Lou Brutus - Sonic Warrior: My Life as a Rock N Roll Reprobate: Tales of Sex, Drugs, and Vomiting at Inopportune Moments

Praise for

I value Lou for bringing an unrivaled integrity to the world of Hard Rock reporting. His honest discussions are straight from the heart on both sides of the mic. He makes artists and fans worlds collide in the best possible way.

Zacky Vengeance , of Avenged Sevenfold

Theres nothing more inspiring than a person in love with what they're doing. When you run in to Lou at a festival he has that look of amazement in his eyes as if he just heard an electric guitar for the first time and he just has to let the world know. That passion and love for the music and the stories waiting to be told is what makes him such a master of his craft.

Johannes Eckerstrm , of Avatar

Who is this Lou Brutus? Weve gotten to know each other over the years, very well. Lou is a mainstay of rock and roll. Hes a pioneer, and a legend. To top it off hes one hell of a human being. He cares about people, and people care about him. A lot. Lou is someone I always look forward to seeing. I look forward to having conversations with him. Meaningful conversations. Hes brilliant and hes got so many great stories to tell. Heres to Lou Brutus!

Adam Gontier , of Saint Asonia

There are musicians that make the music, there are fans looking to feed their never-ending hunger for great music, and then there is that Conduit in the middle. That person with a rsum of integrity in knowing musica bigger-than-life voice! A tastemaker that earns the respect, trust, and friendship of both musicians and music fans alike. A voice that turns the fans onto great music and helps to turn those musicians into rock stars. Lou Brutus is that conduit and more! Giving intelligent interviews, curating incredible radio playlists, identifying the next big thing in new music, capturing rock moments in time, master of ceremonies at major concerts, and last but not least, singing in his own punk band. Lou Brutus LIVES MUSIC! Lou Brutus is ROCK!

Jesse James Dupree , of Jackyl

Lou Brutus is the most genuine radio guy in the biz. Hes gone above and beyond for us since the day we met. A class act and a true to the bone music fan as well.

Alecia Mixi Demner , of Stitched Up Heart

It is an objective reality that rock no longer has the same share of the mainstream limelight that it once had. As a result, it seems that many voices have distanced themselves from the genre. Lou, however, has only dug in more. Furthermore, Lou actively seeks bands out and makes his own assessments. This continued passion and fandom is a testament to Lous love for the genreespecially when you consider that he has rubbed elbows and befriended so many of the greatest. His ability to have an engaged and nuanced interest in the newest crop of bands while being fully enmeshed with the biggest bands out there solidifies his position as a true tastemaker and the narrator of rock. In short, he is a treasure to the genre.

Dustin Bates , of Starset

Lou Brutus has got to be the most knowledgeable, die-hard music fan Ive ever met. Always supporting bands of all genres. Ive been lucky enough to have known him my entire twenty-two year career. Hes flown the flag for my band, as well as so many others, throughout his career in the music industry. Whether its doing an interview with him (which are always the best), or just talking baseball, hes always been my favorite person to talk too. My dear friend, Lou. I love you, buddy.

Morgan Rose , of Sevendust

this is a genuine rare bird book

Rare Bird Books
453 South Spring Street, Suite 302
Los Angeles, CA 90013
rarebirdbooks.com

Copyright 2020 by Lou Brutus

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever, including but not limited to print, audio, and electronic. For more information, address:
Rare Bird Books Subsidiary Rights Department
453 South Spring Street, Suite 302
Los Angeles, CA 90013.

Set in Warnock

epub isbn : 9781644281451

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Brutus, Lou, 1962 author.
Title: Sonic Warrior My Life as a Rock and Roll Reprobate /
Lou Brutus.
Description: Los Angeles: Rare Bird Books, 2020.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019051732 | ISBN 9781644280768 (hardback)
Subjects: LCSH: Brutus, Lou, 1962 | Disc jockeysUnited
StatesBiography. | Radio personalitiesUnited StatesBiography. |
Rock musiciansAnecdotes. | LCGFT: Autobiographies.
Classification: LCC ML429.B88 A3 2020 |
DDC 782.42166092 [B]dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019051732

For Mom and Dad because they let me go to
all the shows that I wanted to.

For Pearl, Licedog, Bud, and Finster because they never
said NO to seeing bands.

For Bert Berendt because Ill always be sad that
he never got to a concert.

For Dan Ingram because he was
the best DJ who ever lived.

For the tour managers because they
never get enough thanks.

For Geri, Jilly, and Darla the Pup because
Id always rather be home.

All the worlds a stage they say

And Ive seen many things

Standing with my little ukulele in the wings

Neil Innes, My Little Ukulele

Contents

Foreword

by Corey Taylor

If you ever want to become the worlds most envious person, play this simple game with Lou Brutus: Hey, Did You Ever See (Insert Your Favorite Band) Live? Not only will it turn out that he has indeed seen your favorite band live, hes either A) Seen them open up for Led Zeppelin/Aerosmith/Kiss/Cheap Trick, or B) Seen them play in the coolest, smallest, most intimate setting imaginableTWICE. Its enough to make you want to leave the conversation entirely, if you werent already completely rapt in excitement and fascination.

The first time I met my friend Lou, I was under doctors orders to engage in vocal rest because of damage Id done to my chords during a Slipknot rehearsal. It turned out that THAT would stand me in good stead since Lou wasnt going to let me get a word in edgewise anyway, whether I was cleared for speech or not. He is, and has always been, one of the most interesting people to talk to on any subject. Need an awesome book to read? Hes got a recommendation. Looking for the latest in cool music? Hes got the band for you. Want a new venue to visit while in a host of major cities? Hes got it dialed, along with the radio station promoting the event and the DJ making the on-stage announcementthat is, if it doesnt turn out to be Lou himself.

Lou Brutus is not only an amazing glimpse into what rock radio was, hes also the marker for what it's become, and what it still may be. And this is because of his greatest strength: his total and unapologetic love for rock/metal/punk/you name it. Its clear from his descriptions of songs to his details on where he was when he heard them performed for the first time. Its a gift. Lous storiesand there are SO MANYarent just a man reporting from the front. With Brutus, youre in the moment WITH him. Its conspiratorial. Hes trusting that youre as dedicated to The Clubmeaning all the music and the people who play itas he is. This isnt robotic recall; this is robust recollection. Hes a touchstone for the days when rock concerts, big and small, were still the Wild West. They were Barnum & Bailey, the times of Grant and McGhee. His insight makes it all so special, however. The fan inside you is given a voice reflected in the fan inside him. He makes you a part of the audience, and you relish the way he sets the tone.