Teddy McGillicuddy is in a quandary.He (with the help of his old Martin Guitar 0028) has written a hit, "I Gambled on Your Love, Babe." A sophomore in the Des Moines, Iowa, Claremont College of 1990, his brand of down-home Midwest rock 'n roll is so invigorating, so exciting, that he's picked up an eager band of college guys, The Laundromats, to astound the world with his genius. Of course, nothing goes as clearly as it should. After he quits school, the band dies beneath him, and he finds himself out in Los Angeles, California trying to offer his demo tapes to the major record companies. But, no go; his work is "derivative," he is told. Then an old man offers a ray of hope. Jawbone Joffrey has had an illustrious career as an A&R manager during the past glorifying years of American music. He's helped Dylan, Springsteen, and Aretha Franklin, among countless others. And he offers Teddy McGillicuddy a contract, back in the days when a Record Contract really meant something. Teddy nearly jumps for joy. A Contract! Just a couple of things are tied to his acceptance of it. A new name, for starters. Teddy McGillicuddy just won't do. Jawbone Joffrey decides to call him "Tobias Stern." It has the mysterious élan needed for a Rock Star. Teddy says, okay. These are the ways of making the wicked rock music business work, he thinks.They shake hands on the new name, and Teddy is about to leave, when Jawbone Joffrey says, there is one other thing. One very important thing, in fact. If you want the contract, if you want the stardom, then you must be---How Teddy deals with this is the crux of the novel.