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Roxana Shirazi
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The Last Living Slut: Born in Iran, Bred Backstage Hardcover – June 1, 2010

by Roxana Shirazi (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 320 ratings
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The outrageous, yet surprisingly moving, memoir of a girl who fled the Iranian Revolution—and found her salvation in the deliriously sexy life of a rock-'n'-roll groupie.

Honest, provocative, and vividly written, The Last Living Slut is the memoir of Roxana Shirazi, who was raised traditionally in Tehran. After her family spirits her to the West in flight from the Iranian Revolution, Shirazi is led far astray by the sound—and the sex appeal—of rock and roll. Caught between her sexual appetites, passion for music (and musicians), and fear of being a bad seed, Shirazi bares her soul to offer a raw account of her life as an eager-to-please rock groupie. With appearances by members of Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Velvet Revolver, and many more, The Last Living Slut is a moving memoir of growing up in the political turbulence of Tehran; an unflinching portrayal of teenage cultural dislocation in London; a backstage romp that makes Pamela Des Barres's I'm with the Band read like a nun's diary; and a white-knuckled tale of jilted love and brutal revenge.

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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Igniter
  4. Publication date
    June 1, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    0.88 x 5.92 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0061931357
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0061931352
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Aghast readers may lose track of Shirazi's rock star conquests, but her shocking sexual exploits are chronicled in such can't-look-away prose that it's impossible to close this X-rated book until the last bad boy has been put to bed. While the author's explicit descriptions of backstage orgies, threesomes, and random hookups might make even the most world-wise readers blush, memoirs like this are rarely written with such edgy prose. Shirazi, who fled the Iranian revolution, barely hints at trauma caused by early sexual and physical abuse. But when it comes to accounts of rock stars' sexual proclivities, she doesn't hold back. Even as she pursues a Master's degree in English, Shirazi trysts with members, or hangers-on, of Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, and assorted has-beens of the '80s hair-band scene still clinging to their former glory. But when the author allows herself to fall in love, her memoir takes a turn that proves disastrous in myriad ways, rubbing much of the sexy veneer off of her shenanigans. Though ultimately, no matter how readers judge her salacious life, no one can deny that she has a raw talent with words. Photos.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

After Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in Iran, Shirazi’s family immigrated to London. Bullied by her classmates and beaten by her stepfather, she fell hard for rock ’n’ roll and embarked on a splintered existence that saw her studying at university while attending rock concerts with the express purpose of bedding musicians, among them members of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver. Shirazi makes no bones about her passion for operating in “full sleaze mode” and of the pleasure she took in outfitting herself in stilettos and corsets. What tripped her up was her attempt to extract love and reassurance from her sexcapades. An abortion and a bad breakup left her in desperate straits; out to wield some power, she slept with two feuding members of the same band, causing a bartender to accuse her, in all seriousness, of being the “Yoko Ono for Hookers N’ Blow.” Shirazi gave up the life when she realized that even supposedly liberated rockers employ a sexual double standard. Far raunchier and better written than Pamela Des Barres’ classic I’m with the Band (1987). --Joanne Wilkinson

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Igniter; 1st edition (June 1, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061931357
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061931352
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.37 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.88 x 5.92 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 320 ratings

About the author

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Roxana Shirazi

Roxana Shirazi

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Roxana Shirazi ran in the dusty dusky Persian alleys of pre-revolutionary Tehran, watchful of the Shah's secret police and the soldiers, and engaged in sexual games with her boy and girl neighbours. She read the Qur'an at school like a good child, still doing naughty things with boys and girls during the war. She was sent to England at the age of 10, got called paki and the 'N' word a lot, lost herself in books and more books, started writing poetry and journalistic articles and started leading a double life as academic and a life in rock n roll debauchery with rock bands. Too wild for rock stars, she found this supposed utopian rock n roll world too limiting for her wild spirit. After an abortion, a suicide attempt and many falling in loves she now tries to stop her heart from falling in love and prefers to volunteer for animal right groups and hopefully try and stop the torture of cats and dogs in China for their fur.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
320 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining and honest. They appreciate the rawness and authenticity of the storytelling. However, some readers found the narrative boring and unimaginative. There are mixed opinions on the visual content - some found it graphic and hauntingly beautiful, while others felt it was shocking and grotesque at times. The writing quality is also praised as well-written and deep.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ReadabilityAuthenticityStorytellingRawnessVisual contentWriting qualitySadnessNarrative quality
45 customers mention "Readability"39 positive6 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the descriptive stories of the author's life in Tehran and her sexuality. The poignant parts are described as Roxana's growing up in Iran. Overall, readers consider it an interesting read and an eye-opener about the industry.

