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The Road Beneath My Feet
On 23 September, 2005, at the Joiners Arms in Southampton, Frank Turner played his last gig with his hardcore band Million Dead. On the laminantes that listed the tour dates, the entry for 24 September simply read: 'Get a job.'
Deflated, jaded and hungover, Frank returned to his hometown of Winchester without a plan for the future. All he knew was that he wanted to keep playing music.
Cut to 13 April 2012, a thousand shows later (show 1,216 to be precise), and he was headlining a sold-out gig at Wembley Arena with his band The Sleeping Souls. That summer, they played to 200,000 people at the Olympics opening ceremony warm-up by personal invitation of Danny Boyle.
Told through his tour reminiscences, this is a blisteringly honest story of Frank's career from the grimy pub scene where sweat drips from the ceiling, to filling out arenas with fans roaring every word. But more than that, it is an intimate account of what it's like to spend your life constantly on the road; sleeping on floors, invariably jetlagged, all for the love of playing live music.
Deflated, jaded and hungover, Frank returned to his hometown of Winchester without a plan for the future. All he knew was that he wanted to keep playing music.
Cut to 13 April 2012, a thousand shows later (show 1,216 to be precise), and he was headlining a sold-out gig at Wembley Arena with his band The Sleeping Souls. That summer, they played to 200,000 people at the Olympics opening ceremony warm-up by personal invitation of Danny Boyle.
Told through his tour reminiscences, this is a blisteringly honest story of Frank's career from the grimy pub scene where sweat drips from the ceiling, to filling out arenas with fans roaring every word. But more than that, it is an intimate account of what it's like to spend your life constantly on the road; sleeping on floors, invariably jetlagged, all for the love of playing live music.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 4, 2018
Frank Turner is one of my absolute favorite artists. I have seen him live a few times and try to anytime he’s playing in my area. I love his writing... of songs, but not this novel. If you know of Frank’s fun and outspoken character, you will be surprised to find that this book is pretty mundane. It’s a rundown of the events of most of his concerts, broken down venue by venue in chronological order. But it’s basically all the same cycle of... We played here. There were x many people in the crowd. The show went however well. We got plastered. I don’t know how we made it to the next venue. Repeat. And there’s a random interesting story sprinkled in here and there. Frank is just such a fun and interesting guy, I was expecting this book to be more exciting. Still love him as a music artist though!
May 8, 2015
Over the past 5 years, Frank Turner has fast become one of my all time favourite musicians and I have seen him live more times than any other band or musician – 11 times, as I write this.
As an excellent songwriter, I knew that he would be able to write a good book. But I didn't think it would give me quite so much more of an insight into his life on tour, the people he's met, the songs he writes and, in particular, the shows that I have been to. It's wonderful to read about FT gigs that I've been to from his perspective – although not all are mentioned in their own ‘chapters’ in this book. And I also especially liked reading about other bands that he's toured with whom I love – Chuck Ragan and the Revival Tour crew, The Menzingers, The Gaslight Anthem, Flogging Molly. Oh and the Ryan from OWTH bit was brilliant.
A must read for any FT fan, big or small, and any fan of punk rock, folk punk and alternative music in general.
As an excellent songwriter, I knew that he would be able to write a good book. But I didn't think it would give me quite so much more of an insight into his life on tour, the people he's met, the songs he writes and, in particular, the shows that I have been to. It's wonderful to read about FT gigs that I've been to from his perspective – although not all are mentioned in their own ‘chapters’ in this book. And I also especially liked reading about other bands that he's toured with whom I love – Chuck Ragan and the Revival Tour crew, The Menzingers, The Gaslight Anthem, Flogging Molly. Oh and the Ryan from OWTH bit was brilliant.
A must read for any FT fan, big or small, and any fan of punk rock, folk punk and alternative music in general.
July 6, 2017
I’m not going to lie. When the postman delivered a review copy of Frank Turner’s The Road Beneath My Feet to me two weeks before its publication date, I was rather excited (to the point of almost squealing). I have been a fan of Turner’s music for a good few years now, and have seen him live close to a dozen times. I was also at the sellout Wembley gig which he charts as the pinnacle of his career to date. I have always thought that Turner – and Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame – would write excellent books. Yes – it is fair to say that my excitement over this book was tangible.
The Road Beneath My Feet presents, says its blurb, ‘a searingly honest and brilliantly written account of Frank Turner’s journey from the pub circuit to selling out Wembley Arena’. The premise of the book poses instant appeal for all Turner fans (of which there are many): ‘Told through his tour reminiscences this is the blisteringly honest story of Frank’s career from drug-fuelled house parties and the grimy club scene to filling out arenas, fans roaring every word back at him. But more than that, it is an intimate account of what it’s like to spend your life constantly on the road, sleeping on floors, invariably jet lagged, all for the love of playing live music’.
