- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Orion; New edition edition (5 Dec 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0752849360
- ISBN-13: 978-0752849362
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 307,151 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Blitzed: The Autobiography of Steve Strange is the candid, if lumpen autobiography, of night club impresario, pop star and founding father of New Romanticism, Steve Strange. For a nanosecond in the early 1980s he was the most fashionable man on the planet; the driving force behind of the legendary Billy's and Blitz clubs and the "singer" with electro pop pioneers Visage. Nearly 20 years and over £100,000 of heroin later he was caught stealing a Teletubby doll from a supermarket. Ignominious declines have rarely been more spectacular but Strange, who in 1982 spent £1,500 on a fetching leather zoot suit, always did have a penchant for excess.
Born Steven Harrington in South Wales, he was officially Newport's first punk rocker. After organising a few local punk gigs, one of which resulted in a night of passion with Stranglers' bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel, Steve moved to London in 1976. Here he took vast quantities of speed and mingled with Billy Idol, Vivienne Westwood and Boy George. Bored with punk, he and Rusty Egan set about creating their own more glamorous--New Romantic--scene (or, as he modestly puts it, they started a whole "leisure revolution"). An appearance in David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes video was swiftly followed by hit records (and equally silly promotional videos) of his own with Visage. "A lethal cocktail of success and drug abuse" was soon making him "demanding and difficult" (Midge Ure, for example, walked out of the group after Steve insisted on riding down Fifth Avenue on a camel to promote the American tour). The hits and the money dried up and Steve went from supping champagne and snorting cocaine with celebrities to forging cheques to score heroin. He cleaned up but after a short renaissance as a club promoter tragedy (and heroin) struck again. Although his book covers similar ground to the memoirs by fellow 80s popstars (and drug addicts) Marc Almond and Boy George, it's rather po-faced; he lacks their humour and their gift for self-deprecation. That said there are enough revelations here to satisfy fans (and even detractors) of those hair-gelled days. --Travis Elborough --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Steve Strange is taking part in this year's Here & Now Tour from 12th to22nd December. The publicity achieved for the paperback of Blitzed! so far, includes: BBC Breakfast interview - live on New Year's EveMel & Sue Show - BBC LondonInterview in Daily Mirror - 13/12Interview to appear in Now MagazineInterview to appear in Heat MagazineChris Moyles Show - BBC Radio 1Interview to appear in Sunday Times Culture Steve Strange has also started regional radio interviews, heavily plugging Blitzed! and will continue these in the New Year, following the completion of the Here & Now tour. Steve is also signing copies of Blitzed! at the various venues Here & Now is appearing aro
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First Sentence
My parents were always very stylish. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
My parents were always very stylish. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Loved this book! I was a huge fan of the Boy George biography and needed a fix after I had finished it...(no heroine pun intended). Not old enough to have experinced the eighties, Steve Strange was mentioned a great deal in 'Take it like a man' and i was fascinated by the glamourous scene in what was considered by all, a depressing time. Although a little ego-centric at times, Steve was funny and brutally honest. Just reading it made me want to go back in time, get glammed up and get a cab to the Camden Palace. Although not all glamour, his honest account of humble up bringings and the vile side of the drug scene is admirable. A great book whether or not you lived through that era or are even a fan of the new romantic scene.
Has Phillip Salon or Marolyn done a book yet? I think that would be the next on on the list!
Has Phillip Salon or Marolyn done a book yet? I think that would be the next on on the list!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you only read one book this year,then this has to be it.It takes you on a journey from Steves early days as Wales first punk through to his clubs nights at The Blitz etc,where he was responsible for the "Movement with no name" which the press eventually labelled "New Romanticism",a name which Steve hates to this day,to his fight & brave comeback from drugs hell.Now we will all get a chance to see him on the up & coming "Here & Now Christmas Party" this December.
The book tells such tales as the day Steve had to sack Boy George for picking pockets (allegedly!) at one of his clubs and how Steve Norman & Martin Kemp "kidnapped" Steve to try to get him off drugs.
This man is a survivor.
Read this book!
You won't be disappointed.
The book tells such tales as the day Steve had to sack Boy George for picking pockets (allegedly!) at one of his clubs and how Steve Norman & Martin Kemp "kidnapped" Steve to try to get him off drugs.
This man is a survivor.
Read this book!
You won't be disappointed.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I really enjoyed this candid and chatty autobiography..... only wish it was longer, and wished there were even more photies.. maybe a follow up would be nice...Steve is sometimes overlooked and not always credited as the leader of a total movement ....not just a movement about 'dressing up' and re-creating yourself but about the way in which the music/club scene in London progressed.... far too often Boy George is credited globally yet it really was Steve who paved most of the way.... in this book he is amazingly humble and far from grandious - really enjoyed it! Also a great read for anyone who is in any kind of recovery...Wish him so well..
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
STRANGE BUT TRUE
Having always been a fan of the remarkable Steve Strange(I once saw him in Wardour Street W1,and i was to shy to say anything)i was looking forward very much to reading this... Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2010 by Mr. D. A. Francis
Heaven and Hell!
Pick any pop-culture movement of the last 30 years and you'll find that a single, shadowy figure keeps cropping up at conception-time. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2007 by TobyToby
Great read
... as a former fan (and err... sleeping partner) of Mr Strange, this book made interesting reading. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2005 by rcst
Blitzed has an informal style which makes it quite readable
Steve Strange was an icon of the Eighties music scene, a visionary and a leader. I suspect he's often over-looked but his contribution was vital. Read more
Published on 10 May 2003 by Curns
New Romantics remebered
As a huge fan of Visage in the 80's i was a bit disappointed by this book. Much of it concentrates on Strange's nightclub work but misses out much of how the Visage singles/albums... Read more
Published on 30 April 2003 by Mr. D. Batte
Wonderful insight into the shrouded world of Mr Strange!
If you are of a certain age ie over thirty, you will recall the "new romantic" movement and the glamourous Steve Strange. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2002 by Stephen Evans
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