Bandalism: The Rock Group Survival Guide

Bandalism [ban-dal-i-zam] n .: the willful or malicious destruction of, or damage to, the fabric of a rock/pop/indie group brought about by one or more of its members

Axl Rose’s monumental meltdowns … Kurt Cobain’s tragic band-slaying suicide: The long history of platinum-selling uberband implosions is more dramatic than a Russian novel. But even local cover bands can suffer the ill effects of the limelight.

Multi-rock-band veteran Julian Ridgway’s Bandalism is a can’t-miss guide to rock ‘n’ roll survival, offering sage advice on how to avoid the pitfalls that can doom your group. Here’s how to:

Find nonpsycho band members Craft the perfect band image Choose a name that doesn’t suck

And much more, including the handy Healthy Band Checklist, an ideal MySpace profile generator, and the Second Album Venn Diagram.