A Dysfunctional Success: The Wreckless Eric Manual"It's difficult to know where to start, so I think I'll begin at the beginning and see how I get on..." This is definitely not another one of those usual rock autobiographies. It's the story of one man's bewilderment with life and his desent into alcoholism and near-redemption. with a music backdrop. Eric Goulden does have an excellent music background but that's actually a bonus and not essential to the book. After pursuing an art career and working at several menial jobs, Wreckless Eric first found fame in the mid-1970s when he signed to the emergent Stiff Records with such label-mates as Ian Dury (who played drums in Eric's band), Elvis Costello, and Nick Lowe and the Damned. His eccentric single. "Whole Wide World"/"Semaphore Signals." is one of the minor classics of the punk era. After he left Stiff in 1981 he continued to work as a musician, songwriter--his songs have been recorded by The Monkees, Marianne Faithful, and Cliff Richard--and recording artist. This is a witty. entertaining, and insightful foray into the crazy world of British music in the 70s and 80s. |
Common terms and phrases
afternoon album amplifier anyway art school asked Austin Cambridge bananas band bass guitar bass player Beatles Billy Bragg bloke blue Bo Diddley bottles bought called Chuck Berry Club couple Dave Dave Robinson door drink drum drum kit drummer drunk Eric felt flat floor front fucking gave girls glasses going Grandma in Oldham guitar hair head Hull jacket Johnny knew laugh living looked lunchtime Medway Towns morning never Newhaven Nick Nick Lowe night Parker Pen Company Peacehaven Philippa pissed plastic play pounds Road round shirt shit sister songs sort of thing sound started Stiff Records studio stuff tape thought told took tour Troggs turned Velvet Underground Volkswagen wanted wearing week Whole Wide World window wore Wreckless Wreckless Eric