Books & Poetry

At the height of his journalistic career, Lonn Friend was adviser, fan, drinking buddy and, above all, close friend to many of the megastars of ’90s rock, from Axl to Alice and Tyler to Sambora. This autobiographical account of the decade is also an Access All Areas pass to legendary shows like grunge heroes Soundgarden and Pearl Jam’s ‘Temple of the Dogs’ jam in Seattle in 1991. Friend’s CV and little black book is enough to warrant foaming at the mouth, yet in places it feels as if our narrator is still hiding behind an exaggerated persona, much like his famous amigos.

Still, the book is as reflective as it is revealing. Friend progresses from reviews editor at Hustler to internationally renowned music journalist, from failed husband and father to self-realisation and discovery. However, though his juicy anecdotes about this sleazy scene are engrossing, Friend’s constant musings on his own life and mid-life crisis make ‘Planet Rock’ an uneasy read. Assessments of where he fits into rock ’n’ roll’s tapestry litter the pages and come off sounding histrionic. Having neglected his family in favour of befriending the next big thing, Friend sometimes feels as if he’s pushing too hard to right his wrongs in these pages.

Nevertheless, the fire that Friend displays here – still burning for a slowly dying genre – should inspire a new generation of music journalists and rock fans.