From Cradle to Stage: Stories from the Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars by Virginia Hanlon Grohl
Reviewed by Julie Nutt, Communications Specialist
Genre: Biography; Memoir
Suggested age: Adult, Young Adult
What is this book about? Virginia Hanlon Grohl has a had a front seat on the long, strange trip of alternative rock music, thanks to her amazingly-talented and famous son (Dave Grohl, drummer for Nirvana and front man of the Foo Fighters). Virginia describes the early days of following Dave through his musical journey, and wondering where all of the other parents were, backstage at the live shows. It was then that she decided to find some of the other mothers of musical icons to hear their stories of raising musically-gifted kids, then watching with love and support as their babies turned into full-fledged rock stars. Between vignettes about Virginia’s adventure with Dave, the book includes stories from the mothers of Michael Stipe (R.E.M.), Dr. Dre, Mike D (the Beastie Boys), Kelly Clarkson, and many more.
My review: I was crying tears of emotion before I even got through the foreword! Virginia went above and beyond emails and phone interviews, instead traveling the country to meet rock star moms one-on-one. Just two mothers sipping coffee and chatting about their kids, making the conversations more intimate and telling. While hearing about the early live of the mothers themselves, they reveal the ups and downs of their children’s experiences in the music industry; the emotional and physical toll of fame and touring; and the struggles of family life and childhood as their little ones were on the road to becoming huge stars. These struggles aren’t so far removed from the experiences of any parent who must watch a child take a bumpy, uncertain flight from the nest that may not have been what the parent expected. (Who knew that Adam Levine was self-conscious because of acne? Who knew that Dr. Dre didn’t want any part of the “thug-life”?)
Each musician’s story had a common theme: a difficult, different, gifted kid who may not have always fit in; strong-willed, stand-out, march-to-the-beat of their own drummers (i.e. Dave Grohl, pun intended). They were not bad kids – just bored with what traditional school had to offer. Virginia ends the book with three pieces of advice that parents everywhere will appreciate.
I think what Dave’s quote in the foreword says it all: “But beyond any biological information, there is love, something that defies all science and reason. And that, I am most fortunate to have been given. It’s maybe the most defining factor in anyone’s life. Surely an artist’s greatest muse. And there is no love like a mother’s love. It is life’s greatest song. We are all indebted to the women who have given us life. For without them, there would be no music.”
Three words that describe this book: heartfelt, honest, touching
Give this a try if you like: Dave Grohl’s memoir, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music; Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain by Charles R. Cross; alternative and pop music
Rating: 5/5
