So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star: How I Machine-Gunned a Roomful Of Record Executives and Other True Tales from a Drummer's Life

by Jacob Slichter

After years of working day jobs and making music in his basement, Jacob Slichter wondered if his dreams of rock stardom were a vain illusion. Then he was recruited by two of his successful musician friends to form a band that became Semisonic. Who could forget the smash single “Closing Time,” a runaway hit in 1998 that thrust Jake and his bandmates into the international spotlight and helped them sell over two million albums worldwide? But along the road to fame and success came bewilderment and personal How will we ever get a record deal? Which record company is the best? The worst? Do I really have to wear these ridiculous boots? Why isn’t radio playing our song? What if I have a panic attack right here on stage? What should I write on this fan’s CD? Am I famous? Why isn’t the video director getting more shots of me? Did I say the wrong thing during that interview? Help!

So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star is a telling and witty look at what happens just before and during one's time in the spotlight. Jake takes readers on a step-by-step journey of his evolution from fledgling drummer to globetrotting performer and proves to be the perfect guide—feisty and humbled—to the inner workings of the music industry and instant celebrity. So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star speaks to all of us who dream again and again of rock superstardom and shows how one kid can go from picking up a pair of drumsticks to picking up a platinum record.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Business, Rock N Roll, Biography Memoir

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book six stars, I would. It was absolutely, and as a musician, this is one of the best real-life books written about being a musician that I've read.

I don't know how much more I can say specifically about the book other than the fact that I loved it and was drawn in from word one. I could have finished it in a single sitting had I the time to do so.

If you are a musician, definitely read this book. If you are just a music fan, you should still probably read this book. If you don't give a damn about music or the people that make it, you probably wouldn't be that into this book, but then again, I don't think you'd be reading this review either.

So yeah. Read the book. Love the book. Review it and give it five stars, just like me. I'd offer to lend you my copy, but I have every member of my band reading it after I'm done.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my plea to all rockstars past, present, and future: If you ever write a book about rockstardom please, please, please, pretty please with cocaine and slutty groupies on top DO NOT spend pages explaining recoupable debt.

Read the rest on iwilldare.com

[Jonathan Maas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like these make me wish Goodreads gave me more than 5 stars to give!

Unbelievable - just a slice of life from the music industry in the late 90s, showing how Slichter (the drummer from Semisonic) and his band got a hit in 'Closing Time,' and tried to go onward and upward from that point.

From Radio Station PM 'Super Frank,' to the Music Executive who has a kid that thinks Semisonic is 'old,' this shows what it was like to be a musician before the internet era.

Most all the Byzantine details of Slichter's journey are somewhat archaic nowadays (i.e. path to success for a band in these times is: play music, try to get plays on youtube and Spotify), but that doesn't obviate the book's contemporary relevance. Slichter writes so well and so clearly, with so much detail that it acts as a template for anyone who has ever wanted to 'do something big,' especially when that endeavor takes years, with a lot of ups and downs!

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slichter's a pretty damn good writer. I never heard of his band, Semisonic, prior to reading the book but it got some excellent reviews that piqued my interest. They were, I guess, the sort of decent band that wanted the big bucks and got made into sausage by the corporate music machine. Slichter's a smart guy and his self-depreciating and humorous anecdotes help make his story of the corporate rock machine palatable, if not at times, quite enjoyable.

Considering how many god-awful rock memoirs are out there, this book is the needed antidote to the usual "I started as a humble lad but am still one of the boys," garbage.

[Matthew Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir from Semisonic's drummer is mildly entertaining, but a bit depressing. Made me especially thankful to not have to rely on idiotic record labels to determine the course of my career. I thought there would be better stories in the book, but he generally takes a sad-sack tone and talks about missed opportunities rather than anything truly entertaining.

[Claudio Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books that hits close to home, literally! As a drummer from Minneapolis that has been in many bands, this book was basically like reading my own diary. Lots of interesting insight for any musician or fans of live music.

[christa · Rating 3 out of 5]

memoir of the former drummer of semisonic (closing time). seems like it should have been more funny and anecdotal and less about numbers and sales.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember the exact moment I wanted to be in a band. I was at a VFW Hall in Attleboro, Massachusetts on a rainy Spring Sunday. Ostensibly, I was there to see a local punk band that I was convinced was going to be the next big thing (spoiler alert - they were not). I wasn't from the area, but my roommate had become friends with the band's manager, so we trekked down for the show and got there early to hang out and see a couple of the less popular local bands play first.

