Terry Rawlings (2)

This book's subtitle is Clean living under difficult circumstances - and a more succinct summation of what it is to be a Mod you'll be hard pushed to find. Rawlings has covered the entire history of Mod, from its jazz beginnings in the 50's, through its 60's heyday, the Mod revival of the 70's and 80's right up to its Acid Jazz and Britpop incarnations.

Thoroughly researched and well written, the book features scores of photographs, many never published before, period advertisements and newspaper articles and interviews with the relevant movers and shakers of the Mod scene down through the years.

For anyone interested in, as it is described in the book, "the one British youth movement it is possible to look back on without embarrassment" I'd recommend this tome.… (meer)

A compelling autobiography by the guitarist of one of my favourite bands (since my teenage years) - Buzzcocks. This was a quick and easy read but also fascinating from the point of view of finding out more about how bands come into being, how songs are written not to mention the dynamics within the band. It was good also to learn about the history of Buzzcocks in the context of my home city. Written in an easy, conversational, and readable style this book reveals the character of Steve Diggle from his early years to showing his battle between being true to his 'calling' (his music of which he is passionate) and other life commitments - family etc. I feel I've learnt so much about him from reading this. An excellent read!… (meer)