Life on Planet Rock: From Guns N' Roses to Nirvana, a Backstage Journey through Rock's Most Debauched Decade

by Lonn M. Friend

For the generation coming of age in the years from 1987 to 1994, RIP magazine was every bit as crucial as Rolling Stone . Life on Planet Rock describes how Lonn Friend, the editor of RIP , became the Zelig-like chronicler of the biggest musical moments of that time—from introducing Guns N’ Roses (in nothing but a top hat, underwear, and cowboy boots) to sitting in during the making of Metallica’s Black Album . Life on Planet Rock provides revealing portraits of artists as varied as Kurt Cobain, Gene Simmons, Alice Cooper, Axl Rose, James Hetfield, Steven Tyler, and many more. Part oral history, part candid and humorous memoir, it is a wormhole back to a fast-moving time in music that saw tastes flash from new wave to hair metal to grunge, told as only someone who was there through it all could tell it.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Rock N Roll, History

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

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

[Josh Liller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by the former editor of RIP magazine - a hard rock magazine published by Hustler - this book is at times a bit dull but offers up a good number of neat stories including Aerosmith, Guns n Roses, Metallica, KISS, and Bon Jovi.

Warning: when he starts talking about Chuck Berry, skip ahead a couple pages as the story is quite disgusting.

[Jessica White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and more can be found at A Reader's Diary!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to party with Axl and Slash?
What about Motley Crue?
Can't forget about Skid Row!
Hangout with Motorhead for Lemmy's birthday?
Tour the world with Metallica?
Play golf with Alice Cooper?
Meet the remaining members of the Beatles?
Actually experience the Doors and all their mystical glory?
Get to know everything there is to know about Gene Simmons?
Be personally insulted by Kurt Cobain?
Discover bands like Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam?
Rock Europe with Jon Bon Jovi?
Tell Chuck Berry stories to Aerosmith?
Be recognized by Linkin Park?
Lonn Friend did all this and more. Starting with dirty magazine Hustler, he began his journalistic journey. Lonn knew he was more than porn, which caused him to take a position at infamous RIP magazine. Rock journalism is an entirely different ball field, but he took it on and basked in the glory of it all. Lonn became a friend to rockstars all over the planet. He lived on Planet Rock for 20+ years, touring with legendary bands, partying with rockstars and groupies, getting the inside scoop on every important band, all while creating rock history for RIP. This man did so much for rock music, publicity was the key factor and he always brought the best photos, stories, info, and honesty to the magazine. They covered every popular rock band, and even some lesser knowns, all in for the love of music. I could not stop myself from looking up many of the songs mentioned in the book. I couldn't stop myself from looking up video after video of events mentioned. Plus, I didn't mind all of the music puns thrown in there (I think my mom and I were the only ones who truly appreciated that).
I'm so glad I picked up this book and I hope all of you will too.
So thank you Lonn, for being a Friend.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK book, and some good stories on various bands from the late '80s/early '90s (and a Chuck Berry story that you won't believe), but what cracked me up (when it wasn't incredibly annoying) was how in love this guy is with his....name. His own name. Try to find two pages in a row where some rock star isn't saying, "Lonn, you're great" or some play on "Friend". Lonnlonnlonnlonnlonn. Weird, and actually a little disconcerting after awhile (because by about chapter 3 I started to play the 'every two pages' game with myself).

[Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Considering the era of his prime and the circles Mr. Friend has run in, I had high expectations for this book. From his start in the porn end of Larry Flynt's publishing empire, to his rise as the metal scene's media face of note, through his countless behind the scenes encounters with nearly every musician of record; there is fertile grounds for a fascinating read here. Unfortunately, that boundless potential remains untapped in this book. What we are provided with is a hand full of mildly entertaining ancedotes, interspersed with Mr. Friends' "after the fall" self exploration. There are no revelations, keen insight, or untold stories to be found about any of the personalities he crossed paths with; the subjects are covered with the same banality one finds in most any mainstream media article. Even Mr. Friends' personal reflections on self worth and position are lacking any true substance; slipping in to a repetitive cliche' of disappointment and a need for greater meaning. In the end, the reader is left frustrated, as great stories are left untold, a life full of unique experiences remains unexamined.

