No matter how awesome you think you are, you have come nowhere near the sheer volume of drugs which Anthony Kiedis has consumed, nor have you had as much incredible sex with as many spectacular women. That, roughly speaking, is the theme of Kiedis’ autobiography and, if even half of what he says is true, it’s hard to imagine that anyone will ever be able to trump him in either endeavour.
For those who do not know, Anthony Kiedis is the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a merry band of funksters who have over the course of a career spanning two decades broken down a startling number of musical barriers in the mainstream and produced some fantastic music along the way.
The most damning indictment of the book is that there is literally no narrative structure here; Kiedis does not impose any sort of dramatic development on his story, so unless one is familiar with the outlines of Chili Pepper history, this is just one really, really, really long picaresque. And I use that word in its strongest pejorative sense: this is 465 pages of “this happened; then this happened; then this happened; then this happened; then this happened; then this happened; then this happened; then this happened; then this happened; oh, and then this happened; did I mention that this happened? No? Anyways, then this happened; then this happened…” and on and on seemingly ad infinitum.
Which is too bad: the Chili Peppers’ story could make for fascinating reading. They let their freak flag fly and eventually the music-buying public wandered over, trying to figure out what these guys were up to. They never really compromised their music, with even their poppiest tunes (except for the execrable One Hot Minute) slanted just slightly off-kilter to what the rest of the mainstream was doing. And the personalities in the band are, to put it mildly, eccentric: Kiedis is the beautiful, rapping, flowing, sex god, drug addict, front man; bassist Flea is the manic musician, the kind of guy who would probably be terribly unsettling to sit beside on the subway, but who, by all accounts, has a heart of gold; current (and former… it’s a long story) guitarist John Frusciante is a drug-damaged artiste; and Chad Smith, the drummer (of course) is the odd one out, the guy who doesn’t seem to fit in so well. Very little of this comes through in Scar Tissue; for example, Smith, who has been drumming for the band for more than fifteen years is barely mentioned, and almost no interactions between Kiedis and Smith are recounted, other than a drunken near-brawl in a hotel.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Olsen
very nice job Bob, thanks and welcome!
I would add to your, "if even half of what he says is true, it’s hard to imagine that anyone will ever be able to trump him in either endeavour..."
AND LIVE.
2 - Bryce Eddings
Listed at Advance
3 - Roel Janssen
Couldn't agree with you more. In addition to your comment about Chad I would say that I miss the other band members as well. It's sad to realize that his memories of the perpetual cycle of drug abuse, addiction and rehab are apparently the most vivid and certainly the most predominant - says something about drug addiction.
4 - sandi
Oh, come on, he might not be a writer, and even if we missed the possibility of learning the complex history of the band, as he said it's just a recall of his own experiences... and if that's all well get, I still think it was brave to tell out all this.
5 - rob
Nice review. I picked up the book earlier this week and am only about 100 pages into it, but your review basically sums up most of my feelings so far. It's basically drugs, sex, and reckless mischief, apparently from the time he was about seven years old. I was never really into Red Hot Chili Peppers, but growing up a skater/punker they were hard to miss. So even though it gets a bit monotonous at times, I still find it a fascinating read. I agree that it is very self-absorbed, and I'm not sure whether I'll come away liking him very much. Nontheless I'm hooked til the end.
6 - Julia Jackson
I cant say that I disagree with Bob's review (especially the bit about Hillel's death) - however I read the book recently and found it absolutely compulsive. I found his sincerity rather admirable and consequently came away from the book really liking him! In the same way as James Frey's A Million Little Pieces it plucked at my heart strings! And for any of you who have read Motley Crue's The Dirt which is undeniabley a great read you cant say their redemption is as heart felt or utterly honest or that they half way as damn cool as Keidis!
7 - redhotchilipepperfan
Just bought this book 2 days ago, shows that people are different than the seem to be, as kiedis starts rollercoaster of life and getting himself dragged into situations that may of changed him from who he is today, plucked a few heart strings! as he makes his way through life at a young age dealing with drugs and tumbling with women and moving houses this book is sure to be one of the most wanted through-out the world, nothing can compare to this little boy who was so much as a scammer to the real deep haerted singer that has lead him fame and fortune today.
8 - poop
Dear Bob, i don think u know what your talking about. The book scar tissue is cleary a fascinating adventure through the life of rocks most aclaimed singers. So next time think about how interesting it was instead of how intellectual it was is
9 - sam
The book doesn't have to have an interesting plot. It's an autobiography, and a story still continuing on to this day. He talks mostly of sex drugs and funk because for a large portion of his life, drugs were the most important thing, sex and funk coming in at a close second. I thought it was interesting to learn more about the close bond between the bandmates and how they grew up together. It was also and interesting look into the perils of drug addiction and the fact that drug addiction is a disease that can only be cured through counseling. Hearing how songs such as "Under the Bridge" and "Fight Like a Brave" were written also brought a new depth to the band that i never before felt.
10 - danielle
ive only just started reading scar tissue and its awesome..
11 - barbie
I saw Scar Tissue in the bookstore, and thought I should buy it, but I didn't, because of I'm sick the whole "woo is me" bullshit from Rock Star's, and it wouldn't help me come closer to what I'm trying to reach within my life; but after reading your review I think I will.
12 - MP
Although Kiedis comes off quite arrogant, I truly can't put this book down. He's so removed from himself that he's probably is a figment of his own imagination and that's why this book is my drug. Gripping.
13 - michelle
I love this book.
Kiedis is a self confessed asshole at times. You feel sorry for him at times you want to wrap him up and hug him. Like most addicts he is selfish and can't see beyond the addiction.
