Uncanny

by Brian Mannix

This book is warts-and-all Brian Mannix—honest, funny, and outrageous. Brian takes us on the ride of his life, from his youth in suburban Melbourne, to the crazy 1980s with his band Uncanny X-Men, to his acting career, and behind the scenes of Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Apprentice . In the words of Brian Mannix, "If you ever hear me complaining that my life is boring, you have my permission to kick me in the balls as hard as you can. My life is many things, but boring is not one of them! Some people collect things, I collect adventures. In fact, that's all life is—a collection of adventures, good and bad. I've found that the bad adventures are just as important as the good. Those awful times, when things go horribly wrong, actually make some of the best stories and have provided some of the more defining moments in my life. I've been extremely lucky to experience all the rock 'n' roll cliches of sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll through my role as lead singer of the Uncanny X-men. I've had bras and undies thrown at me as well as bottles and glasses, stayed in the best hotels and the worst dives you could imagine. I've been adored and despised, had hit records and flops, been rich and poor. I've driven in a Grand Prix, acted in one of Australia's best movies ( Chopper ) and worked on one of our worst ( Houseboat Horror ). I've toured with Rod Stewart and Joan Jett and worked as a labourer in a quarry. Got my girlfriend pregnant in The Flying Doctors and played an Irish jockey in Neighbours . I've kicked a Hollywood star in the balls and hung out with male strippers in theatre. I've sung at a Grand Final and played gigs to just a handful of people. I've had sex at the MCG and on a pile of rubbish behind the Eureka Hotel. I've been shot at, arrested, overpaid, underpaid, ripped off, respected and ridiculed. Appeared on Hey Hey It's Saturday , Spicks and Specks , Blue Heelers and just about every TV show in the country, hosted Countdown eight times, and even went Dancing With The Stars . This book is also about the people who have been part of the journey and there sure have been some interesting people. Like the drummer who constantly hung his dick out in public places, and the actress I had to kiss but really wanted to punch. It's all here, warts and all, not that I've ever had genital warts. If I had, it would be in here."

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015