Scar Tissue (autobiography)

Last updated

Scar Tissue
Scartissuebook.jpg
Author Anthony Kiedis
Larry Sloman
LanguageEnglish
Genre Memoir
Publisher Hyperion
Publication date
October 6, 2004
Publication placeUnited States
Media type Hardcover
Paperback
Audiobook
E-book
Pages480 (hardcover edition)
465 (paperback edition)
ISBN 1-4013-0101-0
OCLC 56520621
782.42166/092 B 22
LC Class ML420.K44 A3 2004

Scar Tissue is the autobiography of Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist Anthony Kiedis. It was released in 2004 by Hyperion and authored by Kiedis with Larry Sloman, who compiled information and conducted interviews. The book reached No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller List. An audiobook version, read by actor Rider Strong, was released by Phoenix Audio on June 30, 2006. An E-book version is also available.

Contents

Background

The book follows Kiedis's life from his birth in 1962 to early 2004. It follows Kiedis into the depth of his experiences with drug addiction. The title name was taken from the single "Scar Tissue" released five years earlier on the Red Hot Chili Peppers album Californication .

According to the book, Kiedis's first drug experience was with his father Blackie Dammett, a former drug dealer, at age eleven. By the time his band formed and became more popular in the 1980s, he and former bandmate Hillel Slovak had severe drug addictions. On Slovak's death from overdose in 1988, Kiedis writes that he was so shaken that he skipped town, missing the funeral. Kiedis had no idea what to do without his friend. His death only made matters worse and caused him to do more and more hardcore drugs. [1]

He attempted to get clean afterwards but relapsed in 1994 after being given medications while having a wisdom tooth extracted. Later, he reveals that he was not actually clean, as he claimed at the time, during the late-nineties Californication era of the band's existence. He states his new clean date is December 24, 2000. [2] The book reports very specific dates, such as when Kiedis was conceived.

Scar Tissue also recounts many of Kiedis's sexual experiences. He acknowledges, for example, that he was briefly sexually involved with a 14-year-old, before and after learning of her age in the 1980s, which inspired him to write the song "Catholic School Girls Rule". [3]

In a June 2016 interview, Kiedis stated he had regrets about writing Scar Tissue, saying "I did regret the book for a while as there was some pain caused then, I started seeing the long term positive reverberating. People were reading it in hospitals, in prisons and schools and it was having a positive effect. I realized that the whole point of writing that book wasn't for me, but to show that somebody can go all the way down and come all the way back and have a productive, successful happy interesting life. And so whatever shame, pain or difficulty or discomfort I went through, then it was worth it because I get so many people coming up to me saying their kids had read it and got their act together because of it." [4]

Reception

John Harris of The Guardian believed that the autobiography showed Kiedis to have "hubris, selfishness, the large-scale absence of any sense of humour" as well as "irreparable damage" from his childhood of drug use and sexual experiences. He was also not convinced by Kiedis's attempts at gravitas. [5]

In 2020, Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone Australia listed Scar Tissue as the 15th greatest rock memoir. He reflected that it had the best final sentence on the list, as Kiedis reflects that he stays sober for his dog. [6]

Television series and film

In 2008, it was reported that Kiedis was developing a television series for HBO titled Spider and Son which would be loosely based on Scar Tissue. The show was originally scheduled to premiere in late 2010 but was not picked up as a series, despite a pilot script penned by John Sayles. [7]

In 2011, the rights to the show were picked up by FX and it was stated that Entourage producers Marc Abrams and Mike Benson will produce the series. The series was expected to follow the first half of Kiedis's book during his pre teen and teenage years and his relationship with his father Blackie Dammett. Dammett's autobiography, Lords of the Sunset Strip, would also be used as a source for the series. [8] Dammett confirmed in 2013 that the production of the series had been "mothballed", however he hoped they could re-visit the project in once the Chili Peppers finished their I'm with You World Tour that same year. As of 2024, the series has yet to resume production.

