While it was an easy read, it really wasn't very well written or structured. The more interesting incidents are not really covered in much detail, their meaning is never explained or delved into but anything involving drugs gets the full treatment to the detriment of all else.

Anthony Kiedis comes across as a self-centered idiot whose drug-abuse from such an early age has almost certainly damaged his brain in some way. As a child he was a disrespectful bully and petty criminal, as an adult he was a drug-addicted jerk and by the way he had so much sex! When he isn't repeatedly regailing us with tails of his drug abuse he occasionally sees fit to throw in a little comment about how he was better than whoever he was hanging out with at the time in some way. In addition to this his sexual conquests read with all the excitement, detail and believability of an eleven year old trying to convince his friends he had a threesome last night. It really does all come across as quite pathetic and laughable for the biography of a man well into his 40s.

Also, he is ignorant enough to believe the word "FUCK" is an acronym stemming from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge when anyone with even the most basic knowledge of etymology knows this is pure bullshit.

I feel sorry for anyone who looks up to this pathetic failure of a man almost as much as I feel sorry for anyone who thinks this book is good. While he's probably lived a more interesting life than most, and his music would have you believe he is probably a talented and fascinating man capable of some real insight into the nature of music, addiction, celebrity, the creative process, or any number of other topics. Unfortunately none of this is the case.

3.5

May we all find our Californiacation

A long and self indulgent memoir but one that is surprisingly insightful especially about L.A., Drugs, Sex, Music, Rehab and then more Sex and then more L.A. There is no doubt there would have been no Under the Bridge or Californification without those life experiences. There is a lot of name-dropping in this book and when Kiedis penned this memoir at age forty it didn't seem to me like he had grown up yet.

Odd facts. Cher once babysat Anthony Kiedis. His dad was a drug dealing musician. Courtney Love once picked up a strung out Kiedis when she was on her way home from stripping. He did not hold a high opinion of her. Keidis attended classes at UCLA for more than a year. This is remarkable to me since he was already a drug addict in high school and UCLA has some pretty serious academic chops.

Somewhere between 3.5 stars and 4 stars.

I really think Anthony Kiedis is a sweetheart. Every single girl he sleeps with & writes about in this book is called some variation of a magical-pixie-angel-sex goddess-special unicorn-rainbow-fairie, and it gets to be a bit endearing. He's like this big loaf, a dumb jock, who just happens to write catchy, stupid (stupid catchy?) songs. It's amazing he's still alive & looks so great, all things considered. The more interesting story in this autobio is that of John Frusciante - when is HE gonna write his memoirs?

Truth: The Chili Pepps will forever be one of the greatest musical inspirations in my life. That said, in many ways, I found AK’s storytelling absolutely abhorrent, and often times just plain boring. I’m sure he’s a different person now from who he was in 2004, when this book was published. Thankfully, today people around the globe have the vantage points of various important movements, such as MeToo, BLM, and LGBTQ+. However, I just can’t stand by his boastful attitudes regarding sex with minors, his white-male-saviorisms, his perpetual objectification of women’s bodies, and his tactless use of the “R word”.

On the other hand, as a reader who grew up in home situations of severe alcoholism and horrible abuse, I concede there is merit in this book as an honest, raw depiction of the ongoing sickness and disease of addiction. Especially towards the end when he talks about the cycles of addiction and how other non-drug related behaviors can send addicts into dark spirals (e.g., his on again, off again relationships with women). For that reason, I gave this book two stars.

