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Adios, Motherfucker: A Gentleman's Progress Through Rock and Roll Kindle Edition

by Michael Ruffino (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 39 ratings
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A blend of This Is Spinal Tap and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the cult classic confessions of a debauched rock ’n’ roller and his adventures in excess on the ’80s hair-metal nostalgia tour through Middle America, now in a revised and updated edition. 

Once upon a time at the start of the new century, the unheard-of Unband got a chance to drink, fight, and play loud music with ’80s metal bands like Dio and Def Leppard. To the mix they brought illegal pyrotechnics, a giant red inflatable hand with movable digits, a roadie dubiously named Safety Bear, a high tolerance for liver damage, and an infectious love of rock & roll and everything it represents.

Unband bassist Michael Ruffino takes us on an epic joyride across a surrealistic American landscape where we meet mute Christian groupies, crack-smoking Girl Scouts, beer-drinking chimps, and thousands of head-bangers who cannot accept that hair metal is dead. Here, too, are uncensored portraits of Ronnie James Dio, Anthrax, Sebastian Bach, Lemmy of Motorhead, and others.

Adios, Motherfucker is gonzo rock storytelling at its finest—excessive, incendiary, intelligent, hilarious, and utterly original.

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  1. Print length
    343 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Anthony Bourdain/Ecco
  5. Publication date
    August 29, 2017
  6. File size
    1953 KB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Emerging from the not-so-mean streets of suburban New England at the tail end of the 1980s, The Unband embraced everything reckless, unhealthy, and downright harebrained about rock and roll. After a decade on the booze-and-gas-soaked road to success, with the help of their dominatrix manager, a willful record executive or two, and dumb luck in spades, the hard-rocking, gleefully out-of-control Unband arrived at the threshold of the new century and got their shot at the big time—in a chaotic music industry where boy-band pop ruled supreme and rock music had been declared dead. 

In this epic, intoxicated un-memoir, Unband bassist Michael Ruffino delves deeper into the story he originally told in 2004’s Gentlemanly Repose, taking readers along on a raucous tear through the netherworld of heavy rock, populated with crack-smoking Girl Scouts, collegiate bedlamites, shotgun-toting barmaids, a rodent-chomping music CEO, a beer-drinking chimp, and headbangers by the horde, while on tour with giants of heavy metal including Dio, Motörhead, Anthrax, Def Leppard, and a Who Was Who of reunited ’80s hair bands. Into that volatile mix, The Unband brought do-it-yourself pyrotechnics, a giant inflatable hand (for making giant inflatable gestures), a high tolerance for substance abuse of all kinds, and an infectious love of rock and roll and everything it stands for.

Equal parts This Is Spinal Tap and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Adios, Motherfucker is a riotous and unbridled testament to rock and roll being at its best on the brink of disaster.

About the Author

Michael Ruffino is a musician and a writer. He lives in Los Angeles, California, the best way he knows how.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DB367O6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anthony Bourdain/Ecco (August 29, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 29, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1953 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 343 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 39 ratings

About the author

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Michael Ruffino

Michael Ruffino

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
39 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Randy
5.0 out of 5 stars Genius!
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2018
Verified Purchase
A brilliant yet accessible exposition of what it’s like to be in a rock band and tour around the world. This book is so well written it is as if writing is Rufino’s primary line of work. I really liked the sincere description of the internal struggles of someone who is constantly traveling and trying to coexist with mentally disturbed musicians and industry personnel. Also, the practical information about the reality of the music business in this book, alone, is worth the purchase. Ruffino gives actual fiscal details when describing record deals right down to recording and tour budgets. A great read!
One person found this helpful
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PAUL
5.0 out of 5 stars FUN!!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2017
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Even though I've never heard of these guys before, I was a musician thru the 70's, and 80's and remember stuff like this well. A drunken riot journey thru the eyes of Mike Ruffino. For those of us that survived it's a great (or maybe not so much) flashback thru a support heavy metal/punk/slash band from the 80's. I found it to be a real page turner.
3 people found this helpful
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lisalovesboston
5.0 out of 5 stars The UNBAND Lives On!
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2020
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Great book; gave as a gift after we both had read the original and loved it.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written and hilarious.
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2018
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I love this book. I was crying laughing at several points. The writing is very well done. I immediately bought copies for all my friends for Christmas.
One person found this helpful
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nicole
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2017
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At times gets a bit stale and lackluster.
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IceCold
5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended!
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2018
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My husband really enjoyed the debauchery in this book!
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kaitlyn ferrari
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2017
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Such a fun read!
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Top reviews from other countries

JaguarJon53
5.0 out of 5 stars An immersive experience of rock and self destruction
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2023
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I read this because it was mentioned in Bourdain In Stories (another excellent read). Anthony Bourdain had his own publishing imprint for people he thought wrote good stuff. He was absolutely right about this one.
Written as if told by someone on heavy 'quick' drugs, it's an intense experience, especially if you consume it in a few sittings. It's a deep dive. Spell-binding. Here's what you shouldn't do if you want a musical career. Well, at least, one that lasts and doesn't crash and burn......
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ROBERT M
4.0 out of 5 stars Booze & Punk Rock
Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2018
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I like learning a bit about the road and the debauchery involved in the rise and fall that ensued for the author. The constant alcoholism was a bit boring but reflects on where they ended up. Moral: Despite your talent, if you drunk all the time and literally walking into walls you may not get the success you're after.
One person found this helpful
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Miss A A Fardy
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 24, 2018
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Great read
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