I didn't really know anyone there, so I just kind of hung back and took in the scene, and was blown away, not by the music so much as the vibe and feeling of togetherness of the whole event. All the local kids were singing along to these unknown songs, arms around one another smiling, laughing, even some friendly moshing here and there, all while the band played on, seemingly having the time of their lives. I wanted to be part of that - or more accurately, I wanted to be the center of it. Not a rock star, not playing for thousands of screaming fans - I just wanted to be there, up on a stage only a few inches up from the crowd, playing my heart out to a handful of people who just got it, and felt it all as strongly as I did.

My dreams were eventually realized. I learned to play guitar (poorly, natch), formed a band comprised of better musicians than myself, wrote some songs (which, if I'm being totally honest, I was better at than I had any right to be given my limited abilities), and practiced every day, and eventually played some small shows. I never became a genuine rock star, but I got everything I ever wanted all the same. I'll never forget the thrill of being on stage, feeling the energy and just playing my heart out. Reading 'So You Wanna Be A Rock And Roll Star' by Semisonic drummer Jacob Slichter, I felt a definite kinship with Jake. He's someone who just wanted to do what he loved, struggled with his insecurities on the way up as he latched onto musicians he considered more talented than he, and then found himself absorbed by the trappings of success (though not the spoils - he's obviously a good Christian boy).

Slichter just seems like a genuinely good dude who parlayed his talent into a winning lottery ticket, and is continually in awe of his good fortune. His outsider's perspective of the music industry was informative and entertaining (though not salacious in the least - those looking for juicy gossip or party stories, you'll want to look elsewhere). Given the changes in the music industry over the last 10 years or so, it actually feels like a time capsule of a different era, when radio was the kingmaker, and record labels had carte blanche to just take all the money (good riddance to both). It's a quick, breezy read that reminded me of those days in VFW halls or college basements, of why I wanted to be in a band in the first place. That alone is worth the price of admission.

[Patrick Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Semisonic were too uncool and poppy to be indie darlings and at the same time probably too interesting to be arena rock mainstays. Here is the hilarious and neurotic account of a few whirlwind years in that nether region from the band's drummer - kind of a business-minded guy who by his own admission was really more into funk than the Replacements and REM. Improbable record label wonga of the post-Nirvana years kind is pumped into trying to keep the ship afloat, and Slichter's side eye on all of that (the photo shoots, the wardrobe sessions, the teetering canapés) provides a lot of fish-out-of-water humour. He keeps his head through it all in true aww-shucks Midwestern fashion, making for a rock memoir of an unusually steady and accepting kind.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

An indispensable insider's look at the realities of having your band break out and get signed by a major record label. Jake is not only an excellent writer, but the way he pulls back the curtain and lets you get inside his head makes this book surprisingly and refreshingly relatable. Relatability is a funny thing for a book about a rockstar to have!

Jake is also funny, introspective, and subtly critical of music business practices and the culture industry. There are lessons here for every musician, as it really makes you reflect on what "making it" as a band can mean and what you want it to mean. They say, "Be careful what you wish for"--this book is good for taking that care.

[David Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the anti-rock memoir. For those looking for sex and drugs, this book is not it. Instead, by design, this book is a great look at the behind-the-scenes of almost-superstardom from someone who seems by nature more on the introverted/bookish end of things. It is fabulously Midwestern in its openness and humor, and I found myself chuckling both at and with Jake at alternate turns. As with the best writing, what makes this bio tick is the story found in the little events, like shooting a music video or playing live TV or the vivid mental tabulation of all the things going onto their recoupment.

One of the more interesting aspects of this book is that it shows a music industry in transition -- it's hard to imagine this story taking place today, and instead you see the last throes of the conventions of the music industry, particularly with respect to radio. These sideplots sound so foreign but also act to illustrate the industry completely unglued from sensible practice. I enjoyed this view into the industry's transition--this book shows quite well how the way that music moguls made money for decades stopped making sense at some point, and you can feel the decline. Tossing in the Napster point at the end just punctuates that storyline perfectly.

