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Redemption Song - The Definitive Biography of Joe Strummer (Paperback) Loot Price: R374
Discovery Miles 3 740
You Save: R114 (23%)

Redemption Song - The Definitive Biography of Joe Strummer (Paperback)

Chris Salewicz

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List price R488 Loot Price R374 Discovery Miles 3 740 You Save R114 (23%)

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A laborious consideration of the life of the Clash's late front man.Salewicz (Reggae Explosion, 2002, etc.) covered the career of singer-guitarist Joe Strummer for years, as a correspondent for the New Musical Express and other U.K. periodicals. The writer grew very close to his subject, but that intimacy does not enhance this sprawling, messy authorized biography. Like his band, Strummer embodied the contradictions of the late-'70s punk-rock movement: Born John Mellor in Ankara, Turkey, to a British foreign-service officer and educated privately, he recreated himself as a squatter in London and got involved in the city's pub-rock and punk scenes. The Clash became punk's poster boys; cast as righteous rockers while signed to a major label, they were often accused, in the words of one of the band's own songs, of "turning rebellion into money." Strummer gets somewhat lost in the shuffle during the book's long central section, which recounts the Clash's triumphant, contentious history, though he does emerge as a conflicted character capable of equal measures of love and ruthlessness. (He expelled lead guitarist Mick Jones from his own band.) The book stops dead during a section about the musician's lost decade after the Clash's breakup; Strummer's film work, escalating drug and alcohol abuse and often aimless travel are enumerated in wearying detail. The tale comes back to life in the late chapters recalling Strummer's musical renaissance with the Mescaleros before his death from a heart defect in 2002. Only a true Clash devotee is likely to make it that far. Salewicz tells his story with the vanity of a court biographer, and he displays a confounding love for endless, unpruned quotes and tour itineraries; some chapters bear obvious evidence of their genesis as music-weekly pieces. He is relatively uncritical of his buddy's frequent meanness and chronic infidelity, and there is little insight into the sources of his long-term depression and alcoholism.Intelligent editing, less fact-churning and more analysis would have served this overlong tome well. (Kirkus Reviews)
The definitive biography of Joe Strummer, released with a new epilogue to mark the 60th anniversary of his birth. Chris Salewicz was an intimate friend of Strummer's for over 25 years. Drawing on more than 300 interviews with family, friends and associates, this is a comprehensive, compelling insight into the man behind The Clash. The Clash was the most influential band of its generation, producing punk anthems including 'London Calling', 'White Riot' and 'Tommy Gun'. For countless fans across the world, they are the ultimate iconic mainstays of their generation. With his talent, extreme good looks and laid-back attitude Joe Strummer was the driving force behind the band: he was the archetypal punk frontman. His untimely death in December 2002 shook the world to its core. Written with full approval and co-operation of relatives, companions and fellow musicians, this is the ultimate account of one of British rock & roll's most fascinating idols: his life, his work and his immeasurable impact on the world. Redemption Song is the best and last word on the subject.

General

Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Release date: October 2007
Authors: Chris Salewicz
Dimensions: 197 x 130 x 35mm (L x W x T)
Format: Paperback - B-format
Pages: 680
ISBN-13: 978-0-00-717212-2
Categories: Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Film, television, music, theatre
Books > Arts & Architecture > Music > Contemporary popular music > Rock & pop > General
Books > Biography > Film, television, music, theatre
Books > Music > Contemporary popular music > Rock & pop > General
LSN: 0-00-717212-5
Barcode: 9780007172122

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