Bovver: Amazon.co.uk: Chris Brown: Books

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An adrenalin-packed look at the heady days of the 1970s. Chris Brown was in the front line of the wave of soccer violence that typified the sport in those days. His life was dominated by those violent Saturday outings, and by the pop music of the day. This book tells of his memories of the time.

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13 Reviews

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4.2 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary everday lives in 1970s Britain, 28 Oct 2005

By	"peterwebb6" - See all my reviews

Chris Brown provides a unique account of the adrenalin rush culture of following a football club home and away in the 1970s. His story shows the attraction and excitement and also the brutal side of the violence but also the brutality of 1970s Britain. Mixed in with this social history of the time you get a real sense of the characters that inhabited these worlds - often contradictory but always honest. Brown has a perfect insight into the music and fashion of the time as Harrington jackets, pegs and tonics, fly away collar shirts, oxford bags and jelly sandals all make an appearance dancing to the skatalites, symarip, maceo parker, manu dibango, bootsy collins and fred wesley. The diversity and dynamsim of the 1970s music scene is recounted by someone who was there and honest enough to portray a reality that kids growing up in major cities and their satellite towns and suburbs knew and in some respects loved. Being a Bristol City fan I could have avoided this book, I'm glad I didn't. Go and buy a copy of this fantastic account of extraordinary everyday lives in the 1970s - and learn a bit about the people, music and culture of the time.

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary everday life and culture in 1970s Britain, 27 Oct 2005

By	"peterwebb6" - See all my reviews

Chris Brown provides a fantastic social and cultural history of Bristol and the UK in the 70s. What runs through this book is a well thought out account of not just the appeal and excitement but also the brutality of football violence and the lifestyle of following a football team, mixed with an accurate account of the brutality and social upheaval of the Britain of the time. Woven into the account of growing up as a young man attracted to football violence is a brilliant and accurate account of the fashion and music scene of the 70s. Through music Brown and his mates show how multifaceted, intelligent and contradictory as characters they are which gives the reader plenty of food for thought about their own character. His discussion of favourite tracks of the time ranging from Manu Dibango, Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, Toot and the Maytals and Symarip shows the diverse nature and openness of the music scene in the 70s. Brown also has a keen eye on the fashion and how it changed and mutated. Monkey boots, jelly sandals, harrington jackets, oxford bags, shirts with fly away collars all make an appearance. Only someone who lived through the period and is as honest as Brown is could have written as sharp an account of the period as this. Being a Bristol City fan I could have ignored this, I'm glad I didn't.
Anyone who thinks this book is cashing in on the trend for football hooligan books should think again - its honest, accurrate, thoughtful and direct and speaks volumes about the characters and time period it describes. Go and buy a copy.

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More than just a bit of Bovver., 28 April 2001

By A Customer

There is more to this book than the front cover would suggest. Whilst the main theme is concerned with football and the associated violence that surrounded it during the 1970's, there are other interesting insights into the culture of the country during the period.

For many soul, funk and reggae music were an important part of their life and attracted a substantial following in the 70's. There are very passionate descriptions about individual records, groups and the music scene that existed at the time. I suspect there are just as many 40 somethings galvanised into action at parties by the Four Tops et al as by Abba. A neglected topic, glad that it was included. Right on !

Also included is the development of certain fashions, that once again, is often neglected in critiques of fashion of the time.

Brief descriptions of the political and social climate provide the backdrop to what is a well written reminiscence by an individual of his experiences during the 1970's. I am sure there will be many who can relate to it.

It is a pity that the publishers focused on the hooligan aspect, as there is much more to hold ones attention than just the football, which does eventually become a little tedious.

For all those who lived through those 'halcyon' days, it will surely bring back many memories.

Adge

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars best book i have ever read
this is the best book i have ever read . its an honest account of the early bristol scene . this was what happen in bristol before all the local bands hit the big time . Read more

Published on 30 May 2007 by Raymond E. Mighty

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive hooligan book
Chris Brown manages the rare feat of combining the true story about football hooliganism with the culture of the time, never condoning what went on at the time, nor seeking... Read more

Published on 15 Oct 2005 by R. Johansen

1.0 out of 5 stars Bovver - by Mick Brown
This bloke is living proof that, if left with a typewriter long enough, a chimp can write a novel. What's more this chimp wears monkey boots. Read more

Published on 26 Jul 2005

1.0 out of 5 stars Turns fact into fiction?
Basically the book runs with 2 main themes, football in the 70s with the associated violence and music in the 70s especially soul. Read more

Published on 6 Nov 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars It really was like this. I know 'cos I was there.
Chris' book is easy to read and "tells it like it was". Unfortunately, violence was a part of football culture at the time. Read more

Published on 12 Jul 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars More than just football, friendship, drinking and violence
I didn't mean to read this book. After all, I'm a die hard (but middle aged and family man) Bristol City fan who was the very opposite of Chris Brown and his blue and white... Read more

Published on 2 Jul 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Memories are made of this !
Reading the cover I realised that the author was from my home town, born in the same year as me and had similar interests. Read more

Published on 9 May 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars More than meets the eye.
Despite the title, this is a book which does not seek to glorify the violence that was endemic in the 1970's but neither does it shy away from describing the reality of what was... Read more

Published on 9 April 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooligan, hero or a Bristol kiddie having a good time?
Before the fences and police intelligence there were the 'bovver' boys who ruled the football league grounds of England. Read more

Published on 7 April 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars WHERE HAVE ALL THE BOOTBOYS GONE??
If you want to know what it was really like to be a young working class lad in 70's Britain then read this. Forget Abba, T-Rex, Hippies and the rest. Read more

Published on 19 Mar 2001

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