Seeing John back in the band has got me soooo into Red Hot Chili Peppers again so I felt like rereading and boy oh boy….. Not a morally sound man by any measure, but I find his lust for life enjoyable and he tells some entertaining stories

So, where do I start? A realllllyyyyyy complicated process of reading this book, I really made up variuos reason how to escape "The Scar Tissue", that's why I read it for a really long time for me, 9 days, ouch! But, you know, the last 10 pages really worked for me. I dunno how to explain, maybe it's the Tony Kiedis charm or his Lithuanian roots, but I truly felt the change of him, the more mature and responsible version of him. But let's start from the beginning...
So, it doesn't matter how cool, high or sexy you think you are, you will never reach the level of Anthony Kiedis, in a bad meaning mostly. That's the theme of this book for me.
What really pissed me off while reading, is that I couldn't find the narrative structure. Let's say this book was a REALLY long picaresque: I did this; then I did that; then this; then that; oh, and repeat it. This is really the worst aspect of this book. Oh bro, it's about the Peppers! It should represent them in the best way! They write, sing and perform fascinating music, I, myself, am not a real fan of them, but I like them, I sometimes listen to their songs. I can compare this book to a really untasty candy, which has a yummy filling, but too small to get me high.
The untasty piece:
The story of a primitive drug addict who, lucky to him, is in a successful band and can’t keep your interest till the end of the book: it just becomes monotonous. All insane drug usage, clueless relationships with teenagers and women and pointless abstinence make a mess and leave an unpleasant taste, which lasts for the biggest part of the book for me.
The tasty piece:
While showing himself as a selfish, unkind and destructive person in the past, Anthony Kiedis still managed to turn into a kind, generous and lovable character (I don't say "man", 'cause there's a possibility that this book can be just too good to be true ). It just left a good feeling inside me, when I finished reading this book.
All in all, it is an interesting story about a great band and its leader, but Anthony Kiedis didn't suit me as the best choice to present it.
But anyway

Had to stop listening by chapter 8. Seems like a terrible person and can't listen to much more of his drug and sex stories. Admits to having sex with a girl when she was 14 and he was 23. Hats off for beating his drug addictions and becoming the band they are but not bothered to listen any further. Narrator sounds like a dweeb too so maybe reading this would have been better

Drums begin at the same time as guitar. Steady rise, linear picking up of pace. The movement is coming to a massive peak, the crest of a wave about to crash over you. Bass is flirting with the rhythm in the background. Boom. It hits ya. Riff. One of the hookiest, catchiest, ear wormiest riffs of all time. Here he comes. Can’t stop addicted to the shindig, chop top, he says I’m gonna win big. Can’t Stop.

Right away with the voice. The band all begin together on this one. There is nothing but sheer anger. Hits you in the face and you want to jump up off the couch, hitting everything in sight. If you have a beer in your hand, you have to toss it at someone rather than allow them to hold it for you. One shot, all I need, I’ve got rhythm when I bleed. Right on Time.

Unreal technique on display at the beginning of this one. One of the most difficult guitar riffs to play for anyone who has ever picked up a guitar, for anyone who even knows what a simple C chord is. One of the most recognizable riffs in modern music. Vocals and harmonies are on point. Mellotron in the background – yep. Just like Strawberry Fields. Come to decide that the things that I tried, were in my life just to get high on. Snow (Hey Oh).

Great display of what happens after a fractured brotherhood is put together again for a second time – egos put aside, near old age, maturity at an all time high. The sissy troubles are all trifles, as they realize that love and friendship are the only two things that can carry you through the little eye of the needle. Fame and exploration of alternatives are no longer issues. Oh, I know that it’s only gold, and I come slow now for everything, the heavy wing. The Heavy Wing.

Sand. Billions of particles of sand. Each and every single one a life. Each with the potential to brush up against each other, making an impact on it. Each one is needed for the whole. Add a little bit of water to the sand and you can shape it, make of it whatever you want. Add some spirit to each life, mold it how you want. Form it how you want. Or don’t, if you can’t – but you can. How these boys have made a song that encapsulates the meaning of life, who can tell. My what a good day for a walk outside. Wet Sand.

Anthony Kiedis is not my favourite member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but his voice is clearly front and centre in my mind when I think back to the most memorable moments of my life with their music (at this point, it has been about 16 years – maybe a bit more). He is a founding member. He is responsible for the lyrics, 99% of the time. It was a crime that I hadn’t read this book yet, but I was scared to pick it up, because I knew it would contain things that were unsavoury. Things I would rather not have thought about. But that’s a stupid excuse and I’m seeing them soon, so I read it. What did it contain? Exactly what I thought it would have. Go back and read the first letter of the first five paragraphs.

