Nearly breath-by-breath biography of the influential Irish musician
who has made a dent in rock, blues, folk, country and jazz. This
comprehensiveness is particularly impressive considering that, in
the more than 600 pages from music biographer Rogan (Neil Young,
not reviewed), there is nary a word directly from the reclusive
Morrison's lips. Rogan's analyses of Morrison's musical palette,
critical standing and public image are exhaustive yet never
exhausting. Juggling social, political, musical, psychological and
personal elements, he creates a shape-shifting portrait of the
artist, whom he notes is, at his core, obdurate, independent,
passionate, adventurous, blunt and spiritually uneasy. Among the
book's many riveting topics: Morrison's embryonic intensity and
raw, bluesy sexuality; his interlude in Woodstock while the Bogside
burned; his gypsy apotheosis; and his Janus-like qualities. Most
fascinating, however, is the author's exploration of Morrison's
hometown, Belfast, which informed the musician's "no surrender"
attitude. This child of the '60s, who has displayed "poor
communication skills, aggressive impatience, and absence of
empathy," hoped for peace between his Catholic and Protestant
neighbors and is not, in any case, a political animal. It was all
about the music, singing with the ache of gospel and the joy of
love, sharing the deep-running sentiment of his youth. Sprightly
despite its amplitude, a narrative of propulsive drive that is also
a reflective, associative piece of social history. (Kirkus Reviews)
Reclusive, difficult and enigmatic, Van Morrison is a gifted
singer-songwriter and an endlessly complicated man. In Van
Morrison: No Surrender, Johnny Rogan has produced a provocative and
revelatory biography of the musician, analysing the sense of place
in his work and the tortuous journey that took him from local fame
in Belfast to international success. Set against the cultural and
political backdrop of Belfast, before, during and after the
Troubles, No Surrender offers a unique and penetrating perspective
on Morrison's long career and the times that made him. This
paperback edition includes a new epilogue.
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