After Frank Turner’s last gig as frontman with his hardcore band Million Dead in 2005, he returned to his Hampshire hometown, ‘jaded and hungover’, with no plans for the future. All he knew is that he wanted to continue to play music. Rather aptly, the book begins with this juncture in his career: ‘It was the defining experience of my late adolescence, my early twenties – it was my formative musical experience. But we were also just another jobbing underground hardcore band that made some small ripples and fell apart’.
In his Introduction/Disclaimer, Turner muses about his reasoning for publishing his biography, something which he largely attributes to his admiration of Black Flag’s Henry Rollins: ‘You hold in your hands a book, a book that I wrote, all by myself… One reason I was not expecting this book to exist is that I’m not generally much keen on autobiography as a genre. There are, of course, notable exceptions to this – Ben Franklin for example, or Churchill’s – but I feel like you either need to have won a war or be knocking on death’s door to justify the exercise… It was also suggested that the book need not be an autobiography in the strict sense, starting with birth and ending in the nursing home; it could be a specific set of recollections about a certain period of time’. Each of Turner’s recollections is split into a particular numbered show, of which he has kept a record since he started performing. This record has actually been included at the end of the book, which is a lovely touch.
In some ways, Turner comes across as rather a humbled man: ‘I’m aware, painfully so, that I’m incredibly fortunate to do what I do for a living; I’m also not under the impression that it’s death-shakingly significant, in the grand scheme of things. Hopefully I don’t come off as overly self-pitying or self-important’.
As with his lyrics, Turner’s prose writing is intelligent, and one gets the impression that a lot of thought has been put into many of his sentences: ‘Like most youthful, Arcadian ideals, the bald facts of the denouement are mundane rather than monumental’. In places, the book is rather amusing and filled with Turner’s dry humour: ‘There’s a bleak, failed romanticism to the idea Valentine’s Day alone in Ipswich’, for example. He also recounts amusing episodes; in Russia, for instance, after a few too many drinks, the following happens: ‘On hearing that I had been left alone by my compadre, I jumped to my feet, rushed into the club, leaped up on to the bar and shouted “Communist bastards! I’ll fight you all!” while rather pathetically waving a plastic cup’. The characters whom he meets along the way have been vividly evoked; Karlis, for example, ‘a formidable, hulking Latvian’ whose ‘favourite king was Charles I and [who] liked trampolining very much, but, alarmingly, was minded to shoot gypsies with his “double-barrelled shooting gun”.’
In The Road Beneath My Feet, one can see quite clearly how Turner’s style, both musically and as a performer, has evolved over time: ‘I felt like I was pretty much done with (post-) hardcore as a style… After years of self-conscious musical awkwardness and trying to be dark and angular all the time, hearing simple chords and simple words was immensely refreshing and I felt like the music told me deeper truths… I’m always more interested in music when it breaks out of the mould and becomes a dialogue, an interaction, rather than just a lecture from “artist” to “punter”‘. The positives as well as the negatives have been considered throughout, from habitual drug use and sleeping on uncomfortable sofas, to barely scraping together enough money to eat each night. Turner relates his experiences to the songs which they influenced: ‘It’s reasonably fair to say that Sleep is For the Week is, in some senses, an album about doing too much cocaine’.
There is a slightly repetitive air to the whole, but that is to be expected due to the nature of the book. The format which has been used works well, and in consequence, The Road Beneath My Feet is eminently readable. There is a ‘woe-is-me’ air which pervades at times, but again, one can easily believe that this goes with the territory. Sadly, parts of the book do feel like something of a plugging exercise in places, but overall, it is a well written and well-developed account of how to make it the hard way in the music industry, and it is sure to captivate and satisfy his fans.
The Road Beneath My Feet presents, says its blurb, ‘a searingly honest and brilliantly written account of Frank Turner’s journey from the pub circuit to selling out Wembley Arena’. The premise of the book poses instant appeal for all Turner fans (of which there are many): ‘Told through his tour reminiscences this is the blisteringly honest story of Frank’s career from drug-fuelled house parties and the grimy club scene to filling out arenas, fans roaring every word back at him. But more than that, it is an intimate account of what it’s like to spend your life constantly on the road, sleeping on floors, invariably jet lagged, all for the love of playing live music’.
After Frank Turner’s last gig as frontman with his hardcore band Million Dead in 2005, he returned to his Hampshire hometown, ‘jaded and hungover’, with no plans for the future. All he knew is that he wanted to continue to play music. Rather aptly, the book begins with this juncture in his career: ‘It was the defining experience of my late adolescence, my early twenties – it was my formative musical experience. But we were also just another jobbing underground hardcore band that made some small ripples and fell apart’.
