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Roadie: My Life on the Road with Coldplay Hardcover – July 1, 2010

by Matt McGinn (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 121 ratings
Stuffed with insightful and authoritative rock 'n' roll tour stories about daily roadie duties, this is an insider's guide to what it means to live and work with global superstars in the world of rock 'n' roll. This memoir covers the job, the road, the gigs, the band, the relationships, the fame, the failing equipment, and the cold beers after a great show. Behind-the-scenes touring and recording stories are featured, as well as humorous and engaging anecdotes about Matt's relationship with Coldplay as they travel the globe and become one of the biggest bands in the world.
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  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Anova Books
  4. Publication date
    July 1, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1906032653
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1906032654
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[McGinn] shares an intimate, engaging and, more often than not, hilarious, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like on the road for an outfit as big as Coldplay."—PopMatters.com

About the Author

Matt McGinn is a full-time roadie for the band Coldplay, and a key member of its touring force and trusted friend. He was present during the recording of the last two albums, and has circled the globe many, many times.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anova Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2010
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 0
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1906032653
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1906032654
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #5,406,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 121 ratings

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Matt McGinn

Matt McGinn

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
121 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book to be a great read with a terrific sense of humor, and one customer notes it's particularly entertaining for Coldplay and music industry fans. Moreover, the book is well-written and filled with behind-the-scenes information, with one customer highlighting its detailed insights into the band's chemistry. Additionally, customers appreciate its enlightening content, with one review noting how it gets right into the important stuff.

Select to learn more

ReadabilityHumorEnlightenedInformation contentStory qualityWriting quality
13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great and fun read, particularly for Coldplay and music industry fans.

"This is a great book for the fan, filled with behind the scenes information to make your experience of the music even more impactful." Read more

"Great read for any true Coldplay music industry fan..." Read more

"Even if you know nothing about the music industry, this book is a great read...." Read more

"As a Coldplay fan, musician, and sports TV professional, I loved this book...." Read more

5 customers mention "Humor"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, with several noting its terrific sense of humor, and one describing it as a fantastic funny memoir of hanging with the biggest stars.

"...The author has a terrific sense of humor and actually seems to enjoy explaining how his world works...." Read more

"Top marks Matt; felt like I was there. Fantastic funny memoirs of hanging with the biggest (and best) band of our days. Thanks for sharing with us." Read more

"This was a fantastically written and absolutely witty account of a side of the musical industry that at least to me was a world unknown...." Read more

"...It's an easy read that I couldn't put down. Matt's hilarious and it's obvious that he has a real affection and respect not only for his bosses but..." Read more

4 customers mention "Enlightened"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enlightening, with one customer noting how it gets right into the important stuff and provides many insights into the band, while another appreciates how the author explains his world.

"Interesting perspective. I never thought about it, but it is like running away with the circus!..." Read more

"...Enlightening and entertaining." Read more

"...Matt McGinn gives so many insights into the band and the people around them.I'm enjoying it so much...Hate to finish it" Read more

"...has a terrific sense of humor and actually seems to enjoy explaining how his world works...." Read more

4 customers mention "Information content"3 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the book's information content, with one review highlighting its behind-the-scenes details and another noting its great detail about the band's chemistry.

"This is a great book for the fan, filled with behind the scenes information to make your experience of the music even more impactful." Read more

"Great book! Gives a great detail about the chemistry and behind the scenes of the band!" Read more

"Easy to read account but not much Technical info on the actual occupational duties and skills required of a Roadie/Guitar Tech such as Rig setup and..." Read more

"Fun and informative!..." Read more

4 customers mention "Story quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the stories in the book, with one customer highlighting the entertaining anecdotes from Matt McGinn and another noting it's a wonderful success story.

"...The stories are great, and I came away with a sense of awe at how it all gets done." Read more

"...Some good stories nonetheless." Read more

"...a Coldplay fan and interested in the music business and a truly wonderful success story that dreams are made of this book is for you!!!" Read more

"...Great inside stories about Coldplay from pre-Parachutes era to Viva La Vida tour; wonderful production stories..." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book.

"This was a fantastically written and absolutely witty account of a side of the musical industry that at least to me was a world unknown...." Read more

"Fast and fun read! Great writing, terrific sense of humor. Thank you so much Matt!" Read more

