In this episode of Loud Lit, Matt reviews Stephen Rea’s poignant memoir, Ozzy & Me: Life Lessons, Wild Stories, and Unexpected Epiphanies from Forty Years of Friendship with the Prince of Darkness.

The book chronicles how a fan meeting blossomed into a four-decade friendship, backstage crew work, and a journaling project encouraged by the Prince of Darkness himself. Rather than focusing on cheap tabloids and debauchery, Rea offers a heartwarming and deeply humanizing look at Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne from the mid-80s to Ozzy's death in 2025.

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Even The Good Girls Will Cry is the gripping autobiography by Melissa Auf Der Maur. Best known as a member of rock heavyweights like Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, Auf Der Maur steps out from behind the bass to share her own story.

From her artistic upbringing in Montreal to the whirlwind of joining Hole during a period of immense grief and rising stardom, this book offers an honest, backstage look at the chaotic reality of '90s alternative rock.

Support this show and independent booksellers at the Loud Lit Bookshop Page.

Listen to Matt's metal podcast, The Noise Report, or watch on YouTube

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This week on Loud Lit, Matt dives into Serj Tankian's powerful 2024 memoir, Down with the System. Behind System of a Down's wild, zany riffs and legendary vocals is a story deeply rooted in activism, heritage, and the fight for justice. We explore the band's unlikely rise to stardom, internal band friction, and Serj's lifelong mission to gain recognition for the Armenian Genocide that directly impacted his ancestors.

Want to read Serj's story for yourself? Grab your copy of Down with the System at the Loud Lit Bookshop Page. Shopping small instead of defaulting to Amazon is a total punk rock move, and it directly keeps this show running!

Listen to Matt's metal podcast, The Noise Report, or watch on YouTube

Start your own podcast with Captivate!