This book is not perfect--while there is a lot of self-deprecation, I don't think there was enough introspection to really take the book beyond the frivolous. While I sensed the anxiety well, it's so white bread that it relies more on showing you behind the curtain than the grit and realism of some of the more salacious memoirs. But, that's kind of the point, and seeing what it's like to be a rock star of the moment is enough of an interesting point to pull you through.

I'd definitely recommend this to folks who are interested in pop stardom or the music industry or just a fairly lighthearted bio about falling upwards. This is definitely a story only a white male could tell, but it's told openly and honestly and with enough awareness to enjoy the ride.

[Joe Colorado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about the rise and fall of Semisonic, which most would probably consider a one hit wonder with "Closing Time." But, it was an incredible amount of work and luck to even get to that stage, and very much at the mercy of fickle record company execs. And, they do have other songs. Check out their recent album!
Very funny book and well worth reading.

[Andrew Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much. Slichter is such a hilariously stupid pussy - and I really can't think of a more perfect word for a guy in an Adult Contemporary Soft Rock Band who spends his entire memoir recounting record label accounting practices and reminiscing about watching "Law and Order" VHS tapes on his band's tour bus. What a goon! What an absolute nebbishy poindexter! None of the comedy here is intentional, but I howled through this thing. This guy deserves swirlies and wedgies for life after this.

[Christian Lipski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good look at the workings of a band from the eyes of the drummer. Semisonic's Jake Slichter describes the beginnings, the heights, and the denouement of the "Closing Time" fellows.

What really goes on in the choosing of a single? The shooting of a video? How long does it take to recoup an advance when everything you do adds on to it? Jake has a love of music and a keen and cynical eye on its industry.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty and at times self-deprecating, Jacob Slichter, drummer for the band Semisonic (of Closing Time fame), gives an artist's perspective on the music industry. The book follows Slichter's experiences from playing in small clubs to landing a recording contract, a Grammy nomination and international success. I was surprised at the power the record label had over the band. It is, in part, a cautionary tale to those who are interested in a career in the music industry.

[Michael Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacob Slichter proves to be a very engaging chronicler of Semisonic’s up and down experience in the music industry, filling the book with sharp observations of his bandmates, their management, radio and other media, and the highlights/lowlights of promotional tasks, performances and touring. Slichter also details ongoing personal challenges with his craft, himself, and his relationship with the band’s audience, often using dry wit and some self-deprecating comments to deliver a message that is both honest and rather revealing.

As a fan of Semisonic, who eagerly purchased their albums back in the day, this story captures the many rises and falls that the music industry inflicts on up-and-coming artists, particularly those who are difficult to pigeonhole due to a non-mainstream style of sound. The friction between the suits at Semisonic’s label is at times exceeding tense and unprofessional, the all-powerful radio stations are both corrupt and shockingly focused on their own success, and their appears to be few friends willing to step up when you really need them.

Slichter narrates a sad tale of lost chances, stuff ups and numerous other disasters, however, the book remains enjoyable due to his diligence as an author willing to write about the unglamorous events that can quickly curtail the progression of a promising musical career. One Two Three Four.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every band deserves a book like this.

This is the story of a Jake Slichter, drummer in Minneapolis, MN, one hit wonders, Semisonic. He's a musician who doesn't quite fit the rock star roll and they're a band which didn't quite reach sustained rock stardom, due in part to music industry machinations and incompetence. In a lot of ways, it's a familiar story.

Jake goes into detail on the day-to-day life of a band trying to make it big. Sometimes, maybe too much detail. For instance, I think he went on a little too long about radio station program directors...and that's coming from a listener who is literally a radio station program director.

Jake also doesn't seem like your typical rock star. For one thing, he's a little older than I'd expect. I think he says he's around 32 when the band first started touring. He's also seems a little out of touch culturally throughout his narrative. Dare I say, he almost seems like a bit of a square.

Semisonic's first album was a bust, their second album rocketed them to international stardom, and their third album effectively ended their career. And, it makes for an illuminating story for a 90's music fan like me.

[Luke Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the memoir of the drummer from the band Semisonic, an act who never quite made it into the big leagues. US listeners will remember them for "Closing Time" and UK fans probably for "Secret Smile". The book is a disarmingly honest with Slichter frankly talking about his insecurities. This gets a little wearing as the book wears on (we get it, you feel a bit old compared to other acts and aren't confident in your musical ability) but could help anyone with imposter syndrome.

Otherwise, it's an intriguing snapshot of the music industry before it took a nosedive. Frankly, you come away thinking they deserve everything they get with boneheaded executives, snobby radio stations and myopic distributors who don't trust the acts they sign to pick their own material for release. It also takes the sheen off touring by describing its mind-numbing detail and has a fun laundry list of celebrities the band bumps into. Not bad, but not a great look at the fickle business as fame.

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps more than you ever wanted to know about how the rock & roll sausage is made -- or was, in the world of major labels during the later Seattle-sound (grunge) era. A memoir of a band that didn't quite fit into what the industry was looking for, and ends up being seen as a one-hit wonder, as told by the drummer -- who manages to maintain a mostly positive attitude and somewhat removed perspective on the whole surreal thing. Lots of sad little observations and wry jokes about the reality of not really being a rock star -- even while playing to huge crowds, appearing on the big TV shows, and having a song that was EVERYWHERE for a while (Closing Time). Answered a lot of questions I had been wondering about for a long time.

[Nate LeBoutillier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacob Slichter's account of Semisonic's brief late '90s rise to stardom is an unassuming look at the fickle, fickle music biz's handling of a band that largely slipped through the cracks. One feels that had Semisonic come at a different time (maybe ten or twenty years before... or after) that things might've been more sustainable for them as far as staying in the limelight a little longer. Standout sections include Slichter's telling of doing the late night TV circuit and rocking to vastly different receptions in, say, Japan than in they got in the U.S.A. Beyond the book, it's been fascinating to watch the songwriting career that Slichter's bandmate Dan Wilson has carved out from some other beginning's end.

[Karly Glauser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the most interesting boring rock n roll biography I have ever read. There is no sex, or drugs in this rock n roll tale but it details the step by step process of becoming a multi platinum selling band. What it really is like writing the songs, signing the record deal and recording the album that puts you in the path to stardom. Eye opening and of course nostalgic for someone like myself who owned every Semisonic album and saw them in concert. I really enjoyed reading this book and even if you are not a Semisonic fan you need to read this to understand why they never achieved the heights they should have reached.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't think much about it being a book about Semisonic, but I picked this book up because it sounded like an honest look into the music industry. After reading this book, not only did I end up appreciating the band more given how hard they tried to make it big and stay big, but I also found that getting into the music business is a very difficult, frustrating affair. Slichter writes very honestly and humorously, making dull events more amusing and sleazy characters truly sleazy. It's a very enjoyable read all the way through.

[Benjamin Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago now and really enjoyed it. I didn't know Semisonic at all - I had to go online to hear "Closing Time" after I read the book - but Slichter is a very engaging writer, and I remember being finding his stories of his time in the limelight - and travails in the record industry - very enjoyable. I recommend this book, even if you're never heard of Semisonic, as with me, or even if you don't like them. The story is still a good one.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so weird. I loved all the intricate details about the music industry (recording contracts, signing with a label, the logistics of touring), and the narrator was fun and forthcoming (if a little too honest at times). Would highly recommend for a peek into how the music industry *actually* works (or worked when album sales were still a thing).

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great look at how dysfunctional and ridiculous the music industry was in the 90's alt-rock heyday (now, I imagine it's even more dysfunctional and ridiculous in completely different ways). A lot of laughs and a compelling story and I never even liked the band or their huge hit, although reading the book made me appreciate them a bit more.

[Scott Rafferty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding. Not only is Jacob Slichter a gifted musician, he is an incredibly talented writer. If you enjoy music, this is a great, great book. I'm embarrassed to say that I wasn't familiar with the band, Semisonic (I was too busy raising four young boys), but after reading the book, my wife and I are planning to go to their concert in Minnesota in April!

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a book I read for class but overall enjoyed it. Jake is an easygoing author and honest, I loved hearing his sarcasm and laidback attitude in his writing. Overall great read on learning a bit about the music business too!

[Dane Schmick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and enjoyable book looking into what it would have been like starting a band in the 1990's. The band's rapid success and the quirky situations they run into along the way brought a unique view into being a 1990's musician.

[Jamie Salkind · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was originally assigned to me in a college music business course, and I ended up finishing it years later. Very cool to see how the industry worked in the early 90's. The honest tale of a one-hit-wonder and his teetering journey to complete stardom.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, thoughtful read about life in a major label band.