Does The Noise In My Head Bother You? | by: Steven Tyler | Rating: 8/11 |
Steven Victor Tallarico aka Steven Tyler speaks, thinks and writes like he sings so it’s no surprise that his book turned out to be very stream of consciousness in style; a style this writer is especially fond of. But did I really want to step into the mind of Aerosmith’s legendary rock n roll frontman Steven Tyler to know what’s really going on in there? Turns out, I did.
Does The Noise In My Head Bother You? is a journey through more than just a lead singer’s life in a band. It’s an adventure in life lessons from childhood antics to middle-age discoveries. It’s a love story between Tyler’s three main passions: music, money and girls (and then the things that those cause). Full of behind-the-scenes tales that make up the mechanics of his band, his family, his addictions and himself.
In the first half of Tyler’s memoir he provides a healthy balance of how he came to be Steven Tyler and Aerosmith tales that could scar some Bible Belt radicals for life. It’s educational, it’s juicy, and sucks you right into the page. But as the second half approaches the stories become more centered on he said/she said fodder than light-hearted tour antics. Did I really need multiple tellings on all the ways villainous managers betrayed the band? Or eight detailed recaps on each rehabilitation facility attended? Those weren’t nearly as exciting as the stories about producer Jack Douglas’ studio technics, the inspiration for the words in numerous Aerosmith songs (not to mention, just learning what the actual lyrics are!) or even the songwriting process of one Diane Warren who wrote “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing.”
Overall, Does The Noise In My Head Bother You? reads like a conversation where you’re doing most of the listening; complete with little interjections where Tyler tells you to go YouTube what he’s talking about right now. And it’s a conversation I’d partake in anytime. So Steven, you asked “Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?” and well sir – it does not.
– Chelsea Schwartz