"This book is an honest, forward and excellent piece of writing. Matt wrote in a relaxed conversational tone...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • kms2135
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and informative!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Even if you know nothing about the music industry, this book is a great read. The author has a terrific sense of humor and actually seems to enjoy explaining how his world works. He avoids a lot of the tedious personal story that bogs down other biographies, and he gets right into the important stuff. The stories are great, and I came away with a sense of awe at how it all gets done.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Steven
    5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining read for Coldplay/Music Industry/Entertainment Folks
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    As a Coldplay fan, musician, and sports TV professional, I loved this book. Great inside stories about Coldplay from pre-Parachutes era to Viva La Vida tour; wonderful production stories (including about the legendary Brian Eno!); entertaining anecdotes from Matt McGinn, who has as a unique voice and is a fun storyteller (I wish each copy of the book came with a Becks). Read though this in less than a week.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Karen Henson Jones
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, so much fun!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Fast and fun read! Great writing, terrific sense of humor. Thank you so much Matt!
    Helpful
     Report
  • ro
    4.0 out of 5 stars cant put it down
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2010
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I'm a big Coldplay fan and this book is perfect.Matt McGinn gives so many insights into the band and the people around them.I'm enjoying it so much...Hate to finish it
    Helpful
     Report
  • E. Loeb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This was a fantastically written and absolutely witty account of a side of the musical industry that at least to me was a world unknown. It it so rare for people to find just one thing they are supposed to be doing in life, and Matt has been fortunate enough to be given the talent for two - a roadie for an uber-successful world touring band and an excellent writer. I'm not a books on tape type of reader, but his wit, charm and all out honesty makes me wish he could relay the book in person to me over a pint at a pub. He jumps right in with some quick history about himself, how he met the band and then before you know it POOF he's touring the world with Coldplay. He keeps an energetic pace throughout the book letting you in to discover the magnitude of preparation, production, exasperation and triumphs of a life on the road. To me, and probably a lot of fans, concert stages appear seamless as if they arrived by the snap of a finger, which clearly is not the case. What Matt details with the best humor is the extensive work and nerves involved for a touring band from the organization and set up of all moving parts of a stage and its equipment, to gauging the sound in an arena, the recommended way to sleep in a tour bus and the challenges of falling back into daily life when a tour has ended. Highly recommend. I did not want it to end. I hope he writes another about the Mylo tour!!!
    Helpful
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  • Anonym
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read
    Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Easy to read account but not much Technical info on the actual occupational duties and skills required of a Roadie/Guitar Tech such as Rig setup and gear. Some good stories nonetheless.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Joe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for any true Coldplay music industry fan
    Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Wonderful read if you are a Coldplay fan and interested in the music business and a truly wonderful success story that dreams are made of this book is for you!!!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Shivain Sacheti
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book! Keeps you on your toes
    Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great book! Gives a great detail about the chemistry and behind the scenes of the band!
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Robert
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and inspiring
    Reviewed in Germany on April 16, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    An honest, funny and truly insightful portrayal of what it feels like to be a roadie for one the most successful pop-rock bands of the 21st century. You can fully enjoy this book without even liking Coldplay. It's an inspiring autobiography that teaches you a lot about the unsung heroes of the music business and about life in general.
    Report
  • Kitsto
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The only problem with this book is that a lot of people won't read it because they think they don't like Coldplay ('think' because the world is divided into two: those who like Coldplay; and those who like Coldplay but don't know it yet).

    That would be a shame because this book is two things that most books about rock music aren't: very well written; and very funny. It helps that Matt was a proto-rock star himself. So he understands what it's like to harbour the ambition and try and try again and not succeed; which is what makes his insights into a band that has succeeded on such a massive scale so interesting.

    But the book isn't really about Coldplay. It's about how much work and effort goes into keeping a band going, quite apart from keeping it going on an upwards trajectory. And it's a pretty good manual about how to roadie and get on with your boss (in Matt's case Jonny Buckland) as well as *the* boss (Chris Martin - hint: give him a riff and he'll give you a song-writing co-credit; true story). As for insights [spoiler alert]: Guy Berryman appears slight of frame against the other three. In fact he's the same size as you or me; it's the others who (like footballers in the flesh) are huge.

    The other odd thing about the book is that it isn't particularly deferential to the band. It doesn't say anything outright nasty (this is Coldplay after all) but it isn't reverential either. Yet you get the feeling they don't mind, which is what also makes the book so good (and is what you'd expect of them).

    The quality of the writing is outstanding. The humour hides a lot of the art, but Matt's descriptions and images are striking. As Springsteen said in his excellent autobiography: 'If the music thing goes south I could always become a short-order chef'. In Matt's case, if the Coldplay thing goes south, he could always turn to scribbling about music and musicians to earn a crust.
    Report
  • Matt
    4.0 out of 5 stars As a touring crew member myself.....
    Reviewed in Canada on March 4, 2014
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This is a fun and insightful read. Perfect for a long flight to the next gig. Good on ya, Matt!
    Report
  • murray sincliar
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A great insight behind the scenes of arguably one of the biggest bands in the world
    Report
  • Tartan Noir
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Roadie Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Stuffed with insightful and authoritative rock 'n' roll tour stories about daily roadie duties, this is an insider's guide to what it means to live and work with global superstars in the world of rock 'n' roll. This memoir covers the job, the road, the gigs, the band, the relationships, the fame, the failing equipment, and the cold beers after a great show. Behind-the-scenes touring and recording stories are featured, as well as humorous and engaging anecdotes about Matt's relationship with Coldplay as they travel the globe and become one of the biggest bands in the world. Don't expect any dirt on the band as he still works for them.
    Report