Nick Cave and Sean O' Hagan Book Review "Faith,Hope, and Carnage""

Having recently seen Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds live in Manchester, I thought it would be worth reading "Faith, Hope, and Carnage", a book co-written by Nick Cave and journalist Sean O’Hagan, and I'm glad I did. This book is an absolute blueprint of what all future rock journalism should look like. This isn't just a Rock n Roll interview book, it's a profound exploration of life, faith, grief, and creativity. The book takes the form of an extended conversation between Cave and O’Hagan, touching on topics as diverse as the nature of art, the role of faith, and the emotional impact of personal loss. As a result, the book feels less like a conventional memoir and more like a deeply personal meditation, as Nick Cave ( I discovered his genius via the Peaky Blinders soundtrack) opens up about his struggles and transformations in a cathartic and lucid way. 

Although it is a book about songwriting and Cave's immense work ethic, the motif that runs throughout is the touching taboo of grief. Cave has suffered tragic personal loss, including the death of his son Arthur in 2015. This experience has fundamentally changed his approach to life, art, and spirituality, and much of Faith, Hope, and Carnage centres on how Cave has attempted to process and live with his grief. Through his conversations with O’Hagan, Cave rarely tries to rationalize his suffering or provide a path to healing; he speaks honestly about the raw, often painful journey of grief and the moments of unexpected grace that can emerge along the way. This openness and vulnerability make the book incredibly moving and relatable for anyone who has faced similar struggles. For a staunch atheist like me, Cave's devout faith is humbling - his questionable (at times) agnostic attitude is also refreshing. 

Nick Cave in Manchester Nov 5th 2024 Image by @rybazoxo

Another striking element of the book is Cave’s evolving relationship with faith. Despite being known for his often dark and provocative music, Cave has grown increasingly interested in questions of spirituality and the search for meaning. He speaks candidly about his complex relationship with Christianity, describing faith not as a solution but as a way of grappling with religion and its often conflicting theology. Cave’s reflections on faith are nuanced and reflective, capturing the hope, doubt,  and naked faith that come with seeking a deeper purpose. For readers interested in spirituality, his reflections offer a fresh perspective free of dogma, grounded instead in lived experience and a willingness to embrace mystery. As a fan of his music, yet unapologetically unreligious, I found this part the most interesting. 

Nick Cave Image by @rybazoxo

The conversations also delve into Cave’s artistic process, shedding light on how his creative vision has shifted over his 40-year career. Known for his work with the band The Bad Seeds, Cave has long been lauded for his darkly poetic lyrics and evocative storytelling. But in Faith, Hope, and Carnage, he reflects on how his recent experiences have transformed his art, pushing him toward a more open, compassionate view of the world. He discusses his current creative practices, encompassing openness and vulnerability, and how he has come to see art as a way of connecting with others. Cave’s thoughts on creativity are insightful, illustrating how art can be a means of self-expression and healing.

WILD GOD is available now 

Ultimately, Faith, Hope, and Carnage is a powerful, thought-provoking book that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of a memoir, interview or rock biography. It’s a work of introspection and philosophical questioning that invites you to think about your own life, struggles, and their meaning. For fans of Nick Cave or anyone drawn to questions of faith, loss, and creativity, this book offers a resonant, transformative experience and is one of the best I've read in quite some time. 

Ryan's Read Rating - 8/10

I bought this from 'World Of Books'  a brilliant website for buying 2nd hand - helping to save the world, sustainability, and books!

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com 

Book Review: Ronnie Spector - "Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness"

Words By Ryan Oxley

A recent charity shop find of mine was a music memoir of incredible revelations. One of my all-time favourite songs is 'Be My Baby' by The Ronettes and upon picking up  Ronnie Spector's memoir, Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness for a bargain £2.00, I was looking forward to finding out more. The real surprise was how utterly compelling her life story was (she died in 2022) and even features a story or two about my other favourites: The Beatles. 