In his Introduction/Disclaimer, Turner muses about his reasoning for publishing his biography, something which he largely attributes to his admiration of Black Flag’s Henry Rollins: ‘You hold in your hands a book, a book that I wrote, all by myself… One reason I was not expecting this book to exist is that I’m not generally much keen on autobiography as a genre. There are, of course, notable exceptions to this – Ben Franklin for example, or Churchill’s – but I feel like you either need to have won a war or be knocking on death’s door to justify the exercise… It was also suggested that the book need not be an autobiography in the strict sense, starting with birth and ending in the nursing home; it could be a specific set of recollections about a certain period of time’. Each of Turner’s recollections is split into a particular numbered show, of which he has kept a record since he started performing. This record has actually been included at the end of the book, which is a lovely touch.
In some ways, Turner comes across as rather a humbled man: ‘I’m aware, painfully so, that I’m incredibly fortunate to do what I do for a living; I’m also not under the impression that it’s death-shakingly significant, in the grand scheme of things. Hopefully I don’t come off as overly self-pitying or self-important’.
As with his lyrics, Turner’s prose writing is intelligent, and one gets the impression that a lot of thought has been put into many of his sentences: ‘Like most youthful, Arcadian ideals, the bald facts of the denouement are mundane rather than monumental’. In places, the book is rather amusing and filled with Turner’s dry humour: ‘There’s a bleak, failed romanticism to the idea Valentine’s Day alone in Ipswich’, for example. He also recounts amusing episodes; in Russia, for instance, after a few too many drinks, the following happens: ‘On hearing that I had been left alone by my compadre, I jumped to my feet, rushed into the club, leaped up on to the bar and shouted “Communist bastards! I’ll fight you all!” while rather pathetically waving a plastic cup’. The characters whom he meets along the way have been vividly evoked; Karlis, for example, ‘a formidable, hulking Latvian’ whose ‘favourite king was Charles I and [who] liked trampolining very much, but, alarmingly, was minded to shoot gypsies with his “double-barrelled shooting gun”.’
In The Road Beneath My Feet, one can see quite clearly how Turner’s style, both musically and as a performer, has evolved over time: ‘I felt like I was pretty much done with (post-) hardcore as a style… After years of self-conscious musical awkwardness and trying to be dark and angular all the time, hearing simple chords and simple words was immensely refreshing and I felt like the music told me deeper truths… I’m always more interested in music when it breaks out of the mould and becomes a dialogue, an interaction, rather than just a lecture from “artist” to “punter”‘. The positives as well as the negatives have been considered throughout, from habitual drug use and sleeping on uncomfortable sofas, to barely scraping together enough money to eat each night. Turner relates his experiences to the songs which they influenced: ‘It’s reasonably fair to say that Sleep is For the Week is, in some senses, an album about doing too much cocaine’.
There is a slightly repetitive air to the whole, but that is to be expected due to the nature of the book. The format which has been used works well, and in consequence, The Road Beneath My Feet is eminently readable. There is a ‘woe-is-me’ air which pervades at times, but again, one can easily believe that this goes with the territory. Sadly, parts of the book do feel like something of a plugging exercise in places, but overall, it is a well written and well-developed account of how to make it the hard way in the music industry, and it is sure to captivate and satisfy his fans.
May 17, 2015
If like me you have been following Frank Turner's music since Million Dead, then Frank Turner's journey here is also your journey. The songs and gigs forming the soundtrack to your own life. I have enjoyed watching Frank Turner go from playing tiny shows to selling out Wembley. I have seen a lot of the tours he mentions and of course have sang loudly and tunelessly along to the songs. Watching Frank Turner play live isn't like going to a gig with some 'rock god' on the stage to entertain you , it's a sing along, a group activity "we are all in this together" Frank is the conductor. This book is the story of those shows. It's the story of the people along the way. I throughly enjoyed it.
June 25, 2023
A pseudo-autobiography that details the beginnings of Frank Turner's beginning as a solo artist. I say pseudo-autobiography because it is more of a tour diary detailing milestone shows out of the first 1200ish of his career.
You get a good sense of what the industry is like (highs and lows) as an independent artist.
You get a good sense of what the industry is like (highs and lows) as an independent artist.
March 28, 2015
September 23rd, 2005. Frank Turner plays his last show with Million Dead. The entry for the following day on his tour laminate simply says: Get a job. The problem was that all he wanted to do was play music and, much to the dismay of some close to him who thought the band's end may be the change in direction to normality, he pursued it.
April 13th, 2012. 1,216 shows down the line, he was headlining to a sold out Wembley Arena with The Sleeping Souls.
