Today, I’m reviewing Brian Wheat of Tesla’s latest release, Son of a Milkman, a rock ‘n’ roll autobiography.
Title: Son of a Milkman, My Crazy Life with Tesla
Series N/A
Author(s): Brian Wheat with Chris Epting
Genre(s): Autobiographies, Memoirs
Length: 74,000 words/272 hours
Release Date: November 24, 2020
Publisher: Post Hill Press
Blurb: Brian Wheat is far from your typical rock star. As bassist for the multi-platinum band, Tesla, he’s enjoyed the spoils of success and lived the sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll lifestyle to the hilt. But it came at a cost, one that took years to repair.
In this deeply honest and utterly revealing memoir, Wheat sheds light on the many challenges he faces, including bulimia, weight issues, and the crippling anxiety and depression caused by his conditions. Just like the songs his legendary band made, this is no-nonsense, blue-collar storytelling at its best. While revealing the vulnerable human behind the bass guitar, this autobiography also offers tremendous stories of life on the road, and collaborations and encounters with legendary figures like his pals in Def Leppard, David Lee Roth, Alice Cooper, and Paul McCartney. Son of a Milkman will entertain, surprise, and inspire longtime fans of this enduring band.
Available at:
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I’ve always enjoyed the band, Tesla. I wouldn’t call myself a superfan, but I do love their music. When I saw them live back in the day opening for Def Leppard, they were so good that I wanted Tesla to just keep playing and to hell with the headliner. Yeah, they were THAT good. So when Brian’s autobiography came out, I was all for reading how the music of Tesla was created.
I’m a music nerd, so I do know who the OG members of Tesla were, so of course I knew who Brian was. But I didn’t know much about them other than that they were from the Sacramento area.
Brian quickly gave me the opportunity to not only get to know him, but also the band from his perspective, along with the creation of their albums. He goes into detail about how songs came about, where they recorded, who produced, and why certain songs were chosen for each LP. I always enjoy insight into the recording process. It’s just the music nerd in me.
He also delves into his personal life, speaking about his anxiety, his autoimmune disease, his marriages, and a little too much partying. I must say I really enjoyed the look into his battle with his mental health. Just like most people on planet Earth, Brian also talks about his battles with his weight.
He has a nice, easy voice for the book. Does he bounce around? Yes. But I didn’t mind because that’s how most people tell their stories when they are speaking aloud, and that was what Brian brought to the table—a voice that speaks to you instead of a written word. You feel as if he’s sitting on a barstool in front of fans in a bar, telling them his life story.
It’s a great memoir and a nice personal look into Brian as a man, musician, son, and friend. If you enjoy autobiographies or the band, buy a copy. It’s an easy read.
