“an elegy to a lost time and place…touching” - Los Angeles Times

“The most accomplished rock memoir in quite some time” 

- Record Collector (5/5 stars)

“compelling...a swift 252 pages full of youthful folly, alternative culture, unchecked rebellious instincts and an undercurrent of oddly formed faith that things will work out the way that they’re supposed to." - KQED

“A very honest and extremely well-articulated story of coming of age, parallel and within the evolution of the alternative music world.” - Kim Gordon

“A brilliant and gorgeous book” - Courtney Love

“Written with the right amount of flourish and punk abandon—what a treat.” 

- Chloë Sevigny

November 4, 2025 - Today, Akashic Books and Faith No More co-founder, musical trailblazer, and queer icon Roddy Bottum celebrate the release of Bottum’s memoir The Royal We, a heartfelt reflection on Bottum’s journey through the underbelly of a San Francisco that once was and is no more. A gorgeously written tribute to a city and community that no longer exists, Bottum fearlessly documents his childhood growing up queer in LA (without any queer role models) to San Francisco, where he formed Faith No More and went on to tour the world relentlessly, surviving heroin addiction and the plight of AIDS, to become a queer icon. 

The Royal We can be purchased via Akashic Books HERE. 

Much more than a musician’s tell-all, The Royal We is a truly unique depiction of an artist’s journey. There are personal tales of Bottum’s friendships with Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain and inspiring memories of Faith No More’s rapid rise to fame, but it’s the testimonies of tragedy, addiction, and a deeply loving recollection of a remarkable San Francisco community that make this work so unique and intriguing. Writing with an idiosyncratic voice full of candor and a genuine love for the city and scene around him, Bottum has crafted an irresistible memoir that flows in an unstoppable train that’s both captivating and moving.  

To celebrate the book’s release, Bottum will be discussing the book at several special events, including at The Strand in New York (w/ legendary drag performer Paul Soileau aka Christeene) on Nov 13, Skylight Books in Los Angeles (w/ comedian Margaret Cho) on Nov 18, A Satellite Of Love in San Luis Obispo on Nov 19, City Lights in San Francisco (w/ writer and musician Brontez Purnell) on Nov 20, and the Miami Book Fair on Nov 23. Full schedule below. 

Announced today, The Royal We has been honored as one of Rough Trade’s ‘Books Of The Year’ - an honor celebrating the finest music books of 2025. Additional info can be found HERE. The Royal We will be published in the UK on Nov 7 by Jawbone Press. 

Roddy Bottum 2025 Book Events: 

Thursday, November 13 | 7:00 pm

NEW YORK, NY (w/ PAUL SOILEAU AKA CHRISTEENE)

Strand Book Store (828 Broadway)

Tuesday, November 18 | 7:00 pm

LOS ANGELES, CA (w/ MARGARET CHO)

Skylight Books (1818 N Vermont Ave.)

Wednesday, November 19 | 7:00 pm

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA

A Satellite Of Love (1335 Walker St)

Thursday, November 20 | 7:00 pm

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (w/ BRONTEZ PURNELL)

City Lights (261 Columbus Ave)

Sunday, November 23 | 3:30 pm

MIAMI, FL

Miami Book Fair, Miami Dade College (300 NE 2nd Ave)