Scar Tissue

In my opinion, this was a very good read. Most books about musicians can be a little confusing, because of the use of another author. In “Scar Tissue”, you can tell that Anthony really put his time into it. It has great stories and memories of his times meeting friends, with his dad, forming a band, and traveling the world, with the mission of entertaining people.In the post by J. P. Stockton, he says that “We’re lucky Kiedis turned out the way he did in the end”, and i agree. Most of the book is about his battle with drug usage, and near death experiences for him, and some of the most important people to him. Thats a big part of the lasting effect the book puts on you, and how we are lucky that Anthony won his battle and can make the music that gives so many people the enjoyment of listening to it.In the book, it goes from Anthonys movement to quiet, comfortable Michigan with his Mom, to big, loud, influential L.A. and his Dad. Thats a huge huge huge part of the book, and even though its just described with a few sentences, this almost transcontinental move proves to change Anthonys life forever. The question is-for better, or for worse? This new L.A. lifestyle introduces Anthony to drugs, partying, misbehavior, and other acts of recklessness. But from Anthonys point of view, I think he does an excellent job at showing both the negative and positive sides. Thats why the book is so great. It has a first person view of both sides of the story. There is also a great equilibrium between the two, as the flow of the story and the style of writing make it so it happens without you even knowing it. Not only are we lucky Anthony turned out the way he did because of the music he makes, but because of this great story about his life that gets shared with everybody.Anthonys life is actually amazing. For a person to have that many great moments and memories, then be able to obtain all the information and turn it into a great book is incredible. You have to love Anthony, and as you read, you can feel the emotions he's feeling, like you're in his shoes while reading it. If you're as big of a Red Hot Chili Peppers fan as I am, you will notice that the book provides a lot of clarity into some of the songs written and performed by the group. Its all the little insight from him that makes you feel like if you see him in public, you could just walk up to him and act like you’ve known him and grew up with him and experienced all of the times in Scar Tissue right beside him. Of Course he has no idea who you are, and he is a human being bombarded by paparazzi and fans every second, so maybe just a wave and smile would suffice. But he is such an interesting guy filled with stories to tell for hours and hours. This book does a great job on telling the life story of a crazy, remarkable human being.A great quote from this book is “Every artist is at war with the world” (Kiedis 71). This quote can definitely be proved true, especially for musicians. In the book, Anthony constantly is taking Flea, Chad, John, and some former members, including Dave, Jack, Hillel, Dwayne, Arik, Jack S., and Jesse along for the ride of a lifetime. They had to go up on stage every single time and play like they've never played before to give their fans the best time ever. But there were also all the people thinking otherwise. The struggle of being a musician during Anthonys time was one like no other, as many, many people say that The Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the most influential bands of all time, as they introduced this new, punk, hip hop, rock, funk combination for the world to hear. They overcame the shunning words from music producers and record labels and any citizens against their music, and stayed strong for the whole ride. This book has a great impact on anybody who reads it, and i highly recommend it to anybody considering.

"Scar Tissue" by Anthony Kiedis, is a raw and unfiltered dive into the tumultuous life of a rock star ad quickly became one of my favorite books. Kiedis doesn't hold back as he chronicles his journey, from his early days in Los Angeles to the dizzying heights of global stardom. The narrative is filled with tales of addiction, love, loss, and redemption, making it a roller-coaster of emotions for the reader.What stands out in "Scar Tissue" is Kiedis's candidness. He bares his soul, revealing his struggles with drug addiction and the impact it had on his personal and professional life. The book also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the dynamics of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, shedding light on the band's evolution and the relationships between its members. While some parts can be heavy due to the depth of Kiedis's experiences, his resilience and journey towards self-discovery make it an inspiring read. For fans of the band and those interested in the life of a rock musician this book is a compelling and eye-opening memoir.

The lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Pepper, Anthony Kiedis, gets high for the first time at age eleven, with his father, who was an actor in the swinging ‘60’s and ‘70’s in Hollywood. Young Anthony had a relatively normal life with his mother and a more hedonistic lifestyle when staying with his father. What led to a lifelong struggle with hard drug addiction is unknown but May in part be from early exposure to drugs.I was not aware of the band’s struggles with addiction. Somehow, through it all, they managed to write songs, record albums, go on tour, and have relationships. The level of addiction is at times harrowing. And Kiedis gives an honest portrayal of the depths his addiction went to and how it affected his life.He reveals the close and complex relationship of band members, the early loss of a special band mate, Hillel, to a drug overdose, and he mentions relationships with other bands coming up at the same time, in particular, Pearl Jam and Nirvana.But perhaps the most interesting facts come back to his childhood where he was playmates, older brother figure, to Chastity Bono, by way of a close friendship with Sonny and Cher. Kiedis has some early acting credits as well. In fact, he was a Hollywood kid, and he met actors and musicians while growing up in Los Angeles. His exposure to many creative people in the hills above Hollywood shaped his point of view and mostly through his father accelerated his passage through the world of music, drugs, and sex.Another reveal for me anyway, is that he and bass player, Flea (Michael Balzary) and guitar player, Hillel, went to high school together and had been close friends before forming the band.Overall, it was a good read and a good effort from Kiedis. Ultimately, there is no climactic ending to the book (it is an autobiography or memoir from a living author) but Kiedis ends with where he was at the time he wrote the book, more or less learning to live with his obsession of using drugs and practicing steps to not use those drugs. It’s a battle. I wish him continued strength and success.