I have read many a rock autobiography over the years, but never one as honest, articulate and soul-searching as Only Half There. Maybe I’m biased, being such an overwhelmingly massive fan of the great Dev (I count him as my equal favourite music artist on the planet), but I absolutely adored the way he let it all hang out in this book.
It’s hard to explain, but the overall impression I got from this book was that it is a massive collection of random thoughts about his life, career, relationship with music, his attitude towards human interaction and the way in which he views life, the universe and everything, but random thoughts put forward by an obviously highly intelligent, process-focused individual. It sounds like a contradiction, and it absolutely is. Kinda like the man himself.
Over the last five to ten years, Devin Townsend has attained a reputation as being one of the true nice guys of the heavy rock world. Unassuming, to the point of being self-deprecating (and there is plenty more of that in the book), and utterly uninvolved in the gossip, slagging-matches and general muck-raking and bullshit digging that goes on in the world of heavy music. And all of this is absolutely true, and he fully deserves this reputation.
At the same time, like just about everyone on this planet, the man is no saint either, and I’m sure that if he is out there somewhere in cyber-world, stumbling across this review and reading it, he would agree wholeheartedly. There have been times across the length and breadth of his career when he has not treated people as well as he possibly could have.
This is of course part of being a good person. No one is perfect, no one on the planet has a completely unblemished record of living up to the adage, ‘treat others as you would like to be treated yourself’, but it takes a good person to admit and take responsibility for when they have done someone wrong, and then apologise for it. And Townsend does plenty of all of the above.
His dalliances with various mind-altering substances are dealt with and purged to quite a strong extent as well. Again, it takes a strong person to admit they have a problem and then take great steps to pull themselves out of it, and at this point he is virtually completely clean and has been for quite some time.
Another over-reaching impression I got was of how much of a struggle his career has been, at virtually every stage of it, and even now. In an emotional, mental, financial and even existential sense. I was more than aware of the trials and tribulations he went through to create his second true solo work, 1998’s Infinity and most of the Strapping Young Lad stuff, but even his original opus Ocean Machine was an absolute grind to complete and almost didn’t see the light of day.
In fact, from the Steve Vai record Sex and Religion in 1993 through to this very day, it seems that few to none of his recorded projects go even relatively smoothly. He very much has a love/hate relationship with touring as well. The fact that he has created such astounding music under such pressure and in the face of such difficulty is a minor miracle. Or maybe it’s because of that? A little of both is probably the case.
Aside from all that, his early career, his relationship with heavy metal music, his rather tumultuous but ultimately strong relationship with his wife, his attitude towards parenthood, his introversion and the difficulties he has in dealing with others at times and many many other facets of the man, his music and his take of what life all means are dealt with in an in-depth fashion.
I didn’t think I could admire the man any more than I already did, but I finished Only Half There with an even greater appreciation of Devin Townsend and his works. If you love the man as I do, consider yourself a fan in any capacity or even just enjoy raw, honest and well written autobiographies of any kind, avail yourself of this book without delay.
Virtually a quarter of a century into his career proper, one can only hope that he is indeed only half way there.
Reviewer: Rod Whitfield