I'm the Man

The Story of That Guy from Anthrax

By: Scott Ian, Jon Wiederhorn, Kirk Hammett - foreword

Narrated by: Scott Ian

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

From founding member and guitarist of the heavy metal band Anthrax comes a personal reflection of his life and the moments that led him to his role as a staple in rock history.​

I'm the Man is the fast-paced, humorous, and revealing memoir from the man who co-founded Anthrax, the band that proved to the masses that brutality and fun didn't have to be mutually exclusive. Through various lineup shifts, label snafus, rock 'n' roll mayhem, and unforeseen circumstances galore, Scott Ian has approached life and music with a smile, viewing the band with deadly seriousness while recognizing the ridiculousness of the entertainment industry. Always performing with abundant energy that revealed his passion for his craft, Ian has never let the gravity of being a rock star go to his shaven, goateed head.

Ian tells his life story with a clear-eyed honesty that spares no one, least of all himself, starting with his upbringing as a nerdy Jewish boy in Queens and evolving through his first musical epiphany when he saw KISS live on television and realized what he wanted to do with his life. He chronicles his adolescence growing up in a dysfunctional home where the records blasting on his stereo failed to drown out the sound of his parents shouting at one another. He sets down the details of his fateful escape into the turbulent world of heavy metal. And of course he lays bare the complete history of Anthrax—from the band's formation to their present-day reinvigoration—as they wrote and recorded thrash classics like Spreading the Disease, Among the Living, and the top-20-charting State of Euphoria.

Along the way, Ian recounts harrowing, hysterical tales from his long tour of duty in the world of hard rock. He witnesses the rise of Metallica, for which he had a front row seat. He parties with the late Dimebag Darrell while touring with Pantera and gets wild with Black Label Society frontman and longtime Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde. He escapes detection while interviewing Ozzy for The Rock Show while dressed as Gene Simmons and avoids arrest after getting detained on suspicion of drugs while riding the tube in England with the late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton.

In addition, I'm the Man addresses the trials and tribulations of Ian's life and loves. He admits his foibles and reveals the mistakes made along the way to becoming a fully-functioning adult. He celebrates finally finding peace and a true sense of family with his wife, singer/songwriter Pearl Aday, and examines how his world changed after the birth of their first son.

I'm the Man is a blistering hard rock memoir, one that is astonishing in its candor and deftly told by the man who's kept the institution of Anthrax alive for more than 30 years.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2014 Scott Ian (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

Jabby, gabby, and metal-obsessed...exhilarating.—New York Times

Scott writes with real honesty...I'm the Man stands up as a great insight into one of metal's leading figures. And you don't have to be a thrash or rock fan to enjoy it—Jewish Telegraph

Eye-opening...The hard-charging head-banger has assembled his best anecdotes into the revealing autobiography...For every familiar factoid, Ian introduces two or three new nuggets even diehard Anthrax fans probably don't know...Despite the shenanigans and chicanery of Ian's teens and twenties, the man who emerges here is surprisingly level-headed and articulate.—Cleveland Music Examiner.com

This book ****ing rocks--nearly literally

Scott does an unbelievable job relating the tale of himself, and Anthrax. Hearing how they and many of my other favorite bands came together was enlightening and inspiring in the least. I will listen to 'The Man' again. You should too.

YES!!!

Scott Ian IS the man! I've been an Anthrax fan from day one. This book served to open my eyes to a lot of things that went on that we, the fans, had no idea of, and to dispel more than a few rumors. This book came along at exactly the right time. Huge, HUUUUUGE, respect to Scott for bearing his soul to us.

Nice ride on a rock and roll journey

Scott has a nice voice. Unlike many crash and. Burn biography’s, it was refreshing that he was into the journey of his life more than ending his life. Oh and there’s a happy ending too. Loved it. Thanks Scott!

Awesome book!

Great book from a great dude. I've always been a huge Anthrax fan and really enjoyed Scott's story. I would recommend this to everyone, even if you aren't a metalhead. The struggles and triumphs Scott and the band faced were monumental.

Metal History Comes Alive!!?

Scott Ian does a great job of telling his story. I like how he was so open about personal struggles as much as band business / history. I could not stop listening. The bands and tours he talked about are all an important part of my music life. I felt like I went back in time to the first time I heard Metallica or when I saw Slayer at L'More in Brooklyn. For me, my intro to Scott Ian was SOD. SOD was a record I wore out. I have been lucky enough to see Anthrax many times in both small and large venues. This book ties all those different times of the band togther and provides an interesting insight to the business. 🤘

He’s The Man! Loved it: witty, entertaining and informative |ii|/

I’ve always been a rock/metal fan, but only a casual listener to Anthrax and only saw them live as a support act to Iron Maiden back in ‘91, but this book was ace!
This is your typical autobiography going right from growing up through discovering music etc, but it never got boring.

The audiobook is narrated by Scott who adds some ad-lib comments about his ‘impressions’ of the voices he does which are epic. He also comes across as being a really down-to-earth guy.