I agree parts of this book have the potential to be really interesting. I mean the part where he travels to that remote jungle was so fasinating and the death of Hillel and River Pheonix. There were a lot of areas which I feel he could have expanded on to make it more interesting.
The book repeats itself a lot and it is a lot of drugs, sex, drugs, music, drugs, rehab, drugs, drugs and more drugs. I really wanted to slap him at the end when he was sober for five years then started using again.
I like the way he brings the song lyrics into the book and explains where he gets the lyrics from. This was interesting.
I felt sorry for the girls in the book. They all seemed to love him so much and he really didn't seem to notice or care much for them back. This was really heart breaking especially with Ione.
All in all an interesting book but there was areas whihc could have definately been improved.
14 - molly
ive never really been a huge fan of the chili peppers but lately ive been getting into their new stuff thats out and really enjoying it and also starting to listen to their much older stuff as well. ive been contemplating buying this book and i think it would be a good read. so what if its not intellectual its how HE wants to tell HIS story and everyone has a right to do that
15 - melanie
youre dumb anthony kiedis is amazing,
16 - xakk
listen, im not a fanantic, but you sir are a fuck ass.
17 - spencer
fuck you.
18 - Les
It took some getting into but once past the early days I found I couldn't put the book down. Now I've got a couple of chapters left to go & im struggling. His story tends to slow down a bit when he's clean, so I was just gagging for him to hit the drugs again. Now its just on the drugs, off the drugs, on, off, on, off- etc etc.
how does he remember such details of his life when he's spent most of it wasted?
Despite sounding like I'm moaning, I think its great & will finish the book in the next week or so.
Since reading it I've dug all my chili peppers albums out & its all I'm listening to in the car at the minute.
Also I don't know if its just me but it really makes me wanna go out & get stoned;-)
19 - Godwhacker
their music is excellent, but this book now needs to end soon, i've had enough of the drug abuse and screwing chicks.
20 - mary jane
I just feel kind of bad that the kickass, freewheeling nice guy I had idealized Keidis as is actually a kickass, freewheeling asshole. I keep feeling bad for Flea whenever I watch the interviews, Tony always seems to put him down somehow. I mean, I like assholes, but it would've been nice to defy that "most cool people are arrogant jerkoffs" rule that tends to be true. Fuck. Oh well. Maybe I'm just being naive.
21 - Keara
Hey Bob do you really think someone who has done more drugs then Ozzie Osborn is going to be a William Shakesphere? You are completely wrong about this moving and inspirational autobiography. I would suggest getting a new job, one that your actually at least decent at...you need to save for retirement. Best Book ever written you dumb piece of shit.
22 - Karen
I've been a fan of the Chili Peppers since I was 11 years old and my camp counsellor let me hear "True men" on her walkman...
I was aware of the band's, Anothony's in particular, story ( in a roundabout way, as every fan knew he was an addict)
I have always adored this band and adored it's members... I have come away from this book annoyed as hell...
The word "monotony" does not do it justice...
I found him to be full of himself, I found that there were quite a few parts of the book that he seemd to be trying to "speak to" whomever he was speaking about by using the book... and although he tried to take part of the blame for his failed relationships with women, in the end it was always, ulimately, the woman's fault and he had to end it... I think lots of the things he said could have been left unsaid... like I don't really think he needed to throw Jack Nicholson's name in there and the fact that he had his girlfriend sitting in his lap, smoking a joint with her... There was alot of naming names, some necessary, mostly not, and I wouldn't be suprised if he has pissed a hell of a lot of people off with this book...
By the end of the book I was so freggen annoyed with the "getting high, getting clean, getting high, getting clean stories..." it was the same thing over and over again... and even though he has been clean now a few years, who's to say he will stay that way..? he stayed clean for 5 years once and relapsed... and again and again and again...
I was really hoping it would have more "band moments", and alot more humour.. the only time I laughed out loud was near the end when he spoke about the flame helmets and how on occaison they would malfunction and there would be 3 of them with these crazy flames shooting out and one of them would have this gay bic lighter flame coming from his...I wanted more of the funny stupid shit like that...
His writing left so much to be desired... and even though he does seem like a genuinely nice human being, and one who wants to be happy and do good and be clean etc... he seems like a lost little boy.. I was so sick of the immaturity by the end... it was like he had learned alot, but really hasn't grown up much... he seems like a lost soul that may never truly get it and may never stop hurting those around him...
I hope I'm wrong...
23 - Kevin
I agree strongly with Bob saying that this book is written for lack of better words not professionally, but it really is a work written by the heart by what Kiedis knows best, and I belive that it has good messages spoken by the voice of expierience, and it can really restore hope to someone living a life of desperation and cheap thrills as Kiedis did.
24 - Sib
Well I completely disagree. I found scar tissue to be an incredible and honest autobiography! I could not put it down. Personally I think Anthony comes across as a lovely person. He gives a real understanding to his drug use and how he eventually fought his demons.
25 - rawr
One of the best books ive ever read... and believe me ive read a lot of books. Good review but for some reason when i read this book i felt as if i were on a rollercoaster ride through hollywood in the life of a rockstar through good times and bad, not *this happened then this happened blah blah blah. To each his own opinion thou.
Also anthony says clearly in his book that chad and him were not very close til the later years.
One more thing, most of the things in the book are hard to believe but then again i really did see these guys walk on stage with just socks over their stuff, something i know most people wouldnt do;) these guys are crazy cool and im glad keidis shared his experiences with the world.
READ THIS BOOK IF U HAVENT!
PEACE