By Andrea Robinson
Evan Dando’s cover songs have always been one of my favorite things about his music (his version of ABBA’s “Knowing Me, Knowing You” is breathtakingly beautiful, and his take on Townes Van Zandt’s “Waiting Around to Die” is even better than the original). His interpretations show a depth, genuineness, and understanding that I’ve always found unexpected and interesting.
Those same qualities come across in Evan’s memoir, Rumors Of My Demise. Smart, funny, and at times unflinchingly honest, the book is an impressively detailed recounting of his life and wild adventures; crazy shows, and crazier times with his many celebrity friends (spoiler alerts: Keith Richards with a sword! Johnny Depp climbs scaffolding while high on LSD!).
An easy, enjoyable if at times not entirely linear (now I’m in Jimmy’s basement, then I’m talking about the first time I did drugs!) read, Evan doesn’t shy away from how his addiction(s) were present and an integral part of his experience throughout his career and life. If you’re a music fan of any persuasion, I recommend you give this book a read. Dando’s ability to tell stories about the many bands he has had experiences with will leave you surprised and impressed, believing him, as I did, that despite everything else going on that it was all about his love for music. You’ll also come away with some new information and ideas about musicians and people you know, and some you didn’t.
As the title suggests, Evan has always been one of those people you expect to get a call from a friend about. After reading this book, I’m reassured Evan will be with us awhile longer, and for that and this view into his life and adventures, I’m grateful. As Ben Lee sang about Evan, “I wish I was him”; and despite all of his struggles or maybe partially because of them, he sure has had an interesting ride. Read this book and you’ll feel like you’re riding shotgun with him in it.
Andrea Robinson (https://www.newhavenindependent.org/2017/03/10/nasty_women_multiply/) has had a lifelong love affair with music and poetry of all types, especially enjoying how songs merge the two. Andrea has a B.F.A. from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and works predominantly in a text-based format; her work has appeared in the Nasty Women New Haven exhibition.