Scar Tissue

A characteristic of Attention Deficit Disorder is the difficulty to start and finish tasks. For me, it takes a while to read a long book. To get through a thick work of literature may take me a month, even if it is an incredible book.

Thus was the situation of my journey through, "Scar Tissue," the autobiography of Anthony Kiedis.

A founding member, lead singer and primary lyricist for the highly successful band Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anthony Kiedis has lived a life that is every bit the most outrageous and dark ideas that any of us have of a wild rock star. Anthony's story is definitely drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll.

Being introduced to marijuana by his father, "Blackie," in Anthony's very early teen years, the rollercoaster began. A broken family, drugs, alcohol, shoplifting, girlfriends, california.

The book chronicles a very detailed history of the Red Hot Chili Peppers from inception up through their latest triumph, "By The Way." It also chronicles Anthony's rollercoaster life of addiction. Anthony is an addict. Heroin and crack became his drugs of choice, as this artist with all the money in the world would get healthy and clean just to fall straight into a pit that would find him in a seedy hollywood motel for days on end shooting speed, heroin, and smoking cocaine until he just couldn't do any more (or, had to go to work).

For a Chili Pepper's fan, "Scar Tissue," gives a detailed history of the beginnings of the band, all of the personnell changes, business dealings and touring horror stories. The coming and going, and coming back of John Frusciante is told in detail, as well as the short-lived but gleaming Dave Navarro stint in the band.

All of these guys are wonderfully human. And, all of them have their issues.

Anthony's story is riddled with death and absolute dyfunction. This is a spiritual book. Here is an excerpt:

"When I say spiritual, I'm not talking about chanting or reading Eastern Philosophy. I'm talking about setting up the chairs at a meeting, picking up another alcoholic and driving him across town to a meeting. That's a spiritual lifestyle, being willing to admit that you don't know everything and that you were wrong about some things. It's about making a list of all the people you've harmed, either emotionally or physically or financially, and going back and making amends. That's a spiritual lifestyle. It's not a fluffy ethereal concept.

My friend Bob Forrest is a spiritual person. He doesn't go to church and he doesn't talk about God and he doesn't go do charity events on weekends, but he'll sit and talk for hours to a guy in jail who cna't stop smoking crack. That's curing Bob of his spiritual malady, because he's willing to do something that's not really for him. It's for this other guy. He's not doing it with the expectation of getting anything out of it, but as a by-product, he is."
-From "Scar Tissue," Copyright 2004 Anthony Kiedis.

As the Chili Peppers ready for a new album this fall, "Scar Tissue," is an excellent set up to the new release.

Be forwarned, if you have a penchant for the attractiveness of any vice or addictive item, this may not be a good book to read, especially if you could jump off of that bridge at any moment.. Several times during my reading of this book I found myself rolling straight back into the pit of alcohol use that has danced with me for most of my adult life (sorry folks, I'm just willing to admit it; most people won't). Fortunately though, recovery exists, and there is a happy ending.