"...But, it is a big eye-opener of the industry!" Read more

"Very risqué book, good read" Read more

"...I think she probably is an interesting person and has much more dimension than the almost one-sided sex maniac persona presented in the book...." Read more

"...In my opinion, the best written and most poignant parts were Roxana's growing up in Iran up until the beginnings of her life in England...." Read more

9 customers mention "Authenticity"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's honesty and authenticity. They find the writing vivid, real, and gritty. The author gives personal accounts into the personal sides of famous people.

"The writer gives an account that is the real thing. It may be difficult to read because of the various areas she goes into...." Read more

"...She gives vivid accounts into the personal sides of very famous people--she has seen what millions of fans never get to see...." Read more

"...Very graphic book but honest. She is a wild free spirit who is also very intelligent and well spoken...." Read more

"Beautifully written in uniquely honest and evocative prose. The title is daunting although it shouldn't be...." Read more

6 customers mention "Storytelling"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling. They find the book compelling without Hollywood hype. Readers appreciate the true account of Hollywood in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. The childhood story is interesting and provides insight into the character.

"...just a story of a groupie and her exploits, it a story of woman taking ownership of herself...." Read more

"I enjoyed the book. Unlike similar books, There was a lot of insight into this ladies character...." Read more

"Kept me interested all the way to the end. Compelling story." Read more

"An amazing true account of Hollywood and the debauchry that was the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s!!! Well worth the money!!" Read more

5 customers mention "Rawness"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's authenticity. They find it interesting and authentic.

"...Very real and raw" Read more

"...The tales of her life in Iran as a child are raw and touching and help you understand how she came to be who she was. I thoroughly enjoyed this read...." Read more

"...Not my usual genre of choice either. It's interesting, raw, and real." Read more

"This book is AMAZING...totally raw, totally real and sad. I wasn't sure when I read the sampler but after reading the boom, I loved it" Read more

22 customers mention "Visual content"12 positive10 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the visual content. Some find it graphic and vivid, with a colorful writing style that conveys an animalistic tone. Others find it shocking, sad, and grotesque at times.

"...plus the last picture with her wearing a full length chador: great for dramatic effect, but, although women have to be covered in Iran, such gloomy..." Read more

"...we are forced to sit through hundreds of pages of ridiculous, disgusting and completely uninteresting sexcapades between this sad, desperate woman..." Read more

"...Her colorful writing style conveys a powerful animalism that underscores much of her story...." Read more

"...the scenes vividly. We do not have to pass any moral judgement on her behaviour; she owns it herself...." Read more

20 customers mention "Writing quality"11 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality. Some find it well-written and enjoyable, with a nice style. Others find it difficult to read, repetitive, and dull after a while.

"...I also appreciate her writing much more and don't feel the way I did about it after a second read." Read more

"The writer gives an account that is the real thing. It may be difficult to read because of the various areas she goes into...." Read more

"...In my opinion, the best written and most poignant parts were Roxana's growing up in Iran up until the beginnings of her life in England...." Read more

"...She is a wild free spirit who is also very intelligent and well spoken. Another surprise was how well written the book was...." Read more

17 customers mention "Sadness"8 positive9 negative

Customers have different views on the story's sadness. Some find it funny, sexy, and sad, with an emotional story about her life starting as a young girl in Iran. Others describe it as a cathartic release from emotions they couldn't express. The descriptions are vivid and lurid.

"...of her time spent with various musicians and bands are quite vivid and lurid...." Read more

"...Lots of desperate and nasty (not in the fun way) sexual situations...in dumpy places. Felt like I needed to take a long shower after this read...." Read more

"...This book was my cathartic release from emotions that I couldn't express...." Read more

"...Sad, very, very sad lifestyle and book. I've been on her facebook and nothing changes, just the names of her victims...." Read more

5 customers mention "Narrative quality"0 positive5 negative

Customers find the narrative boring and banal. They feel like rereading the same thing over and over. The book is described as unimaginative, pathetic, and limited in its scope and possibilities.

