Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? LP: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir - Perfect for Music Lovers & Vinyl Collectors - Great Gift for Rock Fans & Book Clubs

I am really enjoying this book, it is quite hard to put down at times. To help you put this review in proper context - I have long been a fan of Aerosmith and Steven Tyler, and for almost as long, I have listened to Mr Tyler's lyrics and music, and wondered what makes him tick? What is/are the secret(s) to his great and lasting success - beyond the obvious song-writing and singing capabilities? This book does not disappoint in that regard, and he answers this fully, imo.I am convinced this book is actually written (or at least mostly written) by Steven Tyler. What do I mean by this? You might think, "Of course it is written by him, his name is right there on the book... 'author' it says". Perhaps few know this -- but rich and successful people usually do not write their own autobiographies -- it's too much labor for too little money. Rather, they share a few tidbits of themselves, then hire a ghost author to complete the manuscript. Few but the elect can detect this facade of authorship. That's another reason why this book is such a gem: this is Steven speaking directly to you in his own words. Some people can't appreciate his writing style ... "flow of consciousness" they call it. For me, that criticism was a selling point. I want to read Tyler in his own words, not a ghost writer's.Mr. Tyler is college-educated, and this is well-written, for those who enjoy good grammar and fluidity of prose, it's an important point. You'll find that he is an adept storyteller with an able memory. He clearly paints every detail of each event making you feel that you were there. Whether if it was exactly where he stood and what he was wearing the day he met Joe Perry, or the color and size of the rock he climbed and stood on in his boyhood, and what he dreamed as he stood there, this is the life of Steven Tyler in great and colorful detail.So, I mean to say, if you want to have the authentic words of a successful songwriting genius who shares incredible detail and secrets of his life since birth, then maybe this book is for you.Some have criticized Tyler -- that this work was written to capitalize on his American Idol success. Oh boy. Like this book could add to his personal fortune? - yikes! (Really, please check out the Aerosmith monetary and musical success of *40 years* before leveling this accusation)But let's look at the Idol relationship. Yes, the timing is curious. The release of this book and his American Idol participation intersect exactly. Well, here's my take on that: 1st off, please know that this book (in many places) reads like a primer in attaining rock n' roll success. He plainly coaches 'this is what I did' and 'this is how it's done' in varied chapters. He talks frankly of his dream, how he stuck to it, and worked hard at it for years .... walks us thru the failures and discouraging times, talks of his own idolization of rock heroes (and who).... and basically shares intimately every detail of what it took for him to make it, starting from birth/toddler, thru teen years and beyond. I reckon he wanted to share this with all the Idol would-bes out there. Perhaps his exposure to the American Idol scene -- witnessing first-hand the need and hunger for knowledge of the candidates -- triggered him to at last write and share this? If I had to bet, that's where my money would go.The prose is zany at times, and I would expect nothing less from an intensely creative and musically successful person such as Steven Tyler. Again, this is a selling point for me -- it is him in his own words. But still, this type zany of prose is rare enough. Far more than 90% of the text is very coherent, an extremely lucid recall of events, and rather matter-of-factly stated. If moments of rambling or 'zaniness ' disturb you greatly, then well, heh, a plain text book on welding, auto repair, or electrical engineering might be more useful to you. This book is clearly aimed at folks who appreciate creativity, music, the arts, and hunger to know what it takes to have success in that arena -- and perhaps specific to Steven Tyler, as he sees it. Others probly might not dig it much.I wish others I have looked up to over the years had written something like this ... shared their secrets and such ... but at least we have what Steven has shared.