[EP 428] Rock Stardom: “I Lost My Passion for the Music” – with David Barnett
Booked On Rock with Eric SenichShow Notes
What happens when the dream of becoming a rock star turns into a dangerous obsession with fame, drugs, and rebellion?
Author David Barnett joins Booked On Rock to discuss his memoir Foxtail, a revealing journey through Austin, Texas's underground rock and heavy metal scene during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Growing up inspired by The Beatles, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and the rebellious image of rock stars, Barnett formed his own band, Dome Factor, at just sixteen. But following his mother's breast cancer diagnosis, his pursuit of rock stardom became tangled with substance abuse, reckless behavior, and a deteriorating friendship with his childhood best friend.
Barnett shares outrageous behind-the-scenes stories, including a disastrous concert at Austin's legendary Back Room, a school performance that got him expelled, and a chaotic senior prom involving a police chase. He also discusses the influence of artists like Slayer, Static-X, and Lil' Keke, and makes a startling admission: at one point, he became more interested in being a rock star than actually making music.
We also explore celebrity worship, the darker side of rock-and-roll mythology, the emotional power of heavy music, and how writing Foxtail forced Barnett to confront his past.
It's a conversation about rock music, ambition, friendship, self-destruction, and the complicated road toward understanding who we really are.
Visit David Barnett's Website
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