Like Hell

by Ben Foster

Technically this is a novel. About a guy and his punk band. Who start out shitty, but persevere, and eventually become pretty popular. If I mentioned that Ben Foster is better known as Ben Weasel from Screeching Weasel, you'll get a much more nuanced idea about what this book is about, and certainly, what this novel MIGHT be based upon. Regardless, it's a great, rollicking read. Whether or not it's entirely true, or entirely false, anyone with any knowledge of 90s punk in America will recognise large chunks of this. And anyone with any interest in, appreciation of, or experience of being in a band, breaking up with a girl, or punk rock, will thoroughly enjoy. It's that good. Though why he had to kill off his guitarist and best friend at the end I'll leave to his shrink to fathom...

Genres: Fiction, Music, Novels

191 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2001

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently Ben Weasel likes the Blackhawks; and hockey was televised in Chicago at one point in time.

[Aaron Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good parts, some funny parts, some problematic parts, some terrible parts. Overall, not a good novel, but maybe fun to read if you like punk music.

[Josh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know what I expected getting myself into this book, but boy oh boy can I confidently say this was the worst book I've ever read. I knew it would be pompous and misogynistic, I knew that he would spew contempt for the very people that have given him a career for all these years, and the gross unnecessary sex scenes didn't exactly surprise me either. What I didn't expect, for some reason, was how terminally boring it would be. All the characters are paper thin, the plot might as well not exist, and even when he killed off Jughead, uh, I mean "Jimmy" I couldn't bring myself to care. What an absolute waste of time.

[nix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ti amo Ben Weasel

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The impressive debut from Ben Foster, mastermind behind the Chicago punk band Screeching Weasel, is also thought of as a thinly-veiled autobiography. The story is that of the singer/songwriter of a pissed-off underground rock band, his relationship with an on-and-off girlfriend, and the ups and mostly downs of life in general. Ben had previously written plenty of op-ed pieces for magazines like "Maximum Rocknroll" and his own zines, and it was interesting to read his take on fiction, and his recreation of what is basically the '90s Chicago punk scene. I hate the word "scene."

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is ben weasel from screeching weasel's foray into literature. its pretty decent all in all. the story is hackneyed in a lot of its concepts. this is definitely nothing new or really all that inventive, but still a cool read. if you're a fan of screeching weasel than i suggest reading this book.

[Geoff · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt this book was a terrible read. The writing felt amateurish. I think, because of who Ben Weasel is, name recognition is the only reason for this books existence. If anyone else had written this, it would not have been published. The poorly written sex scenes were not worth reading, and I guess that goes for the rest of the book as well.

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember this book took me awhile to get into and I found the story was dark and depressing. It has been nearly six years since I read this book however but I remember not being overly enthusiastic about it but being impressed that Ben Weasel attempted to write a book.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

My all-time favorite musician, Ben Weasel, writes a book. Think Charles Bukowski, in punk rock band, writing about being in a punk rock band.
Not bad.

[Mark St.John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a lot more fun if you are drinking warm beer, listening to old records. Trust me.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uhhhm, I only rate this so high because of bias, I'm sure.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining book! Ben Foster is too much of a self-righteous A-hole to take as a real author. If you are a Weasel fan it is a must read.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice novel by the front man from Screeching Weasel and Riverdales. A raunchy look at the underbelly of punk rock.