Lonn Friend was the editor of RIP Magazine from 1987 to 1994. RIP was the most powerful and influential metal magazine, so Friend had access to the biggest rockers on the planet. After he left RIP, Friend worked in A&R for Arista Records, and also wrote for KNAC.com and other publications.
The Artists
Much of the book talks about the various artists that Friend became close to, including Metallica, Guns 'N Roses, Kiss, Aerosmith and many others. The stories are fascinating behind the scenes glimpses at the artists as human beings instead of icons. Whether he's on their tour bus, flying on their private jet or hanging out backstage, Friend had a knack for connecting with people and getting them to reveal their true selves.
The Personal Struggle
Just as interesting as the stories he tells about the musicians is Friend's own story. Even though he was living the dream of running a magazine and calling the biggest names in music his friends, Friend was struggling to find himself. He could easily adapt to the personalities around him, but somewhere along the way Lonn Friend lost his identity. He went through some personal struggles including a divorce and embarked on a journey of self discovery.
Should I Buy This Book?
In a word, yes. The combination of interesting stories about icons like Bon Jovi and Nirvana along with Friend's own story is very compelling. I loved RIP Magazine back in the day and reading about what went on behind the scenes is very interesting. More than just a glib book of music gossip, Friend reveals his own shortcomings and failures, giving the book a lot of depth and character.
