Behind the Paint opens with Bruce's father stealing all of the family's money and leaving when Joe was two years old. His mother briefly marries an
abusive man that
molests Joe and his older siblings
Robert and Theresa. Joe later meets John and
Joey Utsler, and the group's
backyard wrestling, musical, and
gang activities are chronicled. Bruce recalls briefly living in Bonnie Doone,
North Carolina at the age of 17, and cites the open racism that he witnessed there as a source of the hatred for
bigots referenced in future Insane Clown Posse's lyrics. The book describes the group's genesis, including Bruce's involvement in
professional wrestling, the formation of group
Inner City Posse with John and Joey Utlser, as well as establishing their record label
Psychopathic Records. The book also discusses the beginnings of what would become
Insane Clown Posse and the origins of the group's
Dark Carnival mythology, and the albums inspired by it. The book also documents the group's early struggles, personnel changes and the changing local
Detroit music scene. The book also focus their highly publicized falling-out with
Hollywood Records and subsequent signing to
Island Records, their eventual return to Psychopathic Records and the production of their full-length feature film,
Big Money Hustlas. The books ends with Bruce reflecting on the group's previous successes, their
one platinum and three gold albums, and the release of the group's sixth Joker's Card,
The Wraith: Shangri-La . ==Publication and reception==