This is a fascinating account of Ronnie's life in the limelight as the lead singer of the iconic girl group, The Ronettes, and her tumultuous marriage to the infamous producer Phil Spector. First published in 1990 and later expanded with a new edition, the book offers an unvarnished glimpse into the highs and lows of a music career intertwined with personal struggles and survival.

From the outset, Spector’s voice in the book is candid, energetic, and conversational. She invites readers into her world with warmth, reliving the glory days of her youth growing up in New York's Spanish Harlem and the meteoric rise of The Ronettes. With their signature beehive hairdos, thick eyeliner, and unforgettable harmonies, The Ronettes became one of the most influential girl groups of the 1960s. Their hits, including the famous "Be My Baby," were characterized by Phil Spector’s "Wall of Sound" production style, and the group enjoyed international success. Ronnie Spector’s recollections of this period capture the excitement and pressures of fame, but her anecdotes are what truly bring the story to life. From hanging out with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to performing on television and world tours, the first half of the memoir is a thrilling journey through the heart of 1960s pop culture.

However, the book takes a darker turn when it delves into her troubled marriage to genius/madness record producer, (later, convicted murderer) Phil Spector. While he was an undoubted musical genius, the book paints him as an incredibly controlling and abusive husband. Ronnie describes in vivid detail the emotional and psychological torment she endured while living with Phil, including being locked inside their mansion for days on end and having her career nearly destroyed by his obsessive control over her. These revelations are chilling, and they shed light on the dark undercurrents of an industry that often allows powerful men to manipulate and silence women.

Despite these harrowing experiences, what makes Be My Baby so compelling is Ronnie’s resilience. She openly discusses her battles with alcoholism and depression, but also her determination to regain control of her life and career. After years of abuse, she finally managed to escape her marriage in the early 1970s, and the latter half of the book focuses on her attempts to rebuild her life as an independent artist and a mother. Her tone is never bitter but rather one of strength and hope. A stark comparison to that other famous beehive/tragedy- Amy Winehouse. 

Beyond the personal drama, Be My Baby is a treasure trove of anecdotes for music lovers. Spector's reflections on her peers, the changing landscape of the music industry, and the evolution of pop and rock music add depth to the memoir, offering readers a backstage pass to some of the most pivotal moments in music history. The in-depth analysis of the recording of the Christmas Album is worth £2 on it own! 

Be My Baby is a deeply personal and inspiring memoir that chronicles the journey of a woman who, despite facing overwhelming challenges, emerged as a symbol of strength and survival. Ronnie Spector's voice — both on the page and in music — is unforgettable, and her story is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of music, celebrity, and the complexities of personal resilience.

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com 

The Beatle Bandit by Nate Hendley. Happiness Is A Warm Gun?

 

The Beatle Bandit by Nate Hendley is a comprehensive deep dive into a gun-toting one-man crime spree from 1964 by Matthew Kerry Smith. Due to his bank-robbery attire, Smith was dubbed 'The Beatle Bandit' by the Canadian media, but as a solo artist, Matthew was quite a successful bandit, albeit for a few troublesome civilians who were killed whilst he carried out his crimes! In an interesting criminal character analysis, Nate Hendley takes apart the robber's personality. Matthew Kerry Smith was a bright but mentally disturbed, who launched his bank raids as some misguided attempt to galvanise the public, begin a revolution, and (laughably) overthrow the government. Funny, if it wasn't for his victims. One particular victim was military veteran Jack Blanc, who died in a gunfight with the robber. Following a manhunt, Smith was caught, jailed and given a death sentence. When police searched his home, Smith had an arsenal of personal weapons and even gained a small property empire from his proceeds of crime. The crimes themselves gained media attention and caused Canadian gun laws to be revised. 

The book's narrative is founded on court transcripts, police documents, extensive first-hand interviews, media accounts, and other sources.  Nate Hendley tells this story brilliantly, and as a fan of The Beatles, it wasn't a case I had heard of. It's an interesting sell on the story but as a reader of true crime, I am well aware of the monickers the media give to serial killers, murderers, & even terrorists (the ISIS Beatle bombers spring to mind) Nate Hendley is a great storyteller and tells this true crime story as it should be; facts, stats, first-hand witnesses, and news reports of the time. Nate  Hendley is a journalist and author. His other books include The Boy on the Bicycle, The Big Con, and Bonnie and Clyde; A Biography. All worth checking out, I think! 

