Had an email from Amazon this morning saying there is a delay with suppliers so the book will be delayed until 9th sept now.
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'Confusion' Bernard Sumner Biography - Reviews
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One niggle - And I've read the book through pretty quickly but I don't think Here to Stay was mentioned.
Chris Clayson wrote: One niggle - And I've read the book through pretty quickly but I don't think Here to Stay was mentioned.
have you not read the discography ?
The Haçienda must be (re)Built wrote:
Chris Clayson wrote: One niggle - And I've read the book through pretty quickly but I don't think Here to Stay was mentioned.
have you not read the discography ?
OK, apart from there. As I said, that was on quick read through and I never read discography's anyway. I just thought it was worthy of mention as HTS was the last truly great NO single (to my ears).
There's a fair bit of fodder in there culled from old interviews that I've never read before but to say it's an out-and-out biography of Bernard Sumner is stretching it to say the least.
The author goes out of his way to say it's not a blow-by-blow account of New Order's career but an in-depth look at Barney himself. As I read on and eventually finished the book I've come to the conclusion that essentially that's bollocks.
When I compare this work to something like Johnny Rogan's Morrissey book it so pales in comparision it's laughable. The birth of James - his first child - is mentioned almost in passing like it's not an earth-changing event and the subsequent 3 births afterwards are not even mentioned. 
A helluva lot is made of the Hacienda's money problems, too much in my opinion - that belongs in another book, not a Bernard Sumner biography. There is a quote from Bernard where he talks about his lyric-writing and how the words come from his sub-concious, however there is hardly no analysis of his lyrics anywhere in the work.
Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have and read this book than not have it and I understand because of his secretive nature that it must have been hard to research but to say it's a revealing biography of the man is bending the truth just a tad.
Saying all that, I'd recommend it to any JD/NO fan! :)
Daniel The Boy B wrote: Had an email from Amazon this morning saying there is a delay with suppliers so the book will be delayed until 9th sept now.
Likewise, so cancelled Amazon and ordered via Waterstones (who, allegedly, have 10 in stock)...
Nick King wrote:
Daniel The Boy B wrote: Had an email from Amazon this morning saying there is a delay with suppliers so the book will be delayed until 9th sept now.
Likewise, so cancelled Amazon and ordered via Waterstones (who, allegedly, have 10 in stock)...
I got lucky then I suppose. Postie delivered my Amazon copy on Saturday. Just as well as no shops around here will be stocking this.
I've yet to read it though, he's been staring at me but I've been too busy.
I have to agree - big song and dance about what the book isn't and then that's exactly what it is.
The biggest revelations were in the first chapter and after that it heads off into a compilation of clippings and interview quotes that we've all read before. Other than Bernards' replies it's nothing worth writing home about.
4/10 - drifted off the subject matter. A Member of the "na na na na-na" Forum.
adchelle wrote: When I compare this work to something like Johnny Rogan's Morrissey book it so pales in comparision it's laughable. The birth of James - his first child - is mentioned almost in passing like it's not an earth-changing event and the subsequent 3 births afterwards are not even mentioned.
)
Johnny Rogans book on The Smiths is beyond atrocious. Its one of the few books on music which i find to be unreadable. In many ways, its less of a music book than it is an anlysis of Irish immigrants in the 1950's. Very little attention is paid to the music itself and contains minimal interesting information.
Its surprising that so many books have been written on the two members of the Smiths, yet none of them are actually any good.
I'm just finishing the Johnny Marr one and I've really enjoyed it. The Smiths and the Art of Gunslinging.
It's got pictures in it and everything.
Uncle Liam wrote: Johnny Rogans book on The Smiths is beyond atrocious.
Did he ever end up in that M3 pileup Moz wished upon him?
ally wrote:
Uncle Liam wrote: Johnny Rogans book on The Smiths is beyond atrocious.
Did he ever end up in that M3 pileup Moz wished upon him?
Unfortunately not (and I've read the Smiths book - it's rubbish)...
He did write a subsequent book "Morrissey: The Albums", in amongst writing biographies on Neil Young and Van Morrison - haven't read any of those... 
Fac328 wrote: I thought Simon Goddard's Songs That Saved Your Life was excellent.
The first one is full of lies- which isnt a surprise considering its main sourceswere rourke and joyce.
The second one is just dull.
Amazingly, people write these books which are basically about Morrissey's lyrics, and talk to the people who had notihng to do with the lyrics!
Not a good read.The author struggles for origial material,i'm fed up of reading about the Hacienda and it's money problems (not like it hasn't been done before).I feel sure that more could have written about the Electronic period of Barneys carreer.
I'm 140 pages in.Lets hope the end of the book is as good as the start.
Anyone seen it in a shop not in Manchester yet? I looked in HMV, Virgin, Waterstones and WH Smiths at Meadowhall at lunchtime to no avail!
Yes, i shall order it online instead.
Edd wrote: Anyone seen it in a shop not in Manchester yet? I looked in HMV, Virgin, Waterstones and WH Smiths at Meadowhall at lunchtime to no avail!
Yes, i shall order it online instead.
SAME problem yesterday but they had 4 copies at the URBIS.thanks to MONTY he mentioned this at the weekend i think.Read the start of it sunbathing at THE SHAMBLES.It starts well but now it is a bit of a PLOD!Still may feel different by the time i'm finished.One or two of BARNEY's comments are CLASS.Maybe HE should have written a SHORT story.
I got mine from Waterstones in Putney - there was only one copy
Decent book, could have been better. The last third or so was pretty boring, it turned into typical Hacienda/Gunchester/Electronic fare instead of covering new ground. Some interesting tidbits too though.
quite enjoying it.
loads i never knew about the shitty way the Hass was run, and its early days. Gretton sounds like a bewt. like the Barney quotes too. Bernard: So Ian was a Nazi, Racist and a Paedo...
I'll give it a 
Only done the first two or three chapters so far. Really enjoying it, though to be honest, I know most of the stuff that's been written, obviously there are a couple of revelations not many people knew, but I won't spoil it for those who have yet to read it.
Barney's interactions really help the book along, found masel laughing out loud a couple of times
Just attended the Nolan book launch and was accosted several times by inquistive revellers as to whether i was trainee fetish steve...will the real steve please make himself known...and if hes owt like worth his rep....show us yer dublins.....prefer the rhodes me self
transmission played a JD set....i was orgasmic with anticipation, apart from NO at mcr apollo thats it for JD songs in real life, good musicians...shit sound ...elementary set up cock ups caused unecessary fedback
Finished the book this arvo.
A definite "must have" but if you've been on the sites and collected the fanzines / cuttings / dvd's etc... over the years, don't expect too many revelations. Overall it was well put together and thoroughly enjoyable with several moments forcing me to laugh out. Barney attacking an American PR guy after a gig was one of those moments.
Again, the book is all the better for Barney's added on bits in the book.
And I believe Mr Nolan says this site has a
"Na na na-na-na" culture.
SPOT ON.
