Exit Stage Left: The curious afterlife of pop stars

Product Information

In many ways, this is when these former idols are at their most heroic, too, because they reveal themselves not only to be humane and sensitive, but also still driven to create, to fulfil their lingering dreams, to refuse to live quietly. If you come see us live – try to let go of hearing you particular favourite or disappointment will follow.

All of which makes EXIT STAGE LEFT a fascinating, laugh-out-loud funny and often shocking look at what happens when the brightest of stars fall down to earth. This is a light, enjoyable read which gets a little samey as the author carefully avoids anything too dark or tragic. Nick Duerden has written a fascinating exploration of what happens to most pop stars when the hits dry up.

turns out likely not) And if you continue churning out the same stuff album after album, you risk boring your fans to death, and they'll still leave you. At times, the book does feel repetitive, but this only adds to the fact that for all the riches some have attained they have been put through punishing schedules and mental fatigue to earn it. And as time passed between chats, Duerden noticed that the artists became more interesting as their lives continued to change. Not the only time the interviews have been overtaken by subsequent events; Paul Cattermole is the saddest example, but the most disastrous is surely Roisin Murphy, where even if she'd been a confirmed social media dodger, the gleeful accounts here of doing private gigs for Russian oligarchs would now read considerably less fun than she presumably intended at the time.

Featuring brand new interviews with the likes of: Bob Geldof, Shaun Ryder, Robbie Williams, Roisin Murphy, Stewart Copeland, Billy Bragg, Wendy James, Alex Kapranos, Joan Armatrading, Leo Sayer, Gary Lightbody, Lisa Maffia, Tim Booth, Bill Drummond, Rufus Wainwright, David Gray, and Justin Hawkins.During CeeLo Green's chapter, the author makes a point to state Green's non contest plea in legal action from an accused rape. As I said the candor is really revealing and quite a lot of new things, and new depths behind musicians that I had not given a thought to in quite a while was educational. He still enjoys playing the hits catalogue live, he’s sold hundreds of millions of records, and he’s proved his worth. Dennis Seaton, chair of the Ladder Association’s Training Committee, has prevented many accidents and fatalities by running training programmes for construction professionals who work at height.

Plus, there’s plenty of memories of bands and singers you’ve probably forgotten, who may well be getting a boost on Spotify as you remember them and their songs. And if the more discerning, slightly cynical reader may at points be shouting: ‘Why don’t you just go and get a NORMAL job?And these aren't accounts from afar, but include interviews with the artists, so you're hearing the struggle/pain/elation/frustration/addiction from the mouths of the people who experienced it.

A chapter is devoted to each musical artist and contains their personal commentary, which makes it more interesting. Exit Stage Left: The Curious Afterlife of Pop Stars by Nick Duerden is an entertaining look at what happens to pop stars after the hits stop coming. You get short interviews with each ex-star, and the author’s general reflections on their music, their impact and how they’ve got on with their lives. These are tales of heroin addiction, bankruptcy, depression, divorce - but also of optimism, a genuine love of the craft, humility and hope. Many talk about their life touring and singing, but it is the love and the thrill these artists got from the crowds that really drove them, something they might never have and in a few might never get again.What was illuminating was how a lot of them ended up under the unrelenting gaze of reality TV as for some, like Shaun Ryder, it was the need to pay off debts and create a revenue stream beyond that. Do you keep slogging away, or quietly fade away (and hope those royalties keep your head above water)?