Rumours of My Demise by Evan Dando review – eye-popping tales of drugs and unpredictability

Evan Dando's memoir "Rumours of My Demise" is a candid account of his tumultuous life and career. The singer-songwriter, once the enigmatic frontman of indie rock band the Lemonheads, opens up about his struggles with addiction, self-destructive tendencies, and personal demons.

Dando recounts the highs and lows of his early success, including the chart-topping album "It's a Shame About Ray" in 1992. The book delves into the pressures of fame, the allure of easy success, and the consequences of prioritizing partying over creative pursuits. Dando admits to having struggled with addiction from an early age, starting with LSD at 14, which only intensified as his music career took off.

His experiences are marked by a series of chaotic gigs, failed relationships, and public embarrassments. The author candidly recounts falling asleep on stage, being booed off after an unscheduled performance, and even hanging out with Oasis's Noel Gallagher without realizing the band would later drop one of their songs he wrote.

While Dando's actions may appear self-destructive to some, it's clear that his struggles were complex and multifaceted. His parents' wealth and education provided him with a privileged upbringing, but also seemed to insulate him from accountability for his actions. The memoir touches on the nuances of Dando's childhood trauma and his tendency to sleepwalk as a child.

Throughout the book, Dando reveals a wicked sense of humor and a laconic wit that is at times darkly comedic. However, despite being an unapologetic chronicler of his own misdeeds, he manages to convey a strange sort of charm and vulnerability.

Ultimately, "Rumours of My Demise" offers a searing portrait of Dando's downfall – one that feels both inevitable and tragic. The memoir ends with the author having kicked heroin, but still seemingly trapped in his destructive patterns. As such, it's difficult to categorize him as merely self-destructive or even charming; he exists in a gray area, where the line between charisma and recklessness is hopelessly blurred.

The book raises important questions about the nature of fame, talent, and personal responsibility. While Dando's account may be eye-opening for some, it can also be jarring – particularly when confronted with the stark reality that, even after decades of recovery, his destructive tendencies seem to still hold sway.

I think what's really fascinating about Evan Dando's memoir is how he navigates this gray area between charisma and recklessness. It's like, on one hand, you can't help but be drawn in by his wicked sense of humor and laconic wit - it's almost charming in a dark way. But at the same time, there's this sense that he's still stuck in these destructive patterns, even after kicking heroin. It's like, do we really believe him when he says he's changed? Or are we just seeing what we want to see? The thing is, I think Dando's story raises some really interesting questions about the nature of fame and personal responsibility - especially for people who come from a privileged background. Are they held accountable for their actions, or do they get a free pass because of their talent? It's a real dilemma, and one that I think we'll continue to grapple with as long as there are people like Dando in the public eye.

I feel like I'm reading a memoir about my own high school days Evan Dando's story is crazy! I mean, who tries LSD at 14? Not me, definitely not during my study breaks . But seriously though, it's wild how his music career took off and he struggled so much with addiction and personal demons.

I think what really struck me was how hard it is to balance creativity with accountability. As a student, I've had to deal with my own share of stress and pressure, but at least I don't have to worry about crashing on stage or writing songs for a band that's going to drop one of them anyway .

Dando's story is also making me think about how privilege can be both a blessing and a curse. His parents' wealth and education definitely gave him opportunities he might not have had otherwise, but it also seemed to shield him from taking responsibility for his actions.

Anyway, I'm really glad I got to read "Rumours of My Demise" - it's definitely given me a lot to think about

I'm low-key obsessed with Evan Dando's new memoir ! I mean, who hasn't been tempted by the dark side, right? It's crazy how he opens up about his struggles with addiction and partying - it's like you're reading a diary from your own 20s . But seriously, what's wild is that he was basically sleepwalking through life (literally, as a kid ). His parents' wealth and privilege didn't help him take responsibility for his actions... it just made things worse? Anyway, I love how candid he is about his past - it's like you're getting a masterclass in how not to do life . The fact that he still struggles with addiction after kicking heroin is wild... it's like, what even is self-care if you can't take care of yourself?

i gotta say, evan dando's memoir sounds like a wild ride lol it's crazy how much he opens up about his struggles with addiction and self-destructive tendencies... i mean, who wouldn't want to read about the highs and lows of their own demons? but at the same time, it's kinda jarring to see how much partying and creative pursuits took a toll on him. like, does he ever get to enjoy his music again or is it all about the damage control?

omg i've been waiting for this memoir like forever!! Evan Dando is always been a bit of an enigma to me, but reading about all the struggles he's faced makes sense now. it's crazy how hard it can be when you have the world at your feet and still feel lost. his story is like a cautionary tale for anyone who's ever felt the pressure of fame. personally i think it's cool that he's not afraid to show his vulnerable side, but also gettablely arrogant

I'm loving this memoir, it's like Evan Dando is spilling all his tea and I am HERE FOR IT . The way he talks about struggling with addiction and partying hard is so relatable, even though it's a little scary to think about how far down the rabbit hole he went. And omg, the part about hanging out with Noel Gallagher? SICK ! But what I love most about this book is that Dando isn't making excuses or trying to sugarcoat his demons – he's owning them and sharing his story in a way that feels raw and honest. It's like we're getting the real Evan, warts and all .

