THE LONDON BOYS | DAVID BOWIE, MARC BOLAN & THE 60s TEENAGE DREAM

 

TITLE - THE LONDON BOYS | DAVID BOWIE, MARC BOLAN & THE 60s TEENAGE DREAM

WRITTEN BY - MARC BURROWS

GENRE - '60s BRITISH MUSIC/BIOGRAPHY

PUBLISHED BY - PEN & SWORD 

PUBLICATION DATE - 30TH OCTOBER 2022

“The London Boys” is a penetratingly thorough history of the deep but often turbulent friendship/rivalry between the nascent rock stars David Bowie and Marc Bolan, from their early years to their eventual first flush of fame. The introduction sets the scene with a depiction of the historic yet chaotic reconciliation of Bowie and Bolan on the latter’s TV show “Marc”, mere days before his death. The book evokes the shattered post-WWII London landscape that both Bolan and Bowie grew up in through vivid descriptions, and explores how the city and its rapid cultural development in the ‘60s shaped their future careers. 

On the whole, “The London Boys” is a very detailed and workmanlike biography of both legends, but also a deep and intoxicating (it may even be eye-opening to a millennial reader) social history of Britain and its cultural heritage and development, hugely influenced by American music. There are also some very entertaining footnotes in which many myths are busted. Special mention must be given to chapter nineteen which has a unique structure that got made this old Bowie fan giddily excited, but you’ll have to read it yourself to find out why. 

A dense, deep book but immensely scholarly and readable, with an uplifting ending (really, “the beginning”) “The London Boys” is an original, fabulous and moving, even slightly irreverent, addition to the written history of both artists, both of whom burst from the page so vividly that we get to know them better than ever.

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SUPPER'S READY | MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF GENESIS

TITLE - SUPPER'S READY | MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF GENESIS 

WRITTEN BY - PETE CHRISP 

PUBLISHED BY - SONA BOOKS 

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW 

 

Pete Chrisp’s “Supper’s Ready - More Than 50 Years of Genesis” offers a fun and concise history of the “posh rock” band, from early years in search of a record deal to their stadium-filling heyday, through reunions and beyond to the present day with the “Last Domino” tour.

Chrisp admits in his introduction that it’s difficult to find a fan of all eras of Genesis - infamously, the post-Peter Gabriel years, when Phil Collins took over the microphone, tend to have a different kind of admirer than that of the early years. As a fan myself, I find much to like from all of their albums.

The book is unofficial yet it still has a wealth of archive photos and memorabilia such as concert tickets, gig posters, promo ads and tour programmes. The photos especially are excellent, though I don’t think there are any unseen shots. Chrisp charts the Genesis timeline concisely and clearly, admittedly without any shocking revelations, but it is well-researched, taking in the band members’ solo careers too. Chrisp expands on each studio album later in the book.

At the back of the book is a detailed discography of their studio, live and compilation albums, and an interesting list of Genesis’ albums from worst to best - sorry, “Calling All Stations” fans! (Their last studio album from 1997…hard to believe). There are also short biographies of everyone who’s ever been in Genesis; more than you’d think, culminating with Phil’s son, Nick, on drums.

A short but packed read, with a chapter or so devoted to each phase/album, it is large format and looks like an annual that is unusually good value for money - this book is much more than the sum of its parts. Sadly, a couple of mistakes have crept in, most likely printing errors, in the discography - the first track on the band’s first album “From Genesis To Revelation” is entitled “Where the Sour Turns to Sweet” not “Where the Sweet Turns to Sour” as stated in the book, and the tracklisting for “Wind & Wuthering”’s first side repeats the first side tracklisting of “A Trick of the Tail” from the previous page.

Pete Chrisp writes well and knowledgeably, with humour (there are several laugh-out-loud moments in his analysis of the studio albums) and welcome candour about the band’s less successful moments. Overall, “Supper’s Ready” is an enjoyable and accessible read that delivers a brisk overview of Genesis’ career, and is recommended. Long term Genesis-heads will know every fact and photo in these pages and probably deem it inessential; however, the book is colourful, attractive, and very well put together (errors aside) and should please a casual fan or someone just discovering the band.

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RADIOHEAD - LIFE IN A GLASSHOUSE

TITLE - RADIOHEAD - LIFE IN A GLASSHOUSE

WRITTEN BY - JOHN AIZLEWOOD 

PUBLISHED BY - PALAZZO EDITIONS LTD

PUBLICATION DATE - 5TH MAY 2022 

John Aizlewood follows up his sublime book on Joy Division & New Order by turning his considerable talents towards another idiosyncratic British band, the unique and groundbreaking Radiohead. 

Written in his usual erudite, irresistibly flowing and ever-so-slightly irreverent style, Aizlewood charts the evolution of Radiohead from their early days as private school boys with potted histories of each band member, through their “a bit pants” gigs as On A Friday, onto Britpop-shunning stardom as Radiohead, and their enduring legacy as one of the most critically-acclaimed bands Britain has ever produced. 

