Rock Bottom: A Music Writer's Journey into Madness

'One of the best music books ever written, because Michael Odell knows music isn't about the musicians - it's about what it does to the listener, even if what it does ends up being wholly disastrous. It's sad, funny, fascinating and wise.' Michael Hann, former Guardian music editor


`Hilarious and disarmingly honest; a journey into the neurosis of rock fame, but through doors you don't expect.' Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry


A tale of loving, living and surviving rock music


Michael Odell is a rock music writer who takes his responsibility as cultural gatekeeper seriously; he asks rock stars the forbidden questions to discover whether they're worthy of readers' admiration.


But after interviewing Mick Jagger and Keith Richards - two of the `Big Six' icons - Michael is depressed. He has a public meltdown while chaperoning Oasis at an awards ceremony; he's lost joy in his bathroom full of rock'n'roll memorabilia; and his young son is in trouble at school for emulating rock star behaviour.


Reluctantly Michael consults Mrs Henckel, a no-nonsense therapist with zero experience of pop culture. As Michael addresses his feelings about the past, in particular his failed teenage band, Mental Elf, he's forced to confront the question: is it finally time to grow up and forget rock'n'roll?