“Access All Areas: Stories from a Hard Rock Life” by Scott Ian [Book Review]

We have all heard the stories of excesses and debauchery among the rock and roll elite. Many books have been penned detailing the escapades of Motley Crue, Ozzy, Motorhead, and countless other heavy music greats. I have read most of them and always walk away thinking, “How in the world could anyone have stories more fucked up or twisted than what I have already heard or read?”

WELL, along comes Access All Areas: Stories from a Hard Rock Life, this new book from Anthrax’s Scott Ian, and one which covers that very topic; the crazy stuff he has witnessed or been a part of as a member of one of the biggest metal bands in the world. I was good until I got to chapter 3, titled “Fruit Loops,” and then I nearly lost my lunch. What I read in this chapter has been burned into my mind and is something I can never unread. I don’t want to give it away, but Ian was a witness to one of the most horrifically debauched acts I have ever heard of… let’s just say it involves Trent Reznor, breakfast cereal, an internal colon bath. The result made me want to vomit, I felt as though I needed a shower just to get the filth off.

On a serious note, this book covers a lot of ground from the moment Ian got the bug to be a performer to the many unbelievable stories that have highlighted his more than 34-year career. If you are a fan of behind-the-scenes info and/or you are a sick and twisted voyeur of sorts, than this book is for you. It will meet and beat all of your expectations. For me, and I am not a prude by any means, this was a bit too much.

Written by: Scott Ian
Publisher: Da Capo Press (December 12, 2017)
Format/Length: Hardcover, 256 pages

Check a clip of Scott Ian discussing his book on the BUILD Series.