Only Half There

by Devin Townsend

Canadian musician, artist and producer Devin Townsend's honest and hugely entertaining autobiography tells the story of his life so far. It traces his beginnings in British Columbia growing up hearing a wealth of music, continues through his rapid rise to professional status, touring and recording with Steve Vai and developing his career with Strapping Young Lad and Devin Townsend Project. More than just an honest and intimate autobiography though, Only Half There is also a brutally honest expression of his life as a working, touring and recording artist, a husband, father and bi-polar artist.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Music, Autobiography, Art

296 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2016

About the author

Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has an extensive career as a solo artist.

After performing in a number of heavy metal bands in high school, Townsend was discovered in 1993 by a record label who asked him to perform lead vocals on Steve Vai's album Sex & Religion. After recording and touring with Vai, he was discouraged by what he found in the music industry and vented his anger on his 1995 solo album Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing, which he released under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad. He soon assembled a band of the same name, with whom he released the critically acclaimed album City in 1997. Since then, he has released three more studio albums with Strapping Young Lad, along with solo material released under his own independent HevyDevy Records label.

Townsend's solo albums have featured a varying lineup of supporting musicians and are a mix of hard rock, progressive metal, ambient, and new-age. In 2002, he formed the Devin Townsend Band, which recorded and toured for two of his solo releases. In 2007, he disbanded both Strapping Young Lad and the Devin Townsend Band, taking a break from touring to spend more time with his family. After a two-year hiatus, he began recording again and soon announced the formation of the Devin Townsend Project. This band began with a series of four albums, released from 2009 to 2011 and each written in a different genre. Townsend continued to record and tour under the new moniker until January 2018.

Townsend's trademark production style, featuring a heavily multitracked wall of sound, has been compared to the styles of Phil Spector and Frank Zappa. His versatile vocal delivery ranges from screaming to an opera-esque singing, and his songwriting is similarly diverse. Townsend's musical style is rooted in metal, and his albums are written to express different aspects of his personality.

biography source: current as of August 2023
photo by Andreas Lindmark
 
 

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devin wrote a book. Of course we went and pre-ordered it. No. We actually pre-ordered the box set, that included the CD recorded in Iceland. We waited - patiently for the book and CD to be released in North America and for it to finally be shipped to us. I jealously scrolled through the social media posts of others in different countries boasting about the beauty of the box, how great the music was, how fantastic the included bonuses were.

When it finally arrived, I was giddy and eager to dive in. The unboxing was a fun event in which we extracted the book, the CD, the bonus doodles by Devin, but the best part was cracking open the book and seeing the pictures.

It took me a few months to read the entire thing, I'm not going to lie. Not because I didn't find it interesting - Devin could get on stage and fart into the microphone for 20 minutes and I'd no doubt be entertained - but there were two things that made it hard for me to read on a regular basis.

First - Devin writes as he speaks. Full of humor, honesty, and humility. But also very here-there-everywhere! He's as all over the place on the page as he is at any live show or VIP event. While I do love that bit of goofiness about him, it made it hard to concentrate on the page.

Second - a lot of what Devin wrote about made me inexplicably sad. To the point where my husband would ask, as I'm in the middle of reading, what I thought of the book, and I'd answer by looking him in the eye and making a sad face.

What was it that evoked that feeling? Devin doesn't love performing or being the front man. He's been pretty open about that fact, often stating that he just wants to play bass in a pre-formed band, but within these pages, that sentiment is on overdrive. I'd read a paragraph or two, and though I'd be able to digest the words, I'd hear the undertone of "this is not what I want to be doing, people!" screeching out from the text. Granted, that may not exactly be what Devin was trying to impart, but it hit me, latched on, and never let go.

I definitely appreciate Devin's honesty and humility. As this is his book, written in his voice, he very easily could have put a different spin on some of the more embarrassing and painful anecdotes from his past. But, he chose to tell the story, exposing the seeping, pus-filled wounds and warts for the reader's enjoyment. Enlightenment. Entertainment.

He didn't hide behind the years or gloss over an incident by saying, "I made a mistake, let's move on." He said, "I made a mistake, and let me tell you all about it", launching into a detailed retelling of the whole thing - from start to finish - before kind of shrugging and moving on. He offered apologies when they were needed, but didn't put the blame for certain events on anyone other than himself, and the circumstances of the time.

The goofiness that is his personality shines through most of the book, but there's also a bit of pain there, as well. Or maybe that's just me, projecting?

He gave a thorough and blunt rehashing of his SYL days, too. It gives more insight into his decision to leave, and his decision to not resurrect the band. So to all you Strapping fans out there throwing a "bring back SYL!" onto every social media post, please read the book. If you're truly a fan of Devin (the man and his music), I'd hope the chapters on Strapping Young Lad will help you understand his move and respect his decision.

