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Posts Tagged Biography

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December 18, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

Books That Blew My Mind # 1: “Is That It?” by Bob Geldof

Is That It?, by Bob Geldof I’m often asked what my favourite music bio is – or favourite “music book” – and the answer I usually want to give is this, Bob Geldof’s autobiography. Except it isn’t really about music – and it wasn’t really the book that lit the fuse for me. It was […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Autobiography, Biography, Bob Geldef, Book, Books That Blew My Mind, Books That Blew My Mind # 1, Books That Blew My Mind # 1: “Is That It?” by Bob Geldof, Boomtown Rats, Is That It?, Live Aid, Music Book, Pink Floyd The Wall, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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December 20, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

Parker Posey: You’re On An Airplane

You’re On An Airplane: A Self-Mythologizing Memoir Parker Posey Blue Rider Press In the 1990s Parker Posey started appearing in movies; quirky films, funny films. She was savage or sexy or cheeky or some combination of those things – she was weird and wonderful, a little odd and a lot of wonderful. She was a […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged 90s, A Self-Mythologizing Memoir, Acting, Actor, Autobiography, Biography, Blue Rider Press, Book, Book Review, Christopher Guest, Film, Memoir, Movies, Nostalgia, Parker Posey, Parker Posey: You’re On An Airplane, TV, Writer, Writing, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, You’re On An Airplane, You’re On An Airplane: A Self-Mythologizing Memoir ·

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December 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

Michael Diamond/Adam Horovitz: Beastie Boys Book

Beastie Boys Book Michael Diamond/Adam Horovitz Spiegel & Grau It finally arrived – after so much talk and plenty of hype, the memoir of The Beastie Boys written by its two surviving members. When Adam Yauch (MCA) died from cancer in 2012 that was the end of the group. Respectfully and realistically Michael Diamond (Mike […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Adam Horowitz, Adam Yauch, AdRock, Autobiography, Band, Band Biography, Beastie Boys, Beastie Boys Book, Bio, Biography, Book, Book Review, MCA, Memoir, Michael Diamond, Michael Diamond/Adam Horovitz, Michael Diamond/Adam Horovitz: Beastie Boys Book, Mike D, Spiegel & Grau, The Beastie Boys, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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April 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

I Wrote The Liner Notes For Darren Watson’s New Album – Too Many Millionaires

I’ve been asked a few times to write testimonials – mostly for funding applications, for an artist seeking a residency or some such. Once or twice I’ve been asked to writer liner notes. Most recently Darren Watson asked me if I’d contribute some words to his brand new, upcoming album, Too Many Millionaires. I was […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged 2018), Biography, Blues, Darren Watson, DW, I Wrote The Liner Notes For Darren Watson’s New Album, I Wrote The Liner Notes For Darren Watson’s New Album – Too Many Millionaires, Liner Notes, Liners, LP, May 1, NZ Tour, Singer/Songwriter, Too Many Millionaires, Vinyl, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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September 19, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

Mick Wall: Prince – Purple Reign

Prince: Purple Reign Mick Wall Trapeze Three months after the shock death of Prince Mick Wall releases this biography, well it purports to be a biography – there’s nothing new here and nothing for any Prince fan to learn. The book begins with the 911 call which seems particularly cold. But this is Mick Wall […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Biography, Book, Book Review, Mick Wall, Prince, Prince - Purple Reign, Purple Rain, Purple Reign ·

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July 29, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

Scott McClanahan/Ricardo Cavolo: The Incantations of Daniel Johnston

The Incantations of Daniel Johnston Scott McClanahan (Text) Ricardo Cavolo (Artist) Two Dollar Radio Here Daniel Johnston’s life has been lovingly paid tribute to in a rather exquisitely made graphic novel/biography. The non-fiction graphic novel can at times get bogged down when trying to find room for text but still have something to say, image-wise, […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Artwork, Bio, Biography, Book, Book Review, Daniel Johnston, Drawings, Graphic Novel, Jeff Tartakov, Music, Non-FIction, Ricardo Cavolo, Scott McClanahan, Scott McClanahan (Text) Ricardo Cavolo (Artist), The Incantations of Daniel Johnston, Two Dollar Radio ·

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May 31, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

