One of Billboard’s Top 100 Music Books of All Time — A Raw, Unfiltered Story of Punk, Identity, and Transformation
This is the fearless, brutally honest memoir of Laura Jane Grace—punk rocker, activist, and one of the first high-profile transgender women in the music industry. Tranny pulls back the curtain on a life of chaos, rebellion, and self-discovery.
It all started in a small bedroom in Naples, Florida, where a young punk named Tom Gabel picked up a guitar and began to turn raw emotion into sound. That spark became Against Me!, a band that went from playing in basements with makeshift drums to headlining festivals and signing major label deals. The group gained a massive following—and equally fierce backlash—becoming one of the most talked-about punk bands of their generation.
But behind the band's wild rise was a deeper battle. Throughout the years of touring, recording, and facing off with critics and fans, Grace was hiding a personal truth that she could only admit to herself in private: she was transgender.
In 2012, that truth became public when a Rolling Stone article introduced the world to Laura Jane Grace.
Tranny is more than just a music memoir. It’s a gut-punch of a story that blends the rise of a band with the personal journey of a woman finally stepping into her true identity. With never-before-seen journal entries, candid stories of life on the road, and raw reflections on gender, addiction, and rebellion, Grace tells it all—with zero filter.
Inside, readers will discover:
-
The DIY beginnings and explosive growth of Against Me!
-
The tension between punk idealism and commercial success
-
The emotional toll of living a double life
-
The moment Grace came out publicly and changed the conversation around gender in music
This is a story about survival, truth, and the power of being unapologetically yourself. Bold, provocative, and deeply human—Tranny is one of the most important rock memoirs of our time.
Contributor(s): Grace, Laura Jane (Author), Ozzi, Dan (With)
ISBN: 0316264377
EAN: 9780316264372
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: August 29, 2017
Returnable: Yes
Physical Info: 1.0" H x 8.1" L x 5.4" W | 0.65 lbs | 320 pages