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Toured To Death
The road is not for everyone. It's not for most, I'd say. Non-stop driving, endless asphalt, a flipbook collection of motel rooms, the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. Any one of these aspects would be enough to burn most folks out, frustrate them to no end, make them throw in the towel. I'm hesitant to say there are no rules out there, because there are. It's just that they aren't conventional, and they most certainly aren't fair. But if you keep at it long enough, it becomes part of you. Between the tedium and rigor, there every once in a while comes reward, though not in the traditional sense. Sometimes it's just an experience that nudges you back from the edge and lets you know it's all worthwhile. Other times it manifests in the form of a situation you find yourself in that pushes you beyond comfort and commonsense then breaks you apart with no promise or guarantee of being put back together. This is how you find out who you really are and what you're made of. Sometimes we make it there and back. Sometimes the road takes control and never lets go. Sometimes you're just toured to death.
129 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2024
4 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 19, 2024
This is my first read by John Wayne. I'm a fan of his art and his music, but for some reason I've only just got around to reading something by him. My loss for sure, his writing is fantastic. It’s completely immersive, the imagery he describes is detailed enough to make you feel like youre experiencing this tour first hand, and what a fucking tour!! Every story pulls you directly into its murky depths and with the intrigue, suspense and great scene setting, I felt like a groupie along for the ride!
This book is based on John’s experiences on the road, truth and fiction blurring into one and creating a tale of creepy coincidences and horrific headfucks. Each chapter is a different stop on the tour, with a different and increasingly weird and freaky story to go along with it!
In the green room before a gig, our MC meets the band he will be sharing the stage with. PartyFace, a bunch of greasy haired guys and a frontman with a loud mouth and a bad attitude ... .and an axe to grind…
The bar fills up surprisingly quickly and the night is in full swing before you know it. And then it isn't….
Chilling, weird head-spin!
The next stop on the tour has our man arriving late, and unlike most places, this joint is not impressed. Edwin, the sound guy, is particularly unimpressed. But attempts at complaining don't wash as everyone thinks the sun shines out of his ass. Despite the weirdness and the awkward atmosphere though, the set is electric!
Just don't be late!!
Waking up in an unknown bed, naked, with no memory of how you got there. It's happened to most of us, right? In this case though, despite not knowing where he is or who he is with, he does know that he is in big trouble, with seemingly no way out. And as the realisation of what's to come hits, the fear sets in alongside the feeling of invincibility brought on by his high, resulting in him stealing more than just the show!
Next stop is the E-Z Stay Motel, with its enthusiastic overnight welcoming committee. Tonight's gig was an early finish and a chance to take full advantage by resting. But, after popping out for refreshments, it seems like that is no longer an option….
An anger fuelled headfuck!
The next stop is filled with fun, frolics and fucking friends, quite literally. When the friendship goes further than it should and makes things extremely awkward and uncomfortable going forward.
A guilty conscience makes for tense, anxiety fuelled times.
Ah shit!! Being poop-shy on tour is not a good thing, in fact, it's shit! Or not. 🤷 And the venue being a literal shit hole just adds to the ambience. But it turns out to be a bit of a lucky shit! (I promise never to say shit again 😂)
Missing a show is a huge no-no. But it happens, and to make up for it and earn at least a little bit of cash, playing a small, last minute set, instead of no set at all, becomes the plan, whatever that might entail. He's looking for a paid gig, but not this kind of set up!
And then, we are onto the creepy hotel where the weirdness and uneasiness hits you as soon as you walk in the door, and for good reason too…
The claustrophobic sense of being watched was tense and palpable! Comunale made me feel real hatred and anger towards these final couple of characters!
Buckle up Bitches and enjoy the tour!! 🤘😁🤘
This book is based on John’s experiences on the road, truth and fiction blurring into one and creating a tale of creepy coincidences and horrific headfucks. Each chapter is a different stop on the tour, with a different and increasingly weird and freaky story to go along with it!
In the green room before a gig, our MC meets the band he will be sharing the stage with. PartyFace, a bunch of greasy haired guys and a frontman with a loud mouth and a bad attitude ... .and an axe to grind…
The bar fills up surprisingly quickly and the night is in full swing before you know it. And then it isn't….
Chilling, weird head-spin!
The next stop on the tour has our man arriving late, and unlike most places, this joint is not impressed. Edwin, the sound guy, is particularly unimpressed. But attempts at complaining don't wash as everyone thinks the sun shines out of his ass. Despite the weirdness and the awkward atmosphere though, the set is electric!
