Mike Doughty, The Book of Drugs

Talking Leaves is pleased to welcome singer-songwriter Mike Doughty to our Main Street store on Friday, February 24, at 5 pm, to talk about and sign copies of his recently released memoir, The Book of Drugs (Da Capo Press), as part of his national tour to promote the book. The event is free and open to the public. As always, we urge attendees to purchase books from us as an act of encouragement and support for author, publisher and bookseller. Mr. Doughty may perform a song or two during his visit, but this is not a concert—it is about the book. He will be on a pretty tight time schedule, since he is performing a concert in Rochester later in the evening.

Rock and roll lore is full of stories about artists getting sucked into the drug-fueled, sex-crazed underworld of stardom—and musician Mike Doughty is no exception. His memoir, The Book of Drugs, chronicles his struggle to survive his own lifestyle and offers insight into the world of addiction.

Doughty provides snapshots of his family life and the development of his love of music, including his time at The New School in NYC, where he had class with renowned folk singer Ani DiFranco. He recalls playing to empty clubs, getting high with Jeff Buckley, and forming his own band. He first came to prominence as the leader of the band Soul Coughing and then did an abrupt sonic left turn, much to the surprise of his audience, transforming into a solo performer of stark, dusky, but strangely hopeful tunes. He battled addiction, gave up fame when his old band was at the height of its popularity, drove thousands of miles, alone, across America, with just an acoustic guitar.

Doughty’s solo career caught a big break when Dave Matthews, completely taken with his music, signed Doughty to his label, ATO Records. Since then, he has recruited band mates and continued touring and recording. And he has stayed sober for more than five years.

Mike Doughty is a musician and prolific blogger. Soft Skull Press published a book of his poems in 2002. Among other publications, he has written articles for the New York Press, Paper, and the Village Voice. His most recent album, Yes and Also Yes, was released in August of 2011. He lives in Brooklyn.

“Hardly your typical rock star memoir. Doughty is brutally honest about life as an addict…Bringing the writing skill that he has crafted to his underground poetry, magazine articles, and songs, Doughty conveys his message with both despair and humor…A compelling look at one man’s struggle to come to terms with the much-discussed connection between addiction and art.”—Publishers Weekly