"...of the latter, to whom most of the book is devoted, I see unimaginative, pathetic, lost and egotistical individuals; and yet she willingly submits..." Read more

"...Her escapades become banal, uninteresting and disgusting...." Read more

"I found it boring, uninteresting, bought because Neil Strauss promoted it, but couldn't read until the end. Not even spicy enough." Read more

"Extremely boring. Felt like I was rereading same thing over & over. FAST SHIP!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • LBG
    5.0 out of 5 stars The one book that tells it like it really is!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The writer gives an account that is the real thing. It may be difficult to read because of the various areas she goes into. But, it is a big eye-opener of the industry!
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  • Penny
    5.0 out of 5 stars Books
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2024
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    Very risqué book, good read
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  • JKReads
    4.0 out of 5 stars Way too much TMI, but there is a good story there underneath
    Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I would have appreciated this book much more if it hadn't been written so poorly. I was actually surprised that the author is an academic as the writing was low level. That being said, I personally liked Roxana and felt very saddened at the abuses she suffered growing up. I think she probably is an interesting person and has much more dimension than the almost one-sided sex maniac persona presented in the book. While I won't judge someone for their sexual choices, the fact that this beautiful intelligent woman sought out musicians who used her like a toilet and tossed her aside was depressing. Her book is not a fun romp like Pamela Des Barres and exposes the darker side of the groupie phenomenon. The descriptions of the group sex and 'water works' (gag) were nauseating and I began to skip those parts. I am not a prude but turning a wonderful fulfilling thing like sex into a dirty low down spectator sport was not to my reading cup of tea. I wish Roxana well and hope she is successful in life, as like I said before, I liked her as a person.
    ETA: I read it once again and skipped some of the *ahem* nastier graphic parts, my review has changed to add a couple of stars. I think I was still shellshocked when I wrote my first review, and now reading it later I can appreciate what Roxana was trying to express. I also appreciate her writing much more and don't feel the way I did about it after a second read.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Marc Pilon
    3.0 out of 5 stars Depiction of a dreary and sad lifestyle
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book serendipitously because of a newfound interest in Iran and Iranian culture.

    This story struck me as very sad indeed.

    In my opinion, the best written and most poignant parts were Roxana's growing up in Iran up until the beginnings of her life in England. She deftly contrasts the rich culture and warm human environment--unfortunately marred by a repressive political environment--of Iran with the cold and stolid--but bureaucratically effective--culture of the England she discovered. I can appreciate how difficult it was for her to bridge the distance from one universe to the other.

    However, I soon tired of Roxana's lengthy recounting (most of the book) of her time as a groupie to numerous rock musicians. That whole dimension of the "rock lifestyle" seemed to me far too dreary and tedious to even be called decadent. I found nothing exciting, nor did I find anything shocking about the rock musicians portrayed in this book. Just a lot of dullness. Coincidentally, I found this part of the book less well written as well.

    Roxana is a survivor to be sure. After being violated as a little girl by hypocritically religiously-correct men, she is subsequently treated like a little dog by numerous deceptive rock musicians. As I read Roxana's depiction of the latter, to whom most of the book is devoted, I see unimaginative, pathetic, lost and egotistical individuals; and yet she willingly submits to them. In the end though, she settles the score through this book. Unfortunately, this very fact, in my view, limits the scope and possibilities of the narrative. That plus the last picture with her wearing a full length chador: great for dramatic effect, but, although women have to be covered in Iran, such gloomy attire is not de rigueur for women there.

    I don't regret reading the book; however, I wouldn't recommend it to friends.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • S. Thomas
    5.0 out of 5 stars A unique story of a woman searching for herself and her place in the world
    Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    This book is more than just a story of a groupie and her exploits, it a story of woman taking ownership of herself. Roxana Shirazi is easily one of the more unique persons you would encouter on the page this year. In her memoir the reader is introduced to one of the most provacative coming of age stories I have ever read. Her colorful writing style conveys a powerful animalism that underscores much of her story.

