‘If
you like those kinds of stories, stories where the lead characters seem to
blunder through life, much as you do through your own, then you might like this
one.’
I loved this biography of how Tracey Thorn
grew up and tried to be a pop star. It is a self-effacing, funny and moving description
of the music business from the 1980’s onwards.
Reading Tracey’s account of her life took me straight back to my own student days
in 1980’s with my big hair, flowery Oxfam dress (vintage didn’t exist then) and
my precious ‘I get no love’ Buzzocks badge.
Tracey describes her experiences as a 16
year old joining a band and then forming her own all-girl band , The Marine
Girls. We follow Tracey to Hull
University
Each chapter is rounded off with the lyrics
of one of Tracey’s songs from that period.
Tracey’s experience of pop stardom is full
of high and lows. The book is also about the relationship between Ben and
Tracey and how it is affected by the pressures of fame, by Ben’s illness and by
having children.
Tracey does not tell us everything. It is a
thoughtful account and she is a great role model for women who want to create
music on their own terms.
Bedsit Disco Queen is published by Virago
ISBN 978-1-844088669
Return to REVIEWS HOMEPAGE
1 comment:
I read this book a while ago and LOVED it. What I really loved was her constant questioning of what it was to be an artist and yet still function sucessfully in the commercial world of music. Has a lot to say to writers of fiction, I think.
Post a Comment