- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Omnibus Press (4 Sep 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 184609402X
- ISBN-13: 978-1846094026
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.6 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 532,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Product details |
Product Description
The Guardian, September 2 2006
Lucid in recounting their dealings with freaks, coppers and punks the
band's voices predominate, and that's for the best.
band's voices predominate, and that's for the best.
Classic Rock, January 2007
Thoroughly researched ... chockful of fascinating revelations ...
it is, surprisingly, the first real history of the pioneers of anarcho
punk.
it is, surprisingly, the first real history of the pioneers of anarcho
punk.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
About time that the phenomenon that was Crass has been put into a full book. They certainly shaped my understanding of the world and gave hope to literally thousands of dispossessed folk in the UK and elsewhere. No other 'band' stood by their messsage with such determination and honesty as these people. Without them there may not have been the 80's & onward anti-war and anti-capitalism movements, peace camps, festivals, new age travellers etc etc. The media have consistently under-reported their huge influence on a generation (I wonder why?!). Anyway, this is an excellent read that brings back memories and tears of joy & sadness. Thanks Crass, for shining some light in the darkness...
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
I was originally sure what to think of this book. Having not been a part of the anarcho-punk generation, in fact being born soon after the demise of Crass, I was coming at this from a very different angle. It was no walk down memory lane but trying to find out who these strange people dressed in black were who made every "alternative" band since do likewise! I'd heard all sorts of romanticised stories about the band, so when the book came out I had a sit down and a read...
I finished the book the same day I got it and was blown away. Any romanticised notion I had before the book was well and truly sunk. No longer did I see Crass as "Crass" but as Pen, Steve, Eve, Mick, Pete, Joy, Gee, Phil and N.A. (Andy). Before reading the book I had these preconceived notions that Crass were some ultra-intellectual collective expressing themselves or some such nonsense but not only does the book provide an unprecedented gateway into these people's lives but they also talk about how they didn't get on all of the time, teething troubles and it's all VERY personalised. Far from there being no identity and everyone drenched in black, the book gives (sometimes quite nostalgic) accounts of different members' experiences (bar Mick who doesn't contribute) and what Crass meant to them. It even includes a fleeting reference to Steve Herman who was temporarily in the band but died in Nicaragua in some time in the 1989. Fascinating stuff.
The main core of the book is based on interviews with snippets of wisdom from the author, pinning the whole story together with occasional quotes from other sources. It does need a proof read (or 10) but the growth of the band and how everyone came to be involved flows very well together. However, the main spine of the book are Penny Rimbaud's experiences and he has the lion's share of text space, which is no bad thing as he is very good at conveying what he means and for someone not of the anarcho-punk generation it puts it in perspective.
Is the book worth it? Absolutely, beyond any shadow of a doubt. Crass are a huge influence and inspiration and seeing where their roots come from is an incitment to do something in itself. After acquiring a copy of "Love Songs Crass" Pen's intro began to pull the corporate entity of Crass apart and each member reclaim their own identity. In this biography everything is laid bare. I'm sad to see my romanticised notions of Crass go but more than happy for them to be replaced by 9 or so individuals, who for a lack of a better phase, were Anarchy, Peace and Freedom.
I finished the book the same day I got it and was blown away. Any romanticised notion I had before the book was well and truly sunk. No longer did I see Crass as "Crass" but as Pen, Steve, Eve, Mick, Pete, Joy, Gee, Phil and N.A. (Andy). Before reading the book I had these preconceived notions that Crass were some ultra-intellectual collective expressing themselves or some such nonsense but not only does the book provide an unprecedented gateway into these people's lives but they also talk about how they didn't get on all of the time, teething troubles and it's all VERY personalised. Far from there being no identity and everyone drenched in black, the book gives (sometimes quite nostalgic) accounts of different members' experiences (bar Mick who doesn't contribute) and what Crass meant to them. It even includes a fleeting reference to Steve Herman who was temporarily in the band but died in Nicaragua in some time in the 1989. Fascinating stuff.
The main core of the book is based on interviews with snippets of wisdom from the author, pinning the whole story together with occasional quotes from other sources. It does need a proof read (or 10) but the growth of the band and how everyone came to be involved flows very well together. However, the main spine of the book are Penny Rimbaud's experiences and he has the lion's share of text space, which is no bad thing as he is very good at conveying what he means and for someone not of the anarcho-punk generation it puts it in perspective.
Is the book worth it? Absolutely, beyond any shadow of a doubt. Crass are a huge influence and inspiration and seeing where their roots come from is an incitment to do something in itself. After acquiring a copy of "Love Songs Crass" Pen's intro began to pull the corporate entity of Crass apart and each member reclaim their own identity. In this biography everything is laid bare. I'm sad to see my romanticised notions of Crass go but more than happy for them to be replaced by 9 or so individuals, who for a lack of a better phase, were Anarchy, Peace and Freedom.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
I only ask 'cos there are a lot of typos including some factual errors in the version I read, but maybe that wouldn't bother anyone else ?
Like the other review says: "At Last!"; I think a lot of people will have been waiting for this book. I was personally disappointed with Penny's 'Shibboleth' as it left so much out (there was actually more info on the sleevenotes to 'Best Before'); unless you're over 40 and grew up reading punk fanzines, this book is a revelation, with interviews from nearly everyone involved, and some very powerful & moving passages from Penny's earlier writings breaking up the story.
Steve Ignorant's contributions were very interesting for me, and will be for anyone who assumes that Crass were all hardened political activists...
I would have liked even more detail, but maybe this book is aiming for a slightly more general audience, which is fair enough: this is a quick, easy & fascinating read, which covers the main stuff of interest, and if, like me, you wish there'd been more about the wider anarcho-punk movement, then 'The Day The Country Died' has just come out as well, another book that some of us have been waiting years for.
Like the other review says: "At Last!"; I think a lot of people will have been waiting for this book. I was personally disappointed with Penny's 'Shibboleth' as it left so much out (there was actually more info on the sleevenotes to 'Best Before'); unless you're over 40 and grew up reading punk fanzines, this book is a revelation, with interviews from nearly everyone involved, and some very powerful & moving passages from Penny's earlier writings breaking up the story.
Steve Ignorant's contributions were very interesting for me, and will be for anyone who assumes that Crass were all hardened political activists...
I would have liked even more detail, but maybe this book is aiming for a slightly more general audience, which is fair enough: this is a quick, easy & fascinating read, which covers the main stuff of interest, and if, like me, you wish there'd been more about the wider anarcho-punk movement, then 'The Day The Country Died' has just come out as well, another book that some of us have been waiting years for.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
An acquired taste
Let's put this in perspective. You either love or, quite frankly, detest Crass. This defines my whole teenage years (& beyond) - to me this is a book beyond compare. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2009 by K. Jefferies
Pity it wasn't proof - read
Wonderful book, amazing story, but what a shame it's riddled with typos, missing words, punctuation mistakes etc.
A bit of a let down..
A bit of a let down..
Published on 27 Sep 2007 by T. Steward
Crass
If you have to buy a book you need to get a life and get out there and do something.
The rebelution will not be printed in the pages of any book!!
The rebelution will not be printed in the pages of any book!!
Published on 18 Jun 2007 by MightyBoosh
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biography > Film, Television & Music
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Styles > Rock & Pop > Styles > Punk
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
