Let me just start by admitting that prior to reading this autobiography, I absolutely could not have told you who Sammy Hagar was. And that is not because of the fact that he is a rock artist; I grew up listening to rock music, and I am still very much of the opinion that the best way to listen to good music, such as rock, is loudly. I have been asked more than a couple of times to turn my music down by the neighbours. As far as I’m concerned, if I am not allowed to blast AC/DC or Lynyrd Skynyrd at three o’clock on a Saturday afternoon then you had damn well better stop mowing your lawns at eight o’clock on a Sunday morning.
I didn’t get on well with those neighbours.
Anyway. The point. The point is that it isn’t because I don’t like rock music that I didn’t recognize Hagar before reading his book. I’m just godawful with names. Truly and honestly, I have real, brutal trouble with names, and matching them to faces. Imagine my delight (and eternal embarrassment) when I realized that this was that guy from Chickenfoot! From Van Halen! Com, on, man!
First things first: this is a rocker’s autobiography, and there’s going 
to be some s**t in here that not everybody agrees with. There was some stuff in there that I raised my eyebrow about, but it is literally in the title of the book that there are no holds barred so if you’re going to read this, don’t get pissy about that. I actually really enjoyed the book for that fact. It makes it a better read, and also lets you figure out exactly who this guy is, what kind of person he is in “real life,” as it were. And honestly, he seems like a pretty cool dude.
As for the book itself, I think it is great. It’s easy to understand, and it has pictures (always a bonus. I’m a visual person). I laughed, I got boiling mad, I felt sympathetic and at times I was even irritated, both on behalf of and because of Sammy himself. I think that is the mark of a good book. If what you’re reading doesn’t make you feel or think any differently to before the book, then you may as well give it up because it’s doing nothing for you.
Literally.
Should you read this? Absolutely. Will you love it? Who knows. That’s a question only you can answer, though I encourage you to give this a go. If you love autobiographies in general, the music industry, rock in particular, Sammy Hagar, Van Halen, Chickenfoot (listen. to. THEM!), then this is the book for you. If you need to fill in the ‘book about music category’ on this year’s reading challenge (guilty!), this is a pretty great book.
I for one am simply thankful I now know who that guy is. Name to face, finally!
Let me know if you’ve read this, or if you want/plan to.
Enjoy!
Featured image credit: getty images, Theo Wargo
Book cover: Google images
Categories: 2016 Reading Challenges, Autobiography, Book Reviews, Goodreads, Nonfiction Reviews, Reading Challenges
Printed Pages and Coffee 
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