First published 2015
Travis Barker opens his life story with unflinching honesty. The Blink-182 drummer achieved multiplatinum success with the punk band, but fame brought unexpected costs. His marriage crumbled under public scrutiny during an MTV reality show. Relentless touring schedules masked a growing drug problem that spiraled beyond control. Then came the plane crash that nearly claimed his life. Barker faced months of painful recovery while grappling with survivor's guilt. The death of his friend and fellow crash survivor DJ AM from an overdose deepened his struggle with mortality and meaning. Throughout these trials, Barker found anchors in his drumming and his role as a father. He examines how music became his pathway back from the edge of destruction. The memoir traces his journey from rock star excess through trauma and toward redemption. Barker reflects on the price of fame, the weight of loss, and the healing power of rhythm and family responsibility.
Genres: addiction, autobiography, non-fiction, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: redemption, survivor-guilt
416 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow
Content warnings: addiction, drug-use, mental-illness