No! Not something to do with healthy food. Twang, Slotbadger, Neela and Steve T convene in the pod to discuss rock biographies and the endless vista of related cultural stuff around them which we enjoy. Favourites are praised, stinkers are called out to save you wasting your time and the team read excerpts from their favourites.
The Afterword #78: The Biocast
by 60 Comments
That was a splendid chat – now I really want to read ‘Diary of a Rock’n’Roll Star’ and discover the magic of in-flight entertainment mid 70s style 😉
Hope the listeners enjoy this as much as I did contributing. A splendid time was had. Thanks guys!
Enjoyable listen so far. I didn’t think I was much of music biog fan tbh but then realised that I have quite a collection (although about 50% remain unread – including the intimidatingly thick Costello tome).
Highlights for me are ‘Wouldn’t it Be Nice’ by Brian Wilson which I found totally engrossing and further strengthened my love of his and the BB’s music; ‘Wild Tales’ by Graham Nash and ‘4 Way Street’ about CSNY both of which are good companions to the wonderful ‘Hotel California’ which is mentioned early on in the pod; ‘Dream Brother’ which covers the career of both Tim and Jeff Buckley; ‘Ive Always Kept A Unicorn the recent(ish) biog of Sandy Denny and of course Dylan’s fabulously readable ‘Chronicles’ (will there ever be second volume?)
My first rock book was also the Ian Hunter one which was/is magnificent in its honesty and love of music despite the depiction of life on the road often being really boring and mundane.
Cheers @feedback_file!
Possibly the best Podcast ever, after the Progcast.
So many points to agree with Ian McNabb’s book shows him up to be a complete misogynist (does he still live with his Mum?…they bought a house together I think).
The Tracey Thorn first book is a perfect description of suburban life in the 1970s/early 1980s, being the first person in your family to go to University and at the same time turning into pop stardom over a long period. Coupled with a love story about her and Ben as students. Well written and well worth buying.
Both Julian Cope books are excellent – Head On and Re-possessed. If I had been on the podcast I too would have been quoting from one of these.
I would also recommend Mike Scott’s Adventures of A Waterboy – there is a very moving part where after their 1980s success he has gone solo and then goes on to re-connect with Steve Wickham (the fiddle player) and they then re-unite for future critically, and commercial, success.. Steve had not had such a great time during that period.
The final recommendation is a book written by a “non-successful” musician – Giles Smith “Lost in Music”…read it and weep at the joys of bands that never made it.
Thanks Unc, always nice to get feedback. I do wonder if anyone listens to them!
Going to listen to this later because it sounds great, but in reading the feedback I agree with pretty much everything Uncle has said about the books here.
I liked Ian McNabb and The Icicle Works quite a lot before I read his book. He really comes across badly in it, and the Mr Rock and Roll/love ’em and leave ’em stuff is just laughable when you realise he still lives with his Mum. I still like the music but I went right off him quite frankly.
Tracey Thorne’s first book is indeed fantastic. She’s such a great writer and her descriptions of being young and “alternative” are spot on. The Julian Cope books are both a total hoot. Head On shades it for being about the period when he was “on the way up” as it were, which is always a more momentous read.
Finally, the Giles Smith book should be required reading for anyone thinking of starting a band. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
As a recommendation, not an artist biog as such but I suggest the late David Cavanagh’s book on Creation Records, “My Magpie Eyes are Hungry for The Prize” which I felt looked forensically at the early 80’s indie scene generally, as well as the Creation bands, some of which were really hit and miss, and yes I’d include Oasis in that…
Really enjoyed this chinwag – havent had chance to hear the finished article yet which hope to do tomorrow. Kudos to @Twang for setting it up and getting it suitable for airing so quickly.
Kuds to the whole team. Most enjoyable.
SteveT: I recommended the podcast to Ian Clayton. He got back to me an hour later, saying how much he enjoyed it and that he owes you a pint!
Interesting chat as always, though it kind of reminded me that I’m almost always underwhelmed by most rock bios…and it seems I’m the only Afterworder who really didn’t like Cope’s Head On/Reposessed...I couldn’t finish the first and haven’t tried the second because I disliked it so much! And I’m a massive fan of his music, but I found the book to be really dull and highly annoying.
