January so far
Here are the books I've been reading:
Stephen Cummings autobiography
James Freud autobiography
Paul Kelly A to Z
Judith Lucy-Alphabet book
Denise Scott-All that happened at Number 26
So you can see a theme of interest in Australian musicians and comedians. Also confirms my theory that everything gets created out of Melbourne. Anything originating in Sydney is actually imported in, by people relocating there. The music biographies led to a YouTube session whilst I reminisced about Sweet and Sour (the TV series) and how Deborah Conway inspired the lead character. My favourite songs from the era were Barbados (Models), Thats the Way (Deckchairs Overboard), Rain (Dragon). The whole 80s music scene sounds very interconnected, the same people were mentioned from book to book and you can imagine that if you got a taste of success and made enough money to spend your daytimes reading books and your night times drinking, singing and scoring, life would seem fantastic. Liked Kerryn Goldsworthy asks, how come it's the guys writing all the biographies (Paul Kelly, Keith Richards), weren't there as many women living that life?
To answer this question, I went down to the music/art/fashion/film store on the Parade, where I bought the Stephen Cummings biography. There was really only books about Patti Smith and Joan Jett. On the Australian front we have Renee Geyer (Stephen Cummings claims her biography is a "sanitised" view, which is a shame because her life is interesting culturally and travel wise. Plus Chrissie Amphlett. I'd like a biography of Deborah Conway, or at least a look at the 80s female musicians that included her and described the lifestyle they were living. The Grace Knight biography isn't that good, because it lacks the reflection that is needed to really make an interesting read.
And this was a hilarious review of an 80s revival concert, complete with scathing preview by Michael Dwyer (who used to adjudicate me for school debating, all ponytailed and cherry doc boots wearing, me and my girls school team members loved him for it, considering him "alternative" rather than middle class...).
Stephen Cummings autobiography
James Freud autobiography
Paul Kelly A to Z
Judith Lucy-Alphabet book
Denise Scott-All that happened at Number 26
So you can see a theme of interest in Australian musicians and comedians. Also confirms my theory that everything gets created out of Melbourne. Anything originating in Sydney is actually imported in, by people relocating there. The music biographies led to a YouTube session whilst I reminisced about Sweet and Sour (the TV series) and how Deborah Conway inspired the lead character. My favourite songs from the era were Barbados (Models), Thats the Way (Deckchairs Overboard), Rain (Dragon). The whole 80s music scene sounds very interconnected, the same people were mentioned from book to book and you can imagine that if you got a taste of success and made enough money to spend your daytimes reading books and your night times drinking, singing and scoring, life would seem fantastic. Liked Kerryn Goldsworthy asks, how come it's the guys writing all the biographies (Paul Kelly, Keith Richards), weren't there as many women living that life?
To answer this question, I went down to the music/art/fashion/film store on the Parade, where I bought the Stephen Cummings biography. There was really only books about Patti Smith and Joan Jett. On the Australian front we have Renee Geyer (Stephen Cummings claims her biography is a "sanitised" view, which is a shame because her life is interesting culturally and travel wise. Plus Chrissie Amphlett. I'd like a biography of Deborah Conway, or at least a look at the 80s female musicians that included her and described the lifestyle they were living. The Grace Knight biography isn't that good, because it lacks the reflection that is needed to really make an interesting read.
And this was a hilarious review of an 80s revival concert, complete with scathing preview by Michael Dwyer (who used to adjudicate me for school debating, all ponytailed and cherry doc boots wearing, me and my girls school team members loved him for it, considering him "alternative" rather than middle class...).
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