I am still sad after reading the book. But, I finished two or three days before we saw them at the start of their 2017 North American tour. I so wanted to chat with Devin, or at least ask a couple book-related questions during the VIP section, but time was too tight for that. Because I do have questions, of course.

And I want him to know that as a fan, I so appreciate everything he and the rest of the band (and their families) give up so that we can see them on tour. Because it's got to be greuling - not just the touring, but constantly needing to maintain the "showman on stage" persona.

[Manda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sure most of you already know by now that Devin is one of my favourite humans. This book certainly reiterates this fact. I'm so glad that he wrote this book ❤️
I honestly felt like this wasn't a book but a conversation with an old friend, in the wee hours of the morning talking about life, religion, art, philosophy and dreams. Here's two of my favourite quotes from the book -

"You can't change the world, but you can certainly change yourself. You can't control what happens to you, but you can learn to control how you react to it."

"I need nature. I need beauty. I need silence. I need the rain. Without these things, I feel like I'm slowly starting to wither."

I don't think Devin realises how much his art means to people like me. He is incredibly talented and humble (which I think is pretty rare to come across, as there are quite a few egos in the metal world). I'm really happy that he continued to make music, even though it almost broke him.

If you're a Devvy fan, I highly recommend this book. It's beautifully written, honest and compelling. It's nothing like other music biographies (honestly I feel like the content of most of the musician's biographies that I've read, is nothing but name dropping and detailing all the debauchery which happened on tour) it's also one of the most beautiful covers that I've ever come across, with a great CD (Icelandia) to have a listen while reading.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously, this is mostly just for fans of Devin's music, but even those who are just passionate music fans would enjoy hearing how one of metal's most prolific artists thinks about his work, his creative process, and what impacts the music he creates.

The prose and delivery are a little muddled and confusing at times, as Devin is not an experienced writer, but it's endearing in a way that it feels honest and true to the frantic, diverse nature of Devin's music (and apparently, his thought process as well). As someone who became familiar with Townsend later in his career (since only about 2011 or so), it's very interesting to hear the backstory and what led to the works that initially sucked me into his wacky world.

[Chris Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely an interesting read. Parts of the book seem a bit scatterbrained due to the stream of consciousness style of writing, but it's cohesive as a whole. Some cringeworthy, and also seemingly rewarding facets of the constantly changing music industry are detailed, along with a backstory of the artist's eclectic catalog.

It will certainly be a more interesting book to people who are familiar with Townsend's work, though some of the passages included really insightful observations of the human condition and society as a whole.

[James Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! Interesting, honest and written with an ease and flow, Devin gives us a comprehensive tour of his life so far detailing his incredible work and thoughts on life.

[Joe Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first thrown into the world of Devin Townsend in February 2005, aged 14, when Terrorizer Magazine erroneously included 'Shine' from Alien on their cover CD (mis-labelling it as the album's lead single 'Love?'). This proved to be a formative musical experience for me. Now, aged 28, I realise that was half a lifetime ago; a fitting time to have finally read 'Only Half There'.

Devin begins his autobiography with some of his own formative musical experiences, describing in detail his reaction to a precise moment in 'Phantom of the Opera'. The book is full of such observations, accounts and reflections, surrounding both his life and - perhaps more consciously - his music, in a personal but also relatable manner.

Every band, demo and full-length record (until the point of writing) is held under the microscope as Devin reflects on his thoughts, feelings, memories, mindsets and influences (artistic, chemical or otherwise) at each musical juncture. It is a rare pleasure and a true privilege for a fan of a musician to be presented with such deep and personal insight into the creation of some of the music they might be closest to.

It is particularly rewarding - if sometimes difficult - to read is Devin's considered and persistent self-analysis. There are segments in which he overanalyses his own self-analysis, and the feelings of frustration and exhaustion are almost tangible. What is so clearly a brilliant, colourful and active mind is in many ways both its own worst enemy and best friend, but the ad hoc discoveries that Devin makes along the road to being able to understand and control his psyche are satisfyingly real.

There are a few moments of repetition and other minor signs of an author in the early stages of his literary career, but that simply reflects the truth of his position. The opportunity to write an autobiograhy is often presented here as something of a burden which, although placed upon him by his management, clearly became another personal obsession. Thankfully, Devin clearly got through it, and the emotional revelations and realisations he makes along the way are a joy to behold.

Fans of Devin Townsend should relish the opportunity to dive into such a thoughtful, detailed, chaotic and ultimately revelatory reading experience. A repeated mantra from the book states that 'your vibe attracts your tribe', and as such I believe that anyone who has found their way to this review will find this book deeply rewarding. Highly recommended.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling read. Has made me re examine parts of Devin’s body of work through new filters now I know what went into the making of them. Essential for any fans of his work!

