Books read August 2014
12-12-2024: Originally these three book reviews were posted separately on the same day back in 2014. While updating the entries from my original blogspot I thought I’d make much more sense to combine them into one entry.
John King: Human Punk
Publisher: Jonathan Cape/Random House; Year: 2000; Format: Book
If you like punk rock and would like nothing more than see it through the eyes of someone who was there in 1977 but wasn't a fashion victim but in it for the music and the laugh, then do yourself a favor and try tracking down a copy of this novel published in 2000. This book will make you laugh and cry at the same time, but above all it will lead you to appreciate John King's street language, telling it how it is or as in this case how it was. It is the story of Joe, a fifteen year old kid from Slough, a satellite town outside of London. Together with his mates he develops a love for punk rock, stale lager, girls in PVC skirts and chinese takeaway. One day though Joe and his best mate Smiles fall victim to a group of local lads who see them as easy pray, and nothing is ever the same from that point onward. In the next two parts of the novel Joe talks about all the years since that crucial night in 1977, and goes through life and growing up in a satellite town, the rise of Thatcher, the demise of jobs, his own traveling to Hong Kong and the eventual return to Slough and an England that has changed since the heydays of punk rock. There is always a good portion of music references thrown in, and the book will most certainly appeal to people into punk rock as well as readers interested in how British society and attitudes have changed from the '70s onwards. Highly recommended!
Alex Ogg: Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Publisher: PM Press; Author: Alex Ogg; Year: 2014; Format: Book
Finally a legit book on the early days/years of the Dead Kennedys, maybe the most important punk rock band the United States has ever produced (sorry Ramones!). UK based author and connoisseur of everything regarding the early days of punk/hardcore, Alex Ogg, has once again done a damn fine job at gathering and compiling information from as many people as possible, and from every possible angle as well. Now, anybody that is just slightly in the know what has been happening in terms of the relationship between the band members will be well aware that Mr. Ogg must have gone well beyond our imagination in regard to his patience as all versions and opinions from all members needed to be heard and taken into account. I suppose that is why this book concentrates on the days predating the DK's first album, and on the recording and touring after the classic album was released. Of course there is far more to tell when it comes to DK's rich history, but as Alex Ogg puts it in the book, that should be for someone else to tackle. In my opinion no one else could do a better job as Mr. Ogg himself again. This is a great read when it comes to discovering the life stories of each member, how they ended up as a tight unit writing some of the most brilliant punk rock songs ever, and what has influenced them before the term "punk" was even coined. At the same time the book provides the reader a glimpse of the early San Francisco scene and the bands and people that made things happening. While this is a relatively short read, you will walk away with a far better understanding and knowledge of how the DK's became a world wide phenomenon.
Seb Hunter: Hell Bent For Leather - Confessions of a Heavy Metal Addict
Publisher: Fourth Estate/Harper Collins; Year: 2004; Format: Book
While I am most certainly not a big fan of heavy metal per se I am certainly always open to a good read and a few years back I recall reading a review in regard to this novel which must have caught my attention. In the end I found the book on sale at Foyles in London, and that's how it ended up in my collection. It took literally years for me to open it and read it but just like the author himself I must make a confession on my own in saying that I had a hard time putting it down at nights. Let it be very clear that you don't have to be into heavy metal to appreciate Seb Hunter's life story and his addiction to said music genre. Sure there are parts in the book which drag on where for instance the author goes on to define genres such as glam metal, thrash metal and the likes, but overall the novel is about Seb and his witty stories on growing up in Winchester in the south of England, joining his first band, gigging locally, local punks throwing beer cans at them and his eventual move to the big smoke aka London. In my opinion London also marks the best parts of this book as there are so many hilarious stories being told by Seb, including living in squats, the pursuit of a career in heavy metal music at all cost, groupies, and crazy band members that would kill you over a girl. All in all I can only say that I've really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't help laughing out loud on many occasions.
This podcast interview is from 2023 proving that Seb’s book is still talked about twenty years after it was published, and rightfully so.
