Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe is Writing Another Book
In 2015, Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe released Dark Days, a memoir about the incident in the Czech Republic that landed him in prison for 37 days.
Now, six years later, Blythe has announced that he has started work on another book. While he’s been coy about its subject matter so far, he has revealed that it’s another non-fiction effort. Will the topic be Lamb of God-related? Somehow connected to his activism work? Something else entirely?
We’ll surely find out in due time, but for now here’s what Randy offered about it via Instagram yesterday, as well as some thought on the writing process in general:
“It’s been six years since my 1st book, Dark Days, came out. I’ve been kinda busy but I can’t screw around any longer- it’s finally time to write a new one. The proposal is done, the publishers accepted it, & the contract is hammered out & in the mail.
“Shit- that means I actually have to write this thing! All I’ll say is: A) it’s another non-fiction book, & B) I just spent over two weeks utterly consumed by writing the freaking introduction. 2,296 words in 15 days- that not a lot, but I want it to be RIGHT. Plus, I’m just stretching the old muscles, getting back in shape for the brutal long haul that lies ahead. The sustained creative heavy lifting required to write a book makes writing the lyrics for an album look like preschool finger painting. Plus, if what you’re doing is turning out shitty, you can’t just blame the rest of your band. (sorry dudes ????????????)
“Most books on writing are bullshit, collections of pointless ‘exercises’ from people who haven’t sold any other books of their own (I should know, I’ve bought most of them.) No book on earth is gonna turn you into a good writer. There is no magic pill. Just like playing music, shooting photos, or pursuing any other creative endeavor- the ONLY way to find out if you’re any good is to DO IT. You gotta write, & the hardest part of writing is sitting your ass down to do it, & then repeating that process day after day after day. There IS a book that can help you start to do that though- ‘The War of Art’ by @steven_pressfield. This book (& his other books) got me through writing my last book, & it will get me through this one, goddammit. As my friend the writer Brian Pulido said when he gave me a copy ‘It’s like a fireman’s hatchet when you’re stuck in a house burning down around you.’ I can’t even remember how many times I’ve already read this book. I’m reading it again now.
“If you want to try to be a writer (or pursue any sort of art) but you’re too intimidated to start, BUY THIS BOOK. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Read it. Do what it says. Then sit your ass down in the chair and write- you’ll find out eventually if you’re any good.
“Cheers to all the writers out there- I’m rooting for y’all!”
Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Randy! I truly appreciate it.
Aspiring writers: get your hands on that book Randy recommends right here. Everyone else: patience, and we’ll have this book in our hands in roughly a year or two.
Lamb of God will hit the road with Megadeth, Trivium and In Flames later this summer. Dates:
8/20 Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater [tickets]
8/21 Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory [tickets]
8/22 Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion [tickets]
8/24 El Paso, TX @ Don Haskins Center [tickets]
8/25 Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater [tickets]
8/27 Denver, CO @ Ball Arena [tickets]
8/29 Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theatre [tickets]
8/31 Reno, NV @ Reno Events Center [tickets]
9/1 Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheatre [tickets]
9/2 Concord, CA @ Concord Pavilion [tickets]
9/4 Portland, OR @ Moda Center [tickets]
9/5 Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre [tickets]
9/9 Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago [tickets]
9/11 Danville, VA @ Blue Ridge Festival [tickets]
9/12 Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater [tickets]
9/13 Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion [tickets]
9/15 Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion [tickets]
9/16 Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center [tickets]
9/18 Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center [tickets]
9/19 Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre [tickets]
9/20 Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion [tickets]
9/22 Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP [tickets]
9/24 Mount Pleasant, MI @ Soaring Eagle Casino Amphitheatre [tickets]
9/26 St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis [tickets]
9/28 Minneapolis, MN @ Armory [tickets]
9/30 Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage [tickets]
10/1 Laval, QC @ Place Bell [tickets]
10/2 Quebec City, QC @ Centre Videotron [tickets]