I’d recommend Jeff Tweedy’s recently published autobiography, even to people who doesn’t like his music (unimaginable as that is…) because it’s brilliant. Brutally honest but with a ton of integrity; laugh out loud funny and cry your eyes out sad; lots of interesting things to say about music, unusually; as well as his dysfunctional (but loving) upbringing; addiction, band dynamics…wonderful book. And not written in a traditional laundry list style from A to Z.
And yes; Patti Smith – Just Kids (and M Train, but it’s another kind of book and not for everyone I suspect – I have a sister who’s very much like Ms Smith when it comes to subjects like angels/spirits, seeing connections and signs in every little thing etc, so I find it mostly endearing, but from past threads I suspect very few AWers would…), Kim Gordon – Girl In a Band was also enjoyable.
M Train is not very linear, but I enjoyed it. The title stands for Mind Train, which could be a clue.
Didn’t care for Gordon’s book though. It felt distanced. Maybe she did that to protect herself. It was close to the divorce, wasn’t it?
The parts on Sonic Youth’s music felt like an editor had stepped in and said ‘maybe you should mention something about what people know you for’.
But I did enjoy the parts on her childhood and brother.
Interestingly, I think your description of the Tweedy book would also apply to the Cope ones!
Cope’s book was so obsessively detailed, things I quite frankly didn’t want to know! Also I kept thinking “How can you remember all of these drug trips in such detail if you did that much drugs???” I just ended up hating every single person – including him – that he was writing about. Didn’t care what would happen to them, didn’t want to find out any more disgusting intimate details about anyone…sorry – not for me! 😀
In that case, I wouldn’t recommend Cope’s novel 131…
@Locust the Wilco book is next on my list after finishing the Ryan Adam’s one so look forward to it.
I nearly picked up the Kim Gordon which is cheap in our local charity shop – seems they must have had an over-run as they had a out 10 copies. Might go back.
I laughed so hard at the reading from Julian Cope’s book that the experience was very similar to the laughing experience described elsewhere in the same cast. Luckily I was at home, and not on the bus, which is where I usually listen.
A joy, a triumph. It occupied me all the way down the A43/M40 from Northampton last night. I was roaring at the Deke Leonard passage (completely agree, Twang, the books are nothing but fun and he writes (wrote, sadly) beautifully. I have read all of them multiple times and am on my second copies of the first 3 (@stevet listen out for Postie).
I can’t pretend to have read many of the books discussed – my “reading” these days is audiobooks on the long commute. I have gorged myself on them this past 18 months and my favourites have been (in no particular order):
Not Dead Yet – Phil Collins (read by author) – emotional hearing him describe his alcoholism
Still Whispering…… – Bob Harris (read by author)
What Does This Button Do – Bruce Dickenson (read by author) – hilarious and swashbuckling
I am Ozzy – Ozzy Osbourne (read by Frank Skinner)
Mr Gig – Nige Tassell (read by Ben Elliot) – lovely book about being a Social Sec at Uni
Some Fantastic Place – Chris Difford (read by author) – I’d rather he hadn’t read it – too deadpan
My Cross To Bear – Gregg Allman (read by Will Patton) – loved it, especially when Duane calls him over to show him he has discovered slide guitar
The Gospel According to Luke – Steve Lukather (read by author) – wonderful. No one swears like Luke
My Book of Genesis – Richard MacPhail (read by author) -lovely book, if you like early Genesis
Thanks a Lot Mr Kibblewhite – Roger Daltrey (read by author) – great fun
Let The Good Times Roll – Kenney Jones (read by David John) – loved it
Kill ’em All – John Niven (read by Tom Riley) – outrageous, ridiculous, stupid, salacious – loved it
Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen (read by author) – Bruce’s inflection and self deprecation made it so much better than reading the book
All These Years – Tune In – Mark Lewisohn (read by Clive Mantle) – just the best. Liverpool actor Mantle (Little John in the 80’s tv series Robin of Sherwood) is obviously a huge fan. His accent and impersonations are spot on and the whole thing was hours and hours of delight
Tune In as audiobook? How many hours?
43 hours 40 minutes
Clive Mantle eh? Cometh the hour, cometh the man!*
(*hur)
Oh that’s brilliant; made me laugh out loud. Great book, of course. But that’s a hell of a lot of car journeys…
I must get the Luke one. He’s great on podcasts/interviews, and super modest given he’s utterly amazing. I’ve watched this a dozen times.
I thought the Bob Harris book was dreadful. He seemed to have an almost Zelig ability to be at the start of everything important in rock music and he hates Bruno Brooks. Way too full of himself which surprised me.
