What do you think?
Rate this book
Horseshoes and Hand Grenades: Tales from the Other Mötley Crüe Frontman and Journeys through a Life In and Out of Rock and Roll
In Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, John Corabi recounts his life from the mean streets of Philadelphia to the Sunset Strip. Take a look behind the scenes at Corabi’s time fronting Mötley Crüe, Union, and The Dead Daisies, as well as his time playing rhythm guitar with Ratt and even his stint as a long-haul trucker. Whether it’s detailing his parents difficult divorce, his family’s dark history of abuse, his run-in with a serial killer, or simply the best way to arrive at a wedding—which maybe is by helicopter and maybe it isn’t—he pulls no punches and outlines the good and bad of it all in this raucous autobiography.
- GenresMusic
552 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2022
28 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 10, 2023
Finished!
So being the rock n roll fan, i knew some of the general events surrounding John n his tenure making THE BEST motley crue album in their catalog. I then picked up a bunch of Union albums, because i figured John's awesome, and I've heard of this Bruce Kulick guy (ha!)..and i was stoked and happy for a long time...then all of a sudden I hear he's been in a band called the Dead Daisies, so i go check out that band...John has rejuventated my interest in big rock...so i had to get this book and find all the little stories. Well its all unvarnished. From the early years through the highs and the lows, its technicolor. When I read this book it was in John's raspy voice. It stripped away all the shellac and told a REAL (torture and ecstacy at times) journey. I'll look at that music of his totally differently now, with a greater appreciation. The events that colored his life made it onto those albums. He's as good a story teller on paper, as he is in song.
So being the rock n roll fan, i knew some of the general events surrounding John n his tenure making THE BEST motley crue album in their catalog. I then picked up a bunch of Union albums, because i figured John's awesome, and I've heard of this Bruce Kulick guy (ha!)..and i was stoked and happy for a long time...then all of a sudden I hear he's been in a band called the Dead Daisies, so i go check out that band...John has rejuventated my interest in big rock...so i had to get this book and find all the little stories. Well its all unvarnished. From the early years through the highs and the lows, its technicolor. When I read this book it was in John's raspy voice. It stripped away all the shellac and told a REAL (torture and ecstacy at times) journey. I'll look at that music of his totally differently now, with a greater appreciation. The events that colored his life made it onto those albums. He's as good a story teller on paper, as he is in song.
February 22, 2023
Interesting and honest portrayal of a working musician - I've loved the 1994 Motley Crue album since its release and still my favorite MC album by far.
At over 400 pages it could use some editing. The chapters covering his childhood were filled with tales of drugs and debauchery (and a well known serial killer that lived in his neighborhood).
The Motley Crue years take up the middle third and finally the last 25 years consisting of his runs with Union and The Dead Daisies. He also had a short stint as a truck driver with an instructor who finally recognizes him after a while.
Corabi doesn't sugarcoat his troubles with money or fame and i appreciate his honesty. He made some money but most of it went toward his mothers healthcare and his kids. He even tells a story of being broke before Christmas and finding money for his kids presents in a jar of coins.
Great read - i would love to hang out with John Corabi but this probably the closest I'll get.
At over 400 pages it could use some editing. The chapters covering his childhood were filled with tales of drugs and debauchery (and a well known serial killer that lived in his neighborhood).
The Motley Crue years take up the middle third and finally the last 25 years consisting of his runs with Union and The Dead Daisies. He also had a short stint as a truck driver with an instructor who finally recognizes him after a while.
Corabi doesn't sugarcoat his troubles with money or fame and i appreciate his honesty. He made some money but most of it went toward his mothers healthcare and his kids. He even tells a story of being broke before Christmas and finding money for his kids presents in a jar of coins.
Great read - i would love to hang out with John Corabi but this probably the closest I'll get.
January 1, 2024
Great stories, well told
I didn't know about John Corabi as a human or musician even though I'm certain I've heard his voice in music I've listened to, but the reviews for this book were so good, I had to give it a try as I'm a rock doc/bio junkie, and I can truthfully say I'm glad I did. John seems a very decent down to earth guy with many life experiences and lessons learned that I'm fortunate to have taken in through his excellent memoir. Thanks for sharing, John, bravo! Highly recommended.
I didn't know about John Corabi as a human or musician even though I'm certain I've heard his voice in music I've listened to, but the reviews for this book were so good, I had to give it a try as I'm a rock doc/bio junkie, and I can truthfully say I'm glad I did. John seems a very decent down to earth guy with many life experiences and lessons learned that I'm fortunate to have taken in through his excellent memoir. Thanks for sharing, John, bravo! Highly recommended.
January 16, 2023
Excellent and Real
I loved how real this was. I have read over 100 biographies. This book is the real deal when you stick to a dream and make it happen then you will meet a ton of famous people and travel a ton of miles. John did just that and has captured all the amazing stories some happy some sad and everyone very honest. I am a fan.
I loved how real this was. I have read over 100 biographies. This book is the real deal when you stick to a dream and make it happen then you will meet a ton of famous people and travel a ton of miles. John did just that and has captured all the amazing stories some happy some sad and everyone very honest. I am a fan.