[Joelle D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked *some* things about Life on Planet Rock, but as one of a glut of rock-doc publications of the mid-noughties, (pretty sure every 70's/80's rock band ever put out books between 2000 and 2010...and I read them) it ultimately felt like more of the same shock/impress/titillate fare piled higher and deeper. As much as I enjoy the occasional voyeuristic foray into the sordid details of the lives of others, I'm more interested in their growth and evolution as human beings. "OK, that's who you were then, but who are you NOW?" I found myself craving something with more depth then what I ultimately got. To be fair the author, Lonn Friend, formerly of RIP, writes in an engaging style and peppers in some poignant insights and hints at some serious personal soul-searching that is to come in the years following the events described in Planet Rock, but it only seems like seasoning on another steamy helping of the big-egos, sexual exploits, and partying habits of the so-called Rock Gods. The more introspective and thoughtfully written chapters (Alice Cooper, Beatles, Metallica) were my favorite.

I know I'm late to the game on this one, but I ran across the volume at a used book store and snagged it for 2 bucks. What can I say? I've loved Rock since the first time I heard it as a child. I saw the title and had to give it a shot. My rating is purely based on subjective "what I wanted vs. what I got" criteria. Not a bad book.

If you liked The Dirt, Slash, or Walk This Way, you'll probably enjoy this one a lot.

[Mark Bult · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lonn Friend was editor of Rip magazine in the ’80s and ’90s, at the peak of heavy metal’s resurgence in popularity. His first memoir recounts much of those years, with a smattering of his childhood and a healthy chunk of what he did after leaving Rip. It’s a good yarn and a fast read, well written.

[Brian Eichenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A foundational, oft-mentioned text on the Rock N Roll Bedtime Stories podcast. If you like this book, you will like that show:) Hear it: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jnyKfq...

[Kate Oatway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Metal fans will love the insight of backstage life observed by "fly on the wall" Lonn Friend although the tales started to loose their sparkle as the book progressed which fitted with the message Friend is trying to tell his audience.

[Kris Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a few nuggets here and there about some of the rock stars that Lonn has befriended over the years - and a disgusting Chuck Berry story that is probably true.

Other than that not a lot to offer here that you haven't read in other rock biographies.

[Dave Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. It's all about Lonn's adventures with rock stars. I love 80s hair band music so it was interesting. My favorite chapter was Alice Cooper.

[Ben Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent trip deep inside the experiences of a metal maven!

[Darlene Jilks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love books about people who have interviewed and travelled and became friends with rock stars---a very good read and I would love to meet Lonn Friend one day and just chat...

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, fun, entertaining, book. Lonn Friend has lived the rock and roll life style, without the drugs. I enjoyed the stories.

[Stacy Goforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

[Kitt-e-kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I didn't know who this book was about. The notation on the cover above the book title got my full attention to want to read it "A Backstage Journey through Rock's Most Debauches Decade". It noted bands from Guns n' Roses to Nirvana. I'm a big reader when it comes to Rock stars and their lives/Bio's so I had to check it out. Well I read this book and it wasn't too bad of a read. Many respects to the man this book is about. His name is Lonn Friend. He seemed to had the coolest job ever. He was Editor of RIP Metal Magazine in the late 80's/early 90's. Before he got that cool gig, he started out working for (Larry Flynt's) Husler's Mens magazine. While working for Hustler magazine, he became real good friends with Larry's wife (the wife who died of Aids). She had the idea for the Music magazine that Lonn then became Editor of. Hanging & partying with all the great bands of Late 80's/early 90's, seeing all the hottest shows VIP style, interviewing band members was his job for RIP magazine. When he stepped down to try and be an A & R guy for 3 years under guidance of Clive Davis it didn't pan out to anything. After that, RIP magazine was now dissolved and his life started to unravel with no stable work, trying to save his failed marriage and not being around for his daughter growing up. Each chapter he highlights about different bands and his personal story with the bands and a few chapters about his personal life. I read the book in a week so it's an easy read. If you like Rock N' Roll & Metal bands from the Late 80's/early 90's you might enjoy this book.

[Chuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Former MTV "Friend At Large" host Lonn Friend recounts his experiences in the L.A. metal scene. He is a likable fellow, but strangely reoccupied with male buttocks and the Tori Amos album "Under the Pink." One interesting sidenote: Friend was the longtime editor of RIP magazine, but he was never really a journalist; he was mainly obsessed with hanging out and getting drunk with Guns N' Roses and Metallica. He employed no objectivity or detachment. Yet -- now that his career is essentially over -- the weird details of his personal relationships with various artists is (by far) the most interesting and elucidating element of this book. It's a paradox: Over time, it seems like the bad journalists inevitably end up with the best insights into who entertainers actually were.

[Kristopher Overall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lonn Friend tells his story of how he has been related to some of the best rock bands on the planet. For being a biography, this is actually my favourite book. From being a teenage rocker to a staff member at Hustler magazine and then editor of the rock magazine 'Rip', he tells of how he met, hung out, and sometimes became a lifeline to bands like Metallica, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Alice in Chains, and how he was practically insulted by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana during a reprter interview on how "Lonn truly disgusted him" for having pictures of nude girls from when he was apart of Hustler. Overall, i feel the general audience of this book should be common rockers, just to see how the rockers they know and love really are.

[Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lonn Friend was the editor for the heavy metal mag called "RIP". So this is a book about how he got the gig, and where he went with it. There are lots of fun insights, both good and bad into some of the biggest bands of the 80's into the 90's. Including: Bon Jovi, Guns n Roses, Nirvana, and Metallica. One of the stories that amazed me was how Jon Bon Jovi basically short changed Lonn when we was no longer working.

A good, easy and fun read, especially if you enjoyed that type of music and grew up in that time.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim and didn't really have any expectations for it -- thought I was as into hair metal as the next guy in the late '80s, I never read RIP -- but I still managed to be let down. Lonn Friend may have been a fine editor, but he isn't much of a writer; "Life on Planet Rock" wavers between New Age-tinged autobiography and dirt-filled tell-all, but either way, it isn't really a compelling read.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a semi-interesting book about the various types of rock & metal music beginning in the 1980s. Lonn Friend was not only an editor of RIP magazine, he truly loved music.

His dealings included GnR, Metallica, Skid Row, Nirvana, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith. There were some good stories about them plus one disturbing story about Chuck Berry's personal life.

I liked his stories about the rockers but became bored when he wrote about "finding himself".

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think this book focused as much on the bands as it did on the journalist. I was disappointed that it only briefly discussed the bands mentioned in the title of the book, but focused a lot on old rockers. This book was NOT what I thought it was going to be.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lonn Friend takes his reader through his exciting career in the music industry. What is the most enlightening aspect about this book is how human the rock stars Lonn meets are. I would recommend this read for anyone who wonders what it is like back stage.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get through this. The guy is just way too into himself...a lot of potential, but not worth the time.

[Rob Renteria · Rating 4 out of 5]

this guy was the editor of RIP......the best metal mag ever!!!,,,,,a great and fun read......it ended abruptly BUT i enjoyed it......

kudos 2 lonn

rr

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

i rarely [if ever] read non-fiction. i *devoured* this book, so that's high praise from me.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and is really inspirational. Learn the past about different band members and how they had come out to be rockstars today.

[Brian R · Rating 1 out of 5]

Page after page of name-dropping and sucking up to rock stars of yesteryear.

[Keturah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of excellent personal accounts of debauchery. Lonn Friend, I am jealous of you.

[Seth Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read with some great stories and anecdotes.