This covers all the ups and downs of the band, the current and former lineup as well as Scott’s side-projects and is thoroughly entertaining and informative.

Highly recommended to any music fan.

He is THE MAN!

I loved it! Scott is definitely the most hard working, hard rocking, down to earth guy I feel like I just met. He lets you understand that you can make your dreams come true but you're gonna hit some bumps along the way. Coming full circle through the ups and downs, high points and tragedies but never giving up. I always cheered for this guy but now I feel like I've gotten to know him a whole lot better and I'm cheering for him harder than ever.

Awesome

The best “rock star” bio that I’ve ever read!
I would definitely recommend it to everyone.

Scott Ian IS the man!!!

I've been a huge fan of Anthrax since I was a kid so I knew I would like this book. What I didn't know was how much I would love it! It's better than the best rockumentary!!! PLUS it's read by The Man himself. Listening to the audio book is the Only way to experience it!

Fantastic!!

This was one of the most fantastic autobio’s I have ever listened to. Anthrax was the band that got me into metal almost 35 years ago. Scott has always been one of my favorite musicians, hands down! Listening to this book gave me so much insight to the band and so much insight to Scott as a person. I’m not kidding you when I say that I laughed AND I cried while listening to this book. NO BULLSHIT! Scott you are an amazing person. And I have an even larger respect for you and for Anthrax!

Metal Thrashing Mad!

I grew up listening to Anthrax. It was the first band I got into alongside Metallica when I left school in 87. So hearing the story of Anthrax told by Scott "NOT' Ian was just amazing. The foreword is read by Kirk Hammett. This is a must for metal fans, especially If you grew up with it. Now shut up, I'm listening again. 🤘

He Is Indeed "The Man"

This was a really enjoyable listen from the one and only Scott Ian who narrates virtually the whole thing in his own inimitable brash New Yorker way. He perhaps "over shares" in a few place (I could've done without the giving birth part) but on the other hand, he doesn't shy away from some of the frankly bone headed things he's done over the years (drink driving for example) so it comes over as a genuine "warts and all" tale.

I could take issue with some of his analysis about why some of Anthrax's albums failed (fact is, some of them just didn't contain many good songs) but this book is about what he thinks and he gives it with both barrels. He doesn't pull back...ever!

I'm probably making it sound like there isn't much humour in the book but there is plenty of that as well.

All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone with a passing interest in Anthrax or even the history of "thrash" metal from one of the pioneers of the genre.

Warning: this book does contain quite a lot of profanity!

Brilliant

Been a fan ofthe band from the beginning. It's good to get some behind-the-scenes insights to Scott's life.

The title tells it all

Ithis ticks all the boxes tales from the inception of thrash metal right up to release of worship music. I'd just love to hear Scott's take on the release of for all the Kings.

The “Thrax”Boysz that make the Noise

I’m OLD SCHOOL and my favourite flavour has always been Motõrhead - right from the start. Been on the “piss with the boys etc.” Metallica came along in my circle of friends whilst skateboarding and for me it always has been 2 wheels and so I was the odd sod out ‘cause I was a BMX slave. Moved from Portsmouth in 1984 up to family in West Coast of Scotland for Work.
Anthrax came on the airwaves, my mates were overcome by the energy, the feel etc of the band and I TRIED SHUNNING new music because I’m old school. However, after much harassment from my Skateboard geezers I gave up and afforded half an hour to listen to “Spreading the Disease” and was totally bowled over. They, in my opinion are fresher, sexier and more energetic than two or three certain bands which I’ll not name as this is my personal choice other than to say SLAYER ARE NOT PART OF THAT EQUATION.

At the end of the day, Anthrax, like Motorhead (Lemmy R.I.P - and still owes me a “bar tab bill”) are survivors because the music boasts no bull***t - the music is as honest as the guys themselves. So chuffed Joey back home - that’s not to detract from the fact that Mr Bush is Awesome and should things go belly-up ever again, I’d suspect John would fill. In all, please please read this testament of one of the most iconic bands in “the heavy genre” and even better, do yourself a favour and educate your ears!!!! Thank you very much for the last 35+ years. You’re all awesome. God bless your lad as well 💀🤘🏼

He is the man !!

Read with so much energy you cant help but get caught up in it all (caught in a mosh !!) very interesting .

NOT to be avoided ..

A must for all thrash fans !
Been an Anthrax fan since '84 seeing them many times . This is well written and brings back great memories
😼👍👍

Good insights and great stories

Great insight to the highs and lows of anthrax. Ian comes across as honest and humble and get some cool stories through the evolution of anthrax and the genre. Recommend for all metal fans.

Essential book for anthrax fans

Everything you need to know about Scott Ian’s anthrax journey,from the early days to the triumphant big 4 shows.

He’s the Man

I love this guy and his stories mixing with the other legends from that metal age all the way up to today are brilliant