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Son of a Milkman: My Crazy Life with Tesla
Tesla’s Brian Wheat lifts the lid on living the rock ’n’ roll life while struggling with anxiety, depression, and other issues seldom discussed by musicians.
Brian Wheat is far from your typical rock star. As bassist for the multi-platinum band, Tesla, he’s enjoyed the spoils of success and lived the sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll lifestyle to the hilt. But it came at a cost, one that took years to repair.
In this deeply honest and utterly revealing memoir, Wheat sheds light on the many challenges he faces, including bulimia, weight issues, and the crippling anxiety and depression caused by his conditions. Just like the songs his legendary band made, this is no-nonsense, blue-collar storytelling at its best. While revealing the vulnerable human behind the bass guitar, this autobiography also offers tremendous stories of life on the road, and collaborations and encounters with legendary figures like his pals in Def Leppard, David Lee Roth, Alice Cooper, and Paul McCartney. Son of a Milkman will entertain, surprise, and inspire longtime fans of this enduring band.
Brian Wheat is far from your typical rock star. As bassist for the multi-platinum band, Tesla, he’s enjoyed the spoils of success and lived the sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll lifestyle to the hilt. But it came at a cost, one that took years to repair.
In this deeply honest and utterly revealing memoir, Wheat sheds light on the many challenges he faces, including bulimia, weight issues, and the crippling anxiety and depression caused by his conditions. Just like the songs his legendary band made, this is no-nonsense, blue-collar storytelling at its best. While revealing the vulnerable human behind the bass guitar, this autobiography also offers tremendous stories of life on the road, and collaborations and encounters with legendary figures like his pals in Def Leppard, David Lee Roth, Alice Cooper, and Paul McCartney. Son of a Milkman will entertain, surprise, and inspire longtime fans of this enduring band.
- GenresBiographyMusicNonfiction
224 pages, Hardcover
Published December 15, 2020
26 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 12, 2024
Very cool to read about a band from our area. I think the editing left a bit to be desired, and his thoughts seemed to be scattered a bit, but I loved the book. Worth reading, especially if you are a fan of Tesla like I am.
June 2, 2020
Honest, funny, and a fascinating perspective of the music scene in the sex, drugs, and rock & roll scene of the 80’s. I love music biographies/autobiographies and this history of the band Tesla and bass player Brian Wheat’s life had me not wanting to put the book down!
March 26, 2021
Biografi yang menarik dan membuat saya lebih mengapresiasi Tesla. Terutama peran Brian di band serta dinamika antaranggota. Dan Brian beneran “son of a milkman”....!
December 17, 2023
This book could also be called the Accidental Rockstar. As a years-long Tesla fan, the insights and inspirations contended to be within the book was enough to make the purchase. However, after reading the story, I am left considering "Do I still like Tesla as much as I thought I did?"
Brian gives us his "gruff" opinions and mundane thoughts on his overarching and life-altering contributions to Tesla (without him alone - he purports that Tesla wouldn't exist), and his life as a Lars Ulrich lifestyle rip off (art, studios, etc.) Seemingly, the greater the contribution Brian makes, the worse Tesla's output becomes. Curious that.
I kept waiting for the tremendous stories to unfurl, or the curtain to be pulled back and reveal something, anything, that we didn't already know about being a famous musician. And zip, less than nothing really. Bickering, overproduction, scattered and non-linear riffs on his life. Good for him. Lucky his face is on the cover, else I wouldn't know him from Troy Lucketta.
Tesla is recognizable for Jeff Keith's voice and Frank Hannon's talent. Being fortunate enough to meet and learn from them, hitching his wagon to theirs is Brian's claim to fame. Everything else is just regurgitating cover songs, made previously famous by other folks, in the absence of anything new to offer. Yet Brian keeps inserting how much writing and producing he is doing for Tesla and other bands. Um, ok.
On the positive side, I was inspired to go back through the discography and relive the Tesla lineage, aided by the rudimentary musing Wheat added to how the records got made. The music stands the test of time, but not because of Wheat alone. Those lightning-in-a-bottle moments of raw performances, rare song cover choices that just hit the Tesla groove, or just dumb luck timing as happens in everyday life are why we have Tesla to enjoy today.
The book urged me to seek out those songs. Everything else from Wheat's favorite alcohol, to stalking Paul McCartney, or errantly being friends with Jimmy Page or them Def Lep Boys was a waste of paper. Wheat is human with any/all of the faults and conditions of any of us. He just happens to work in the music business instead of retail, fast food, or auto sales. Good Luck to him.
If you come across this book, before buying just read the Afterword by Ross Halfin. That paints the exact pedantic synopsis of the whole book just as being a waste of the reader's time.
Thanks for reading.
