Rock Stardom for Dumbshits

Leave it to The Phantom Surfers to release an instrumental surf record without any music, singing, talking or audio of any kind. I believe in some higher circles of society these types of records are called books, but what do I know. Rock Stardom for Dumbshits presents itself as a step-by-step guide to making it in the music industry. Bands are offered advice on how to sell-out and compromise everything they believe in for the near-impossible chance of making a living as a rock musician. Of course, it’s all a big goof! This is The Phantom Surfers after all. In actuality, the book is a funny and cynical look at just about every tier of the music industry: from the long-haired sound guy at the club to the money-grabbing record company suits. It’s a fun, albeit short read that ends on a semi-serious note by detailing how Lookout Records screwed The Phantom Surfers (and just about every band on the label) out of a bunch of digital distribution money.