Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?

By: Steven Tyler

Narrated by: Jeremy Davidson

Length: 13 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

"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."

The son of a classical pianist straight out of the Bronx of old Archie comics, Steven Tyler was born to be a rock star. Weaned on Cole Porter, Nat King Cole, Mick, and his beloved Janis Joplin, Tyler began tearing up the streets and the stage as a teenager before finally meeting his "mutant twin" and legendary partner, Joe Perry. In this addictively listenable memoir, told in the playful, poetic voice that is uniquely his own, Tyler unabashedly recounts the meteoric rise, fall, and rise of Aerosmith over the last three decades and riffs on the music that gives it all meaning.

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.

©2011 Steven Tyler (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? A Rock 'n' R

Like all rock star books that I've read in the past, it's your typical super-talented, super-successful, rockstar, drug addict, self-proclaimed rock god, book that I absolutely love to read/listen to. I don't think the book comes off as well as is could have with Jeremy Davidson narrating it. Especially after hearing the last 15 minutes, that was actually narrated by Steven Tyler. His narration puts a completely different perspective on the book. When he talks about his children and the band, you can hear the love and the self-disappointment in his voice. You can actually hear Steven think as he speaks. You can tell he lived it. The ups and downs. You can't be a drug addict for decades and not screw up everybody around you. Only the great Steven Tyler can Tylerize words like Steven Tyler. He makes his living with words, he invented laying the smack down like no other! He has his own unique vocabulary. Steven sounds his age in the narration and Jeremy sounds like the younger Steven Tyler who is completely full of himself. It just doesn't do the book justice. Keif' Richards had Johnny Depp do his narration and it sounded great! Hey Steven, go back and do the narration yourself. The book deserves it!

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Reads true to the man and true to music

This reads as unadulterated Steven Tyler, his language, his world view, coming through clear. What really makes the book worthwhile is Tyler's love of music and his focus on that. The narrator is fine, though sounds like more of a tough guy than Tyler himself.

Yes the endless litany of drugs, the sense of a whole life spent stoned, is a little disappointing, but that's part of the Tyler package...love of music and language and a mostly unexamined love of altered states...

12 of 13 people found this review helpful

EXCELLENT MEMOIR

This book couldn't have been any better unless Steven had narrated it himself. It is very thoughtful, entertaining, and well written. I became so engrossed while listening to it, that I felt like I was sitting down one on one with him. This could be in part good writing / good narrating. You get to hear his side of the tabloid writings, his side of the band feuds, his side of the marital problems, etc. There is so much musical theory in this book as well that I could sit down and listen to it again to get more understanding of it. On a side note.....Steven Tyler "IS" Aerosmith. There would not be an Aerosmith if Steven was not fronting it. The boys are excellent musicians without a doubt but IMO, they would not have gotten where they are today without Steven on vocals.

16 of 18 people found this review helpful

Should've stopped after the 1st half.

What would have made Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? better?

Surely Tyler's got more interesting stories from his adult years than how many girls and drugs he did? Maybe it got less raunchy further into the second half... I don't know, I had to turn it off. It was such a drastic change from the first half of funny, not raunchy stories from his childhood and teen years when Aerosmith began.

Has Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes. I have Sammy Hagar's Red in my wish list but I'm reluctant to buy it.

Which character – as performed by Jeremy Davidson – was your favorite?

?? Tyler's THE character.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Does the Noise in My Head Bother You??

I'd have to take a look at the second half to figure out why it's SO disconnected from the first half which I loved.

Any additional comments?

If you want to hear a lot of bragging about how many drugs and girls Tyler did, you'll like it. The second half anyway. The first half is humorous and endearing.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Exceptionally narrated

Jeremy Davidson, brings life to Steven Tyler, so much so, that when one hears the voice of the actual Tyler at the end, its a serious disappointment. The only hitch is that there is just too much talk about drugs to the point that you want to skip the part...but you cant, as Steven is all over the place and you might just miss some of his golden words in a way only Tyler can conjure. As another reviewer said, if the songs he talks about could also play alongside, this would be a book better than 5 stars. If they do take out another version with songs included, I would buy this book again. Despite these drawbacks, this is one book I would like to hear again. Also, printed autobiographies always have photographs, this should be incorporated into the audio book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Written Just Like He Speaks-No Filter

If you could sum up Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? in three words, what would they be?

Long winded, not always linear, from the heart

Who was your favorite character and why?

This is pure Steven Tyler so there is alot of phallic symbolism, sexual inuendo and over description of situations. It's great!!

What does Jeremy Davidson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Sounds like Steven Tyler...like he's from the same place, speaking the way Steven Tyler would.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The Real Steven Tyler

Having watched the antics of Aerosmith over the year, this book felt more inside Steven's head. There's more to him than just Aerosmith and I found him to be sensitive, kind and yet still a bit crazy. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Steven's comments at the end made it even better.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Watch "Behind the Music" instead

I guess the fact that I've seen the Aerosmith "Behind the Music" episode on VH1 and have long been a fan of their music means there weren't going to be any earth-shattering surprises in this memoir for me. I have a lot of respect for Steven Tyler, his amazing talent, and his incredible resilience - but the book? I could take it or leave it. Maybe if he had narrated it himself I would've liked it more - I did find the narration to be a mismatch. The sex, drugs, and rock n roll are all here - the story of his life and how he came to be a megastar is all here - if you are curious and want the racy details, then go ahead and give this one a try.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

True Steven Tyler style

If you could sum up Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? in three words, what would they be?

Reading this book is like listening to Steven's lyrics.

What does Jeremy Davidson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It felt like Steven Tyler was telling the story himself. The audio made this book. I've talked to my friends who "read" the book and it just doesn't compare. Props to Jeremy Davidson. He couldn't have done it any better.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Tyler does it Again!!!

This is an awesome book! I could not put it down, his almost peotic way of writing will keep you gripped the whole way. Jeremy Davidson does an exceptional job of capturing Tylers attitude and grace as he dance's around the chapters of his life. I love the fact that it doesnt follow an accurate chronological portrayal, more just life as Tyler remembers it, sometimes through a drunken drug filled haze, but aways with a great message and plenty of style.
Loved It!
Will read it again and again...

1 of 1 people found this review helpful