Desolation

"For a band as extreme as Lamb of God, achieving mainstream success and touring the world to massive audiences was an almost surreal accomplishment. But for guitarist and lyricist Mark Morton, the triumph was dulled by the pain of addiction and loss. In Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir, Morton traces the highs and lows of his career and private life, revealing how the pressures of success and personal battles eventually came into conflict with his dedication to the creative process. Morton writes about the greatest tragedy of his life: the death of his newborn daughter, which plunged Morton further into hopelessness. Surrounded by bandmates living their wildest dreams, Morton wanted nothing more than to disappear, ingesting potentially lethal cocktails of drugs and alcohol on a daily basis. And yet, intertwined with self-destruction and harrowing hearbreak were moments of joy, self-acceptance, and incredible connection. Morton developed close relationships with his bandmates and crew members, sharing experiences that make for some strange and hilarious tales. He also gained a greater sense of purpose through interactions with his fans, who remind him that his work reaches people on a deeply personal level."--from dust jacket.