Scar Tissue

Anyone coming for an autobiography of the Red Hot Chili Peppers might be a little disappointed in this book. Kiedis focuses more on his personal journey through life, and especially on his formative adolescent years. The Chili Peppers are a part of his life, to be sure, but this story is truly Anthony's personal struggles to be a sober, straight-living man.

Anthony spends a significant amount of the book on his teenaged years. He was essentially his father's roommate (not his son, not his "charge) in Los Angeles from the age of 12. He experienced more drugs and debauchery before the age of 18 than most people could live through in their entire life. In describing his experiences, however, Kiedis used an inviting tone; he never bragged show more about his exploits or tried to paint himself in an excessively rosy light. He simply invited the reader along to explore his personal experiences and emotions.

Scar Tissue is truly a book about drug addiction, about the lifelong slippery slope of trying to obtain (and maintain) sobriety. It is amazing that Kiedis can keep his dozens of periods of abuse and relapse straight in his mind, much less transform them into a compelling narrative journey for the reader. Life on drugs was in no way glamorous--Kiedis spent many years at rock bottom, barely surviving, and scrounging for his existence. He also fooled many people about his drug use, and managed to escape any arrest or scrutiny for possession. Reading about how Kiedis has to consider and seize his sobriety each and every day (he's been clean since 24 December 2000) will surely inspire anyone who is struggling with their own personal demons. show less

I've read several rock memoirs, but this is far and away my favorite. Kiedis doesn't just tell us what happened, but he speaks from the heart and relives it. There is a humility in his story, from someone who has been at the top of the world but knows it could come crashing down at any minute, and often did.

Kiedis does not tell us his story so that we'll feel sorry for him. It isn't out of arrogance or egotism that he shares his experiences with the Hollywood scene, the music business, and drug addiction. No, this is a way that he can pay it forward, embracing all of his experiences (good and bad) and live as an example. He's not preachy in his dislike of addiction. He's not judgmental of those that haven't beaten it. Rather, he lives show more by example, embracing life and everything it has to offer. What better inspiration could someone have to get clean and make the most of what they have in life?

I was personally touched by this book. Not due to drug addiction - I've never had to experience that. I was a smoker, so I do understand some of the ways that an addiction can mind-fuck a person, but that's not even close to the levels of Hell that Kiedis and others have had to go through. No, I felt connected because of the way Kiedis is always looking forward. He learned (and learns) from experiences, and doesn't spend a lot of time beating himself up about it. Learn and build on the experiences, sharing what you can with those around you. That's the outlook he takes on life and the issues it presents. show less

For those living under a rock, Kiedis is the frontman and lyricist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. You know, the hot one with the formerly waist-length hair and pretty tattoos and who doesn't like to wear a shirt (which is just fine with me). Can you believe guy is ~47 now? Well, anyway, you just can't make this stuff up. Kiedis is extremely forthcoming about his struggle with heroin addiction, strange parenting (the story about his dad getting into Method acting is worth the price of the book), the band’s creative process and his role in it, brushes with the law, etc. Maybe he’s too forthcoming about his romantic entanglements (is it a fricking beautiful spiritual experience every time he shtups some waif?), but that just seems to show more be the kind of guy he is: naked, you know? The story is compelling and easy to get into. I don’t know who wrote what, but the narrative just flows and it feels like Anthony Kiedis is talking to you. After reading this I’m interested in more autobiographies of artists who should reasonably be dead. I mean, if I did the stuff Kiedis did, sober or lit (e.g., diving into swimming pools from five stories up), I would be dead. show less

I love the Chili Peppers, but this was a hard read. For fans of the band, the only reason you want to slog through this is to learn the story of all the personnel changes and get an intimate look at the RHCP songwriting process. At its worst, though (and this is probably two-thirds of the book), "Scar Tissue" is a (forgive me) blow-by-blow account of Kiedis' drug use and sex life. His trip out of addiction is interesting, no doubt, but the book reads more like a chronological diary of hedonism at times instead of the narrative of redemption it so wants to be.