I'm thinking about Evan Dando's memoir and how it relates to our own struggles with identity... like, we all have these personas we present to the world, but what happens when those masks slip? Is he truly in control, or is there something more going on beneath the surface? And I'm wondering if this is a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing fame and success above all else. We're so quick to idolize people like Evan Dando, but at what cost? Are we perpetuating some kind of toxic culture that encourages reckless behavior in the name of creativity and self-expression?

I'm just gonna say this... Evan Dando's memoir sounds super raw and honest . I mean, we've all had those moments where we want to party hard and forget about our problems, but when it comes down to it, sometimes that just leads to a whole lot of trouble . It's crazy how he opened up about his childhood trauma and addiction from such a young age... like, 14! That's some heavy stuff right there. I feel bad for anyone who's ever struggled with addiction or self-destructive tendencies - it takes a lot of courage to talk about it. And yeah, the fact that he still seems trapped in those patterns even after kicking heroin is just heartbreaking . Maybe we can all learn from his story and be more mindful of our own priorities?

I'm so stoked for Evan Dando to finally share his story like this . I mean, the guy's been in the spotlight for ages and we know he's had some wild times, but hearing it all straight from him is a whole different level of insight . The fact that he opens up about his struggles with addiction and self-destructive tendencies shows a lot of courage, imo . And I'm loving the dark humor - dude's got some wicked one-liners . But what really resonates with me is how he talks about the pressure of fame and how it can affect your creative pursuits. It's like, we're all human, you know? We all have our flaws and demons . I'm definitely going to check out this memoir ASAP .

idk how ppl r gonna take dis guy's memoir lol he was literally sleepwalking on stage & getting high from lsd at 14 fam sounds like a hot mess express but u gotta feel for the dude, his childhood trauma is pretty wild & it's not like he tried to hide it or anything...but still, kicking heroin ain't exactly a badge of honor

I'm low-key obsessed with this memoir. Evan Dando's story is like something out of a true crime novel . I mean, who hasn't been tempted by easy success and partying over creativity at some point? But the fact that he struggled so much and still managed to create iconic music is kinda mind-blowing . The part about him sleeping on stage is literally the most cringe-worthy thing I've ever read . And I love how he's unapologetic about his past, but also somehow manages to come across as charming? It's like, can't we all just be a little bit reckless and broken sometimes?

I feel like Evan Dando's story is so relatable, you know? Like, we've all been there where we're trying to keep up with the party scene or chase fame and it starts taking a toll on our mental health . But at the same time, I think what's really interesting about his story is how he's still grappling with those demons even after years of recovery . It's like, you can't just 'snap out' of addiction or trauma, you know? You have to work through it, and it sounds like Dando is doing that in this memoir . But what I'm wondering is, how do we balance the need for creative expression with the pressure to conform to societal expectations? Like, does fame and success have to come at the cost of our mental health or personal growth?

Evan Dando's memoir is like a train wreck you can't look away from - all these crazy stories about his wild past and near-death experiences are just so...humanizing? Like, who among us hasn't done something reckless or embarrassing at some point in their lives and then looked back and thought "oh wait, I'm not as cool as I thought"? The fact that he's been open about his struggles with addiction and personal demons is definitely a sign of strength, but it also raises some tough questions about accountability and the consequences of prioritizing partying over creativity. Still, despite all the chaos and destruction, there's something undeniably charming about him - like a bad boy with a heart of gold

I'm low-key fascinated by Evan Dando's memoir - like, who wouldn't want to read about a rockstar's wild ride? The thing is, though, it's not just a tell-all about partying and addiction; it's also super introspective and vulnerable. I mean, the dude opens up about his childhood trauma and how that affected his adult life - that takes a lot of courage.

At the same time, you can't help but wonder if he's still trapped in those patterns, even after decades of recovery? It's like, we need to acknowledge that addiction is a serious disease, not just some party animal thing. And Dando's charm and charisma are definitely part of the problem - like, he's got this wicked sense of humor that can be darkly comedic, but also kinda reckless.

It's also interesting to think about how his privileged upbringing both helped and hurt him. I mean, on one hand, it gave him access to opportunities and resources, but on the other hand, it maybe made him less accountable for his actions? Anyway, overall, "Rumours of My Demise" is a thought-provoking read that raises some important questions about fame, talent, and personal responsibility