awards singing with Carrie Underwood, (you can see it on youtube) without his band, or in his solo, "Feels So Good" video it seems like he does pretty well on his own. This guy seems to get better looking and more talented as he ages. I love the band, Aerosmith, but just sayin...
I read this book on my Kindle because I just couldn't wait for a copy to come in the mail from Amazon, but I'll probably go out and buy a hard copy now because of all the photos. You can see them on the Kindle, but I'm sure they look a lot better, full size, in the book.
His descriptions of himself in the book range from a wild, ego driven entertainer, to a sometimes sad and introspective man. You could see the vulnerability. There is a lot of tenderness under all of that screaming and yelling. I see that in his personality as a judge on this season's American Idol, watching him critique the contestants, almost always finding something very positive and encouraging about their performances.
Steven Tyler IS Aerosmith. I've always liked Aerosmith's music, but the only one in the band that I really noticed is Steven, the screamin' demon, the wild man with the scarves tied to his mike, jumping and dancing all over the stage. The band isn't like the Beatles where each member is a strong personality and well known in his own right. It's more like Paul McCartney and Wings. How many people would recognize any of the "Wings" if they saw them walking down the street? Nor would I recognize any of Aerosmith's band members other than Steven Tyler. Well, maybe Joe Perry, because he's "the guy who kinda looks like Keith Richards". He writes about the other band members in the book and their often dysfunctional relationship with all the break-ups and back together again times.
After seeing Steven on the 2011 Country Music Awards singing with Carrie Underwood, (you can see it on youtube) without his band, or in his solo, "Feels So Good" video it seems like he does pretty well on his own. This guy seems to get better looking and more talented as he ages. I love the band, Aerosmith, but just sayin...
I read this book on my Kindle because I just couldn't wait for a copy to come in the mail from Amazon, but I'll probably go out and buy a hard copy now because of all the photos. You can see them on the Kindle, but I'm sure they look a lot better, full size, in the book.
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In a nutshell-if you like Steven Tyler/AEROSMITH (originally spelled ARROWSMITH for about 5 seconds-Tyler wanted HOOKERS, but changed the spelling to A-E-R-O) you'll like this book. With the help of David Dalton, a long time Rolling Stone Magazine contributor, Tyler tells his tale in much the same style as he would in a conversation. His comments are sometimes off the wall and colorful, but somehow seem to help tell his life story. A quick glance at the chapter headings will prove my point. But Tyler writes in a very straightforward, in your face, no-holds barred style. Throughout the book Tyler constantly lays things out, no matter the subject matter, which helps paint a better, fuller picture of both his music, and himself.
Beginning with his birth, we learn about his parents and their strong influence on his adult outlook , his early formative years, friends and acquaintances, and his discovery of music. There's a lot of background details that help fill in Tyler's early life-a boyhood in many respects like other kids of the era, and how he found his way to music, and his decision to make music his life. Tyler talks about the comparisons between Mick Jagger and himself, and how the press played up their similarities. But Tyler makes no bones about Jagger/The Stones-he idolized them, along with other r'n'r stars of the day. We also learn about the many personal and band escapades-involving sex/drugs/r'n'r during the many years when the band was touring hard-and partying just as hard. If you've ever wondered about the highs and lows of a r'n'r band, this portion of the book will give you a good look into what it's all about. But Tyler tells his story with both great insight and humor, using that Tyler way with words, and that peculiar turn of a phrase that never seems to fail him.
For fans of the band, the book gets really interesting when the original band (with guitarist Ray Tabano), decided to try and "make it", by moving to Boston. This portion of the book really has the flavor of AEROSMITH-the song choices, the small clubs, trying to get by, and the beginning of their recording career, and the recording of various albums, and Tyler's on-going feud with guitarist Joe Perry The many details are what make this book worth reading-all the trials and tribulations that Tyler and the band went through in order to make music, and persevere in the music business.
Tyler also talks about his family-especially his four children. This is where he opens himself up and shows that underneath all that bravado, he's a caring, sensitive man. Tyler also talks about his stints in rehab, and the many physical maladies that have plagued him for a number of years, a number of which were caused by his r'n'r lifestyle. The book is also a cautionary tale of how excess can lead to ruin-his marriages and divorces, his troubles with his band mates, his regrets when looking back at parts of his life when the conflict of home life and his band made life almost intolerable, and so on. But in the end, Tyler (now a judge on American Idol) has adjusted to his sixth decade, living in Laurel Canyon, where many of his idols once lived, able to look back at a lifetime of music making.
For anyone who wonders if Steven Tyler is for real-this book will amply prove that point. His jive-talking, flavorful, sometimes off-color word usage, sometimes semi-nonsense style of writing keeps the interest up throughout this book. At times you get the feeling that Tyler is telling you his tales one on one, which is very effective, and sometimes visceral, but always interesting. The combination of small details throughout gives added depth to his story. It's an honest (as he sees it) look at a man, his music, his life in and outside of music, and how they all intertwine. And for all the jive bravado, you get the feeling, that underneath is someone who wants to let people know that, in many respects, he's just like us-an example-the book is dedicated to his mother. If you've ever wondered (as I have) if the persona he throws out is all there is, this book will help you see past all that. You may be surprised.
If you're interested in the other side of the r'n'r coin, so to speak, check out the book "And On Piano Nicky Hopkins: The Extraordinary Life of Rock's Greatest Session Man". As much as Tyler ultimately "made it" in music, Hopkins story (truly perhaps the greatest session man in r'n'r) is altogether something different. This book is a window into the r'n'r lifestyle of a man few could match.