Tune In audio book was indeed brilliant though
About the first third of Bob Harris’ book was interesting and then it dragged on and on and on after that. Very, very dull. Finishing it was a real relief.
I found myself reading it about as slow as he speaks.
And yes, towards the end he became fuller of himself and it did drag on. Don’t actually remember a conclusion as such, it just sort of ended
Yes he was a bit pious I thought. I don’t generally mind earnestness but it went on. The John Peel book was pretty average too.
John Peel only managed half the story – the rest was completed by Sheila Peel.
There was a biography knocking about at much the same time that I thought was a better read – same storyline, just felt more relaxed – plus it had lists of all the Festive 50s at the back (and I do like a list).
David Cavanagh’s Good Night and Good Riddance is worth reading too
Where do you get your audio books @niallb? What’s the skinny?
Audible, through Amazon. £7.99 per month and you get one free book per month. I have the app on my phone. You order the book through Amazon and it appears on the app. I have also ordered a few off iTunes, when something isn’t on Audible.
Ah ok. Interesting.
I have the Kenney Jones one to read – was a Christmas present.
That John Niven one was a hoot – fantastic writer.
I read that on holiday last summer and it is worth the effort.
Really nice insights on the Small Faces early career and being the kid of a Cockney geezer post war.
Another recommendation for Kenney’s book.
And for further Small Face/Faces insights, Ian McLagan’s All The Rage is worth a read too
We talked about Graeme Thomson but forgot to mention his great book George Harrison: Behind The Locked Door. One of the best Beatle related biogs. So there. Sorted.
Oh – you’ve just reminded me that I started reading that one some time ago and got interrupted…I must have put it away somewhere (maybe when I was cleaning up for Christmas?) and somehow managed to forget all about it! Where can it be…hmm…off to search my many bags and piles of books-to-read-when-I-find-the-time!
“I just wanted to play guitar in a band.” His reaction to John’s death.
Yes, the books-to-read-pile. We shouldn’t talk about it.
I’m currently about halfway through Ray Connolly’s Being John Lennon. After Tune In it obviously lacks the minute detail but it is a great crack through the Beatles time. I’m up to JL meeting Yoko – still 6 hours to go.
Really enjoyed that one. It looks a bit slight, but goes deep. Great story about John telling him he’s left The Beatles.
I enjoyed Julian Cope’s double book “Head On/Repossessed” just for his sheer lack of concern about whether he came across as a prat. Taken with a huge pinch of salt. I’ve no doubt he made up quite a lot of it where he couldn’t possibly have remembered details. Don’t really care about that.
Both of Lydon’s and also Wobble’s books are O.K. and worth reading. Lydon’s second more mellow and philosophical than the first. Wobble is odd in that he tends to start by slagging people for having pissed him off somehow but then he praises them for other things he likes about them.
Bruce Dickinson’s is mostly good but gets a bit dull around the last quarter, like many a rock-star biog. Once they’ve made it, the story should then stop, in most cases. The other Brooce is no exception.
The Robert Wyatt book “Different Every Time” is pretty good. A decent amount of detail about his past but doesn’t reveal much about who Wyatt is NOW.
Deke Leonard’s books (or at least the first three) make superb reading. Talk about having a way with words! The first two are especially good, particularly the second one “Maybe I Should Have Stayed In Bed”, which is the prequel to the first one “Rhinos, Winos And Lunatics”, which has the funniest cover photo in rock biography history. I challenge you to find one that beats it. The third one “Maximum Darkness” is a bit less interesting, but is the necessary conclusion of the tale of Deke’s exploits. “The Twang Dynasty” is a series of essays on guitarists Deke admired. “In The Land Of My Fathers” is Deke’s homage to Wales’s great guitarists. Both books have their moments, several of them, but they don’t really hit the spot like the previous three. “Deke Speaks” is a collection of musings, diary notes and articles he wrote. For completists.
Currently trying to avoid reading more of “Straight Life: The Story Of Art Pepper”, co-written by him and his wife Laurie. A truly fucked-up individual. Brilliant jazz musician but also an out-of-control junkie, habitual thief, jailbird and generally unsavoury person for most of his life. Amazing he came through such a twisted life at all. The telling of the story is unflinching and no attempt is made to make him appealing. Thus it needs to be put aside from time to time just so that I can lighten up a bit.
To get a reasonably rounded view of Miles Davis, you need to read all three of the available biographies. They’re all well worth a read.