Brian gives us his "gruff" opinions and mundane thoughts on his overarching and life-altering contributions to Tesla (without him alone - he purports that Tesla wouldn't exist), and his life as a Lars Ulrich lifestyle rip off (art, studios, etc.) Seemingly, the greater the contribution Brian makes, the worse Tesla's output becomes. Curious that.
I kept waiting for the tremendous stories to unfurl, or the curtain to be pulled back and reveal something, anything, that we didn't already know about being a famous musician. And zip, less than nothing really. Bickering, overproduction, scattered and non-linear riffs on his life. Good for him. Lucky his face is on the cover, else I wouldn't know him from Troy Lucketta.
Tesla is recognizable for Jeff Keith's voice and Frank Hannon's talent. Being fortunate enough to meet and learn from them, hitching his wagon to theirs is Brian's claim to fame. Everything else is just regurgitating cover songs, made previously famous by other folks, in the absence of anything new to offer. Yet Brian keeps inserting how much writing and producing he is doing for Tesla and other bands. Um, ok.
On the positive side, I was inspired to go back through the discography and relive the Tesla lineage, aided by the rudimentary musing Wheat added to how the records got made. The music stands the test of time, but not because of Wheat alone. Those lightning-in-a-bottle moments of raw performances, rare song cover choices that just hit the Tesla groove, or just dumb luck timing as happens in everyday life are why we have Tesla to enjoy today.
The book urged me to seek out those songs. Everything else from Wheat's favorite alcohol, to stalking Paul McCartney, or errantly being friends with Jimmy Page or them Def Lep Boys was a waste of paper. Wheat is human with any/all of the faults and conditions of any of us. He just happens to work in the music business instead of retail, fast food, or auto sales. Good Luck to him.
If you come across this book, before buying just read the Afterword by Ross Halfin. That paints the exact pedantic synopsis of the whole book just as being a waste of the reader's time.
Thanks for reading.
April 18, 2024
Well, I picked up their live album a long time ago 97 at a reused record shop. Really liked them but a lot of their singles on hair nation didn’t really float my boat. But because of the book, I have revisited their albums and I have to say, Jeff may have the best singing 80s voice. Definitely underrated.
I wish I could say I really liked the book but I didn’t. It was all over the place and many times Brian talked about stuff that was just plain boring or irrelevant to a reader. I don’t care about his Victorian houses or his side protects that are very good. I don’t wanna judge the guy because I respect him as a musician and to write a book in itself is a feat. But this was a very disappointing read. There is only about 50 pages of the stuff a fan wants to read about. The rest of it is the world according to Brian.
I wish I could say I really liked the book but I didn’t. It was all over the place and many times Brian talked about stuff that was just plain boring or irrelevant to a reader. I don’t care about his Victorian houses or his side protects that are very good. I don’t wanna judge the guy because I respect him as a musician and to write a book in itself is a feat. But this was a very disappointing read. There is only about 50 pages of the stuff a fan wants to read about. The rest of it is the world according to Brian.
March 18, 2021
I don't really follow Tesla. I was a fan back in the late 80s, their first two records. I picked this book up because I enjoy a good rock biog or memoir here and there. This is probably more a book for a hardcore Tesla fan, but it was a quick and easy read. He definitely wants you to know he's friends with Jimmy Page! Then again, I'd probably brag about that too.
January 27, 2022
Some good history on the band Tesla, but not nearly enough stuff from the prime years. Maybe he doesn't remember them, I dunno.
This book is fine if you're looking to fill in some blanks on the early years of the band, but not much good to you if you're looking for road stories. Also, this thing coulda been at least 40 pages shorter. The editing on it is abysmal.
This book is fine if you're looking to fill in some blanks on the early years of the band, but not much good to you if you're looking for road stories. Also, this thing coulda been at least 40 pages shorter. The editing on it is abysmal.
February 24, 2022
This book truly pulls the glamour from the rock star lifestyle, while instilling the passion around the music. Brian Wheat doesn't pull punches here as he details the successes and failures of Tesla. Although short, he tells a rock star story the way it should be told, warts and all. The only detractor is that this is written from dictation and lacks the flow at times.
March 7, 2021
Fascinating insight into drugs, alcohol, egos and fights that derailed a band but nearly ruined lives as well. The book documents the highs and lows from someone who was there to see it happen before their very eyes.
As a fan since day one, it was an eye opening read.
As a fan since day one, it was an eye opening read.
May 5, 2024
If you love Tesla...
You will love hearing this all from Brian What's perspective. He is very honest, truthful and very real. He possesses a very blue collar sense of humor that will resonate with anyone and everyone. Great read!
You will love hearing this all from Brian What's perspective. He is very honest, truthful and very real. He possesses a very blue collar sense of humor that will resonate with anyone and everyone. Great read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews