Lick Me

How I Became Cherry Vanilla

By: Cherry Vanilla

Narrated by: Cherry Vanilla

Steeped in sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, Lick Me takes the reader on a juicy journey through the life and times of the infamous Cherry Vanilla. A wunderkind on Madison Avenue in the swinging sixties, Cherry soon found fame as a DJ in clubs in Manhattan and on the French Riviera. She starred in Andy Warhol’s play Pork in London while gaining notoriety as a groupie, sleeping with musicians ranging from Leon Russell to Kris Kristofferson. Working as David Bowie’s PR lady (and occasional lover), she played a major part in introducing him to the U.S. market. She was on the front lines when punk broke, one of the few successful women in the genre; her backing band was the Police, and she released two insouciant albums on RCA.

Cherry’s memoir takes us on a journey from the birth of rock to the explosion of punk, exploring every aspect of the music industry during its most electrifying era, with memorable detours through the sexual revolution, the women’s liberation movement, and the theater of the ridiculous. But Cherry’s life wasn’t all excitement and high times. From unwanted pregnancies to poverty and public ridicule, Lick Me also takes us through Cherry’s own problems, including sex addiction and OCD, and reveals how she dealt with them. Lick Me reveals the thrilling life of a woman who pulled herself up from humble beginnings and fearlessly lived her dreams.

©2010 Cherry Vanilla (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

So Pure It Must Be VANILLA!

Would you consider the audio edition of Lick Me to be better than the print version?

Yes. With this new audiobook, Cherry conveys the elegant text into words driven with tone, tender and dignified. While the book is, without a doubt, a straightforward read with the audiobook you can now hear her personality leap through the speakers; (one of the times she created a similar stir in the emotions of the listeners was with her albums released by RCA in the 1970's). This is the whole package: a book that will educate and entertain you and a narrator that can dig deep enough with their voice to understand the power of printed text.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cherry Vanilla: When I first read Lick Me, I was instantly captivated by Miss Vanilla. The stream of her subconscious thoughts seemed to spew out in the most intelligent, coherent way I had read in a while. It was refreshing in the sense that it was honest and passionate. All listeners must remember: 'CHERRY VANILLA HAS SCOOPS FOR YOU!'

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"Cherry Vanilla taking over your heart through the streets." HAHA! Maybe this is too cheesy?

Any additional comments?

Question: When can the world be graced with Volume 2?

Even better when read by Cherry

Would you consider the audio edition of Lick Me to be better than the print version?

I loved this when it was a book, but when I heard Cherry was reading it herself, I really needed to "read" it this way too. She's always had a very clear, pleasant and recognizable voice, and this is just the kind of book you want to experience straight from the horses mouth. There's nothing like the sound of a voice from a mouth that tries to hold back the smile of a guilty pleasure.

Any additional comments?

Cherry has found just the right amount of self humor to be able to entertain with this wild story of her life, that touched (both literally and figuratively) the lives of many others, both famous and unknown. It's a delight to hear her memories of a different time, and follow her story with its ups and downs that she recounts so candidly. Lick Me is a treasure. Not just juicy, but funny, heartwarming and thoroughly entertaining.

MY FIRST AUDIOBOOK

Where does Lick Me rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

If all audio books are this exciting, I will make a habit of downloading more of them.

What other book might you compare Lick Me to and why?

It's a bit like "I'm With The Band," only much more New York City street and sexy.

Which character – as performed by Cherry Vanilla – was your favorite?

Cherry Vanilla

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The part about the dog, Lady, and about what a woman feels when pregnant and can't have the baby.

Any additional comments?

It really gives the feeling of the free-wheeling 1960's in Manhattan, especially in the sex, drugs and rock and roll aspects.

Raw and honest.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It's her story, so far be it for me to change anything. She is who she is. Unlike Bebe Buell, whose book I found pretentious and insufferable, the intrepid Ms Vanilla is almost painfully honest about who she is, how she was perceived,and her debauchery. She does not pretend to be more than she was, yet fearlessly was who she was. Cherry Vanilla takes you along on her journey--no self-aggrandizing pontifications. She has no qualms about being a skank, and becomes an admirable skank in the process--she beats to her own drummer, and--on several occasions--beat out quite a tune. That said, this could have benefited from a bit of an edit. There was some redundancy--same story, different people--but that was how she lived it. I give her kudos. A real "bad girl" who makes no apologies---and has not added a gilded overlay of illusion over her story.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

A bit torn. I feel a bit sorry for her, but also want to give her a huge high five for being herself--and telling it like it is. No filter, and that's rare.

What does Cherry Vanilla bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice!

Was Lick Me worth the listening time?

Sure!

Any additional comments?

Nope. Go, Ms Vanilla!