So is this the typical rags to riches rock autobiography that you'd expect from someone who's come so far? No, it's not. It's Rollins-esque in presenting the whole journey through tour diaries, recounting shows that shed a different light or tell a different tale from his life on the road. It's fun, euphoric, successful, but it's also grim, desperate and trying. He tells of the obvious highs and the absolute lows.
With about 30 music (auto)biographies on my shelf, I'd hazard a guess that, bar Amanda Palmer's The Art of Asking, all of those at the centre were before my lifetime, or at least had their heyday before I was really listening to them. (I would add that her's falls more into self-help motivation than a memoir, but still...).
The point being is that this was a journey I'd at least been a part of, bands I could relate to, and a point of time I could actually go 'Hey, I remember that!' It was just nice as a general fan of the genre to find one, at long last, from my generation of musicians, not me kind of clinging to that born too late notion.
But beyond that, the real reason I like this is because Frank doesn't turn it into an autobiography in detailing his life, his friends or family. Personal points are largely skimmed over, if at all mentioned; this is an insight into the touring life, the passion behind and for his music, and the hard work that took him from that one man in Whistlebinkies (I laugh every time I walk past that bar thinking of this story) to 12,000 at Wembley. I feel like if you have an affinity for rock music, this is a book for you.
April 13th, 2012. 1,216 shows down the line, he was headlining to a sold out Wembley Arena with The Sleeping Souls.
So is this the typical rags to riches rock autobiography that you'd expect from someone who's come so far? No, it's not. It's Rollins-esque in presenting the whole journey through tour diaries, recounting shows that shed a different light or tell a different tale from his life on the road. It's fun, euphoric, successful, but it's also grim, desperate and trying. He tells of the obvious highs and the absolute lows.
With about 30 music (auto)biographies on my shelf, I'd hazard a guess that, bar Amanda Palmer's The Art of Asking, all of those at the centre were before my lifetime, or at least had their heyday before I was really listening to them. (I would add that her's falls more into self-help motivation than a memoir, but still...).
The point being is that this was a journey I'd at least been a part of, bands I could relate to, and a point of time I could actually go 'Hey, I remember that!' It was just nice as a general fan of the genre to find one, at long last, from my generation of musicians, not me kind of clinging to that born too late notion.
But beyond that, the real reason I like this is because Frank doesn't turn it into an autobiography in detailing his life, his friends or family. Personal points are largely skimmed over, if at all mentioned; this is an insight into the touring life, the passion behind and for his music, and the hard work that took him from that one man in Whistlebinkies (I laugh every time I walk past that bar thinking of this story) to 12,000 at Wembley. I feel like if you have an affinity for rock music, this is a book for you.
February 4, 2016
As a massive Frank Turner fan, this was a must read. If you want to know what it's like to make a living as a singer/songwriter, you'll definitely enjoy this book. He focuses mainly on his tour starting in 2005 and ends in 2012. From the toilet circuit to stadiums, Turner has definitely earned his stripes. This book is a testament to why he's one of the hardest working musicians and why he doesn't plan on quitting any time soon. Check it out if you're a music fan. It's quick read.
April 2, 2019
Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE Frank Turner fan, so much so that I actually saw him seven times last year, including taking vacation time from work to follow him to Montreal, Canada, to Burlington, Vermont, and to London, England.
That said, I was less whelmed by this book than I'd hoped. As some previous reviewers have noted, it's heavy on a play-by-play of how he got to shows and whom he saw at shows, but it's pretty light on details about the way those experiences shaped him along the way. In other words, it's mostly just recollection, and not much reflection or introspection.
There were indeed some great, fun stories, and it was terrific to glean some details on how certain songs came together. And, since Frank and I have a lot of mutual friends (despite not ever having met each other), it was cool to read passages that mentioned--or were even centered around--some of those guys (hi Jonah, Arty, and Joe!).
Even in those more enjoyable parts, though, I was left wanting so much more (especially when Frank underscored the fact that he was leaving out a lot of details by making a flippant note along the lines of "But we won't get into that..." NO, FRANK: WE WANT YOU TO GET INTO THAT!).
I guess I just feel like this threw a sanitized sheen over his journal entries, and packaged them into a presentation he thought the mass market would want. I would much rather have had a more raw, rough around the edges recounting of things written as an internal monologue, rather than this presentation, which felt more like a combination of an essay and an after dinner speech.
Hoping for some deeper resonance in his new songwriting book! But even more so, looking forward to seeing him perform again later this month in Connecticut.
That said, I was less whelmed by this book than I'd hoped. As some previous reviewers have noted, it's heavy on a play-by-play of how he got to shows and whom he saw at shows, but it's pretty light on details about the way those experiences shaped him along the way. In other words, it's mostly just recollection, and not much reflection or introspection.
