Chuck Negron was one of the most important members of the biggest rock supergroup of the 1970s -- or so he'd like you to believe. In his addiction memoir, Negron spends time in every chapter justifying the importance of his contributions to Three Dog Night, producing evidence that they were the biggest-selling group of the decade and claiming they invented stadium rock and other modern aspects of the genre.

The mere fact that he devotes so much effort to proving his rock superstardom casts doubts on the veracity of his claims.

Throughout his tenure in the rock supergroup, Negron increasingly succumbed to the hold of alcohol and drugs, leading to great physical injury. He jeopardized his life not only with toxic substances, but by performing sick and injured under pressure from the group's management. However, the story of his downward spiral is surprisingly devoid of introspection or self-analysis. The drug scene seems to have just happened to Negron.

This is a book only for fans of the singer or of his former band, and even for fans I'd imagine all the arguments about Negron's own fame and importance will get tiring. Anyone looking for an addiction memoir or reflections about the excesses of fame should look elsewhere. Anthony Kiedis's Scar Tissue and Motley Crue's The Dirt are both far more solid reflections on the lives of excess in the fast lane, while Caroline Knapp's Drinking: A Love Story is a leader in the addiction memoir genre.

by Jessica Lux-Baumann
Rambles.NET
19 May 2007