[Dale Furutani · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who's considered Devin Townsend their favorite musician for 15 years now, this was a great read. Over the years I've wondered what the motivations behind his songs were, what the meanings of the lyrics were, and what he was really like.

Why did he go from singing for Steve Vai to forming Strapping Young Lad to then quitting that and going to the Devin Townsend Band, and then finally letting that evolve into the Devin Townsend Project? What's his relationship with metal in general, since it seems like his entire music output comes from a tension between ultra-aggressive metal and sensitive expressions of more vulnerable emotions? What is his family life like, an aspect of his life only hinted at in his music? How did he avoid getting into drugs for so long, only to then go so deep into them, and finally quit entirely, and what is his opinion on them now?

This book answered a ton of questions I've always casually wondered while consuming his music constantly over the years. This was a fascinating window into a person who's creative output I've always been mildly obsessed with, and would strongly recommend this book to anyone else who has a similar obsession.

[N · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute must for any Devin fan, or anyone interested in the goings-on of people in the industry.
Devin wrote this book straight from the heart, with no desire for it to be polished up and written professionally - he just wrote what sprung from his mind at that moment. While this can be a good way to get to fully know his character and have it feel more authentic to his personality, sometimes he does go back and forth with information and tends to ramble before returning to a subject.
Devin displays himself as an open book (excuse the pun), being honest about his feelings and problems, but also throws in many interesting and hilarious stories of his upbringing and times throughout his life between family, recording, touring and friends. There are many laugh-out-loud and cringe moments in this book, as well as some dark moments. Highly recommended!

[Oren Alalouf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read,will most certainly return to this one

Anyone who knows me knows I'm nuts for anything Devin's ever touched musically.
This book was a different kind of cookie to ingest,seeing it's the first time Dev's gone this far down the rabbit hole(that I know) as to every aspect his career has touched and how far has taken ,physically and emotionally.

Devin's also my favorite musical artist and the vulnerability put on display for us all gives this book an immense aspect in its own right.

I truly hope there will be a followup , just as much as I'd love to shake Dev's hand once more for everything he's done for his fans.

Thank you sir , thank you so much!
If I had a hat, it would mostly be tipped in your direction at the moment with a devilish smile :)

Oren

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took time to get into the rhythm of Devin Townsend's writing style, and about a third in, it was no longer tripping me up.

It was Townsend's connection to metal that I first heard about him. Over the next few months, his name came up in weird places to the point of feeling synchronistic. Not one to ignore something so much in my face, I googled him.

Townsend being Canadian is what got me looking deeper. I was born in Northern Ontario, Canada, in 1969, and I grew up exposed to the bias that the Canadian arts were inferior to what the US produced. That never sat well with me, and since my mid-teens, I have prioritized supporting Canadian artists.

Interviews with Townsend started showing up in my YouTube feed even before I started listening to his music. Watching one video interview led to another, and I was affirmed by some of our similar struggles and self-discovery journeys; he could sometimes articulate what I could not.

When it comes to my love of music, I appreciate vocal style and variation that resonates emotionally, high-quality musicianship and innovation -- all 3 I now know can easily be found in Townsend's work. But I decided to read this book based purely on his interviews and before I explored his catalogue. It did not disappoint. His self-reflection on spending decades in the music industry helped me to further understand some traits we have in common, like being highly sensitive, a drive toward authenticity, an awareness of specific shadow aspects, and periods of madness.

With all that said, I have listened to some of his extensive library by now. Regardless of which songs resonate, I deeply respect his talent and unwavering intention to express himself honestly. He was transparent about his process in the book – the good, the bad and the ugly – honest where it counted and illustrated his humility (or owning up to his lack thereof) in his written reflection on his past behaviour.

This book deepened my appreciation for Devin Townsend and what he puts out into the world.

[MR G HUNT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading for any Devin Townsend fan.

[Kati Did · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love The Dev, but boy is he a rambler! sometimes funny, sometimes interesting, sometimes boring, pretty much always too personal and pretty neurotic. 5 stars if only for that poor guacamole.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

- loved the reassurance for all the feelings i assumed Devin felt on various records while enjoying them while i was in middle/high school
- crazy how much Tracy puts up with. What a legend
- the appreciative and also the self-critical honesty and endless ranting of every single record never got old
- detailing the obvious dichotomy of SYL and non-SYL was amazing. I wish I could read about that subject alone forever

[Brian Lueck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Devin Townsend's music, so it is interesting to get the stories behind the songs. It's a bit of a tough read though, as he is all over the place.

[ColinJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It'd take a minor miracle to condense any examination of Devin Townsend's career and immense discography into anything under 500 pages. But by God he has been largely successful.

This book often reads like a very long interview. Anyone who has seen Devin interviewed (especially in the last decade) knows that he is one of the most articulate, introspective artists in music, but never comes across as pompous. There's always some self-depreciation or a joke about balls or farts not far behind the intense emotional and artistic discourse he seems to favour these days.