There were indeed some great, fun stories, and it was terrific to glean some details on how certain songs came together. And, since Frank and I have a lot of mutual friends (despite not ever having met each other), it was cool to read passages that mentioned--or were even centered around--some of those guys (hi Jonah, Arty, and Joe!).
Even in those more enjoyable parts, though, I was left wanting so much more (especially when Frank underscored the fact that he was leaving out a lot of details by making a flippant note along the lines of "But we won't get into that..." NO, FRANK: WE WANT YOU TO GET INTO THAT!).
I guess I just feel like this threw a sanitized sheen over his journal entries, and packaged them into a presentation he thought the mass market would want. I would much rather have had a more raw, rough around the edges recounting of things written as an internal monologue, rather than this presentation, which felt more like a combination of an essay and an after dinner speech.
Hoping for some deeper resonance in his new songwriting book! But even more so, looking forward to seeing him perform again later this month in Connecticut.
March 1, 2018
I was so excited and surprised last year to find that Frank Turner had a memoir! Over the past few years, he's become one of my favorite musicians and by far my favorite to see live (with the exception of Tom Petty, RIP), so I was thrilled to learn more about him and find out how he got to his level of success.
The book is anecdotal, based on stories from the road and shows he played that stood out in his memory, many because of whom he met or how special or unique a show felt for one reason or another. There are points at which it felt a little repetitive, but overall, it was an interesting look into a world I knew next to nothing about, that of traveling around the world to perform live music.
My favorite bits were the points where he talked about his inspiration and what was going on when he wrote some of his songs. There is definitely a connection that you can find between what was happening in his life at the time and how that was then reflected in the music. So much of his music and his lyrics have meant so much to me, have helped me get through tough times, and have given me perspective when I've been confused or frustrated with things in life. It was very gratifying to learn how those words came about and bring that little spark of connection knowing other people went through what we're going through.
As much as I enjoyed the book, I'm a huge fan so maybe take my opinion with a grain of salt. I'm not sure this one is for everyone, but it's a fun, fairly quick read about the life of a musician and one who loves traveling and loves performing more than anyone else I've ever heard of.
The book is anecdotal, based on stories from the road and shows he played that stood out in his memory, many because of whom he met or how special or unique a show felt for one reason or another. There are points at which it felt a little repetitive, but overall, it was an interesting look into a world I knew next to nothing about, that of traveling around the world to perform live music.
My favorite bits were the points where he talked about his inspiration and what was going on when he wrote some of his songs. There is definitely a connection that you can find between what was happening in his life at the time and how that was then reflected in the music. So much of his music and his lyrics have meant so much to me, have helped me get through tough times, and have given me perspective when I've been confused or frustrated with things in life. It was very gratifying to learn how those words came about and bring that little spark of connection knowing other people went through what we're going through.
As much as I enjoyed the book, I'm a huge fan so maybe take my opinion with a grain of salt. I'm not sure this one is for everyone, but it's a fun, fairly quick read about the life of a musician and one who loves traveling and loves performing more than anyone else I've ever heard of.
June 18, 2017
Not an autobiography, more of a travelogue of gigs from the time he went solo to his Wembley headliner. Fascinating book, notwithstanding an occasional sameness to the situations around him. He is still performing and writing and will be for a long time, I hope.
May 30, 2023
4,5. Topboek van een topartiest
March 3, 2020
In Frank Turner's memoir, "The Road Beneath My Feet," he cites the often-quoted aphorism about not meeting your heroes because they might disappoint you.
After reading this book, I feel I know him a lot better. And that is not necessarily a good thing.
If you know me, Frank Turner is one of my all-time favorite musicians. His songs have moved me in so many ways, so I came to his book with great excitement, hoping to learn juicy stories and reflections he's had on his career thus far.
Now, this book was published in 2016, and things might have changed for him since then. But I must admit, I was pretty disheartened when Frank says early on in the book that, while he no longer parties as hard as he once did, he still occasionally partakes in the "rock n' roll lifestyle," by which he admits to semi-frequent drugging and copious consumption of alcohol.
I'm not naive enough to think that he never did drugs or drink; I know that those go hand-in-hand with most musicians of any genre. In recent years, I have also read the Phil Collins and Elton John autobiographies, and their rampant drug use didn't make me bat an eye.
But I feel that Frank Turner's case is different, because he says he continues, on a lesser scale, granted, to participate in those activites, and goes even further to declare that he believes drugs should not be illegal.
I'm not sure how that sits with me. Perhaps I'm being too prudish, but if you're sharing your life story, you should expect young people will read it, and if they hear him say "Drugs are OK," they might second that thinking, to tragic results. Phil and Elton were from a different time. Plus, they're clean now. It feels that Frank, who comes across as so intelligent in his songs, subscribes to this destructive way of thinking, It also blows my mind how after all the drinking and binging on drugs he relates in this book, that he's still alive.
