After years of working day jobs and making music in his basement, Jacob Slichter wondered if his dreams of rock stardom were a vain illusion. Then he was recruited by two of his successful musician friends to form a band that became Semisonic. Who could forget the smash single “Closing Time,” a runaway hit in 1998 that thrust Jake and his bandmates into the international spotlight and helped them sell over two million albums worldwide? But along the road to fame and success came bewilderment and personal chaos: How will we ever get a record deal? Which record company is the best? The worst? Do I really have to wear these ridiculous boots? Why isn’t radio playing our song? What if I have a panic attack right here on stage? What should I write on this fan’s CD? Am I famous? Why isn’t the video director getting more shots of me? Did I say the wrong thing during that interview? Help! So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star is a telling and witty look at what happens just before and during one's time in the spotlight. Jake takes readers on a step-by-step journey of his evolution from fledgling drummer to globetrotting performer and proves to be the perfect guide—feisty and humbled—to the inner workings of the music industry and instant celebrity. So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star speaks to all of us who dream again and again of rock superstardom and shows how one kid can go from picking up a pair of drumsticks to picking up a platinum record.

So you want to be a Rock Star? Join Luke and Ralphie as they imagine their way through the magic of music. From country, rap and punk to disco, jazz and rock you'll discover that all Rock Star's dreams being with just a little imagination.

A guide for breaking into the music industry, discussing how to select an instrument, plan a budget, put together a band, rehearse music, get performing gigs, and make it big. 40 illustrations.

So you want to be a rock star, huh? Well, first you'll need an awesome vintage electric guitar. Don't have one of those? That's okay. All you need to do is to close your eyes and strum with your right hand. Oh, and make a face like your stomach really hurts. Can't sing? No problem! Your voice doesn't need to be perfect. Just really loud. Perfect for young fans of Rock Band and the Disney pop stars, So You Want to Be a Rock Star will teach budding musicians all they need to know about becoming a bona fide rock star, and the interactive text will keep their parents rocking--and laughing--too!

"So you want the fans, international record deals, big gigs, fame and fortune for doing something you love - playing music? Here's the inside info from industry professionals on how to break into the music industry ... This is a practical and totally realistic guide to starting out, getting contacts and recognising that knowledge of the industry is power. Discover how you can set up the foundations for a successful career and still keep creative, passionate and true to your music"--Back cover.