Just don't be late!!
Waking up in an unknown bed, naked, with no memory of how you got there. It's happened to most of us, right? In this case though, despite not knowing where he is or who he is with, he does know that he is in big trouble, with seemingly no way out. And as the realisation of what's to come hits, the fear sets in alongside the feeling of invincibility brought on by his high, resulting in him stealing more than just the show!
Next stop is the E-Z Stay Motel, with its enthusiastic overnight welcoming committee. Tonight's gig was an early finish and a chance to take full advantage by resting. But, after popping out for refreshments, it seems like that is no longer an option….
An anger fuelled headfuck!
The next stop is filled with fun, frolics and fucking friends, quite literally. When the friendship goes further than it should and makes things extremely awkward and uncomfortable going forward.
A guilty conscience makes for tense, anxiety fuelled times.
Ah shit!! Being poop-shy on tour is not a good thing, in fact, it's shit! Or not. 🤷 And the venue being a literal shit hole just adds to the ambience. But it turns out to be a bit of a lucky shit! (I promise never to say shit again 😂)
Missing a show is a huge no-no. But it happens, and to make up for it and earn at least a little bit of cash, playing a small, last minute set, instead of no set at all, becomes the plan, whatever that might entail. He's looking for a paid gig, but not this kind of set up!
And then, we are onto the creepy hotel where the weirdness and uneasiness hits you as soon as you walk in the door, and for good reason too…
The claustrophobic sense of being watched was tense and palpable! Comunale made me feel real hatred and anger towards these final couple of characters!
Buckle up Bitches and enjoy the tour!! 🤘😁🤘
October 22, 2024
John is a musician on top of being a writer and artist so he has had his fair share of misadventures on the road. These are some tales based on those weird instances that happen when you live out of cheap hotels and the back seat of your car.
Highly recommended, Mr. Comunale is always a fun time and this is no exception. All the tales are entertaining and I know I wouldn't be cut out for the life.
Highly recommended, Mr. Comunale is always a fun time and this is no exception. All the tales are entertaining and I know I wouldn't be cut out for the life.
August 12, 2024
I’m a sucker for a first person adventure. The narrator kept my attention with his sarcasm and engaging stories from the road.
January 5, 2025
This is the stuff of which legends are created! 'Toured to death' has everything it takes to become a cult book. It is a great collection of stories about frightening and sometimes bizarre events that a musician may experience while on the road.
The stories are titled with a date, which is read as a reference to a time period. No exact date is given, and this mystification adds to the tension.
In addition, some of the stories can be seen as the beginning of an urban legend. The protagonist of all the stories encounters some situations that have the possibility of becoming a local legend. It does not surprise my if in a few decades someone will make an attempt to trace the places of the tour.
And so “Toured to death” becomes a book that, because of its mystifications and bizarre and scary twists and turns, has everything it needs to become a cult book.
The stories are titled with a date, which is read as a reference to a time period. No exact date is given, and this mystification adds to the tension.
In addition, some of the stories can be seen as the beginning of an urban legend. The protagonist of all the stories encounters some situations that have the possibility of becoming a local legend. It does not surprise my if in a few decades someone will make an attempt to trace the places of the tour.
And so “Toured to death” becomes a book that, because of its mystifications and bizarre and scary twists and turns, has everything it needs to become a cult book.
November 23, 2024
I love John Wayne Comunale’s writing style and the way his voice comes through in his words. This book especially was very entertaining, and I enjoyed the mix of fact and fiction. It takes you almost on a guessing game of what elements were inspired by true events, some details being too specific not to be, but spun up and enhanced by strange, unusual, and outrageous elements. It’s different from anything I’ve ever read, and one of my favorites of Comunale’s work (that I’ve read so far).
August 6, 2024
A page turner!
This is my first book written by John Wayne Comunale, but it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the dark humor, the suspense, and the spooky fun of all the stories. (Which are all written in first person.) Very good collection!
This is my first book written by John Wayne Comunale, but it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the dark humor, the suspense, and the spooky fun of all the stories. (Which are all written in first person.) Very good collection!
August 13, 2024
This book is basically a short story collection about strange and awful things that happen on the protagonist’s solo music tour. And it’s amazing!
The stories, all of which stand on their own, each seems to be something out of the Twilight Zone, the X-Files, or Alfred Hitchcock Presents (or a combination thereof). A definite buy.
The stories, all of which stand on their own, each seems to be something out of the Twilight Zone, the X-Files, or Alfred Hitchcock Presents (or a combination thereof). A definite buy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews