Sweet Demotion: How An Almost Famous Rock Journalist Lost Everything And Found Himself

by Lonn M. Friend

In his first book, Life on Planet Rock, author Lonn Friend shared his ringside view of rock's decade of decadence. Now, in Sweet Demotion, the veteran rock scribe takes off the gloves and battles himself. Lonn was enjoying a six-figure multi-media career in 1998 when, at the end of a four-year run as a record company VP, he was "bitch slapped by the Universe"; his professional ride came to a crashing pause. But instead of hiring headhunters or putting a resume together to find another gig, Lonn hit the rock-and-roll road less traveled. The result is a brutally transparent, shamelessly self-deprecating mid-life memoir of a writer who stopped making money and started seeking truth. Sweet Demotion chronicles a thirteen-year period of personal deconstruction, spiritual madness, and bizarre anecdotal wordplay where faith was lost in everything but the moment and the music. Lonn's intimate adventure invites the reader to a porn burial in the desert, a Janis Joplin ghost sighting, a Dallas meditation on the anniversary of JFK's assassination following the interview of a heavy metal legend, and the sharing of sacred space on a northeast lake with the lead singer of Aerosmith. Sweet Demotion is a sojourn to near-enlightenment that no one but Lonn Friend could have possibly experienced.

478 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2011

About the author

Lonn Friend is a writer and journalist, and was formerly a record company executive. He was Editor of 'RIP Magazine' from the Spring of 1987 through the mid-1990s. 'RIP Magazine' was notable as the first and (arguably) only music magazine to specialise equally in coverage of both heavy metal and punk.

Reviews

[Mike Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took hold of my head and heart. Through it, I made a new friend. That's an unintended pun, as this book has actually led to a friendship with the author. Lonn's big 'life moments' run almost parallel to mine. Being 20 years older, he reached each mile marker before I, but the synchronicity is there.

In his first book ("Life On Planet Rock"), Lonn regales the reader with "On a steel horse I ride" type tales of his many years as a knee-deeper in the music industry. It's fun, largely light-hearted, and an absolute page-turner. With "Sweet Demotion", Lonn digs deeper (way deeper), tightrope walking between his old life and the life for which he was searching. Following along as he weaves his prose in and out of parties with Sting and insane birthday bashes with Bret Michaels while simultaneously chasing something 'more', something 'real', is heartening. We've all been there, we've all hit a brick wall that's impossible to run through, run around, or jump over. This is a tale of what you become when you know you can no longer be what you are.

Sure, there are plenty of celebrity encounters in this book, but if that's all you see in the pages, you're not digging deep enough (neither in the book nor in your own head). The range of emotions found within these pages simply cannot be shrugged off in favor of another story about some vapid rock star chasing their next high. For me, at least, those moments take a back seat to the ones where Lonn is 'searching'.

If you're looking for an inside account of the decadent eighties/early-90s, read his first book. If, however, you're looking to connect with someone (maybe even reconnect with yourself), this a book worth every last bit of time it'll take to devour.

[Mark Carras · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part of the book is still when Lonn crosses paths with a young child musician on a train. The child is from Romania if I remember correctly. He is poor and playing to make money to bring home to his family. The book is full of experiences that will connect with the reader, but this is the one that connected the most with me.

The book ends with a bit of a crescendo. Lonn tried to help a friend named Steven Tyler (yes, that Steven Tyler) with his own book. It was interesting to read the other side of the story. The book has floods of 'fly on the wall' moments, but this one felt the most human.

We are all fragile nomads of our own adventure, but this book is a tour guide from someone who has made a living at it. Because of this I look forward to Lonn's third book in progress now.

[Billy White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, Lonn at his creative and spiritual best, with some good rock and roll stories thrown in.