Backstage: How I Almost Got Rich Playing Drums in a Christian Hardcore Band

A lot more fun, perhaps, than the not-quite-roll-off-the-tongue tagline would suggest, BACKSTAGE is the warts-and-all story of Aaron Lunsford's rise to quasi-fame with christian metalcore band, As Cities Burn. It's a short book but very well presented, published by new press, Bad Word, formed by two of the guys in screamo band, Emery, who also put out the edgy evangelical podcast, Bad Christian. Lunsford's narrative is conversational, at times even hilarious, and it all makes for a very accessible read and one you could easily fly through in one sitting. The book does a great job of demistifying what it's like to be in a band at this level as well as the sheer toll touring can take on each of the members, all for very little in the way of financial reward. As with all band bios, you have your fair share of tragedy, too, the suicide of a close friend leaving Lunsford very much a broken man by all accounts. I loved this book and really got on with Lunsford's writing and very much hope he releases more in the future.