Street Level Superstar - A Year with Lawrence - Will Hodgkinson # 1 Eater

 

'Golders Green.' said Lawrence 'is the worst place in the world when you need to go for  pee.''this is the only neighbourhood in London where you can't find yourself a lonely bush or tree to relieve yourself again.' Lawrence is in North Finchly because Eater grew up here and he wonders if walking around its streets will provide him with inspiration.

Lawrence is that kind of man, Felt were that kind of band and this is that kind of book. A book that's had praise scattered on it like so much critical confetti. By a writer who can truly write about the ultimate failed Pop Star. Who never gets away frim the chase for fame and the 'glorious bubble of money and fame.' 

If the first  twenty five pages stand for the whole then this seems set to be my music book of the year just as it turned out to be most people's music book of last year's. 

So what happens. No end happens.. Lawrence grows up on the Bristol Roads estate. His parents move to the suburbs after a schoolfriend of Lawrence is stabbed in the back. Lawrence is distraught and never forgives his mother, Be falls in love with Marc Bolan after seeing T.Rex performing Metal Guru on Top f the Pops. He sounds like a ghastly brat.

Punk comes. Lawrence doesn't think much of Iggy Pop writhing around and David Bowie on keyboards has a year off fashion oin 1977. Lawrence offends John Peel irreparably with a scaldingly rude letter when Peel refuses to play their debut record Index . The die is cast early.

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