    In the beginning we find a young girl born to Persian family toward the end of the Shah's reign. We find out what it is like to grow up in a family that were politically active, in a region not known for its permissivness. This would form a recurriing theme, a person breaking outside the contraints of modern society to make their own way, on thier own terms. We see life in Iran both before and after the Shah, told not in a warm and personal way, though warm family bonds.

    We then follow Roxanna to her emigration to England, to start a new life as an adolecent, an exotic young lady thrust into lilly white English society. We feel her pain as she recounts the mocking of her fellow students and how she used her studies to insulate her.

    The stories of her time spent with various musicians and bands are quite vivid and lurid. Passages that would make the average Harlequin romance tame by comparison. And many might buy the book for just that reason. There is more to her story than that. Roxanna's story has much more depth and charachter than any other book. She captures not only the exploits of the rock world that exchos the memoirs of Cynthia Plastercaster but the tenderness recounted by Cameron Crowe in his movie Almost Famous.

    If you are looking for a book that will both provide a vicarious escape as well as a touching story of great depth, you should pick up a copy. You will be glad you did.
    8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Kleiner Hüpfer
    1.0 out of 5 stars A waste of paper
    Reviewed in Germany on November 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Knowing the backstage scene like I do, didn't take me too many pages to see that the author loves to create myths about herself, met many women like that in the last 20 years on the road.
    Couldn't read until the end.
    Met many guys she mentioned on the book and they have completely different version of the stories. Who is saying the truth? I can't tell.
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  • Hector Rodriguez
    3.0 out of 5 stars Esperaba mucho más
    Reviewed in Spain on December 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    El libro es entretenido y cuenta la historia de una chica que escapa de un entorno donde nunca imaginarías que pueda tener relación con el Rock'n'Roll, para convertirse en una groupie. La historia se vuelve bastante predecible y se apoya más en la fama de algunos de los personajes que en relatar algo sorprendente. De acuerdo que es una biografía, pero no cuenta nada que no hayas leido antes varias veces si ya has leído biografías de estrellas del Rock.
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  • Sarah M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Its a booked that rocked me high and low
    Reviewed in Canada on January 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This book is very interesting. I went through all kinds of emotions reading it. Id get mad at her for being so dumb, then I’d be proud of her, I cried when I read about her abortion. Alll in all a very engaging book for someone who is on bed rest.

    This book is not for the faint hearted. Any extreme event that could possibly happen to a woman has happened to her.

    Lastly I find this woman extrememly courageous and strong yet fragile at the same time. Wish I could meet her, even though I have no interest in her lifestyle.
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  • streetfighter
    1.0 out of 5 stars It's just not very good...
    Reviewed in Australia on April 16, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Don't bother with this one. It's poorly & chaotically written. Jumps around & the content is a bit dull. I mean, banging D grade musos & trying to mimic the backstage days of 80s Motley Crue in the mid-2000s is fairly pathetic. I'd give zero stars if I could. I only finished it because I hoped it would get better. It didn't.
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  • Sarah Tipper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rock ‘n’ roll and also rock ‘n’ rude throughout!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 16, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is a truly fascinating tale with none of the gory or explicit details left out, written by a smart woman who is doing what she wants and reconciling two sides of her personality. The word “slut” has power and needs to be taken back and Shirazi has made a good start. If you find yourself being shocked by Shirazi’s behaviour while reading, ask yourself would you still be shocked if she was a male musician? I love the way Shirazi writes, her flowery prose is like bulbous tulip heads scattered across the pages.

    If music and sex are important to you and you have an open mind you’ll enjoy this book. It’s not for those who are easily offended or don’t like reading descriptions of sex acts. It’s very bleak in parts and reminded me of a quote from The Rocky Horror Picture Show; “It’s not easy having a good time”. There are some great photos (some of which are topless). It’s rock ‘n’ roll and also rock ‘n’ rude throughout. I loved the realism of this book. There are a lot of famous musicians mentioned, hard rock rather than metal. I had totally forgotten about Towers Of London until this book reminded me of them.

    Interestingly, this book cover isn’t the original cover that Shirazi wanted. I would love to see what she wanted.
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