Vinnie Stigma: The Most Interesting Man in the World (A Book Review)
The Agnostic Front legend tells it like it is.
In a world of fake celebrities and personalities, authenticity seems to be a godsend. If there’s that saying “Never meet your heroes,” then all I can say is screw that, because after reading this particular book, it feels like Vinnie Stigma can be a friend to most definitely everyone.
Such a short yet engaging read; I am in no way exaggerating that I finished this one in a couple of days. It’s basically a compilation of stories from one of the most iconic figures of the NYHC scene.
An interesting bit from his stories is how he has managed to live in the same apartment through the years and how he has battled cancer like it was nothing. He also shares his love of playing, which has managed to keep him on his toes and younger than his biological age. He’s a true hardcore punk through and through, and despite the ups and downs that he and his AF cohort Roger Miret have gone through with their group, they continue to stay afloat, and mind you, very relevant, despite them coming of ripe age that’s ideally for retirement. But then, there’s Metallica.
Speaking of Metallica, Kirk Hammett was mentioned fondly by Stigma as a fan of the band. Clearly, Kirk has an ear for the obscure, and that story only adds to Agnostic Front’s ability to crossover into heavy metal thrash territory. There are also tidbits of their struggle in the band not being able to keep a consistent lineup. But then, what can you do? Being in a hardcore band is not a walk in the park, and people just move on eventually. But for Vinnie, I bet he sees himself doing this until he can’t, and that’s an admirable thing.
In the book, Vinnie also recounts how he makes it a point to be friendly to everyone on tour, the bus drivers, the roadies, and even the bums on the street. The man is truly built for the road, and it’s still amazing how a man of his age can tour when half of the aging band population is already burnt out. It seems like Vinnie Stigma is still ready for the road till his old bones can’t.
Howie Abrams masterfully captures Vinnie’s Stigma’s persona and humor. What you get is a true labor of love created from the point of view of a music fan who’s been following them since the early days. One complaint about this offering is that it’s too short. I bet they could come up with a Part 2 if they wanted. This book is a recommended read.
If you’re getting tired or losing interest in performing or writing music, this book can reignite that flame. If Vinnie can, we all probably can.