If anyone ever epitomized what it means to be in a band or the concept of one, it’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist, Gene Cornish. The man bleeds Rascal red. In My Life as a Rascal Cornish, (ably assisted by Stephen Miller), chronicles his life as a rockabilly kid from Rochester, NY, to a member of one of rock’s most loved and at the same time, misunderstood bands, The Rascals.

Despite the fact they were one of the most successful groups of the ’60s, (three number one records, and over 20 million sold), the question remains why couldn’t they capitalize on those successes and just personally “get along?” The answers, of course, are complex, and Cornish undertakes this mission with a fervor and no-bones revelations of personality shortcomings among the other R’s: Felix Cavaliere (vocalist, organist), Eddie Brigati (vocalist), and Dino Danelli (drummer). He’s quite candid about revealing his own failings and is not afraid to pinpoint them throughout the book. After the band’s breakup in the early ’70s we see Cornish go through a myriad of travails, trying to recreate what he had within The Rascals, only to be stopped in his tracks by drug addiction and money issues, while living like a vagabond on the streets of NYC. In the meantime, the band’s history was cluttered with lawsuits against one another, crooked promoters, and less-than successful tours, because they could not mend their fences. Cornish also underwent a quadruple (heart) bypass surgery, faced down the big “C” and, remarkably, soldiered on.

Redemption came in 1997 via Bruce Springsteen’s guitarist, Steven Van Zant and the Rascals’ induction into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, followed by SVZ’s unique docu-tribute multi-media event, Once Upon A Dream and subsequent tour (2012-2013), including a sold-out run on Broadway. The Rascals were finally back…or were they? Much to the disappointment of their still significant fan base, who thought the original four’s wounds had healed for good…but apparently not. As each page turns, you feel Cornish’s frustration and also gratitude at being given one more (if not last) shot at the ring. Unfortunately, the end result was less than desirable, and America’s “fab-four” were unable to keep the flame burning due to personal differences. But like a true survivor, Cornish has rebounded again with new musical affiliations and fiancée (Debbee Davis), whom he credits for keeping him drug-free, self-sustaining and embracing a happier life.

My Life as a Rascal should be mandatory reading for anyone who wants to learn the underside of rock ‘n’ roll, but at the same time greatness of what can be achieved when four divergent individuals unite to realize a dream. Simply put, Gene Cornish nails it.

—Bob Girouard