Frontman: Surviving the Rock Star Myth

Frontman is a title in which musical memoir and how-to book collide to form a fascinating new hybrid. The leader and founding member of seminal ’80s band the Bongos, Richard Barone has successfully navigated the rough seas of major record labels, endless tours (and parties), sexual politics, divas, disappointments, and drugs. With his deceptive choirboy appearance, voice, and demeanor, this New Yorker tells how he’s done it all while remaining defiantly “up and coming.” The story includes the details of the Bongos’ signing with RCA, their MTV successes, and the inside scoop on how quickly the feeling of professional triumph can vaporize. Along the way, Barone provides invaluable career advice from the perspective of one who has been there and back.