Brandon Easton/Denis Medri: Andre The Giant – Closer To Heaven

Andre The Giant: Closer to Heaven Brandon Easton (Text) Denis Medri (Artist) IDW Publishing An impressive effort this, Eisner Award nominated writer Brandon Easton and illustrator Denis Medri manage to take us right into the world of Andre The Giant in this graphic biography, one part tribute, one part journalism – the impressionistic world of […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged acromegaly, Actor, Andre, Andre The Giant: Closer To Heaven, Bio, Biography, Book, Book Review, Brandon Easton, Brandon Easton/Denis Medri: Andre The Giant - Closer To Heaven, Closer To Heaven, Comic, Comic Book, Denis Medri, Film, Giant, Graphic Memoir, Graphic Novel, Hulk Hogan, Memoir, Pro-Wrestler, Pro-Wrestling, The Princess Bride, Wrestling, WWE, WWF ·

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January 6, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

Warren Zanes: Petty – The Biography

Petty: The Biography Warren Zanes Henry Holt & Co/First Edition edition Tom Petty – class act. Magnificent run of albums and singles, kick-ass live band, a bit of time out on his own, but a fantastic bandleader, also a member of music’s first serious attempt at a living Mount Rushmore of Rock band, The Traveling […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Biography, Bob Dylan, Book, Book Review, Dusty In Memphis, George Harrison, Interviews, Live Anthology, Music Bio, Peter Bogdonavich, Petty: The Biography, Runnin' Down A Dream, Stan Lynch, Stevie Nicks, The Heartbreakers, The Traveling Wilburys, Tom Petty, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, Warren Zanes: Petty - The Biography ·

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January 14, 2015 by Simon Sweetman

Bernard Purdie: Let The Drums Speak! The Life Story of the World’s Most Recorded Drummer

Let The Drums Speak! The Life Story of the World’s Most Recorded Drummer Bernard Purdie/Jack Hoban Pretty Media LLC What a giant disappointment this was. Here I was looking forward to some great stories about one of the world’s very best drummers, instead I was bored silly with stories of him growing up a paperboy, […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Autobiography, Bernard Purdie, Biography, Book, Book Review, Drums, Jack Hoban, Let The Drums Speak, Let The Drums Speak! The Life Story of the World’s Most Recorded Drummer, Memoir ·

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November 18, 2014 by Simon Sweetman

Bob Zmuda/Lynne Margulies: Andy Kaufman – The Truth, Finally

Andy Kaufman: The Truth, Finally Bob Zmuda/Lynne Margulies BenBella Books Bob Zmuda was Andy Kaufman’s writing partner and they took turns playing Tony Clifton, giving life to a grotesque. Zmuda has worked hard to keep the spirit of Andy Kaufman alive and here, in a book co-written with Kaufman’s partner Lynne Margulies, Zmuda does his […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Andy Kaufman, Andy Kaufman: The Truth Finally, BenBella Books, Biography, Bob Zmuda, Book, Book Review, Comedy, Finally, Hoax, Lynne Margulies, Memoir, Performance Art, Taxi, The Man On The Moon, The Truth, Tony Clifton ·

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October 22, 2014 by Simon Sweetman

Moses Mackay/Amitai Pati/Pene Pati: Sol3 Mio – Our Story

Sol3 Mio: Our Story Moses Mackay/Amitai Pati/Pene Pati Penguin Sole Mio (or Sol3 Mio as it is stylised) had the biggest selling album in New Zealand in 2013 – they backed that up with concerts that showcased down-to-earth personalities and homegrown humour. They quickly became – seemingly out of nowhere – a phenomenon. So now, […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Amitai Pati, Band Bio, Band Biography, Biography, Book Review, Moses Mackay, Moses Mackay/Amitai Pati/Pene Pati, Music, Music Book, Opera, Pene Pati, Penguin, Sol3 Mio, Sole Mio ·

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August 14, 2014 by Simon Sweetman

Tom Doyle: Man On The Run – Paul McCartney in the 1970s

Man on the Run: Paul McCartney in the 1970s Tom Doyle Polygon Here we have a look at Paul McCartney’s seventies decade, painted as a time of tumult for one of the world’s biggest pop stars. It’s interesting to study McCartney in the isolation of one decade. The 1970s was the decade that saw Paul […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged 1970s, Band On The Run, Bio, Biography, Book Review, Denny Laine, John Lennon, Linda McCartney, Man On The Run, Man On The Run: Paul McCartney in the 1970s, Music Book, Paul, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Tom Doyle, Wings ·
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