Cost: $0.25US
Page Count: 230
I probably passed by Running With Monsters at least 20 times before picking it up and looking at the cover. Bob Forrest isn't really a household name. His former band, Thelonious Monster, was barely a household name back in their heyday…even though the band was pretty good. Hell, I though this was just another memoir of another wannabe, former drug addict, etc…
Turns out, I was sorta right.
Here's the deal: Forrest is a substance abuse counselor these days. That is awesome and admirable. I did work in the same field and it is both challenging and fucking difficult. So, kudos Bob.
But, back in his drug using days, Bob was a hell-raisin' hang-on. He was friends with the Chili Peppers, Gibby Haynes, Jonny Depp, River Phoenix, and on-and-on. But, you know what? Nobody gives a fuck who you hung out with, Bob. I figure if they had crack or smack, you would've hung out with them. However, I felt that Forrest's relationships with a few of these characters was far more interesting than his actual story. Sadly, the stories of the rich and famous WERE Bob's story.
The most interesting relationship Bob had with someone you would know would be that with John Frusciante. Frusciante, if you were born under a rock, is the former virtuoso guitarist with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Not only does John have a prodigious ability with a guitar…he also has a prodigious appetite for drugs. His life got real weird and real bad and Bob Forrest may have had a hand in saving his life. That is very cool.
In fact, I think that Bob Forrest has had his fingerprints on the saving of many of lives..both famous and not. I have the feeling that Bob would deny this fact, or at least downplay his role.
Anyway, I read this book in half a day. You should, too. There is just something about the story that hooked me…can't quite put my finger on it. But, Running With Monsters has a quality that makes you want to read on.
In a lot of respects, Running With Monsters is a very typical Hollywood, musician, rags to riches to rags story. But, in a lot of ways it's not. Bob Forrest is a unique individual: a little fucked up, a lot introspective, and, apparently, cares deeply about people.
I probably passed by Running With Monsters at least 20 times before picking it up and looking at the cover. Bob Forrest isn't really a household name. His former band, Thelonious Monster, was barely a household name back in their heyday…even though the band was pretty good. Hell, I though this was just another memoir of another wannabe, former drug addict, etc…
Turns out, I was sorta right.
Here's the deal: Forrest is a substance abuse counselor these days. That is awesome and admirable. I did work in the same field and it is both challenging and fucking difficult. So, kudos Bob.
But, back in his drug using days, Bob was a hell-raisin' hang-on. He was friends with the Chili Peppers, Gibby Haynes, Jonny Depp, River Phoenix, and on-and-on. But, you know what? Nobody gives a fuck who you hung out with, Bob. I figure if they had crack or smack, you would've hung out with them. However, I felt that Forrest's relationships with a few of these characters was far more interesting than his actual story. Sadly, the stories of the rich and famous WERE Bob's story.
The most interesting relationship Bob had with someone you would know would be that with John Frusciante. Frusciante, if you were born under a rock, is the former virtuoso guitarist with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Not only does John have a prodigious ability with a guitar…he also has a prodigious appetite for drugs. His life got real weird and real bad and Bob Forrest may have had a hand in saving his life. That is very cool.
In fact, I think that Bob Forrest has had his fingerprints on the saving of many of lives..both famous and not. I have the feeling that Bob would deny this fact, or at least downplay his role.
Anyway, I read this book in half a day. You should, too. There is just something about the story that hooked me…can't quite put my finger on it. But, Running With Monsters has a quality that makes you want to read on.
In a lot of respects, Running With Monsters is a very typical Hollywood, musician, rags to riches to rags story. But, in a lot of ways it's not. Bob Forrest is a unique individual: a little fucked up, a lot introspective, and, apparently, cares deeply about people.
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