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Review
‘A fascinating book…utterly compelling…heartfelt… insightful… and much recommended.’ Time Out London
‘A sensitive and amusing book…the Earle material is particularly entertaining, confessional and full of wicked one-liners.’ Sydney Morning Herald
‘An intimate and intelligent biography of an artist who–like all the greats–ain't ever satisfied.’ Eric Alterman
‘Brilliant…St. John manages to demythologize a man whose life often threatens to overshadow his music.’ Publishers Weekly
‘Harrowing and inspirational.’ Maxim
‘If you love Steve Earle, you'll buy this book. If not, get it anyway. It's one helluva story.’ Uncut
‘Meticulously researched and well–written…captures the heart and soul of one of America's most talented, troubled, and controversial songwriters.’ Charles R. Cross, author of Heavier tha Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain
‘Shockingly honest.’ Q Magazine
Review
'Sensitive and amusing ... entertaining, confessional and full of wicked one-liners'
'Meticulously researched and well-written...captures the heart and soul of one of America's most talented, troubled, and controversial songwriters'
'Meticulously researched and well-written...captures the heart and soul of one of America's most talented, troubled, and controversial songwriters'
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First Sentence
It was death that Jack Earle brushed in dreamy flights across America, though he never thought of it like that. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
It was death that Jack Earle brushed in dreamy flights across America, though he never thought of it like that. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an incredible story which is well written. With such an extraordinary tale of addiction, excesses and high drama, it would have been so easy to let the musical influences and struggles just become a back drop. However, it fails to do this and one is left with a book which is both informative and entertaining. Whilst a fan of Steve Earle's music I could not warm to his character whilst reading this book. Although I was already aware of the stories of his addiction, I expected still to find myself drawn to his character. It is a credit to the writer that this is an unromantised, warts and all biography.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
And what a ride...My first encounter with Steve Earle was when I was sixteen, during the Copperhead Road days, I went to see him at the old T&C in London, played "Shut up and die" to death, and then nothing. It all went quite from Steve, and for years I had heard rumours (remember this was pre-internet) about his absence, but this book has put everything into place.
Steve has lived the life, a life that most people are scared to, and this book encapsulates it all. My teenage hero has his flaws, but any fan of his music probably would not want it any other way, because without them, we would not have a fraction of the great music Steve has produced over the years.
I would recommend that anybody who has even a passing interest in Steve Earle should read this book.
Steve has lived the life, a life that most people are scared to, and this book encapsulates it all. My teenage hero has his flaws, but any fan of his music probably would not want it any other way, because without them, we would not have a fraction of the great music Steve has produced over the years.
I would recommend that anybody who has even a passing interest in Steve Earle should read this book.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A riveting read from start to finish, from small town Texas via the road to Nashville and out to the world, degradation through heroin and crack, recovery against the odds, incomprehensible loyalty from abused family, lovers, band members, wives and friends. Love of the man does not obscure frustration and condemnation for his at times appalling behaviour. Through it all comes his sincerity, his liveliness and charm, his wilfulness and sheer force of personality. It's a long ten years before Steve makes the grade with Guitar Man, already a closet heroin taker, then a thrilling razor edge crash through the glories of Exit 0, Copperhead Road and Hard Way, followed by a harrowing descent into social obnoxiousness and wasted talent. The music is well described and related to his main influences and those country stalwarts against whom his style was opposed. In his studio techniques and treatment of his bands and relationships with the music business, I was reminded of similar stories of egotistical geniuses such as Neil Young and Bob Dylan. Perhaps you have to be totally selfish at times to nurture genius. The force of his personality and humanity shines and rages out of the pages. Perhaps more could be made of Jerusalem, in my view his greatest studio album to date, but it's right at the end of the book, so a mere coda to the central tale. Once you've read this, I'd be surprised if you didn't want to listen to every record he's made and you wouldn't be disappointed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Grippinrg read
This is one of the best books I have read for some time. You obviously have to have an interest in Steve Earle and the story of this man can sometimes be quite hairy to say the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by David B. Davies
Essential reading for Steve Earle fans
On the sports field, a good refereeing performance is one you don't really notice during the game, and fully appreciate only in retrospect. So it is with Lauren St John's writing. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Steve Ford
Gripping Read. Won't win an OBN.
I love Steve Earle's music, but this book did not endear me to his character at all. It is a credit to him that he allowed the biographer to tell this story as she wished, without... Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2009 by Nick 3029
Very good book about a remarkable man.
Steve Earle is a remarkable man who has led a remarkable life. He has pushed the boundaries of country music making more than half a dozen excellent albums, relentlessly chasing... Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2005 by John E. Davidson
Thoroughly depressing
This book deals with Steve Earle's life in a very stark manner, makes no excuses for him, and makes no attenpt to mythologise him. Read more
Published on 22 July 2004 by sonicl
Biography as thriller
With the current vogue for anodyne autobiographies or ghostwritten tosh, this is a wonderfully bleak yet optimistic story. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2003 by rick broadbent
Wonderful, honest, in-depth biography
Lauren St John has done a wonderful job with this biography. The idea of doing the biography came up after writing her previous book "Walking After Midnight" in which Steve Earle... Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2002 by Ray Carrick
Hardcore Troubadour
Anyone expecting a hagiography because of the fact that author Lauren St John received the support of Steve Earle and his family will be very taken aback by this warts and all... Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2002 by Graham Paine
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