That.

Clearly, this is a must read for any fan of the Chilis. It fills in a lot of holes, talks about some fables and myths that surround the band, and gives you that sweet, sweet lore you have been craving. Anthony talks about the infamous Under the Bridge performance on SNL, how lots of William Burroughs was being read (surprising, right?), how Californication was written, how they all dressed up as the Spice Girls, lots of goodies. But that would take up about 30% of this book. The other 70% is sad. A depressing trip through the troubles of an addict. You get tired of Anthony relapsing yet again—how could he think it’s possibly a good idea to look for black tar heroin to take off the edge for a weekend? The problem is, this is the truth for many addicts. Logical reasoning is often out the window. And each repeated instance of relapse doesn’t lessen your sadness. Addiction is a beast.

He is sober now. The book came out in 2004, and the band has since reshuffled and reformed. The original members are together. They seem like they have it figured out. I do wish the best for them going forward, as they are such a massive part of my life – they are one thing (among many) that make my life worth living. The reading experience itself wasn’t superb, but reading it was necessary.

And yes, he has read Dante’s Inferno.

It's a great book if you want to figure out how cool Anthony thinks Anthony is

Anyone coming for an autobiography of the Red Hot Chili Peppers might be a little disappointed in this book. Kiedis focuses more on his personal journey through life, and especially on his formative adolescent years. The Chili Peppers are a part of his life, to be sure, but this story is truly Anthony's personal struggles to be a sober, straight-living man.

Anthony spends a significant amount of the book on his teenaged years. He was essentially his father's roommate (not his son, not his "charge) in Los Angeles from the age of 12. He experienced more drugs and debauchery before the age of 18 than most people could live through in their entire life. In describing his experiences, however, Kiedis used an inviting tone; he never bragged about his exploits or tried to paint himself in an excessively rosy light. He simply invited the reader along to explore his personal experiences and emotions.

Scar Tissue is truly a book about drug addiction, about the lifelong slippery slope of trying to obtain (and maintain) sobriety. It is amazing that Kiedis can keep his dozens of periods of abuse and relapse straight in his mind, much less transform them into a compelling narrative journey for the reader. Life on drugs was in no way glamorous--Kiedis spent many years at rock bottom, barely surviving, and scrounging for his existence. He also fooled many people about his drug use, and managed to escape any arrest or scrutiny for possession. Reading about how Kiedis has to consider and seize his sobriety each and every day (he's been clean since 24 December 2000) will surely inspire anyone who is struggling with their own personal demons.

Wow, what a ride!

I had zero interest in the Red Hot Chili Peppers when I bought this, I just knew the lead singer Kiedis was supposed to have had a big drug problem that inspired their song Under the Bridge. Everyone knows that song, right? I knew a few of their other more recent hits, but that was about the extent of it.

Still, me and my love of horrible books and gritty life stories meant I'd been meaning to read this for a long time. When I spied it for 50p in British Red Cross I had to have it.

I'm so glad I picked it up! This was great from start to finish. Well written and detailed, but without ever being boring. There was great pace – he skipped from anecdote to anecdote and didn't ramble on for pages about the same thing, as other autobiographies can do.

I can see why the naysayers dislike this book. There's a lot of sleeping around and of course the infamous drugs – both of which may offend those of a more delicate constitution. But for me, being in a band and having a major drug problem is something I will more than likely never experience (probably for the best, I know), so it was fascinating for me to live vicariously through Kiedis in this book. To see through the keyhole. He takes you right there with him through all the ups and downs. What a life he's led! My boring little life just pales in comparison.

Although this autobiography is over 10 years out of date, it was still an excellent read. I would love for there to be added chapters bringing it up to the present day. I'll admit the sleaze is what drew me in, but I also found myself unexpectedly enjoying the band chat: how they came up with the songs, how the albums were recorded, the various concerts and tours, general insider info on the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I'd be happy to read more of that.

Just a really great read. It won't be going back to the charity shop, it'll be on my bookshelf from now on!