Buy The Beatle Bandit Book via Dundurn Press HERE 

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com 

BOOK REVIEW - Philip Norman - The Reluctant Beatle

 

This book should have been titled ‘While My Guitar Gentle Weeps’. Not because this is an epic monolith of rock biographies, about the quiet Beatle, George Harrison, but because it made me cry like an out-of-tune Rickenbacker. Let's be clear on one thing: this book is awful. The notoriously ‘quiet Beatle’ was anything but a talent lost in the songwriting shadows of genius tunesmiths: John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Post-Beatle breakup, George Harrison was the most successful solo Beatles, outselling John and Paul until Lennon's untimely death. 

For a biography about George Harrison, you have to wade through 190 pages of well-written and well-worn Beatles lore before learning anything about the book's subject. Aside from Lennon and McCartney, George was best friends with Slowhands guitar genius, Eric Clapton, whose rather racy hands saw him have an affair with his best pals wife, Pattie Boyd. Aside from the genius of Something by The Beatles and Layla by Derek and the Dominoes, this book almost feels like a short biography of Eric Clapton as well. I never knew as much about Clapton until reading this biography of... you get my point. 

The subject matter is poorly researched, mistakenly authoritative and offers no further information on George that I couldn't have read elsewhere. The prologue, by the author, is also a back-handed apology for writing a 3000-word article about George, which slaughtered his songwriting skills, solo career, and reputation. Had I read that bit first, I would have avoided this book. 

Several years ago I read ‘SHOUT’ by the same author, and I’d forgotten that was awful too - lesson learnt! 

To quote the late George Harrison ‘ All Things Must Pass’... and so should this book, because it was rubbish.

I scored this book 2/5 on my GOODREADS feed. 

the book is available to buy here 

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com 

The Road To Jonestown Jim Jones And The Peoples Temple - Jeff Gunn

                                               

The Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, better known by its informal name "Jonestown", was a remote settlement in Guyana, established by the Peoples Temple, a San Francisco-based cult under the leadership of demagogue god-like narcissist (and Temple Leader) Jim Jones. On November 18th 1978 Jim Jones instructed his 900+ followers to kill themselves and commit ‘revolutionary suicide’ as a direct response to the Guyanese and American Government investigations into his cult-like Peoples Temple. What followed was the biggest act of mass-murder suicide in American History (before 9/11) that cemented Jim Jones and his cult into true-crime history books, alongside Waco leader David Koresh, and to a lesser extent, Charles Manson.

The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple by Jeff Guinn, is a definitive and exploratory look into the world of Jim Jones. How did this poverty-stricken kid from Indiana become a faith leader, political activist, and ultimately a mass murderer? I won't give the game away but this is a very well-written book, that gives a fascinating insight into The Peoples Temple - from its humble beginnings to the mass suicide/murder that made international headlines. In the years that followed this atrocious act, Jim Jones was compared to murderous demagogues such as Adolf Hitler and Charles Manson.These comparisons completely and historically misrepresent the initial appeal of Jim Jones to members of the Peoples Temple.

The Peoples Temple - Jonestown

Jones was a cult leader and a man who professed messages of love as a brotherhood. He had a convincing socialist idealism that appealed to his followers, but it was one that ultimately killed them all when his plan seemingly failed. If you’re unfamiliar with The Peoples Temple, this book is a good start. Having read it, I'd be interested in learning more about cults and how they came to be.

Jeff Guinn is a former journalist who has won national, regional and state awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, and literary criticism.

Guinn is also the bestselling author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction including, but not limited to: Go Down Together: The True Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde (which was a finalist for an Edgar Award in 2010); The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral - and How It Changed the West; Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson; and The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple.

