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Review: Confusion
David Nolan’s first book, ‘I Swear I Was There – The Gig That Changed The World’ was very well received by both the music press and also music fans everywhere. I don’t doubt that his latest book, ‘Confusion’ will be regarded as essential reading matter for any fan of the Manchester music scene.
Confusion: Joy Division, Electronic And New Order Versus The World
- David Nolan, Independent Music Press, 2007
ISBN 13: 978-0-9552822-6-3
David Nolan’s first book, ‘I Swear I Was There – The Gig That Changed The World’ was very well received by both the music press and also music fans everywhere. I don’t doubt that his latest book, ‘Confusion’ will be regarded as essential reading matter for any fan of the Manchester music scene.
I started reading it on the train to Stoke and then Manchester and back. Making the train journey to Manchester from London has always seemed to me to be a real pain and I do get bored easily – short attention span, you see.
Reading ‘Confusion’ disoriented me. Yes, almost confused. I arrived at my destination thinking, ‘Have two hours gone by already?’ They had, thanks to a really good read that actually managed to keep my attention.
The title of this book seems to promise brand new stories and insights into the life and times of its subject, but as some people have pointed out, there are many anecdotes here that have already been well-covered elsewhere – in the music press, on forums and in the fairly rare interviews with Bernard Sumner. However, the author elaborates on all of these, so that they are not only put into context, but ‘personalised’. All of these are given a different slant and a more in-depth view into what would appear to be the ‘real’ stories. There are also many revelations throughout the book that the ‘average’ New Order fan, let alone those merely ‘interested’ will not find familiar.
David Nolan has written a very well researched investigation into the life and times of Bernard Sumner, guitarist and synth player with Joy Division and singer/guitarist with New Order. I found that many of the more interesting anecdotes are courtesy of Terry Mason, New Order’s ex-tour manager and ex-friend of Bernard. They reveal many insights into what went on over the last 30 years, even if Bernard does sometimes disagree with the quotes on which he comments.
For those expecting simple Bernard Sumner ‘facts’ that they can rattle off in a pub conversation, or on a website, maybe disappointment awaits – the book deals with many other issues too, especially The Hacienda story, but it does deal with Bernard Sumner, the man and the personality therein. There have been many Joy Division and New Order books, mainly dealing with facts, gig lists, catalogue numbers, etc. but no other book has thus far managed to reveal the man behind the whooping, ‘dad-dancing’ front man of New Order.
I do feel that this is what makes the book all the better. Nearly everything covered here is in context. You can tell that David Nolan is a University lecturer – the reader is given an introduction to each new topic and the context is set in an interesting manner without detracting from the theme of the text. You are then given the body of the story; the ‘juicy bits’ if you like, followed by comments and an interpretation of the events described. You may agree or disagree with these interpretations, that’s always at the discretion of the reader, but no one can deny that the interest is piqued.
The book examines the social aspects of Manchester, Salford and the surrounding area over the period covered and delves into the underlying factors that helped to create not just Joy Division and New Order, but Factory, The Hacienda, the ‘Madchester’ scene and the surrounding personalities and events. It also puts Bernard Sumner into that context and does so very well indeed, examining family and relationship situations, musical and financial issues and more importantly some of the less public aspects of his personality.
Another aspect that sets this biography apart is the late addition (just weeks before printing) of comments on the text by Bernard himself – a ‘first’ for Mr Nolan. It’s left up to the reader to make their own judgement on which version of events is ‘the truth’ and David very wisely doesn’t comment on these either way, but gives a balanced view throughout.
The book doesn’t give a definitive view of Bernard – who could? But as is stated in the text, he’s a very private man and David Nolan has managed to get far further towards the truth than anyone else so far.
This is a stylishly written book, I found it an excellent read – the narrative flows well and retains the interest of the reader. It’s not one of those books that you keep putting down with the intention of reading later. You pick it up, you read it and the world can just fuck off… just for a bit, making it a must-have for a long train journey and certainly one for any Joy Division/New Order fan to add to their collection.
In short, it’s great – buy it.
For anyone wanting to buy a copy of the book and get it signed, the official launch is scheduled for 1st September 2007 at the Bull's Head, Market Square, Stockport.
