Diary of a Superfluous Band

About the Book

Diary of a Superfluous Band is the story of Molly Malone, a 25 year old out-of-work waitress/writer who hops in a van and spends 9 1/2 weeks on tour with Psychopop, a struggling but heroic Los Angeles punk band, as she tries to outrun her various ghosts (both real and imagined) and the band just tries to survive.  Along the way Malone and Psychopop forge the kind of "life-raft" friendship that comes from enduring eye-popping amounts of booze, break-ups, broken vans, empty clubs, evil promoters, disorienting drives, debilitating hangovers and the deep sense of community found among fans and other touring bands on the road.   Malone´s "diary" captures the romance of the road without ever romanticizing, and brings to light the rarely talked about poetry of public toilets.  

This hopeful tale of perseverance in the face of enduring failure brings the reader on a vicarious journey through the dark, beer-drenched underbelly of the punk rock world.  This is an eye-opener for anyone who has ever dreamed of joining a band and hitting the road.

About the Author

Mary Elizabeth Martin, born in Chicago and raised in and around the United States, is a writer and self-appointed obscure music expert who has spent the last decade meeting and infiltrating various bands and music scenes. Though not a groupie per se, Ms. Martin has gone so far as to spot a guitar player in a music video, develop a crush, determine to meet and marry him -- then do so. She spent three life-altering years in Berlin, Germany as a result. Ms. Martin's first novel, Diary of a Superfluous Band, is a manifestation of her infatuation with music, musicians, life’s dark side and any perceived underdog.