Book Review

Rock'n'roll: A Cautionary Tale

Using his nonchalant, honest voice he guides the reader through the momentous highs of stardom, the bleak reality of the aftermath and the rewards that come in making it through it all.

Reading It’s So Easy (and other lies) it doesn’t take long to realise McKagan’s early years were anything but easy in the Seattle punk-scene. On a road well worn by rockstars, McKagan tells of his struggle with suicidal tendencies, alcohol and heroin addiction, and the emergency hospital visit that changed his life forever.

The wonder years with Guns’n’Roses are told short and sweet, with an interesting account of the departure of drummer Steven Adler from the band. We also get anecdotes from McKagan’s other musical involvement such as that with Velvet Revolver (alongside former Guns’n’Roses guitarist, Slash) and Loaded, the band in which McKagan is now the lead-singer.

Reflecting on life to the present day, the feeling one gets from reading It’s So Easy (and other lies) is that putting pen to paper was a wholly satisfying experience for McKagan who emerges triumphantly from his experiences better, stronger.

The gossip mongers won’t get much out of this rocker’s biography, but the true fans will respect the life that he’s lived, and how lucky he’s been to have come out the other end.

Relatively unscathed.

4/5

- Melanie Dinjaski

Reviews

Quick Listens

Sasha Čuha: about 'Svetozar!' & electric gusle

4ZZZ's interview with Kevin Borich

4ZZZ's radio drama 'Connie' by Joel Quick

4ZZZ's radio drama 'Morph' by Kathryn Rothe

Opera at 4ZZZ with Milijana Nikolic, mezzo-soprano & Rosario La Spina, tenor

LISI + QLD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Join Forces

TWO DIVAS: Eva Kong & Asabi Goodman in Jazz meets the Opera concert

Voice acting by artist Ri McLean: radio drama 'Return' by Stephen Gale

Synthony hitting Riverstage Brisbane

Bardon Community Markets

SuburbiaSuburbia: Rock MUSIC, ART and SATIRE from the AU Suburbs

'My Gypsy Soul' show - Milijana Nikolic & Zokki Bugarski

Crowd Control: Stand up comedy improv competition

Aunty Donna interview: Brisbane show in Oct 2021

Eurovision Song Contest 2021 - review by Blair Martin

Gina Vanderpump - Miss Sportsman Hotel

4ZZZ's 45th Birthday special by Alex Oliver

Nazo Nazarian interview: music, culture & history

Opera Gala Concert in Brisbane: Life, love, passion

Oskar & Andy interview The Immigrants: 4ZZZ subscriber band

El Vito by Marina Poša

4ZZZ Interview: GLOBAL BANDEMIC: Worldwide Free Live Stream event

HOTA Takes Their Rage Online: Interview with Virginia Hyam, HOTA Head of Programming

Interview with Criena Gehrke CEO at HOTA about HOTA Artist Fund – Rage Against The V(irus)

Jack Vidgen - Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020

Jaguar Jonze - Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020

Mitch Tambo - Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020

Didirri - Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020

iOTA - Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020

Boban Markovic Orkestar on Balkan Beats Zed Digital / 4ZZZ

LIVE
100