Every album is listed and analysed, with the chapters on the era-defining “O. K. Computer” and the game-changing “In Rainbows” being especially good, but the whole book is superb. Radiohead’s rise to the top wasn’t easy and Aizlewood’s sparkling prose brings the story of their eagerness to evolve from their surprise hit “Creep” and the later ups and downs of their career to vivid life. 

Radiohead have always done their own thing and John Aizlewood’s book is a celebration of that. No surprises, this book is awesome.

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THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

TITLE - THE VELVET UNDERGROUND 

WRITTEN BY - CHRIS ROBERTS

PUBLISHED BY - PALAZZO EDITIONS LTD

PUBLICATION DATE - 7TH APRIL 2022 

Chris Roberts has created a small but perfectly formed biography of The Velvet Underground, one of the most inscrutable bands ever. Loud, rough, atonal; influential and iconoclastic. There aren’t enough words to do the band justice. 

Having personally met and interviewed Lou Reed three times, and even once accidentally sat on Nico’s coat, Roberts is eminently qualified to write this book, and it is an informative and sometimes shocking joy to read. 

Contemporary photographs and ephemera set the scene, whilst archive and personal interviews with the band, many conducted by the author, offer an insight into the minds of the band members - Lou Reed (grouchy), Cale (Welsh), Moe Tucker (sensible), Sterling Morrison (the quiet one). 

There is no shortage of books about The Velvet Underground, but few are as enjoyable as Chris Roberts’ one - it has the feel of a work by an insider. Knowledgeable, drugged-up and funny as heck, this book is indispensable.

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WHO BY FIRE - LEONARD COHEN IN THE SINAI

TITLE - WHO BY FIRE - LEONARD COHEN IN THE SINAI 

WRITTEN BY - MATTI FRIEDMAN 

PUBLISHED BY - SPIEGEL & GRAU 

PUBLICATION DATE - 29TH MARCH 2022 

As a recent convert to the music and wisdom of Leonard Cohen, I have been actively searching out books about his life and career, especially if they offer an interesting and original angle. 

Journalist Matti Friedman’s excellent and timely work “Who By Fire - Leonard Cohen in the Sinai” is one such book. It tells the true and astonishing story of an extraordinary chapter in the career of singer and songwriter Leonard Cohen that not only changed his life but also left an indelible impact on the state of Israel itself. To quote Friedman - “Sometimes an artist and an event interact to generate a spark far bigger than both”. 

In 1973, Cohen travelled to Israel during the conflict known as the Yom Kippur War to give impromptu concerts to Israeli troops at the front lines in the Sinai desert. Friedman makes use of an unpublished document which Cohen himself wrote about his experiences during this time, as well as interviews with people who were there and actually attended the “concerts”. 

Friedman paints a vivid account of the effect of Cohen’s songs on the young soldiers. Cohen himself was also reinvigorated by his journey, going on to write some of his best-known songs, including “Hallelujah”, after having contemplated retirement some months before. But Cohen’s visit also affected the nation’s music and “spiritual life,” leading the country to abandon “the militant secularism of the founders for an openness to the old wisdom.” This may sound incredible but Cohen was an incredible artist, and Friedman’s erudite prose brings the story to life with stunning credibility. 

Friedman’s scholarly work is a glorious testament to a great artist and to the enduring power of song to change the world.

THE MEANING OF METALLICA | RIDE THE LYRICS

TITLE - THE MEANING OF METALLICA | RIDE THE LYRICS

WRITTEN BY - WILLIAM IRWIN 

PUBLISHED BY - ECW PRESS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 19TH APRIL 2022

I’m a casual but longtime fan of Metallica so the premise of this book intrigued me; it may be the first one purely devoted to a critical study of the lyrics of the band’s frontman James Hetfield. 

The title itself is bold and challenging, suggesting a definitive document, but that’s a symptom of the publishing world and not author arrogance. At any rate, the author himself offers the disclaimer that this is his own personal interpretation, not the final word, and that we are welcome to disagree with it and substitute our own.

  

William Irwin is clearly not just a fan of Metallica - he is a F A N of Metallica. This may make the book unpalatable to some readers, but I am fine with it as everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I am making a personal choice to read Irwin’s. Subdivided into separate (big) themes such as religion (which comes first), addiction, war and freedom - all regular subjects of Metallica songs -  Irwin proffers his interpretation of Hetfield’s lyrics. 

If I am honest, a lot of his conclusions went over my head and many seemed to derive far too great a meaning from certain lyrics, but occasionally he made me look at my favourite Metallica songs in a totally new way, and his obvious affection for the songs is a positive rather than a negative factor. 

On the whole, “The Meaning of Metallica” is a success, shedding new light on familiar songs and encouraging debate. Anyone who disagrees with William Irwin’s conclusions is invited to write their own book.