Scar Tissue

By: Anthony Kiedis, Larry Sloman

Narrated by: Rider Strong

Length: 14 hrs and 51 mins

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)

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 :)

9 people found this helpful

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.

10 people found this helpful

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.

7 people found this helpful

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!

19 people found this helpful

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.

2 people found this helpful

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.

1 person found this helpful

Tear

I related to this book too much. Kiedis' story reminds me of a lot of things I went through with a close friend of mine and this book really touched those feelings.

1 person found this helpful

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.

13 people found this helpful

Brilliant

Would you consider the audio edition of Scar Tissue to be better than the print version?

Yes

What other book might you compare Scar Tissue to and why?

Jimi Hendrix had a similar story

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes it was a deeply moving story the best I have read yet

1 person found this helpful

Soul Baring

Any additional comments?

I was not expecting such raw emotion. Anthony Kiedis portrays himself in public as very standoffish when it comes to his personal life. I was blown away at his ability to put it all out there, bad and good. So many times I just started at my car radio with my mouth open. Did he just say that? Yes, he did. I loved how he explained the songs that he was creating and the times around which they were being created. It brought me closer to the music and to understanding how hard those times in his life, as well as so many others, must have been. He shows himself to be human, not just a rock star. And out of that, even though he explains it's always a battle and no easy end, he proves he is also courageous.

1 person found this helpful

Touching, inspiring, informative.

I've read Scar Tissue on two separate occasions in the past and it was always "my favourite book", "the best book I've ever read" when I told friends about it.

However, even with such high praise for the book, my first listen (of many, I'm sure) to Scar Tissue on Audible was a very fulfilling experience.. the honesty, emotion and passion thrown into each and every sentence by Anthony Keidis is one thing but Rider Strong's narration is exceptional.. from his impersonations of Flea to a kiwi fling of Anthony's, or even the up and down emotions of Anthony Keidis himself.. Rider Strong's performance is top notch!!

The stories told in this book are unbelievable, but told with a brutal honesty that makes them believable, and they're told in a way that makes you feel like you were there.. there before the Chili Peppers, there with the band through all their ups and downs and their at the end in disbelief that the book's over, and now all you have left to do is listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' discography that you have reacquainted yourself with along the way.

By the way, this isn't a bad thing..

For any Red Hot Chili Peppers fans out there this is a must!! for anybody else out there, welcome to the World of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

8 people found this helpful

Fantastically engaging, very honest!

A true back story behind the madness that was The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. You should Kip this.

1 person found this helpful

Inspired and honest

a very captivating and inspirational book that seems like a memoir with a conclusion to lifes problems or just a detailed description of right and wrong

1 person found this helpful

Disappointing

Struggled to finish it. I did enjoy parts but unfortunately not all of it. The narrator is good.

1 person found this helpful

stood in line to see this show tonight.

Spellbinding Brilliant, I'd give Kiedis's book 50 Stars out of 5 if I could, amazing life, amazing story,, amazingly written, and for any would be holics an inspiring transcript to get clean and show others a light. WONDERFUL.

1 person found this helpful

Amazing story of an incredible life.

To anyone remotely interested in RHCP, a must listen/read. I have paperback and now the audio book. love then both.

1 person found this helpful

Loved it!

Really interesting and the narrator is perfect for the book. Hopefully he writes another book.

1 person found this helpful

A bit disappointing

I actually found this a little bit tedious and I felt like turning it off after the millionth time he went on a drugs binge, sorry: "Run". Interesting I suppose - but I really wanted to hear more about the music.

5 people found this helpful

Full

Sex, drugs, sex, met the greatest girl ever, sex, drugs, album, gig, sex, drugs repeat as required ..... dull, boring , uninspiring on the whole.

3 people found this helpful

a roller coaster, if a bit narcissistic

Big RHCP fan but never warmed to AK much. Finally got round to listening to the book. really enjoyed it but felt it was a bit too repetitive on some areas. i get drugs are a big part of his life but felt a bit narcissistic in places. also found the narration a bit nauseating. like a kids tv series when doing women's voices or other characters. dont let that distract you though, from this total roller coaster of an autobiography. here's to a healthy AK and more music from RHCP