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All I Ever Wanted
All I Ever Wanted: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir | Kathy Valentine
6 posts | 6 read | 2 to read
At twenty-one, Kathy Valentine was at the Whisky in Los Angeles when she met a guitarist from a fledgling band called the Go-Gosand the band needed a bassist. The Go-Gos became the first multi-platinum-selling, all-female band to play instruments themselves, write their own songs, and have a number one album. Their debut, Beauty and the Beat, spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and featured the hit songs We Got the Beat and Our Lips Are Sealed. The record's success brought the pressures of a relentless workload and schedule culminating in a wild, hazy, substance-fueled tour that took the band from the club circuit to arenas, where fans, promoters, and crew were more than ready to keep the party going. For Valentine, the band's success was the fulfillment of a lifelong dreambut its only part of her story. All I Ever Wanted traces the path that took her from her childhood in Texaswhere she all but raised herselfto the height of rock n roll stardom, devastation after the collapse of the band that had come to define her, and the quest to regain her sense of self after its end. Valentine also speaks candidly about the lasting effects of parental betrayal, abortion, rape, and her struggles with drugs and alcoholand the music that saved her every step of the way. Populated with vivid portraits of Valentines interactions during the 1980s with musicians and actors from the Police and Rod Stewart to John Belushi and Rob Lowe, All I Ever Wanted is a deeply personal reflection on a life spent in music.
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BookishRedhead
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Underrated girl rockstar!
The Go-Gos were great and Kathy is so Underrated, writing with such charm and passion.

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jdiehr
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This memoir reminded me of how cutting edge the Go-Go's really were. They paved the way for girl bands.

This is Kathy Valentine's story.

A rough childhood, a dream, success, disappointment, and finally a happy ending.

Fun fact - Belinda is from the same town I am. Her family went to my church 😄 Needless to say, I've been a Go-Go's fan from the get-go.

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Cinfhen
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I have to be honest/ Never heard of Kathy Valentine, but this was an #AudibleDeal and the blurb said former member of The Go-Go‘s and I thought why not! I grew up to the music of this 80‘s girl band but never gave much thought to the bass player. Kathy Valentine really had an unconventional childhood but her dog-eared determination to succeed was moving. Her memoir was the cliche of sex, drugs and rock & roll 🎸🎶🍾 Very entertaining 🤟🏽

Megabooks I missed this daily deal! Sounds cool. Thanks for the tag! 😘 2y
Cinfhen It was awhile back @Megabooks 2y
Cinfhen Worth $2.95 for sure but not a full credit @Megabooks 2y
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Megabooks @Cinfhen my library has the Grohl, so maybe I‘ll get on the list when I have fewer books checked out! (edited) 2y
Cinfhen 💯 worth requesting on audio @Megabooks 2y
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Cinfhen
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Here comes #ProcrastinationBook4 @Simona I also seem to be on #MusiciansMemoirs kick 🎸🎼🤟🏽🎧 #NonFictionNovember

Simona I‘m seriously thinking about quitting with #DrZ …. and I almost never bail. 2y
Cinfhen No judgment from me @Simona I haven‘t really attempted #DrZ wholeheartedly but if I need to bail I will… sorry @BarbaraBB 🙈worse case, I‘ll read spark notes and proceed from there 2y
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BarbaraBB I don‘t read anything at the moment. I am so NOT motivated for finishing all the challenges. I probably will get to spark notes as well 🤫🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y
Centique Our library has just reopened and a dozen holds have come in for me so I might bail on Dr Z too. I was thinking of watching the movie on Netflix instead. 2y
Cinfhen Hurray for library reopening 🙌🏻♥️I‘m actually 200 pages in @Centique and I‘m finding my rhythm with the book. I think you might enjoy it but no pressure to read it NOW. It‘s a lot and you need to be in a good headspace for it. I think watching the film is perfectly acceptable😘😘 2y
Centique @Cinfhen that‘s good to hear! I will keep going cos I do want to read it but I might take a break and get thru a couple of holds first 💕 2y
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Tiffiney
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Great read! I knocked it out in about 2 days. The audio version included some of her solo music.

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Rebecca.Eckland
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I heard an interview with the author on Marc Marin‘s podcast WTF and so I bought the book. Deeply personal and told in an unflinching, honest prose, Valentine lays out brutal childhood heartbreak, her rise to fame and struggle to overcome addiction beautifully.