Backstage Pass: Decades of Sex, Drugs, Tragedy and the Darker Side of Rock & Roll

JD DeCosta worked for more than a decade in Hollywood's music scene, first as a signed major-label musician, then as a production manager and general manager at legendary venues including The Roxy Theatre, Whisky a Go Go, and The Viper Room. This account covers his experiences on both sides of the stage, documenting what actually happened backstage without sanitization. The book includes encounters with numerous artists and figures including Amy Winehouse, Adele, Marilyn Manson, Courtney Love, Paris Hilton, Ozzy Osbourne, Prince, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Scott Weiland, Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, Mike Tyson, and Snoop Dogg. It describes live-venue riots, illegal raves, secret after-hours parties, mental collapse, broken bands, and the long road back. The narrative covers survival in a chaotic environment, the tragic paths of people DeCosta knew, and the real cost of chasing fame and living fast. DeCosta did not simply work backstage—he lived there and eventually ran it. The book presents a raw, darkly funny, and brutally honest account of Hollywood's music scene during its wildest years.