Waiting on the Moon

Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses

By: Peter Wolf

Narrated by: Peter Wolf

In the tradition of classic collections of observations and musings such as Christopher Isherwood’s I Am a Camera and Truman Capote’s The Dogs Bark, Waiting on the Moon is a treasure trove of vignettes from a legendary musical figure whose career spans more than six decades and is still going strong.

Peter Wolf grew up in the Bronx, a child of “fellow travelers” whose artistic inclinations influenced both his love of music and his initial desire to become a painter. Stories of his loving and sometimes eccentric parents complement scenes depicting a very young Bob Dylan as he arrived on the Greenwich Village folk scene. Reflections on Wolf’s studies in Boston—where he shared an apartment with David Lynch—are braided with accounts of first love, an untraditional literary education, and early musical influences such as Muddy Waters.

After Wolf joined the J. Geils Band as their front man and his musical fame grew, he rubbed shoulders with other notables who left significant impressions on him, including members of the Rolling Stones, Sly Stone, Tennessee Williams, Alfred Hitchcock, and Van Morrison. Wolf’s marriage to Faye Dunaway is presented in a clear yet balanced and nuanced light.

Told with gentle humor and often heart-rending poignancy, the word portraits in Waiting on the Moon provide a revealing glimpse of artists, writers, actors, and musicians as they work—the creative forces that drive them to achievement; the demons they battle; the patterns of their human relationships. They are meant to inspire not only empathy but also admiration. Like Isherwood, Wolf remains “a camera with its shutter open.”

Critic reviews

“Waiting on the Moon is the page-turner of the decade. It’s as if my three favorite memoirs—The Kid Stays in the Picture, Running With Scissors, and Permanent Midnight—all got together and made a big, healthy, hilariously fucked-up kid who somehow managed to outdo them all.”—Peter Farrelly, Academy Award winning director and writer

"Arriving home from my 114th tour date, Peter's book has kept me wonderful company. As the eastern sun rises through my airplane window, the warmth of its rays reminds me of the love of life and living so beautifully expressed in his writing."—Bruce Springsteen

“This is the book I’ve been hoping Peter would write since we walked the streets of Paris together, back in the 20th Century. A true account of his life, love and music told with unique humor and rare humility.”—Elvis Costello

"Waiting on the Moon is a five-star memoir, and Peter Wolf is a solid gold storyteller. His eye for detail is exquisite, I felt like I was living these stories alongside him. A rarity in a rock star memoir, Wolf does not center himself, he lets the players in his extraordinary life take centerstage and shine. I loved every single minute."—Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of None of This Is True

“Elegant, eloquent vignettes from a star-studded life . . . Recollections of a rock ’n’ roll life, charmingly related.”

—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

fantastic read

Peter Wolf knows how to tell a story. You feel like you were part of his life and escapades.

Whole Lotta Stories

So many cool and interesting tales from a great storyteller. Some of them seem too much to believe, but I suspect that Pete has luckily had many seemingly unbelievable experiences in his career, and we can enjoy hearing these inside stories. It was a fun listen.

Superb, surprising and not just for Geils fans

I hate spoilers, so suffice to say that Peter Wolf was everywhere, met everyone and walked away with some amazing tales. This isn’t your typical rock bio, and while far from being a tell-all, tells you what is needed to leave your jaw hanging. I came across a lot of amazing reviews and figured, how good could the story of the Freeze Frame guy be? So glad I gave this book a shot because it paid off. Surprisingly, the Geils guys barely have cameos, and I’m not sure they could compete with the icons Peter Wolf rubbed elbows with back in the day. My only complaint about this book is that it ended! If you’re a fan of ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s culture, or you just want an interesting read, grab this book now and thank me later.

Little Wolf is DELIGHTFUL!

As Muddy Waters bonded to such a likable character, you will also as you find yourself in a front row seat to the masters of the 20th century. Glad you took Grace O'Connor's advice and revealed the peaks and valleys of your storied life. From pub crawling with Mick Jagger to getting chased with a whip by Sly Stone and promoting young artists like Van Morrison, Peter Wolf regales us with the most interesting and entertaining tales from his personal experiences. (P.S. We let my 91-year-old mother-in-law borrow this book, and now she's in love with the author!)

What a life!

I was never much of a fan of the J Giles band and I wasn’t aware of how deeply entrenched in the rock ‘n’ roll fabric of America Peter was. This guy knows everybody! Well written and well read by the author.