For fans of music books from David Hepworth Pete Paphides Bob Stanley and Craig Brown as
well as thought-provoking human interest stories like Moondust by Andrew Smith and books by
Jon Ronson Louis Theroux and Stuart Maconie. Nick Duerden has spent many years interviewing
the most famous musicians on the planet. Without exception they are at their most interesting
when they've peaked and when they are on their way down. In many ways this is when these
former idols are at their most heroic too because they reveal themselves not only to be
humane and sensitive but also still driven to create to fulfil their lingering dreams to
refuse to live quietly. Some sustain themselves on the nostalgia circuit. Others continue to
beaver away in the studio no longer Abbey Road so much as the garden shed. The desire for
adulation is a light that never goes out. We live in a culture obsessed by the notion of fame -
the heedless pursuit of it the almost obligatory subsequent fallout. But what's it like to
actually achieve it and what's it like when fame abruptly passes and shifts as it does onto
someone else?These are tales of heroin addiction bankruptcy depression divorce - but also of
optimism a genuine love of the craft humility and hope. All of which makes EXIT STAGE LEFT a
fascinating laugh-out-loud funny and often shocking look at what happens when the brightest of
stars fall down to earth.Featuring brand new interviews with the likes of: Bob Geldof Shaun
Ryder Robbie Williams Roisin Murphy Stewart Copeland Billy Bragg Wendy James Alex
Kapranos Joan Armatrading Leo Sayer Gary Lightbody Lisa Maffia Tim Booth Bill Drummond
Rufus Wainwright David Gray and Justin Hawkins.
