None of This Rocks

A Memoir

By: Joe Trohman

Narrated by: Joe Trohman

The lead guitarist and cofounder of Fall Out Boy shares personal stories from his youth and his experiences of modern rock and roll stardom in this memoir filled with wit and wisdom.

Trohman cofounded Fall Out Boy with Pete Wentz in the early aughts, and he’s been the sticky element of the metaphorical glue-like substance holding the band together ever since, over the course of a couple decades that have included massive success, occasional backlashes, and one infamous four-year hiatus. Trohman was, and remains, the emotive communicator of the group: the one who made sure they practiced, who copied and distributed the flyers, and who took the wheel throughout many of the early tours. As soon as he was old enough to drive, that is—because he was all of 15 years old when they started out. That’s part of the story Trohman tells in this memoir, which provides an indispensable inside perspective on the history of Fall Out Boy for their legions of fans. But Trohman has a great deal more to convey, thanks to his storytelling chops, his unmistakable voice, and his unmitigated sense of humor in the face of the tragic and the absurd.

None of This Rocks chronicles a turbulent life that has informed Trohman’s music and his worldview. His mother suffered from mental illness and multiple brain tumors that eventually killed her. His father struggled with that tragedy, but was ultimately a supportive force in Trohman’s life who fostered his thirst for knowledge. Trohman faced antisemitism in small-town Ohio, and he witnessed all levels of misogyny, racism, and violence amid the straight edge hardcore punk scene in Chicago. Then came Fall Out Boy. From the guitarist’s very first glimpses of their popular ascension, to working with his heroes like Anthrax’s Scott Ian, to writing for television with comedian Brian Posehn, Trohman takes listeners backstage, into the studio, and onto his couch. He shares his struggles with depression and substance abuse in a brutally honest and personal tone that listeners will appreciate. Not much of this rocks, perhaps, but it all adds up to a fascinating music memoir unlike any you’ve ever hear.

©2022 Joe Trohman (P)2022 Hachette Books

As a FOB fan girl it was a 10/10

Joe!
This book was raw and performed so so so well! Mental health and families suck a lot sometimes but hearing your story was something I’m very thankful for. Take all the time you need to get good bro, see you on the other side!

Loved learning about Joe

As a diehard fan of Fall Out Boy from the very beginning, it was really insightful to learn about Joe. I loved getting to know more about him, and hope he knows how many people love him!

A delight!

I really enjoyed hearing all the anecdotes about growing up, personal relationships and the eventual formation and inner workings of Fall Out Boy. One need not even be a FOB fan to enjoy this memoir - it's great regardless.

Besides discussing being a professional musician it was very candid about the struggles of addiction, mental health and complicated family dynamics which can affect anyone. There's a delightful bit of brevity between such serious subject matter with jokes and accounts of childhood character building moments interjected throughout. Joe Trohman delivers a well done book in general, not just for many diehard Fall Out Boy fans of the world.

Probably would have enjoyed print version better

Almost turned it off because Joe's voice is like nails on a chalkboard, but the story kept me interested enough that I never did! I truly appreciate Joe for being so open about his mental health struggles. If you read this Joe, know that we appreciate you for putting yourself out there and chipping away at the stigma of mental illness.

You're worth it!

I'm not gonna lie. I only picked this book because I had some credits and was in a rush to have something downloaded before I went off grid and I've been really into the stories behind the scenes of the music of my teen years recently. This book was awesome though. Extremely relatable and humble. Honestly some of the feelings Joe describes made me feel like I was crazy and if someone kind of like me can do all that I'm gonna be alright. and to Joe, bro you earned it, you're worth it, and stop worrying that you're bothering everyone. I know you can't but you're the shit and I'm really greatful I got to hear your story!

Joe rocks

Very impressed by and thoroughly enjoyed Joe’s writing, storytelling, and humor. I was even more excited to listen when I saw that he narrated the audiobook himself! Joe’s book is honest and vulnerable, yet down-to-earth and relatable. A really well-written, entertaining, and interesting insight into Joe’s life. I hope there will be more to come from Joe!

Fascinating, witty, and raw

A refreshing memoir that seems more like a heart-to-heart with a good friend than a celebrity tell-all. Through candid anecdotes and self-depreciating humor his unfiltered storytelling is relatable and compelling. From the exhilarating highs of performing on stage to the crushing lows of self-doubt and creative struggles, Joe really peels back the layers of the man behind the guitar. This book definitely tops my list of favorite memoirs and is an absolute must read for FOB fans!

All of this rules!

An illuminating journey through Joe Trohman’s life and his personal struggles. A quick “read” that any fan of any of his music can and should read.

Interesting man

Of course I got a copy of the memoir of Fall Out Boy’s guitarist. Having bought their Fueled by Ramen debut purely out of the interest in their band name, I felt like I grew up with the band. This led to buying their Jack-Ass style DVD, seeing music videos of Trohman throwing himself around, and concerts to see him destroy himself live for the performance.
It’s curious to hear it from the perspective of the very person that made me want to attend their live shows. The reason behind the antics, what was going on behind closed doors, and then lots of backstory that led to his decision to pursue music.
It was a bit of a struggle listening at times. Trohman’s writing feels like reading a high schooler’s English paper with all the jokes they want to make actually making it onto the page. It’s an endearing aspect of the storytelling, and Trohman is a talented storyteller, but it made me cringe at times.
If you don’t mind that, then otherwise the book is a captivating read.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Thank you for being willing to share so much of yourself in this. I can only imagine what it must’ve been like to write about these vulnerable parts of you, not sure how it would be received. Know that you should be beyond proud of all the hard work you put into it. It’s well paced and structured. And having you narrate it makes your words even more poignant.

So much of the mental health struggle and growing pains that you experienced since childhood deeply resonated with me. I’m 33 and still feel hopeless most days. My mental illnesses are paralyzing. I constantly deal with the fear that I am never enough; that I don’t belong. Your book reminded me of how important it is to have the right support and to not give up.

I started listening to FOB this year after going to night 2 in LA with my cousin and partner; they’ve both been fans since TTTYG. We loved the concert so much, we drove to Mountain View for the next show and bought tickets to four shows next year.

Thank you for being you, for still being here, and for beating the shit out of that white supremacist. You make a difference and damn good art. I listened to The Damn Things and love all the songs! Keep going, Joe!