Lead guitarist and cofounder of Fall Out Boy shares personal stories
from his youth and his experiences of modern rock and roll stardom in
this memoir filled with wit and wisdom.
Trohman cofounded Fall Out Boy with Pete Wentz in the early aughts, and
he's been the sticky element of the metaphorical glue-like substance
holding the band together ever since, over the course of a couple
decades that have included massive success, occasional backlashes, and
one infamous four-year hiatus. Trohman was, and remains, the emotive
communicator of the group: the one who made sure they practiced, who
copied and distributed the flyers, and who took the wheel throughout
many of the early tours. As soon as he was old enough to drive, that
is--because he was all of 15 years old when they started out. That's
part of the story Trohman tells in this memoir, which provides an
indispensable inside perspective on the history of Fall Out Boy for
their legions of fans. But Trohman has a great deal more to convey,
thanks to his storytelling chops, his unmistakable voice, and his
unmitigated sense of humor in the face of the tragic and the absurd.
None of This Rocks chronicles a turbulent life that has informed
Trohman's music and his worldview. His mother suffered from mental
illness and multiple brain tumors that eventually killed her. His father
struggled with that tragedy, but was ultimately a supportive force in
Trohman's life who fostered his thirst for knowledge. Trohman faced
antisemitism in small-town Ohio, and he witnessed all levels of
misogyny, racism, and violence amid the straight edge hardcore punk
scene in Chicago. Then came Fall Out Boy. From the guitarist's very
first glimpses of their popular ascension, to working with his heroes
like Anthrax's Scott Ian, to writing for television with comedian Brian
Posehn, Trohman takes readers backstage, into the studio, and onto his
couch. He shares his struggles with depression and substance abuse in a
brutally honest and personal tone that readers will appreciate. Not much
of this rocks, perhaps, but it all adds up to a fascinating music memoir
unlike any you've ever read.