When this book was originally released, I tried to read it. I had been a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Kiedis seemed like a reasonably interesting guy. I didn't get very far. He started talking about living with his dad, starting to do drugs at 11, and having sex with his father's girlfriend when he was 12. With his father's permission. And with the girlfriend's enthusiasm. It was all told with such a self-satisfied air, and I didn't think I could stand a whole book like that, so I put it down. I decided to try again now with the audio version, which is read by Rider Strong of "Boy Meets World" fame.

What I found out is that the insufferableness comes down by small measures as Kiedis gets older. There are still far too many show more interludes that have no point except to tell the story of some girl he met and had amazing sex with (often in a hallway or stairwell or doorway or something). Women and drugs (not necessarily in that order) have clearly been the driving forces in his life. Music came later, and interestingly enough, touring was the only time he would reliably remain sober. Many cycles of rehab, relapse, trying to kick the habit on his own, relapse, etc., go on once the band has achieved some success.

The good: Once he really becomes an addict, he doesn't romanticize the experience. Using dirty needles, committing desperate acts, and manipulating people were all too common, and he doesn't shy away from telling those stories. It's interesting to hear one member's take on a lot of the big events in the band's history.

The bad: The production quality of the audio book is pretty abysmal; you can hear pages being shuffled and other background noise like that. Also, Rider Strong does the world's worst accents (Irish was particularly bad), and he doesn't consistently know how to pronounce words. The book is over-long in general; like a lot of people, Kiedis thinks more is more when it comes to stories from his life. show less

Seeing as I've been a musician all my life and someone who doesn't usually agree with "the crowd", I've been reading biographies of musicians hoping there will be a kind of "kindred link". Hoping to say, "That's how I felt!" or "Hey he thinks like me!". Unfortunately I didn't get that feeling with this book.

Other than a single (actually half) hit of acid I've been sober my entire life. I can't relate to any kind of addiction (other than maybe sexual) and that's really what this book is about. The ratio here is : 60% Addiction/Recovery, 25% Women/Girlfriends, 13% Music, 2% Family. It's really repetitive: girlfriend, tour/album, drugs, girlfriend, tour/album, drugs...

The other thing I can't relate to is the Hollywood lifestyle. As cool show more and earthy-spiritual as Mr. Kiedis is he can't get the L.A. off of him. I guess it comes from hanging out with Sonny and Cher and a host of other Californians. I love California and I've been there many times but the whole buying cars as christmas presents and jumping over to Hawaii a couple times a year on a whim thing really distances him from me (and most of his fans I think).

Finally, in the end, after tormenting everyone he ever loved with his constant relapses and drug binges he basically says he wouldn't change a thing because it made him who he is today. Yes it's cool that he's sober now and that he helps other addicts - but really? I mean this isn't the guy that lost his arms and then went on to become some kind of inspiring olympic champion. He's a guy that got hooked on drugs and almost lost everything multiple times. He was blessed with talent and to end up involved with other talented people. To his credit now he's making the best of a bad situation but it's kind of infuriating to hear him say he's glad he was/is an addict when it caused so much pain in others.

After all that I can't say I hated the book. There were some interesting stories and he slept with one big girl (which get's an extra star from me no matter what book it's in). I was thinking about reading [book:Tommyland|314584] next but I need a break from drugs. show less

When I saw this book on sale, I knew that I had to have it!
It did not disappoint either! Anthony Kiedis gets right down to the gritty details of his life, from his childhood which will floor you! I was rapt while getting this glimpse into who he is down to the core.
When I finished the book I had a couple of thoughts. First, did he really live that life?! Secondly, is he still sober today?
What an incredible life to have said you survived from and he is still under fifty. Yet, I get it too. Just most people don't get to walk away so unscathed from that life. Then it hits you like a truck! BAM! Scar Tissue. Couldn't put a more appropriate title on a book.
Whether you like this band, or even Anthony Kiedis, you should read his story. It will show more open your eyes to the celebrity world a lot more, while telling you about this guy's eye-opening journey through life. show less