Go on, you know you want to. If you don’t, you’ll wish you had…
Chris Nash
New Order Online, 2007
Buy this book on:
Amazon UK
Amazon USA
Amazon Canada
- David Nolan, Independent Music Press, 2007
ISBN 13: 978-0-9552822-6-3
David Nolan’s first book, ‘I Swear I Was There – The Gig That Changed The World’ was very well received by both the music press and also music fans everywhere. I don’t doubt that his latest book, ‘Confusion’ will be regarded as essential reading matter for any fan of the Manchester music scene.
I started reading it on the train to Stoke and then Manchester and back. Making the train journey to Manchester from London has always seemed to me to be a real pain and I do get bored easily – short attention span, you see.
Reading ‘Confusion’ disoriented me. Yes, almost confused. I arrived at my destination thinking, ‘Have two hours gone by already?’ They had, thanks to a really good read that actually managed to keep my attention.
The title of this book seems to promise brand new stories and insights into the life and times of its subject, but as some people have pointed out, there are many anecdotes here that have already been well-covered elsewhere – in the music press, on forums and in the fairly rare interviews with Bernard Sumner. However, the author elaborates on all of these, so that they are not only put into context, but ‘personalised’. All of these are given a different slant and a more in-depth view into what would appear to be the ‘real’ stories. There are also many revelations throughout the book that the ‘average’ New Order fan, let alone those merely ‘interested’ will not find familiar.
David Nolan has written a very well researched investigation into the life and times of Bernard Sumner, guitarist and synth player with Joy Division and singer/guitarist with New Order. I found that many of the more interesting anecdotes are courtesy of Terry Mason, New Order’s ex-tour manager and ex-friend of Bernard. They reveal many insights into what went on over the last 30 years, even if Bernard does sometimes disagree with the quotes on which he comments.
For those expecting simple Bernard Sumner ‘facts’ that they can rattle off in a pub conversation, or on a website, maybe disappointment awaits – the book deals with many other issues too, especially The Hacienda story, but it does deal with Bernard Sumner, the man and the personality therein. There have been many Joy Division and New Order books, mainly dealing with facts, gig lists, catalogue numbers, etc. but no other book has thus far managed to reveal the man behind the whooping, ‘dad-dancing’ front man of New Order.
I do feel that this is what makes the book all the better. Nearly everything covered here is in context. You can tell that David Nolan is a University lecturer – the reader is given an introduction to each new topic and the context is set in an interesting manner without detracting from the theme of the text. You are then given the body of the story; the ‘juicy bits’ if you like, followed by comments and an interpretation of the events described. You may agree or disagree with these interpretations, that’s always at the discretion of the reader, but no one can deny that the interest is piqued.
The book examines the social aspects of Manchester, Salford and the surrounding area over the period covered and delves into the underlying factors that helped to create not just Joy Division and New Order, but Factory, The Hacienda, the ‘Madchester’ scene and the surrounding personalities and events. It also puts Bernard Sumner into that context and does so very well indeed, examining family and relationship situations, musical and financial issues and more importantly some of the less public aspects of his personality.
Another aspect that sets this biography apart is the late addition (just weeks before printing) of comments on the text by Bernard himself – a ‘first’ for Mr Nolan. It’s left up to the reader to make their own judgement on which version of events is ‘the truth’ and David very wisely doesn’t comment on these either way, but gives a balanced view throughout.
The book doesn’t give a definitive view of Bernard – who could? But as is stated in the text, he’s a very private man and David Nolan has managed to get far further towards the truth than anyone else so far.
This is a stylishly written book, I found it an excellent read – the narrative flows well and retains the interest of the reader. It’s not one of those books that you keep putting down with the intention of reading later. You pick it up, you read it and the world can just fuck off… just for a bit, making it a must-have for a long train journey and certainly one for any Joy Division/New Order fan to add to their collection.
In short, it’s great – buy it.
For anyone wanting to buy a copy of the book and get it signed, the official launch is scheduled for 1st September 2007 at the Bull's Head, Market Square, Stockport.
Go on, you know you want to. If you don’t, you’ll wish you had…
Chris Nash
New Order Online, 2007
Buy this book on:
Amazon UK
Amazon USA
Amazon Canada
From the NewOrderOnline archive.
Thanks to: Chris Nash / David Nolan