It was announced on January 17, 2024, that Universal Pictures will release a theatrical movie based on Scar Tissue. Kiedis along with Guy Oseary and Brian Grazer will produce the film. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Hot Chili Peppers</span> American rock band

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, comprising vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante. Their music incorporates elements of alternative rock, funk, punk rock, hard rock, hip hop, and psychedelic rock. Their eclectic range has influenced genres such as funk metal, rap metal, rap rock, and nu metal. With over 120 million records sold worldwide, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the top-selling bands of all time. They hold the records for most number-one singles (15), most cumulative weeks at number one (91) and most top-ten songs (28) on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. They have won three Grammy Awards, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, and in 2022 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Frusciante</span> American guitarist (born 1970)

John Anthony Frusciante is an American musician and the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic guitar to electronic music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2012. Rolling Stone named Frusciante among the greatest guitarists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Kiedis</span> American singer (born 1962)

Anthony Kiedis is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis and his fellow band members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillel Slovak</span> American-Israeli musician (1962–1988)

Hillel Slovak was an Israeli-American musician, best known as the founding guitarist of the Los Angeles rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he recorded two albums. His guitar work was rooted in funk and hard rock, and he often experimented with other genres, including reggae and speed metal. He is considered to have been a major influence on Red Hot Chili Peppers' early sound.

<i>One Hot Minute</i> 1995 studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers

One Hot Minute is the sixth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 12, 1995, by Warner Bros. Records. The worldwide success of the band's previous album Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991) caused guitarist John Frusciante to become uncomfortable with their popularity, eventually quitting mid-tour in 1992. Following a series of short-term replacements, the band hired guitarist Dave Navarro in 1993; it was his only studio album with the band. Recording for the album took place at the Sound Factory in Hollywood from June 1994 to February 1995. It marked the second collaboration between the band and producer Rick Rubin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FX (TV channel)</span> American cable television network

FX is an American pay television channel owned by FX Networks, a division of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company. Based at the Fox Studios lot in Century City, California, FX was originally launched by the first-incarnation News Corporation on June 1, 1994, and later became one of the properties that was included in Disney's acquisition of one of News Corporation's successor companies, 21st Century Fox, in 2019. The channel's original programming aspires to the standards of premium cable channels in regard to mature themes and content, high-quality writing, directing and acting. Sister channels FXM and FXX were launched in 1994 and 2013, respectively. FX also carries reruns of theatrical films and terrestrial-network sitcoms. Advertising-free content was available through the FX+ premium subscription service until it was shut down on August 21, 2019, after which ad free content moved to Hulu with no ads.

<i>The Red Hot Chili Peppers</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Red Hot Chili Peppers is the debut studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on August 10, 1984, via EMI America and Enigma Records. The album was produced by Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill, and is the only Peppers album to feature Jack Sherman on guitar. Sherman was in the band as a replacement for founding member Hillel Slovak, who'd left the band along with founding drummer Jack Irons before the album was recorded. After the tour for this album, Sherman was fired and Slovak rejoined the band. The album also features founding members Anthony Kiedis on vocals and Flea on bass, as well as Cliff Martinez on drums.

<i>The Uplift Mofo Party Plan</i> 1987 studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Uplift Mofo Party Plan is the third studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 29, 1987, by EMI Manhattan. Due to prior obligations resulting in temporary personnel changes following the band's formation in 1983, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan is the only studio album to feature all four founding members of the band on every track: vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons. This is also the last album with Slovak before his death from a drug overdose in 1988, and the only full-length album to feature Irons. "Fight Like a Brave" was released as the album's only single, although "Me and My Friends" received minor radio airplay. In 1992, "Behind the Sun" was released as a single and music video to promote What Hits!?.

<i>Freaky Styley</i> 1985 studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Freaky Styley is the second studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on August 16, 1985, through EMI America Records. Freaky Styley marks founding guitarist Hillel Slovak's studio album debut, following his return to the band earlier in the year. The album is the last to feature drummer Cliff Martinez. Freaky Styley was produced by George Clinton, of Parliament-Funkadelic, and the sessions benefitted from Clinton's chemistry during recording.

