Book Review: Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? by Steven Tyler

Summary - From GoodReads.com

"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." 

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
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Ink Thoughts Review
There is something epicly profound yet slightly demystifying when you step inside the mind of an artist. I say demystifying because inevitably, the life altering moment or thought that you created might not have actually been intended to be life-altering at all. Isn't that the beauty of art? I, myself have been on the other end - producing choreographed performance art, sculptures and dances that speak the words of my soul only to be floored when someone comes up to me and tells me a completely different story. It happens and therefore when it comes to Steven Tyler - it is destined to happen in this book. Is it still a fun and enlightening read? Absolutely!

The Point - 9/10
All non-fiction books usually have a point they are trying to get across and Tyler lets you see it right away...you have no idea what the world of rock and roll holds. All of the rumors are usually true. All of the drugs and the accessibility of them is crazy. And great friends do not necessarily make great music...or maybe it's great artists make great music but not necessarily great friends. The point is that everybody wants a chance to be a fly on the wall of a rock star - here ya go!

The Delivery - 8/10
Steven Tyler is a rock star - he writes lyrics and melodies that are timeless. But you can believe that he does not think along a linear fashion so his book most definately will not follow a pretty, straight line. It jumps and dives and meanders around his crazy thing called life but does it well (props to his ghost writer or editor). Do you get a feel for what it's like to BE Steven Tyler? Absolutely, and isn't that the point?

Quotable Moments - 8/10
There are plenty of "aha" moments within the book - some not so quotable because of the content or language but plenty that make you sit back and say - that's what you have to remember when you're trying to be someone unusual.

Conclusion
If you love Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, Rock and Roll or just seeing the "behind the scenes" working of an artist - you'll enjoy it. If you are sensitive to language, sex or drugs - you won't.

Buy the book on GoodReads or Barnes & Nobel here.

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