Customer Reviews

Billy Bragg: Still Suitable for Miners: The Official Biography

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a Billy Bragg fan for many years I was thrilled to hear of the release of this biography, but even more anxious to see who was writing it for him. For as often happens when famous people let strangers script their thoughts; either they match /compliment the person they are writing about or they steal the show.

Here Collins works perfectly. It's almost as if two old buddies had been in a pub one afternoon and decided to thrash out a book one one of their lives. Although it must be noted that Billy is a very personable character, who is very easy to strike up a conversation with. That being said, Collins pulled off my walk in the park in matching Bragg's wit, humour, tales of a bananna and a woman (I can't say anymore) and political morals.

I love Billy Bragg and what he has adamantly stood for all his life, and I think I may just come to love Andrew Collins too. But one thing is for sure, this biography has earned my respect double big time!

Andrew Collins gives a somewhat complete biography of Billy Bragg from cradle to school to the Army to Wembley Stadium to Mermaid Avenue(some photos are included). Billy's development as songwriter and performer is material that all fans will enjoy. Collins also explores the business side of a musician that has remained true to his beliefs and also made a comfortable living. For North American fans, Collins gives us little insight into Billy's U.S. career beyond touring. This chapter may be about to be written with the success of Mermaid Avenue and his Grammy nomination. Billy is truly a great musician and human. I'm happy this book could document a life that has been full of great events and, in many ways, just getting started in the U.S.

Former "Q" magazine editor Andrew Collins writes this, the only real Billy Bragg biography. This makes it essential for any serious fan of the most famous export of Barking, England.

Collins had unlimited access to the Billy Bragg archive (kept by the man himself)and had the full co-operation of his subject; thus it could be assumed this is an "authorised" biograpy of sorts.

Detail is excellent and an interesting story unfolds. There are a couple of errors in things as simple as lyrics, but overall it's hard to fault this read.

If you're hoping to get the stories behind the songs, you're out of luck (though there is a particularly funny piece on The Saturday Boy and an insight into what made Worker's Playtime the album it is).

But if you're interested in what made Billy Bragg the performer he is, you can't go past this volume.

First: I am a HUGE Billy Bragg fan and have been since about 1990.

Second: This book was excellent.

The book really gives a great background on Billy's growing up, his influences, and his rise to "fame". It is great to see even the simple insights into his music, like the girl from "The Saturday Boy"...and how she approached him after all those years. Of course, he did not remember her, but that makes it all that much more ironic and colorful.

The book itself was clearly written, well-organized, and most importantly it finally gave us fans a great look into Billy's life and music.

Summary: ALL fans of Billy's should buy this book.

This book was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to any Bragg fan. There are plenty of amusing stories and the photos are worth the price alone. It's all about Billy -- how can you go wrong? One warning: The title is just the first in a series of bad, bad puns. ;)

A great book about a fantastic artist. AC covers the life and times of Bragg in good style. It was a pleasure. Will AC now write a lyrical review of Billy's back catalogue. Cheers, MC "The book you said to read, well I have read, and nothing's changed."

Billy Bragg's - Still Suitable for Miners might be great for Miner but not for Americans. If you are looking for insights into the music and the motiviations that created the great body of music avoid this book.