<i>By the Way</i> 2002 studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers

By the Way is the eighth studio album by the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released July 9, 2002, on Warner Bros. Records. It sold more than 286,000 copies in its first week, and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. Singles included "By the Way", "The Zephyr Song", "Can't Stop" and "Universally Speaking". Additionally, "Dosed" was released as a promotional single in the US and Canada. The lyrical subject matter vocalist Anthony Kiedis addresses in By the Way is a divergence from previous Red Hot Chili Peppers albums, with Kiedis taking a more candid and reflective approach to his lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under the Bridge</span> 1992 single by Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Under the Bridge" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and the eleventh track on their fifth studio album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991). It was released in March 1992 by Warner Bros. Records. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics while reflecting on loneliness and the struggles of being clean from drugs, and almost did not share it with the band.

<i>Californication</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Californication is the seventh studio album by U.S. rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on June 8, 1999, on Warner Bros. Records. It was produced by Rick Rubin. Along with Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication is one of the band’s best-selling albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scar Tissue</span> 1999 single by Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Scar Tissue" is the first single from American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers' seventh studio album, Californication (1999). Released on May 25, 1999, the song spent a then-record 16 consecutive weeks atop the US Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart as well as 10 weeks atop the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and it reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also successful in Iceland, New Zealand, and Canada, reaching numbers one, three, and four, respectively. In the United Kingdom, it charted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Around the World (Red Hot Chili Peppers song)</span> 1999 single by Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Around the World" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, appearing as the opening track on their seventh studio album Californication (1999). The song was released as the album's second single on August 23, 1999. The single peaked at number seven on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 16 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fight Like a Brave</span> Song by Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Fight Like a Brave" is the first and only single from the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers' third studio album The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987). The single also included a cover of the Jimi Hendrix song "Fire" as a B-side, which would later appear on The Abbey Road E.P. and Mother's Milk as a tribute to guitarist Hillel Slovak, who died in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Oseary</span> Israeli-American talent manager

Guy Harley Oseary is an Israeli-American talent manager and writer. His clients include Madonna, Amy Schumer and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whom he has managed since 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Californication Tour</span> 1999–2000 concert tour by Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Californication Tour was a worldwide concert tour by Red Hot Chili Peppers to support their seventh studio album Californication which saw the return of guitarist John Frusciante who rejoined the band in 1998 after quitting six years earlier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flea (musician)</span> Australian/American musician (born 1962)

Michael Peter Balzary, known professionally as Flea, is an American musician and actor. He is a founding member and bassist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and, along with the vocalist Anthony Kiedis, appears on every one of their albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Uplift Mofo Party Tour</span> 1987–88 concert tour by Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Uplift Mofo Party Tour was a concert tour by Red Hot Chili Peppers to support their third studio album The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. Founding drummer, Jack Irons returned to the band the previous year to finish out the band's tour and record the next album, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, which ended up being the only album and full tour to feature the four founding band members: Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Hillel Slovak and Irons. It was the band's biggest tour at the time and featured their first trip to Europe. Kiedis, who started to develop a major drug problem on the previous tour, started to fall deeper into his addiction and Slovak's addiction to heroin only grew stronger as well. Slovak died of a heroin overdose a few weeks after the end of the tour on June 25, 1988. The surviving three members regrouped for a small boat trip with then manager, Lindy Goetz. It was there that Irons decided he could no longer deal with being in the band and Slovak's death was too hard for him to handle so he decided to quit the band again, this time for good.

Lindy David Goetz is notable as the longtime manager of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

References

  1. ↑ Kiedis, Anthony. Scar Tissue. 1st ed. New York: New York, 2004. 50-52. Print.
  2. ↑ Kiedis, Anthony. Scar Tissue. 1st ed. New York: New York, 2004. 448. Print.
  3. ↑ Young, Alex (November 15, 2017). "The Uncomfortable Disregard for Legendary Rockers' Sexual Misconduct". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  4. ↑ Anthony Kiedis: 'I Regretted Memoir But It Had A Positive Effect'
  5. ↑ Harris, John (November 28, 2004). "Excess and the city". The Guardian. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  6. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (April 17, 2020). "The 50 Greatest Rock Memoirs of All Time". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  7. ↑ Schneider, Michael (November 11, 2008). "Kiedis' rock story heading to HBO – Entertainment News, TV News, Media". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  8. ↑ Anthony Kiedis' Scar Tissue Moves From HBO To FX
  9. ↑ "Anthony Kiedis Biopic In Works At Universal; Brian Grazer Producing Based On Red Hot Chili Peppers Frontman's Memoir 'Scar Tissue'". deadline.com. January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.