As for the book itself, he relates some amusing anecdotes (being mistaken all the time for Edward Norton) and forging relationships with other musicians, thereby giving the reader dirt on them too. However, I think the stories mean more to him than to a reader; many of them seem to blend together in my mind, nothing really substantive or remarkable standing out about them. Too frequently, he talks about a "good show" at some "toilet bar," and how tired he was after. Not exactly page-turning material. Maybe wrote it too soon; in 20 more years, he might have more ample fodder for a biography. And man, does he focus a lot on the drinking and drugging. I get it, Frank, you did it. But if I wanted to read about narcotics, I wouldn't have picked up your book. I want to know about you, your relationships, how your career developed from small pubs to stadiums, and the stories behind your music, etc.
I feel the road beneath my feet has split now. Can I separate the musician from the man? Is it possible that in just the 4 years since this book was published, he's reevaluated his views? It's hard for me to square the man who wrote the album "Be More Kind" as the man who is so unkind to himself.
After reading this book, I feel I know him a lot better. And that is not necessarily a good thing.
If you know me, Frank Turner is one of my all-time favorite musicians. His songs have moved me in so many ways, so I came to his book with great excitement, hoping to learn juicy stories and reflections he's had on his career thus far.
Now, this book was published in 2016, and things might have changed for him since then. But I must admit, I was pretty disheartened when Frank says early on in the book that, while he no longer parties as hard as he once did, he still occasionally partakes in the "rock n' roll lifestyle," by which he admits to semi-frequent drugging and copious consumption of alcohol.
I'm not naive enough to think that he never did drugs or drink; I know that those go hand-in-hand with most musicians of any genre. In recent years, I have also read the Phil Collins and Elton John autobiographies, and their rampant drug use didn't make me bat an eye.
But I feel that Frank Turner's case is different, because he says he continues, on a lesser scale, granted, to participate in those activites, and goes even further to declare that he believes drugs should not be illegal.
I'm not sure how that sits with me. Perhaps I'm being too prudish, but if you're sharing your life story, you should expect young people will read it, and if they hear him say "Drugs are OK," they might second that thinking, to tragic results. Phil and Elton were from a different time. Plus, they're clean now. It feels that Frank, who comes across as so intelligent in his songs, subscribes to this destructive way of thinking, It also blows my mind how after all the drinking and binging on drugs he relates in this book, that he's still alive.
As for the book itself, he relates some amusing anecdotes (being mistaken all the time for Edward Norton) and forging relationships with other musicians, thereby giving the reader dirt on them too. However, I think the stories mean more to him than to a reader; many of them seem to blend together in my mind, nothing really substantive or remarkable standing out about them. Too frequently, he talks about a "good show" at some "toilet bar," and how tired he was after. Not exactly page-turning material. Maybe wrote it too soon; in 20 more years, he might have more ample fodder for a biography. And man, does he focus a lot on the drinking and drugging. I get it, Frank, you did it. But if I wanted to read about narcotics, I wouldn't have picked up your book. I want to know about you, your relationships, how your career developed from small pubs to stadiums, and the stories behind your music, etc.
I feel the road beneath my feet has split now. Can I separate the musician from the man? Is it possible that in just the 4 years since this book was published, he's reevaluated his views? It's hard for me to square the man who wrote the album "Be More Kind" as the man who is so unkind to himself.
April 9, 2016
Who is Frank Turner and why am I reading his book? Well, first off, it was free (Goodreads contest winner) and second it pertains to music. So, part of me still dreams of being a rockstar and the other part....well, it was free. Free is good.
Frank Turner. Never heard of the guy before picking up this book. Frank is the former frontman of the now disbanded British hardcore group, Million Dead (never heard of them either). The book follows Frank's final gigs with Million Dead and his unknown future, as an out of work musician. Each "chapter" is a roadmap of Frank's post-Million Dead career as a solo artist, highlighing some of his more memorable (and recollected) shows. It is a chronology of life as a solo artist, the struggles to book and get from gig to gig, as well as what perpetual life is like on the road. You see the issues (both financial and personal) that he encounters as he starts his solo career, through the artist maturation process and culminating with the highlight of his career, headlining at and selling out Wembly Arena. Good for you, Frank.
His tales of "life as a musician" are very entertaining and enlightening. Frank has a very casual and easy writing style, with a superb sense of that wry British humor. You almost can visualize what is happening and what he is feeling. He does not hold back on what he thinks or did. Not all of the stories are success stories and several of them make you wonder what kind of person would put themselves through such an ordeal, just to play music. I found myself laughing out loud at several characters and situations that Frank encountered. In fact, this was probably the most entertaining book I have ever read.
