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No Mercy: The Authorized and Uncensored Biography of "The Stranglers"
"The Stranglers are the biggest-selling and longest-lasting band from the punk era. Yet, while their contemporaries such as the Sex Pistols and the Clash have had their comparatively short careers turned into biographies, the Stranglers' controversial career has remained undocumented. Until now.
NO MERCY traces the band's career from their beginnings on the mid-70s' pub rock circuit, to the success of their breakthrough album Rattus Norvegicus in 1977, through the experimental Raven and Meninblack albums, to their early 80s' commercial high point with the beautiful hymn to heroin 'Golden Brown'. Exclusively, the book tells the true story of the departure of lead vocalist Hugh Cornwell in the summer of 1990 before detailing the band's recent career with new vocalist Paul Roberts, as well as revealing the true date of birth (and real name) of the band's drummer, Jet Black, the self-styled oldest man in British rock!
David Buckley also looks in detail at some of the darker themes which have recurred throughout the band's career, at their alleged misogyny and their fixation with the colour black, and a macabre negativity which cast a shadow over the group in the early 1980s.
Drawing on exclusive photographic material, extensive interviews with the band members themselves, and with those who have worked with them during their twenty-two year career, David Buckley's biography tells the complete and uncensored story of one of the most creative and controversial bands in rock history."
NO MERCY traces the band's career from their beginnings on the mid-70s' pub rock circuit, to the success of their breakthrough album Rattus Norvegicus in 1977, through the experimental Raven and Meninblack albums, to their early 80s' commercial high point with the beautiful hymn to heroin 'Golden Brown'. Exclusively, the book tells the true story of the departure of lead vocalist Hugh Cornwell in the summer of 1990 before detailing the band's recent career with new vocalist Paul Roberts, as well as revealing the true date of birth (and real name) of the band's drummer, Jet Black, the self-styled oldest man in British rock!
David Buckley also looks in detail at some of the darker themes which have recurred throughout the band's career, at their alleged misogyny and their fixation with the colour black, and a macabre negativity which cast a shadow over the group in the early 1980s.
Drawing on exclusive photographic material, extensive interviews with the band members themselves, and with those who have worked with them during their twenty-two year career, David Buckley's biography tells the complete and uncensored story of one of the most creative and controversial bands in rock history."
324 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 28, 2020
Honestly what a fucking band. Loved every word.
July 1, 2012
An entertaining and interesting biography of the
legendary Punk/New Wave Rock band 'The Stranglers'.
Anyone who is a fan of the band should read it.
Though the book was written 14 years ago it is still relevant.
legendary Punk/New Wave Rock band 'The Stranglers'.
Anyone who is a fan of the band should read it.
Though the book was written 14 years ago it is still relevant.
March 28, 2016
I guess the sign of a good book is how it influences you whilst and after being read...in the case of this book it's led me to revisit various Stranglers LPs and Cds I have picked up from car boot sales over the years..in fact from reading this book it appears I have all of the Hugh Cornwell tenure of the Stranglers records in one form or another!!
That said before the book I maybe gave some of them (feline for example) a cursory listen..now I find myself wading through them and enjoying them more in regard to the context they were recorded.
The book feels an honest read given the fact some of the story's don't reflect too well on various ex and current members and as to the whole debate as to whether the stranglers were actually punk?...well it appears even members of the band differ on opinion in regard to that!!
It's a good book and not one just cataloging total excess like some rock biographical material I have read of late...say like Paul Di'anno's book...Anyhow a great book I would think for a true Stranglers fan and also for someone who dips in and out like myself.
That said before the book I maybe gave some of them (feline for example) a cursory listen..now I find myself wading through them and enjoying them more in regard to the context they were recorded.
The book feels an honest read given the fact some of the story's don't reflect too well on various ex and current members and as to the whole debate as to whether the stranglers were actually punk?...well it appears even members of the band differ on opinion in regard to that!!
It's a good book and not one just cataloging total excess like some rock biographical material I have read of late...say like Paul Di'anno's book...Anyhow a great book I would think for a true Stranglers fan and also for someone who dips in and out like myself.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews