ProtonPunk
Well-known member
Evan Dando's 'Rumours of My Demise' is a scathing, unflinching account of his life - and career - that reads more like a laundry list of near-fatal escapades than a memoir. At its core, the book revolves around Dando's propensity for self-destruction, which has become a hallmark of his persona.
The singer's rise to fame as frontman of the Lemonheads was meteoric, with two critically-acclaimed albums in the early 90s that included a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's 'Mrs. Robinson', an era-defining hit that cemented Dando's status as a pin-up poster among college students.
However, it wasn't long before mainstream success turned to dust, as Dando succumbed to his addiction to heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines. His antics became notorious - including sabotaging a show designed to impress investors, hanging around Oasis during their heyday, and even writing a song with Noel Gallagher that was subsequently removed from an album due to its 'embarrassment'.
Dando's disconnection from reality is striking, but the writer fails to pin down any single root cause for his self-destructive tendencies. His parents' divorce seems to have been navigated without issue, and a childhood predisposition to sleepwalking has since been overcome.
Instead, it appears Dando's problem lies in his general lack of motivation - a trait that even earned him expulsion from private school at the tender age of 14. This is reinforced by his struggles with anxiety and depression, which have contributed significantly to his downward spiral.
Dando's writing is often described as laconic and witty, but this is tempered by an underlying sense of self-loathing and desperation. At one point, he admits that if he could go back in time and offer advice to himself, it would be to 'be less of a dick'.
Despite the book's candid portrayal of Dando's struggles, there's something oddly endearing about him - perhaps due to his unapologetic honesty or the fact that he's simply too charismatic to dislike.
Ultimately, 'Rumours of My Demise' is an uncomfortable read, both for its frank depiction of addiction and Dando's self-inflicted torment. It raises more questions than answers, but one thing is clear: Evan Dando has been living on borrowed time for far too long - and it's a wonder he hasn't succumbed to his demons yet.
The singer's rise to fame as frontman of the Lemonheads was meteoric, with two critically-acclaimed albums in the early 90s that included a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's 'Mrs. Robinson', an era-defining hit that cemented Dando's status as a pin-up poster among college students.
However, it wasn't long before mainstream success turned to dust, as Dando succumbed to his addiction to heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines. His antics became notorious - including sabotaging a show designed to impress investors, hanging around Oasis during their heyday, and even writing a song with Noel Gallagher that was subsequently removed from an album due to its 'embarrassment'.
Dando's disconnection from reality is striking, but the writer fails to pin down any single root cause for his self-destructive tendencies. His parents' divorce seems to have been navigated without issue, and a childhood predisposition to sleepwalking has since been overcome.
Instead, it appears Dando's problem lies in his general lack of motivation - a trait that even earned him expulsion from private school at the tender age of 14. This is reinforced by his struggles with anxiety and depression, which have contributed significantly to his downward spiral.
Dando's writing is often described as laconic and witty, but this is tempered by an underlying sense of self-loathing and desperation. At one point, he admits that if he could go back in time and offer advice to himself, it would be to 'be less of a dick'.
Despite the book's candid portrayal of Dando's struggles, there's something oddly endearing about him - perhaps due to his unapologetic honesty or the fact that he's simply too charismatic to dislike.
Ultimately, 'Rumours of My Demise' is an uncomfortable read, both for its frank depiction of addiction and Dando's self-inflicted torment. It raises more questions than answers, but one thing is clear: Evan Dando has been living on borrowed time for far too long - and it's a wonder he hasn't succumbed to his demons yet.
. Like, his life story sounds like something out of a movie, you know? All these wild parties and near-fatal escapades... it's crazy how one bad habit can spiral into so much more 
. And I'm not gonna lie, 'Rumours of My Demise' is definitely an uncomfortable read - but in a weird way, it's kinda mesmerizing too 
. Dando's just so unapologetically himself, even when that means being brutally honest about his demons 
. It's like he's saying, "Hey, I messed up my life, and here's the receipts." And honestly, I'm both fascinated and repelled by him at the same time 
. Like, can we root for someone who's clearly struggling so hard? At the same time, it's hard not to judge him too much 
. But hey, his charisma is real - even if he does say some pretty cringeworthy stuff about himself 
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. The way he self-destructs is just so...humanizing? I mean, we've all made mistakes and poor decisions at some point, but Dando's done it on a grand scale 
.
. And that quote about being "less of a dick" is just so...Evan Dando 
. Overall, 'Rumours of My Demise' is like an uncomfortable hug from a crazy ex - it'll leave you feeling both grossed out and strangely invested in the person's story 
his addiction struggles are insane though, like seriously how many close calls can one person have? 
i kinda feel bad for him, not gonna lie 
. But what really gets me is how his past keeps coming back to haunt him. Like, he writes a song with Noel Gallagher and it ends up getting removed from an album because of its 'embarrassment'? Talk about taking yourself too seriously! 
. its like he knew exactly how to sabotage himself, and he did it anyway 
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. It's crazy how he went from being this huge star to barely holding it together 
. And those party stories? Wild 
. But at the same time, I feel bad for him - his lack of motivation and struggles with anxiety and depression are super relatable 
. Maybe we can all learn a thing or two from his honesty about being more self-aware? 
Anyway, I'm glad he's sharing this stuff now, even if it's uncomfortable to read 
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its like he's this toxic mess and u want to read more just cuz hes so intriguing 
The writer doesn't seem to have any answers either, and that just makes it even more frustrating.
. Maybe this book will be a wake-up call for all of us who need a little reminder to take care of ourselves 
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. I mean, the guy's been through so much - like, who else can say they've hung out with Oasis and written a song for Noel Gallagher? 
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. Either way, 'Rumours of My Demise' is definitely an uncomfortable read, but in a good way?