The stories (i.e. chapters) are short. Some just a few paragraphs long, with the longest ones being only 5-10 pages in length. This makes the book really quick to read, as you want to see what happens along the way and/or at the next show. Unfortunately, this style will keep you up late (really late), as you jump from venue to venue with Frank. The story ends as his career has peaked and the postscript does not dispell the possibility of Part II (Wembley and beyond).
Because of the ease at which you get sucked into this book, I found myself sampling some of his music on iTunes. Lo and behold, I really dug his music. It is a cross between English folk, bluegrass and rock. OK, I have to confess that after a few downloads off iTunes, I am now a committed Frank Turner fan. His music is really good.
My real feelings about this book? I loved it. I loved the casual writing style. I loved the unfiltered insight into his life on the road. I could see myself sitting down with Frank and just chatting about music and life, all while tossing down a few pints in the corner of some trashy pub. This book is a very fast read and easily one of the best books I have read in the past 20 years. 4.85 out of 5 stars.
Good luck, Frank. Keep rockin'
Frank Turner. Never heard of the guy before picking up this book. Frank is the former frontman of the now disbanded British hardcore group, Million Dead (never heard of them either). The book follows Frank's final gigs with Million Dead and his unknown future, as an out of work musician. Each "chapter" is a roadmap of Frank's post-Million Dead career as a solo artist, highlighing some of his more memorable (and recollected) shows. It is a chronology of life as a solo artist, the struggles to book and get from gig to gig, as well as what perpetual life is like on the road. You see the issues (both financial and personal) that he encounters as he starts his solo career, through the artist maturation process and culminating with the highlight of his career, headlining at and selling out Wembly Arena. Good for you, Frank.
His tales of "life as a musician" are very entertaining and enlightening. Frank has a very casual and easy writing style, with a superb sense of that wry British humor. You almost can visualize what is happening and what he is feeling. He does not hold back on what he thinks or did. Not all of the stories are success stories and several of them make you wonder what kind of person would put themselves through such an ordeal, just to play music. I found myself laughing out loud at several characters and situations that Frank encountered. In fact, this was probably the most entertaining book I have ever read.
The stories (i.e. chapters) are short. Some just a few paragraphs long, with the longest ones being only 5-10 pages in length. This makes the book really quick to read, as you want to see what happens along the way and/or at the next show. Unfortunately, this style will keep you up late (really late), as you jump from venue to venue with Frank. The story ends as his career has peaked and the postscript does not dispell the possibility of Part II (Wembley and beyond).
Because of the ease at which you get sucked into this book, I found myself sampling some of his music on iTunes. Lo and behold, I really dug his music. It is a cross between English folk, bluegrass and rock. OK, I have to confess that after a few downloads off iTunes, I am now a committed Frank Turner fan. His music is really good.
My real feelings about this book? I loved it. I loved the casual writing style. I loved the unfiltered insight into his life on the road. I could see myself sitting down with Frank and just chatting about music and life, all while tossing down a few pints in the corner of some trashy pub. This book is a very fast read and easily one of the best books I have read in the past 20 years. 4.85 out of 5 stars.
Good luck, Frank. Keep rockin'
March 15, 2016
I'll say up front that I'm a Frank Turner fan and when I grabbed this book it was firstly to support one of his ventures and equally because I was interested in learning more about him. This isn't an autobiography, however. This is a series of tour diaries (as so many other reviewers have noted) that chronicle his many, many shows and his rise to Wembley and beyond. It was great to see the wider context behind so many of the tour diaries he has on his website, and to get a bit more information behind some of his earlier tours.
If you're looking for information about Frank's home life this isn't the book. You'll learn just as much about his crew and manager as you will about him personally, but this style seems to reflect very well on this musician. The writing style sweeps from place to place, just like a life on the road does. Although some tour stops are fleshed out, others are barely touched upon and while frustrating it suits this wandering theme. If you ever wondered if you could go on tour, I advise reading this first and really thinking about whether this is the life for you. It's an enjoyable read, somewhat of a cautionary tale and definitely a book about a man's craft and his undeniable passion for the music he makes.
I know I'll end up reading it a few more times, there's lots to read and consider and I couldn't put it down the first time.
If you're looking for information about Frank's home life this isn't the book. You'll learn just as much about his crew and manager as you will about him personally, but this style seems to reflect very well on this musician. The writing style sweeps from place to place, just like a life on the road does. Although some tour stops are fleshed out, others are barely touched upon and while frustrating it suits this wandering theme. If you ever wondered if you could go on tour, I advise reading this first and really thinking about whether this is the life for you. It's an enjoyable read, somewhat of a cautionary tale and definitely a book about a man's craft and his undeniable passion for the music he makes.