The “official” biography, “Miles: The Autobiography”, dictated by Miles himself to Quincy Troupe is a good starting point. The Ian Carr one “Miles Davis: The Definitive Biography” should be read next for extra detail and a certain amount of dirt that was airbrushed out in the Troupe book. Follow these with John Szwed’s “So What: The Life Of Miles Davis” and you’ll have a pretty good picture of him.
I read Miles’s autobiography ten years ago. Very entertaining.
Great chat Twang and gang. Thank you.
OK that does it, I’m going to have to seek out the Deke Leonard books. They sound fantastic. Also the Tracy Thorn/ Ben Watt offerings. Never heard a bad word about them.
Surprised there was no mention of the Warren Zevon biography by his (I think) first ex-wife Crystal. Great read, if a bit grim and not much about his music. What a complex guy he was.
I also enjoyed the old Neil’s “Waging Heavy Peace” despite him banging on bit too much about model trains and MP3 players.
What about “Hammer of the Gods”. I’ve always meant to read that. Any good or just a load of dirt?
Hammer is good from a unofficial dirt perspective, not very well written but it’s a classic and if you like Zep it’s required reading!
See also The Dirt, which is easily the best thing Mötley Crüe have ever been a part of.
…and also, though not a bio, it is music related. Mark Ellen’s “Rock Starts Stole my Life” was hilariously fantastic. Not sure about the other guy’s theory laden volumes.
Spot on, a cracking read. I read it with his voice in my head and it was terrific. Then I downloaded the audiobook as well, because Mark WAS reading it. It was like the best HORA’s, back to back.
Re Hammer Of The Gods. Highly entertaining with a Trump-like approach to facts.
Re Neil. His second – expensive divorce, I guess – autobiography used cars he’s owned as its starting point. AUTObiography. Gerrit?
Another shout out for Guy Pratt’s terrific My Bass and Other Animals. I loved it.
Thanks gents – I enjoyed that. I might have a convalescence period coming up so some food for thought there.
FWIW Guy Pratt is married to Rick Wright’s daughter. At the Portsmouth Saucer Full Of Secrets gig Guy reported that his mother in law was in attendance.
Saw one of Guy’s stand-up shows. His account of his wife and Jon Lord’s daughter popping in to a rehearsal involving David Coverdale will, I think, stay with me forever. “These are dark days for a swordsman, Guy…”
Finally got around to this. Excellent work, guys!
My personal recommendations are the only official Beatles biography by Hunter Davies, he was actually there when they are recording Pepper. Familiar story if you read it now, but he was the first, I read it in about 77 when I was 15 so a bit of an eye opener. Actually Love Me Do – The Beatles Progress (Michael Braun) precedes it, and is a superb and accurate account of the start of Beatlemania.
Other great Beatles books apart form Lewisohn include The Illustrated Record (Tyler/Carr) and Beatles Forever (Schaffner).
Also, Dave Marsh’s Born to Run, written before he moved into hagiography. I found it incredibly exciting at the time (ca 1983).
Stanley Booth’s the True Adventures of the Rolling Stones took a while to come out but is superb.
I echo those who love the Julian Cope books, really brilliant, I seem to have misplaced my copies, so need to buy again. Also struggled with the Graham Nash book, picked up an aurographed copy at a concert over a year ago and didn’t finish it yet. Enjoyed Peter Hook’s books even if they all tended to boil down to somewhat repetitive observations about them being completely out of it on drugs and Barney being a twat (again!)
Haven’t picked up the Jeff Tweedy one yet, but I have no doubts it will be brilliant!
Did anybody ever read All They Needed Was Love by ?John Blake?
I’ve finally had my bath. Great cast! I mean that literally. Sounded like Tony Wilson, George Harrison, Neil Tennant and Neil Morrissey having a chin wag.
I’m off to buy Pratt’s book.
Neil Morrissey? That’s cold.
Hope your bath was warmer.
I like Neil. Not the other one, the fascist. Neil is very bright and erudite.
Martin Clunes is a fascist??
Is that a Half Man Half Biscuit B side?
I am flattered to be likened to any of those august gentlemen
I should hope so, too. I meant it as a compliment. 😃
@Twang – dimly recall saying to you that I’d send you backups of the ‘Deke reading his books’ CDs when I found ’em.
Good news is they’ve surfaced at last – drop a line if you’d still like them!