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Tenement Kid

Rough Trade Book of the Year
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( 1,130 ratings, 105 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Tenement Kid by Bobby Gillespie is an engaging memoir that delves into the formative years of the iconic musician and frontman of the band Primal Scream. This autobiography captures his journey from the gritty streets of Glasgow to the exhilarating heights of the music industry, blending personal anecdotes with broader social and cultural reflections that shape his narrative.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you're intrigued by the raw, energetic history of the Scottish music scene in the 80s and 90s, as explored by a legendary frontman. It offers a candid glimpse into the life of a musician experiencing personal and professional growth amidst the backdrop of cultural shifts.

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Tenement Kid

The story, in his own words, of one of the most popular and influential British popstars of the past 30 years

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
'Gillespie is rock and roll's Oliver Twist. A punk rock fairytale, razor sharp on class struggle, music, style, and a singular view of the world resulting in one of the world's great bands. Couldn't put down' Courtney Love

Born into a working-class Glaswegian family in the summer of 1961, Tenement Kid begins in the district of Springburn, soon to be evacuated in Edward Heath's brutal slum clearances. Leaving school at 16 and going to work as a printers' apprentice, Bobby's rock n roll epiphany arrives like a bolt of lightning shining from Phil Lynott's mirrored pickguard at his first gig at the Apollo in Glasgow.

Filled with 'the holy spirit of rock n roll' his destiny is sealed with the arrival of the Sex Pistols and punk rock which to Bobby, represents an iconoclastic vision of class rebellion and would ultimately lead to him becoming an artist initially in the Jesus and Mary Chain then Primal Scream.

Building like a breakbeat crescendo to the Summer of Love, Boys Own parties, and the fateful meeting with Andrew Weatherall in an East Sussex field, as the '80s bleed into the '90s and a new kind of electronic soul music starts to pulse through the nation's consciousness, Tenement Kid closes with the release of Screamadelica, the album often credited with 'starting the '90s'.

A book filled with the joy and wonder of a rock n roll apostle who would radically reshape the future sounds of fin de siècle British pop, Bobby Gillespie's memoir cuts a righteous path through a decade lost to Thatcherism and saved by acid house.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Tenement Kid is praised for its compelling narrative as Bobby Gillespie shares his journey from humble beginnings to rock stardom. Reviews highlight the book's vivid and detailed prose, capturing the spirit of rock and roll, class struggles, and the Scottish underground music scene. It's noted for its emotional depth, blending self-reflection with enthusiasm and love for music, making it a must-read for fans of alternative music and memoir enthusiasts alike.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781474622080

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 July 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: White Rabbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 32.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 344g

Pages: 432

About the Author

Bobby Gillespie is a singer, songwriter and founder member of the rock and roll band Primal Scream. The band's origins are in the city of Glasgow. They have released 11 albums including major hits, 'Loaded', 'Rocks', 'Country Girl' and 'Kowalski'.

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