by Rick Bragg
First published 2014
Jerry Lee Lewis sits at his piano and looks back on a life that nearly destroyed him. He created the wild sound that gave rock and roll its dangerous edge, recording hits like "Great Balls of Fire" that made audiences lose control. His concerts sparked riots. Boycotts followed him across the country. He spent ten years drowning in alcohol, drugs, and chaos. He married seven times, including his thirteen-year-old second cousin as his third wife. Death came close at least twice, but he kept playing. Now Lewis breaks his silence about the scandals, the music, and the price of being the last man standing from rock and roll's first generation. This is his account of surviving fame when it could have killed him.
Genres: addiction, 20th-century, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century, musicians, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: redemption, survivor
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
512 pages · Hardcover · Harper
Content warnings: addiction, alcohol-abuse, drug-use