Synopses & Reviews
Finally an expansive biography of one of the twentieth century's greatest music and cultural icons
From noted author and rock 'n' roll journalist Marc Spitz comes a major David Bowie biography to rival any other. Following Bowie's life from his start as David Jones, an R&B-loving kid from Bromley, England, to his rise to rock n roll aristocracy as David Bowie, Bowie recounts his career but also reveals how much his music has influenced other musicians and forever changed the landscape of the modern era. Along the way, Spitz reflects on how growing up with Bowie as his soundtrack and how writing this definitive book on Bowie influenced him in ways he never expected, adding a personal dimension that Bowie fans and those passionate about art and culture will connect with and that no other bio on the artist offers.
Bowie takes an in-depth look at the culture of postwar England in which Bowie grew up, the mod and hippie scenes of swinging London in the sixties, the sex and drug-fueled glitter scene of the early seventies when Bowie's alter-ego Ziggy Stardust was born, his rise to global stardom in the eighties and his subsequent status as an elder statesman of alternative culture. Spitz puts each incarnation of Bowie into the context of its era, creating a cultural time line that is intriguing both for its historical significance as well as for its delineation of this rock n roll legend, the first musician to evolve a coherent vision after the death of the sixties dream.
Amid the sex, drugs and rock n roll mayhem, a deeper portrait of the artist emerges. Bowie's early struggles to go from follower to leader, his tricky relationship with art and commerce and Buddhism and the occult, his complicated family life, his open romantic relationship and, finally, his perceived disavowal of all that made him a touchstone for outcasts are all thoughtfully explored. A fresh evaluation of his recorded work, as well as his film, stage and video performances, is included as well.
Based on a hundred original interviews with those who knew him best and those familiar with his work, including ex-wife Angie Bowie, former Bowie manager Kenneth Pitt, Siouxsie Sioux, Camille Paglia, Dick Cavett, Todd Haynes, Ricky Gervais and Peter Frampton, Bowie gives us not only a portrait of one of the most important artists in the last century, but also an honest examination of a truly revolutionary artist and the unique impact hes had across generations.
Review
andquot;Talk about sympathy for the devil: Marc Spitz turns Mick Jaggerandrsquo;s life into a savagely funny, monstrously hypnotic narrative. Itandrsquo;s a brilliant tale of sex, music, decadence, and celebrity, one that seems to suck in most of the past century, from Route 66 to Studio 54. Nobodyandrsquo;s ever told the story betterandmdash;Jagger might be rock and rollandrsquo;s most unknowable soul, but Spitz gives him back every bit of his Satanic majesty.andquot;
Review
andquot;Mick Jagger is our age's Byronic exemplar of action and experience. Mick and the Rolling Stones opened new worlds for us, and worlds beyond. Marc Spitz, Jagger's latest biographer, has done him justice and more, with new info, trenchant insights, and best of all- a sense of humor.andquot;
Review
andquot;The first sentence of the 5th paragraph of this book is 'Here we go', and Spitz means it.andnbsp;andnbsp; This is a sustained, headlong, late-night crystalline rant/sermon/declaration that never lets up, never plays safe, and, when you're finished, finally lets you breathe. Goddamit.andnbsp;Now I have to go buy this dude's Bowie book.andquot;
Review
andquot;If Chuck Berryand#160;invented 'rock and roll' Mick Jagger invented 'rock star.' With the swagger and the soul, the brains and the balls, Spitz proves that Jagger is truly the man. An insightful andand#160;inspiringand#160;page burner, Jagger is a pleasure for evenand#160;the most jaded jukebox junkie.andquot;and#160;
Review
andquot;With a reporter's doggedness, a fan's zeal, and a stand-up's eye for absurd detail, Marc Spitz makes the awfully compelling case that Mick Jagger's true talents have long gone underappreciated.and#160;Jaggerand#160;provides ample proof of why Spitz is one of rock lit's funniest, funkiest, and finest voices.andquot;
Review
andldquo;[A] picaresque biography.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;An eager hagiography that takes aim at Mr. Richards while trumpeting Mr. Jaggerandrsquo;s overlooked fine qualities. Spitz knows enough about the Stonesandrsquo; history to pick good shots and leave out the dull stuff.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;His history is every bit as compelling as the one portrayed by Richards in his recent autobiographyandrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Stones fans and popular music readers can rest comfortably knowing that Jagger is not only an engaging biography, but also a compelling work of cultural criticism.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Competently enough written, this is a pleasant read that nicely puts all the old stories in some order, referencing discarded lovers, dalliances, and other time-honored themes.andrdquo;
Synopsis
An examination of Mick Jaggerandrsquo;s spectacular life and the cultural revolution he led as the legendary front man of the Rolling Stones.
As the Rolling Stones celebrate their fiftieth anniversary, their legendary front man remains an enigma; he hasnandrsquo;t given an in-depth interview in a decade and a half. Drawing on firsthand recollections from rockers, filmmakers, writers, and other artists who have been transformed by Mick Jaggerandrsquo;s work, acclaimed music journalist Marc Spitzand#160; has createdand#160; a uniqueand#160; examinationand#160; of the Jagger legacy. Combining biography with cultural history, Jagger unfolds like a captivating documentary, a series of episodes tracing the iconandrsquo;s rise from his childhood in middle-class postwar London to his status as a jet-setting knight.
Culturally astute, often funny, and painstakingly researched, Jagger offers a far richer potrait than biographies published previously. The book reveals much about his relationships (with Marianne Faithfull and ex-wives Bianca Jagger and Jerry Hall); his complex, creative partership with Keith Richards; his friends, including John Lennon and David Bowie; and his enemies, such as Hells Angels leader Sonny Barger. Spitz goes even deeper, exploring Jaggerandrsquo;s many roles: authenticand#160; soul man; powerful social commentator; sexual liberator; would-be movie star; and a shrewdand#160; businessman with an enthusiasm for much younger women. The myth of Mick is examined and rebooted for the twenty-first century.
About the Author
Marc Spitz's writing on rock n roll and popular culture has appeared in Spin, the New York Times, Maxim, Nylon, Blender and Uncut (UK). He is the author of How Soon Is Never?; Too Much, Too Late; and Nobody Likes You: Inside the Turbulent Life, Times, and Music of Green Day and coauthor with Brendan Mullen of We Got the Neutron Bomb: The Untold Story of L.A. Punk.