May 26, 2023
Written by John Corabi, with Paul Miles. I imagine Miles did the heavy lifting with the prose and based it on Corabi's stories. Not completely sure. I really liked it. One of the better rock biographies I've read. Corabi comes across as a down to earth sort of fellow, a decent sort who is not afraid to tell the stories that make him look like a flawed human.
I'll admit I bought it primarily for the connection with Motley Crue, but I enjoyed the whole thing. Corabi was in Crue for five years and they did their self-titled album with him as the singer. That's a really good album, although not my favorite by the Crue. Corabi has also been in many, many other bands. I had no idea how many until I read this. He's mostly been a singer but also a guitar player.
One thing I particularly liked is there's a real focus on the music and his experiences on the road without dwelling on groupies and drugs. In fact, he says he never did hard drugs, although he apparently drank quite a lot. And he wasn't the kind of person to try to sleep with as many groupies as possible. Overall, a good book.
I'll admit I bought it primarily for the connection with Motley Crue, but I enjoyed the whole thing. Corabi was in Crue for five years and they did their self-titled album with him as the singer. That's a really good album, although not my favorite by the Crue. Corabi has also been in many, many other bands. I had no idea how many until I read this. He's mostly been a singer but also a guitar player.
One thing I particularly liked is there's a real focus on the music and his experiences on the road without dwelling on groupies and drugs. In fact, he says he never did hard drugs, although he apparently drank quite a lot. And he wasn't the kind of person to try to sleep with as many groupies as possible. Overall, a good book.
February 27, 2026
When I think of the word “journeyman” in the music industry, John Corabi’s name comes to mind. He played rhythm guitar for Ratt, fronted the bands The Scream and The Dead Daisies, worked alongside Eric Singer and Bruce Kulick from KISS, and also replaced Vince Neil in Motley Crue in the mid-90s. Needless to say, he has tons of stories to share, and he traveled the world as a working musician. While he admits he came close but never quite succeeded on the level he could have, he’s not bitter or angry about this. He’s grateful for the experiences and the memories he’s made on his musical journey.
His book covers his troubled childhood, his up-and-down musical career, his three marriages, and what will be of interest to most readers: being hired and fired by Motley Crue. I like John a lot, and he is not afraid to look in the mirror and accept blame but also look at the circumstances and situations he found himself in and realize he wasn’t always put in a position to succeed.
Through it all, his book is funny, introspective, detailed, honest, and a really good read. It’s maybe 40-50 pages too long, but it’s never boring or uninteresting.
His book covers his troubled childhood, his up-and-down musical career, his three marriages, and what will be of interest to most readers: being hired and fired by Motley Crue. I like John a lot, and he is not afraid to look in the mirror and accept blame but also look at the circumstances and situations he found himself in and realize he wasn’t always put in a position to succeed.
Through it all, his book is funny, introspective, detailed, honest, and a really good read. It’s maybe 40-50 pages too long, but it’s never boring or uninteresting.
February 17, 2026
It’s hard to get past the trainwreck narration, which sounds like it was read by a (foul-mouthed) 7-year-old. Imagine. Listening to a. Story with un. Necessary punctuation marks. [added here to give an example of the narrative flow]. But if you are able to ignore that, the book is fun enough even if it appears to be made up of ramblings of events that may have happened for the most part.
It confirms what I’ve always thought about Tommy being a big kid (to avoid explicits).
Considering the book I listened to after this was read by AI, it puts John’s efforts further to shame
It confirms what I’ve always thought about Tommy being a big kid (to avoid explicits).
Considering the book I listened to after this was read by AI, it puts John’s efforts further to shame
April 3, 2024
Just like the first time I heard Corabi singing a Motley Crue song...I didn't know what to expect. And like that first song, Power to the Music, I believe it was - this book is excellent. John is a guy who's humble and no-nonsense. Loved the stories, yes, but enjoyed so much more getting to know the man behind that powerful, raspy, soulful voice.
March 15, 2023
I have always been a huge fan of the motley ‘94 record, so I was excited to read John’s story. There is so much more to his life than that classic album. Highly recommend for Crue, or hard rock fans in general.
September 12, 2022
Nice guys don't finish last
John Corabi is vastly underrated musically and later became a decent business guy. Wish he stood up to the motley guys more often. Good read.
John Corabi is vastly underrated musically and later became a decent business guy. Wish he stood up to the motley guys more often. Good read.
July 30, 2024
He can't write a sentence without including the F word.
** DNF
** DNF
June 27, 2025
Loved it.
August 31, 2023
Een muzikale reis door het leven van John Corabi de zanger de Vince Neil verving voor 1 album. Maar hij maakte wel een flinke indruk op mij toen ik dat album voor het eerst hoorde. Ik was nooit zo’n fan van Motley Crue tot dat album in 1994. Corabi heeft later nog in Union gezeten die ik live in een een acoustische setting heb gezien. Alleen Bruce en John. Daarna ook Ratt en the Dead Daisies. Met deze laatste band heb ik hem ook live gezien. Een geweldige rock zanger met rauwe stem. In dit boek gaat hij zijn muzikale leven af maar ook de band met zijn zoon waarmee hij zijn solo shows doet. Een geweldig boek van begin tot eind.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews