Madonna's Brother Provides Backstage Pass

Christopher Ciccone Talks About His New Book "Life With My Sister Madonna"

(CBS) 

Unlike his sister, who preferred to hang out with her own tight-knit group of back-up dancers, who worshipped her, instead of other celebrities, Ciccone took it upon himself to party and do drugs, which he admits in the book.

As the brother of an A-lister like Madonna, Ciccone had a lot of the celebrity perks and hobnobbed (and snorted cocaine with some) with Donatella Versace, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson, Courtney Love, Demi Moore and Gwyneth Paltrow.

"The celebrity stuff was just icing on the cake," Ciccone said.

Later, Ciccone's occasional drug use would be ammunition for Madonna to send him to rehab, where he was told he didn't need it. Instead, he was battling inner demons far worse than any drug.

Like Madonna's success, her highly publicized relationships have also caused quite a stir throughout her career.

From Madonna losing her virginity in the back of a car (as did Ciccone) to her career-motivated conquests and her marriages, Ciccone was always somehow along for the romantic rollercoaster ride.

In his book, Ciccone reveals tidbits of Madonna's often tumultuous relationship with ex-husband Sean Penn, with whom he became "blood brothers." He insinuates that his sister will always love him regardless of their past.

Ciccone touches upon her relationship with the then-debonair philanderer Warren Beatty, who he caught rummaging through her trash looking for evidence that she was cheating. Later, we learn of her love for her personal trainer Carlos Leon with whom she had her daughter, Lourdes.

"I was fully involved in those relationships. I knew these guys very well and hung out with them separately. I got to known them each in their own way," he said. "When you're at home in high school or in math class, you don't think that in 10 years 'I will be having dinner with Warren Beatty.'"

The one relationship that Ciccone hasn't been as involved in is her marriage to Ritchie, with whom she has a son Rocco. Ciccone claims that Ritchie is homophobic and made gay jokes at their wedding in Scotland, which set the tone for their relationship.

"I don't think Guy was a stepping stone for her career," he said. "He was pretty cold from the beginning. I was kind of in the way. The best way to deal with me was to get me out and it worked, but I was ready to leave anyway."

Although Ciccone hasn't seen Madonna's Malawian documentary "I Am Because We Are," he doesn't think that her adoption of David Banda was self-serving.

"The staged things are all about publicity, but I don't think the adoption of David was. I believe she did that out of a truly deep concern and caring for the child," he said.

Part of what fueled the fire between Madonna and Ciccone were the messy transactions that went on between them when Ciccone decorated her homes. Their business dealings turned into dramatic and emotional exchanges via email or fax or through her personal assistant - many of which are written about in the book. Ciccone claims that he was never paid what he was worth, if he was even paid at all.

Besides money issues, Madonna's words - often ugly - had quite an effect on the Ciccone family.

"They (the family) have been through quite a bit where my sister is concerned. I think she doesn't quite understand that the words go out and actually have an affect on people. I think she thinks that they just vanish into the universe, but they hurt people," Ciccone said.

"She hasn't been kind to my parents, to my brothers and sisters on many occasions. I wanted to correct that and wanted to be the voice they never had. I am not speaking for them," he said. "It's just awareness that your actions and your words have consequences - like the book - I am fully aware of the consequences. And I wanted to remind her that in some way. Hopefully when she reads it; she will read it in the spirit of the way it was written. And that it's from a brother who loves her."

Ultimately, the question remains if blood will be stronger then pride. Although the two aren't on speaking terms today, they will always be brother and sister.

"It was very bumpy. The journey was frightening at times. I was discovering things about myself that I didn't know and probably sometimes didn't want to know. It was all a discovery," Ciccone said. "Looking back, I am glad it all happened. I don't regret any of it. Of course I wish that all of it was great all of the time. … She will always be my sister. That is never going to go away."

[lazareth-2009]

She is a SSKKankhole. He is no better

[lovesamerica]

Okay, I know people do not care for overweight people but... Madonna looks disgusting!!! I am also around 50, and I think that she looks horrible with all those veins and bones and, tendons sticking out. She was never good, just a good business woman.Eat or be eaten.. She is whacked and will crave attention forever. And like the Jolie saga, will drag more helpless children along for HER ride. I wouldn''t allow her or any hollywood types adopt my child, anyone ever see mommy dearest?

[whiskyrokkr]

The Lady is a Tramp

[whiskyrokkr]

Madonna is a dirty slime bag.

[japes01-2009]

I am a huge Madonna fan but I can sympathize with Chris, especially after re-watching In Bed with Madonna and how often he appeared in that movie and how little she even acknowledged that he was her brother. I mean there is a scene with her Dad, step-mom, and brother all in the same room and if you did not know the family you would have just thought he was a stage hand. Also people should remember that Blond Ambition and The Girlie Tour were two of her most artistic, creative shows that did not have to rely on over the top multi media screens etc, to make it interesting, but instead a cohesive narative, and Chris was the director of those shows. He deserves more credit for some of her biggest artisitic achievements. I love Madonna, don''t get me wrong, but we should all be able to put ourselves in his shoes and completely understand and believe it was a good posibility that she did not treat him the greatest.

[pvperson]

Just think, one of these days someone will look at this guy and say, "Who''s that dirtbag" and maybe someone will answer, "Oh, he was MADONNA''S brother"

that''s your claim to fame, assshole.

[hypnotoad72]

I heard on a morning radio show that Madonna and Christopher were recently in a restaurant, laughing and having a grand old time.

Take that with a grain of salt, but I see no reason for Sleazeonna to have even 15 more seconds of time.

I''m sure she had a point once, even as outrageous as she was, but if she wasn''t before, she''s nothing but shock jock antics these days. (Yeah, I did like the song "express yourself", even if she was singing about flaunting it with everybody... I misread it as "it''s okay to speak your mind". Oops.)

[whiskyrokkr]

Madonna is a dirty,rotten piece of human excrement. Nothing more.