The oral history of rock's most famous breakup, told by the daughter who lived it.
Who drives the story
A wealthy Hollywood runaway turned songwriter who won't let anyone else own her words. Fame, drugs, and a marriage to a prince nearly kill her before she gets clean and builds a family of her own.
The Six's frontman, who trades addiction for control after his daughter Julia's birth. He loves his wife Camila and falls for Daisy anyway, and never leaves his family.
Billy's wife, who sets hard limits and holds the family together through every relapse. Her final email reveals she always knew about Daisy, and gives them each other's number.
The keyboardist who left The Winters for better treatment, and Graham's secret lover. Pregnant on tour, she chooses an abortion over the life Graham wanted.
Billy's brother and the band's other guitarist, in love with Karen. Her abortion ends their relationship, and Billy's drinking leaves him alone with it.
Pete's younger brother, who joined when Chuck was drafted and never got respect as a guitarist. Billy taking his guitar for 'Honeycomb' seals his resentment.
The producer who signs The Six, forces Daisy's debut, and brokers the 'Honeycomb' duet. His sudden heart attack in 1979 removes the band's stabilizing father figure.
The Italian prince Daisy marries in Italy. His pill addiction deepens hers and isolates them both until she leaves him after nearly overdosing in Rome.
Billy and Camila's daughter, and the book's secret author. She compiles the oral history and laments that Camila died before she finished the recordings.
The Dunne Brothers' drummer who stays through every era of the band and later marries an actress.
The band's quiet bassist, who after the breakup manages his own business in Arizona.
The manager who spots The Six early and later cancels the final tour, ending the band.
Daisy's first manager, who gets her the label deal and later leaves with her band members when she fires him.
Also in the story
Disco pioneer and Daisy's closest friend since the Sunset Strip, a steady moral presence through her rise.
The Rolling Stone journalist whose articles push Daisy into The Six and later trade on the 'Billy and Daisy hate each other' angle.
How they are connected
The Six's frontman, who trades addiction for control after his daughter Julia's birth.
He loves his wife Camila and falls for Daisy anyway, and never leaves his family.
He loves his wife Camila and falls for Daisy anyway, and never leaves his family.
Her final email reveals she always knew about Daisy, and gives them each other's number.
The keyboardist who left The Winters for better treatment, and Graham's secret lover.
Billy's brother and the band's other guitarist, in love with Karen.
Pete's younger brother, who joined when Chuck was drafted and never got respect as a guitarist.
Billy taking his guitar for 'Honeycomb' seals his resentment.
The producer who signs The Six, forces Daisy's debut, and brokers the 'Honeycomb' duet.
Disco pioneer and Daisy's closest friend since the Sunset Strip, a steady moral presence through her rise.
The Italian prince Daisy marries in Italy.
Billy and Camila's daughter, and the book's secret author.
Go deeper
Authorship and ownership · Addiction as inheritance · The limits of love · Who gets to tell the story
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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