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Scar Tissue  By  cover art

Scar Tissue

By: Anthony Kiedis,Larry Sloman
Narrated by: Rider Strong
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Publisher's summary

As lead singer and songwriter for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anthony Kiedis has lived life on the razor's edge. Much has been written about him, but until now we've only had his songs as clues to his experience from the inside. In Scar Tissue, Kiedis proves himself to be as compelling a memoirist as he is a lyricist, giving us a searingly honest account of the life from which his music has evolved.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are that rare breed of rock band: critically lauded and popularly embraced by millions of fans, their albums consistently sell into the stratosphere - their CD Californication sold over 13 million copies alone.

Now, in Scar Tissue, Anthony Kiedis defies the rock star clichés. In his telling, we can see everything he has done has been part of a passionate journey. Kiedis is a man "in love with everything" - the darkness, the death, the disease. Even his descent into drug addiction was a part of that journey; another element that he has transformed into art. Scar Tissue is a fascinating account of a fast-lane life, addiction, and a moving story of eventual recovery and redemption.

©2004 Anthony Kiedis (P)2010 Phoenix Audio

Critic reviews

"Kiedis’s narrative of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ dues-paying years is vivid and inspiring." ( Newsweek)

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What listeners say about Scar Tissue

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Not A Favorite

Rock biographies are my favorite genre so, eventually, I had to read Scar Tissue. Full disclosure: I've been putting it off for 2 years because I haven't really liked the RHCP since Blood Sugar Sex Magik. (Though I adore Flea.) So, I finally downloaded Scar Tissue. First, let me say, I think the narrator is - while not terrible - certainly not worthy and didn't make me feel like I was listening to the words of Anthony Kiedis. It was like listening to a 17 year old high school junior reading Anthony Kiedis. (Go ahead, listen to the sample.) Because of this, I could never really get completely immersed in the book. His young, squeaky, and innocent voice didn't vibe with the often dark and always debaucherous tales. But if you can past that, which I couldn't quite do all the time, then the story being shared is essentially this: Anthony's dad was the kind of parent who made his kid be his hang out and drug buddy so AK developed unhealthy drug and girl habits very early in life and has pretty much been to be unable to control these urges for most of his life. "OK", you might say. "That's the story of rock-n-roll!" Yeah, true. But usually reading a rock bio makes me like the band and the person even more because I form a connection and deeper appreciation of the artist and the music. Well, perhaps I do feel a bit of that but I was disappointed nonetheless. Kiedis came off as decent guy who's very easily distracted, a little outrageous, and a lot immature. Oh, wait. Maybe that narrator did a good job after all!

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Rider Strong SUCKS

Rider Strong is, by no means, qualified to talk about Anthony Kiedis’ gnarly, fast-paced life. Over the course of the audio book, I wasn’t sure if I was listening to a little league baseball game or the biography of one of the most influential rockers of our generation. Otherwise, great story.

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The Sexcapades of Anthony Kedis

What did you love best about Scar Tissue?

I enjoyed hearing the musical biography of Anthony Kedis and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I wanted to hear more stories about the music, the band, the road to stardom, behind-the-scenes stories, etc. I would have cut out a lot of the sex stories, which seemed grandiose anyway. This seemed more like a sexual memoir more than anything. I caught myself rolling my eyes a lot. There were a couple other stories in there where I thought, "Really?! C'mon!" There are some egotistical parts that seem seriously embellished and unbelievable. I don't want to say which ones because I don't want to ruin the book for anyone.

Any additional comments?

From the book it sounds like success just fell into Anthony Kedis' lap. He just happened to know these guys who had a band, and because he danced and thrashed around (because he didn't have any musical talent) he became the lead singer. Also, sobriety seemed very casual to him, like that was easy and just fell into his lap too, despite repeated relapses. Although I listened through the whole book, I have less respect for Anthony Kedis now than I did before listening. I don't think that should happen, but it did.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book. Horrible narration.

The story is real good but the reader SUCKS!!! I hope to God I never hear him reading another book. I can’t tell you how many times I almost threw in the towel because the sound of his voice literally angered me. This is not a career this guy should continue in one more day.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Up Close and Personal with Anthony Kiedis

Not only is this book completely entertaining through out the entire pligrimage of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kiedis makes you feel as if you were actually right there living the whole experience with him. I have always enjoyed RHCP but now through hearing about his memories and relationships with the band members, I can honestly say that I have a new found appreciation for the band. One thing I also really enjoyed thanks to youtube- is that as you are listening, you can watch parts of concerts or interviews Kiedis refers to in the novel which provides an excellent reality to his work and its really amusing to know what his thoughts are as he's singing or strung out.. Also, the way Anthony describes his struggle with addiction is riviting.. you truly learn what an addict dreams and feels everyday. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone who wants to listen to entertaining book that opens your mind to a story about a struggling drug addict facing the realities of success, fame and funky music :)

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Disturbing story of a junkie rockstar pedophile.

I always heard negative rumors about this dude. I thought since he is a recovering addict that I might relate to the guy, but definitely not. This book has no redeeming qualities with the exception of the narrarator. I now dislike him even more so than before. He was dating teenagers when he was in his twenties and he continues to date teenagers in his fifties. What a scumbag.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Candid insight into hard-core life of rock icon

If you could sum up Scar Tissue in three words, what would they be?

Facinating, pathetic, mind-numbing

What was one of the most memorable moments of Scar Tissue?

Very insightful explanation and person experiences relating to lyrics of "Scar Tissue"

What about Rider Strong’s performance did you like?

Overall very good narration and shifting of voices made it seem like you were listening to actual characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Times when Anthony Keidis realized the joy of his own sobriety

Any additional comments?

Was a great fan of the RHCP before book and now, with explanations of odd song lyrics and history I've become even more enamored by them.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

hate the narrarator. return money. cant listen

hate the narrarator. return money. cant listen. not a good voice. did not get past ibtro

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Phenomenal Story, Horrifically Mismatched Narrator

Kiedis' autobiography is filled with visceral anecdotes that are read by someone who couldn't sound more unlike the RHCP singer. Listening to a chapter in my car was so irritating that I began to become physically ill.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Coke, Heroin, Sex...Meh...

Pretty disappointed with this book. I understand he was trying to tell the story of his addiction, but how about a little insight into the music or life in the band? That is why people care about your story in the first place. All just about relapses sprinkled with frat boyish brags about the quality and quantity of girls he draws. Meh...
Oh and I didn't like the narration at all.

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3 people found this helpful