“Strange Cures”
by Rob Zabrecky

Strange Cures by Rob Zabrecky is a turbulent, against-all-odds memoir of self-discovery, success, failure, and reinvention, told by one of LA’s most interesting natives. With an unflinching gaze, musician/magician/actor Zabrecky recounts his bizarre coming-of-age tale and his quest to find a place in the arts—and the world. The author reveals a young life filled with both physical miracles and subversive role models— including an FBI impersonating uncle who in a drunken delusion, shot and nearly killed him. He takes readers on a roller coaster ride through the nascent days of the Silver Lake’s music and art community, as seen through the lens of his critically acclaimed band, Possum Dixon; the left-of-center landscape of the LAs independent coffeehouse Jabberjaw, which featured the early talents of Nirvana and Beck; Zabrecky’s own struggles with drug addiction, love, and recovery; and finally his re-emergence as a magician venturing into the sacred world of Hollywood’s Magic Castle.

****

“Strange Cures” is a punk poem to a forgotten Los Angeles. And like all good poems, its heart is full of tragic beauty. In “Strange Cures,” Rob Zabrecky reminds us that life is what you make of it, and what you make of it is rarely what you dream it to be.  — LA TIMES

Praise for Rob Zabrecky

“Zabrecky’s eccentricity is the result of a fearlessly lived and delightfully examined life. Strange Cures combines magic and music, knowledge and innocence, humor and pathos into a singular and unique narrative. His story is a weird and worthy subject. As is he.” — Jason Alexander, actor, comedian, director

_________

Strange Cures is as unique as the ultra-cool dude who wrote and lived it.

— Paul Reubens

“Zabrecky’s memoirs are surprising, addictive, terrifying, magical. He careens through childhood, rock and roll, and popular entertainment by driving on the shoulder, passing on the right, and then playing bumper cars with the cold, hard truth. You’re in for a fantastic ride.” — Jim Steinmeyer, President of the Magic Castle, author, inventor

_________

“Strange Cures chronicles Rob Zabrecky’s offbeat and amazing life. A suburban kid from Southern California, Zabrecky Houdini’d  himself from the underground Silverlake rock’n’roll scene —and the substance abuse that went along with it — and miraculously transformed himself as one of the most renowned magicians in the world. You won’t be able to put this book down.” — Pleasant Gehman, author of Showgirl Confidential, poet, dancer,

_________

“With Strange Cures, Rob at last reveals the origins of the many oddly-formed pieces that add up to this puzzle of a man. A fascinating and harrowing autobiography of a true American original. ” — Gregg Turkington, comedian, actor, musician

_________

“Strange Cures is the odyssey of an artist possessed by ever-expanding creativity. Zabrecky’s unique craft in music, magic and acting have established him as an American cult figure three times over. The price paid for his commitment to performance provides tragic underpinnings to the triumph of Strange Cures. This book should be the fix that elevates the artist beyond cult status for once and all.” — Allan MacDonell, author of Punk Elegies, Prisoner of X and Now That I Am Gone

_________

“Strange Cures is an absolute SCREAM!” — Cassandra Peterson, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

_________

“Zabrecky is one of the most extraordinary people I know. The thought of his memoir makes one of my nipples tingle.” — Derren Brown, mentalist, illusionist, and author

_________

“Rob Zabrecky has long been one of the most unique and fascinating characters LA has to offer, and now he has become one of the city’s all-time great chroniclers as well. Strange Cures is a hilarious and incredibly moving depiction of a nearly forgotten corner of the city that produced one of its most dynamic artistic flowerings. Destined to go down as one of the great LA novels. — Richard Rushfield, Vanity Fair contributor, author On Spec, Don’t Follow Me – I’m Lost

_________

“From deep inside the recesses of one of the world’s most exquisitely cool and talented people comes a riveting memoir, deftly told, by an enchanting rebel hero in a special time and place. Strange Cures is a thrill ride I never never wanted to end.”
–Stacey Grenrock-Woods, author, I California

_________

“Rob Zabrecky invites the skeletons from his closet for a cup of tea and a hit of crack in his revealing, engaging, and ultimately inspiring story.” — Steve Moramarco, musician

_________

“I shouldn’t have been surprised that one of the greatest performers and most interesting people I’ve ever known would have lived one of the most amazing and harrowing lives I’ve ever read about. If the fates smile on Zabrecky, the memoir about the next phase of his life won’t be nearly as fun a read.” — John Lovick, author, magician

_________

“Zabrecky has always been one of my favorite artists. Strange Cures reveals the twisted origins of his creativity and brilliance. I loved him before I read this book. I love him even more now.” – Derek DelGaudio, magician, performance artist

_________

“Zabrecky is the real deal —a true artiste who wears his remarkable talents and turbulent troubles with an unforgettable ghostly-face. Do yourself a favour, eschew the vanilla, and read this fearless, hysterical, and remarkable work.” — Andy Nyman, actor, writer, director, and magician

_________

There are some voices, some lives, some stories that so uniquely and powerfully make up the blood of Los Angeles’ pulsing, and Rob Zabrecky’s Strange Cures is without a doubt one of them. A breathtaking journey through music, addiction, revival and literal and metaphorical magic by one of LA’s most cherished and significant pillars makes Zabrecky’s trajectory a read you won’t soon forget.” — Amber Tamblyn, Actress, Author, Poet