Anthony Kiedis’ ‘Scar Tissue’ Is One Of The Most Honest And Raw Music Autobiographies Out There
Samantha Colleran, March 2021
**Author’s Note: To no one’s surprise, this book deals with a lot of heavy topics that may not be in every reader’s comfort zones. If topics including extreme drug use, drug overdose, extreme sexual content, rehab, and harsh/foul language, are hard for you to read, then please don’t read this post or book. Book spoilers ahead, read at your own risk!**
I have never read a more messed up autobiography than the one I am about to present to you all today. Anthony Kiedis, founding member of the infamous Red Hot Chili Peppers, lays out his entire life story in his autobiography Scar Tissue. The good, the bad, the completely screwed up, it’s all written in 465 pages that you’ll find it near impossible to look away from.
The earlier chapters are obviously about Anthony’s (or as people called him, Tony’s) early life. Whatever you did in your teen years won’t even come close to what Anthony was doing from ages 6-11. While most of us were learning how to read and write in our young years, Tony was hitting the clubs with his father at the ripe age of six, encountering hardcore drugs for the first time, learning how to distract cops so his father could escape incase his drug business ever got busted, smoking pot for the first time, having sex for the first time (you read that correctly, he had sex at age eleven while his father watched… no, I’m not making this up), and hanging with some of the biggest names in music at the time including Sonny and Cher.
During this time of being a little misfit and getting himself into trouble, Anthony ends up meeting Hillel (who sadly passed away due to a drug overdose when he was only 26) and Flea, who become his best friends and the ones who start to make music with him. Of course all of the lineups of the band are talked about (which surprised me to read about because I never realized how many times they changed their lineup), but it’s the earlier days that really strike a chord and make you see just how unique RHCP were for their time. Their first album isn’t my personal favorite, but it has a lot of the elements that make the Chili Peppers so special, and reading about how it came together was really special. We also learn the story behind certain stage fiascos like The Socks™, which were all entertaining to read about.
Of course through all of the music making and sock wearing, we learn about Kiedis’ drug addiction. His drug of choice? Most often heroin. There are points in the book where it gets so incredibly dark and unsettling it almost makes you want to cry. We learn about all of these crazy benders he’d go on, and how one time he got so desperate for drugs he gave away a guitar signed by all of the Rolling Stones. One of the times Anthony was in rehab he climbed a basketball hoop, hopped over a brick wall, went to the bank to get drug money, was spotted by a nurse who worked in the rehab center while he was making a withdrawal, and was chased down by cops and security guards and forced back into rehab. Those aren’t even the craziest of stories told throughout this book.
One thing about Scar Tissue that separates it from other autobiographies is the fact it’s so honest and raw. Most people tend to sugarcoat the incidents they’ve been involved in so they don’t seem as bad as they are, but Anthony keeps it real and doesn’t shy away from anything he’s done. He talks openly about everything that’s happened in his life, and there are a number of points throughout the book where he reflects on his actions and he admits they weren’t appropriate or that he should have reached out for help earlier.
Listen, I don’t know how after all of the things Anthony has been through in life he’s still alive, but I’m glad he’s still here making music for us. I know the content of this book may be a lot for people to process or read about, but if you’re able to stomach it I really recommend this book whether you’re a fan of RHCP or not. If you decide to read Scar Tissue after reading my review, come back when you’re done and let me know your thoughts! If you’ve already read this book and want to share your opinions on it in the comments feel free to do so!
I recommend this book to so many people and I’m not even a fan of RHCP (I mean they rock and all but I only read it because someone gifted me a copy.) Finished it in like two sittings. One of the moments I still can’t get over was toward the very beginning of the Chili Pepper’s success when they won “New LA Band of the Year” or something like that, Kiedis had recently been kicked out of band because he refused to quit using and he was so far gone and so desperate to get high that night, he went wondering around downtown L.A. and just so happened to come across that very same award show. He heard the presenter announce RHCP as the winner and watched as his best friends in the whole world went up on stage to claim their trophy while he stood there in the back, dope-sick and about two seconds away from having security ask him to leave. Even after all their subsequent success, the way Kiedis describes that moment, you can tell it still breaks his heart a little bit.
Agreed, that moment was one of the most heartbreaking to read about. It’s definitely one of those books you can’t stop reading, I’m so glad to see Anthony still thriving in the world today after overcoming so much in life.
I agree with everything you said. Being a parent, this book at times brought me to tears. Thinking about the situations he was put in as a child got me so angry and learning his backstory helped me to wrap my head around how someone could spiral so out of control. I just don’t understand how anyone could treat a child like that. Sad and angry were my feelings for most of the book, but his ability to survive and eventually come out the other end of things was hopeful. Additionally, I do like the stories behind the actual music. Gives you a whole new appreciation for their sound.
I’m not a parent but I agree, the situations he was put into as a child were honestly really tough to read about. The fact he still even has a relationship with both of his parents, especially his father, just goes to show how strong Anthony is as a person. The actual stories behind the music were among my favorite parts, I could read an entire book just on the process of making each album!