How to Lose Friends and Irritate People

by Justin Pearson

In his new book, How To Lose Friends and Irritate People, Justin Pearson reveals his misadventures with two DJ duos borrowing him as a frontman, lending some “punk” street cred to their music. Known for being part of bands like The Locust, All Leather, and Retox, as well as the owner of Three One G Records, Justin has paved the way for bizarre, abrasive and political music, while pushing the envelope of what is expected or what can be done in a band. The Bloody Beetroots and Designer Drugs approached him to sing on their albums, and what came out of those two experiences is both pathetic and hilarious. From being forced to lip sync at Australian festivals in front of thousands, to being lost in the woods somewhere in Pennsylvania at a music video shoot gone wrong, Justin questions not only the DJ’s motives, but his own as well. Embracing actual musical instrumentation instead of laptop playlists, Justin trudges through the murky waters of musical capitalism.

Published June 3, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Justin Pearson is a vocalist and bassist known for his prolific music career, playing in a number of bands, as well as his record label Three One G Records.

Reviews

[David Macpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, brief memoir of two event in the singer's life. Both had to do when he was asked to lend vocals to electronic dance music tracks. With one, he toured with the DJs in Australia, lip syncing along to the music in front of the DJs playing the songs. Pearson spoke kindly but mockingly at the same time about the situation. He then, with another DJ pair, got involved in what sounds like a nightmare video shoot in the woods of pennslyvania. It was too short a book. More like a double sized issue of a tour zine. I really enjoyed it.

[Zak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A journal from an era when EDM bros like The Bloody Beetroots chased punk’s credibility, but were really just into the aesthetic.

[Reza Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing journal from JP about his collaborations with The Bloody Beetroots and Designer Drugs which read as horrendous and amusing at the same time. Needless to say I don't think I'll be listening to either of those two bands any time soon.

[Justin Burdick · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lot more honed in to the specific steve aoki/bloody beetroots/all leather era of his output which is still really interesting granted it’s a very strange era

[Sarge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny and completely absurd.
So...JP.

[Uri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*