Buy The Book HERE

Learn more about The Peoples Temple 

Serpentine - The True Story of a Serial Killer's Reign of Terror by Thomas Thompson

 True Crime seems to be captivating TV audiences these days, and like never before. The latest offering from the UK has been the BBC crime drama The Serpent. I binged it in one week and was captivated by this exotic far-flung tale of a 1970s serial killer, his murder spree, drugging, gem trafficking and poisonous reign of terror. 

Serpentine by Thomas Thompson tells the story of serial killer Charles Sobhraj, the notorious ‘Serpent’ or ‘bikini killer’ who preyed on Western tourists throughout the hippie trail of Southeast Asia during the 1970s. Joined by his band of ‘followers’ you could almost say that this murderer had a cult following, however, unlike Charles Manson, Charles Sobhraj was hands-on when it came to killing. 

The book is a biography of Charles’ life from birth in 1944 up to his eventual capture and jailing in 1976. Over several months in late 1975 and early 1976, the French serial killer (although of Asian and Indian descent) murdered tourists on the ‘hippie trail’. During this period, bodies have been found slain, their corpses strangled and stabbed and burned and drowned, from the paradise beaches of Thailand, through to slopes of the Himalayas and beside the river Ganges. Sobhraj used a variety of aliases, usually from stolen passports, posing as a gem dealer to first extract money, but which (for reasons unknown) quickly escalated into murder. Maybe to cover his tracks or to keep the police from his trail, Charles had a femme fatale in tow (one of many) in French / Canadian Marie-Andree Leclerc, who acted as his wife, and an eventual accomplice (although she feigned innocence through trial). The book is a fascinating delve into The Serpent's crimes, and his heady band of followers, and analytically deconstructs his subsequent trial.

This book is the perfect accompaniment to the smash-hit BBC true crime drama and paints a portrait of a master manipulator psychopath who still resides in jail to this day. 

About the Author; Thomas Thompson was an American journalist and author. He worked for Life magazine from 1961 and died in 1982.

Watch The Serpent on BBCiPlayer

Serpentine by Thomas Thompson is published by Open Road and is available on Amazon Kindle

Facing The Yorkshire Ripper - by Mo Lea

 On the 20th of October 1980 (a few days before her 21st Birthday) art student Mo Lea spends a night out with friends in Leed’s university student area. The air of a city under siege is clear to the local student population. A serial killer is on the loose and on the attack. In his fifth (and final) year, the Yorkshire Ripper's modus operandi has shifted from prostitutes to random young women and students in and around the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the heart of urban England. Even in this insidious atmosphere, Mo Lea takes the risk of taking a short dimly lit walk home. What follows is a life-threatening attack, a stoic and emotional recovery, yet one that causes reflection on what it means to be a survivor and how far you would have to go to recover from such a crime.  A gifted artist, Mo Lea plays on her strengths art itself is the leitmotif that runs throughout this true-crime biography. The creative process begins with exhibitions of dark imagery, and portfolios full of macabre drawings and paintings. The artistic and emotional torture is conveyed in excruciating detail. 

As the years go by, Mo Lea takes us on a journey through the United States, Leeds, and Bedfordshire, and even a life-affirming meeting with a woman that changes the artist’s life, and sexuality, in one swift move. Like brush strokes on a blank canvas, Mo paints her prose well and delivers a harrowing yet engaging account. Although the book is a bit dry on the more titillating details of Sutcliffe’s crimes (maybe not one for all true crime fans) it is, however, an inspiring story of recovery, reinvention, and the ability to overcome. By the time the book concludes, those early macabre drawings of dark insidious creations are visually inspired by seahorses, photography, and working with Victim Support charities. 

Mo also delves deep into her emotionally fraught and tiresome dealings with the gross incompetence of West Yorkshire Police and their notorious mismanagement of the Yorkshire Ripper case. 

For some, it would leave a sour taste but Mo’s story is one of positive recovery and enlightenment. 

Facing The Yorkshire Ripper - The Art Of Survival by Mo Lea was published on the 6th of October 2020 by Pen & Sword Books 

View Mo Lea's artwork here 

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com