As a result, this book is as much a piece of soul-searching and catharsis for Devin himself as he writes and has to dig deep into his motivations behind each project, as it is about cool anecdotes about creating some of the most intense, beautiful, unique and creative music the heavy rock genre has ever heard.

I've been a die-hard Devin fan for 20 years now. If he considers himself 'only half there' then I can assure him I'll be there for the other half as well.

[Kate Fromings · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're considering reading this book and you don't love Devin already, it's probably not a wise choice. The book is written by the big musical man himself, and it goes into minute details about his recording process, development of music styles/genres, and basically is here so you get to know him and his work A LOT better.

The first few chapters are your traditional 'easy read' autobiography copy, but when you get to the latter chapters it is very revealing and emotionally raw. I truly believe that if you don't know at least some of Devin's albums inside out (no pun intended) you will not appreciate this book.

The reason why it's rated nearly 5* is most likely because his fans pre-ordered and have sought out copies since. The quality of the artwork and the binding is great, I am very pleased I finally have a copy.

[Ryan West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very stream of consciousness, which lends itself to being direct and honest. The author treats you like a peer or friend instead of a pupil or “fan.” Bar none, the best way to find out about the motives, processes and experience of this genuine, hard-working musician. It was a bit pricey and rare (I think I purchased a second printing), but I think it’s worth it if you love Devy’s large body of work. I have yet to tap into the included audio CD.

[Erika Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be fair, I will say up front that Devin is my fave musician and has gotten me through a lot of challenges. That being said, once you get use to his style-rambling-it’s a brilliant look into his world. He doesn’t get too personal, in the awkward sense that you’re in his bedroom, but you get to see his methods and madness, personally and professionally. I’d suggest it to friends, fans and people interested in the business.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Devin Townsend this is well worth reading, he is brutally honest about his career up to 2015 (when the book was written) but be prepared for him not to be particularly positive about some of his albums, even ones you love.

If you are not a fan of Devin Townsend there is little for you here. Musicians might find parts of interest. Music fans might find other bits of interest. But overall one really just for the fans.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only Half There provides an intimate, first-person overview of Devin Townsend's life and career, with a focus on mindset and intention, rather than salacious anecdotes or technical details. It's a quick read and satisfying for fans, but does suffer from its rambling, stream-of-consciousness, and circuitous prose, and a bit too much navel-gazing.

[Baal Of · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rambling, insightful, confessional and highly detailed auto-biography. I am a relative newcomer to the world of Devin Townsend, having heard some Strapping Young Lad tracks roughly a decade ago, and putting his work down as something to check out. Then last year one of my cow-orkers turned out to be a fan, and I started exploring the catalog. Also, he loaned me Casualties Of Cool which I immediately fell in love with, and that prompted me to start listening through the bulk of Townsend's catalog. This book is probably only of interest to dedicated fans, since it is quite personal, and there were several passages that I thought went well beyond what I wanted to know. But then, Townsend makes it clear that the writing of this book is part of his personal journey, which means it contains all the bad as well as the good.

[Thegazzardian · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of Devin, this book is definitely an entertaining read. A glimpse into the psyche and history of this prolific artist. Devin feels like someone I’d get along well with, despite the many obvious differences in our lives. He’s a very self aware artist, even if he hasn’t figured it all out yet, he’s constantly evaluating what’s happening around him, making hard but necessary choices.

[Tristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slightly biased as a huge Devin Townsend fan but I absolutely devoured this book. Devy writes like he speaks and that does results in tangents, but these serve to only make the book all the more personal, rather than veering off into meaningless nonsense. A funny, honest and reflective view on one of music's most eclectic and lengthy careers.

[Matti Äijänen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Townsend's approach towards musicgeneral has always been highly philosophical in nature, so it's no surprise this autobiography contains lots of pondering about deeper meanings of art, creativity and human condition. Not entirely devoid of drunken stunts and anecdotes about strange peers, though. Overall good but not great.

[Thomas Janssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it is written in a somewhat rambly, Devin-y way, it does provide so much insight into Devin's career, personality and creative process, putting his catalogue well into perspective. The 'Iceland' CD is lovely as well, though it doesn't do much differently than the 'Unplugged' album does.

[Zig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into one of the most interesting and diverse musical artists.
Devin shares his life and times with such honesty and vulnerability.
Well worth a read if you enjoy his music, even if you don’t and want an insight to highly creative and artistic mind.

[Jan Kjellin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan, I can put up with a lot of things. I still think this book could have gained a lot from having someone overlooking the process. It's kind of rambling. Still interesting, though!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love devin a great read , cheers Dev

[David Dewata · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what you get inside Devin’s head.