I know I'll end up reading it a few more times, there's lots to read and consider and I couldn't put it down the first time.
February 9, 2016
I, like so many so many of the other reviewers, am a Frank Turner fan and have approached this book with a curiosity about the man who creates music that I love. I saw Million Dead play at Leeds festival in 2005 and have seen him play many times over the past ten years in venues ranging from a tiny university halls bar which lacked a stage so we all had to sit on the floor like school children to sweaty crowds in heaving venues.
FT is a musician, not a rock star. He seems completely dedicated to living a life where he gets to make music and connect with others who love music the way he does. This book is a lovely insight to his experience of touring and it was great fun to connect my own experiences of seeing him play. It does get a tad repetitive with the 'play gig, get drunk, stumble through hangover' recaps but some fun stories come of it. The parts I enjoyed the most are the changes that come with moving from him travelling solo to building and travelling with his band.
'The only thing that punk rock should ever really be is not sitting round and waiting for the lights to go green.'
FT is a musician, not a rock star. He seems completely dedicated to living a life where he gets to make music and connect with others who love music the way he does. This book is a lovely insight to his experience of touring and it was great fun to connect my own experiences of seeing him play. It does get a tad repetitive with the 'play gig, get drunk, stumble through hangover' recaps but some fun stories come of it. The parts I enjoyed the most are the changes that come with moving from him travelling solo to building and travelling with his band.
'The only thing that punk rock should ever really be is not sitting round and waiting for the lights to go green.'
February 21, 2016
Since discovering Frank Turner in 2010 he has become one of my favourite musicians, not just because of his songs but also because he seems like a genuine good guy, not too different to the rest of us. Reading this book just cemented that fact. Frank doesn't glamourise life on the road but gives an honest insight into the sheer dedication and determination that is required to break through in the music world. The moment where he describes being able to afford a hotel room for the first time and feeling like he'd 'made it' was strangely heartwarming, and even though I knew he'd go on to achieve much bigger things (having attended the Wembley Arena show that ends the book) I still found myself willing him on! The fact he highlights individual shows is also a nice touch as I was able to find some of the shows that I attended, and get an idea of how they were perceived from the performer's point of view. An engaging, insightful book for anyone who is a fan of Frank Turner or even just live music.
September 8, 2022
I found this as the only English book in a guest house in Costa Rica where the wifi was non-existent.
The opening pages had been adorned with some American surfer dude's incredibly dull diary entries from his flight over from California to here.
Perhaps they made the book more interesting.
I now know a hell of a lot about Frank Turner, and appreciate his music all the more for it.
I think I also like Frank Turner less, from reading this. So I gave it three stars. I've evidently gone back and changed that to two stars after comparing to other books I read this year, and then again to change to 1*. Maybe it's not 1*. I'll change it back to two.
I read it, I actually couldn't put it down.. but that maybe says more for the lack of other stimulation.
The opening pages had been adorned with some American surfer dude's incredibly dull diary entries from his flight over from California to here.
Perhaps they made the book more interesting.
I now know a hell of a lot about Frank Turner, and appreciate his music all the more for it.
I think I also like Frank Turner less, from reading this. So I gave it three stars. I've evidently gone back and changed that to two stars after comparing to other books I read this year, and then again to change to 1*. Maybe it's not 1*. I'll change it back to two.
I read it, I actually couldn't put it down.. but that maybe says more for the lack of other stimulation.
April 3, 2018
im not usually one for biographies, but i will always make an exception when it comes to frank turner. this was an excellent story about life on the road/touring and it only lead me to respect him as musician and person so much more!
5 stars
5 stars
April 29, 2015
A fascinating tour journal.
March 6, 2024
Random thoughts on the thoroughly entertaining The Road Beneath My Feet by the incredible musician Frank Turner:
Provenance: Shopping in a used bookstore with my daughter, I came across this book that I never even knew existed, although I've been a fan of Turner's for over 15 years. Looking at the cover, I saw that it was basically a journal of his time on the road, touring, and I had to have it. Well worth the eight bucks!
Expectations: I've seen Frank Turner four times in concert, and will go again whenever he is back in town. I love his music and his shows are energetic and you feel like, not just a fan, but a part of a community. I expected this to be five stars and though I am in no way objective, I was not disappointed.
The Story: Literally, a journal of many of the over 1,000 shows Turner played between the years 2005 and 2012. Turner is a true "road warrior," traversing first the UK, then Europe, then the U.S., then the world as he built his solo career.
What it's really about: Building a career doing what you love? Stories from the road? It is so much more than a recap of concerts. You can follow Turner's star rising. In 2005, Turner's punk band, Million Dead, broke up for good. Frank decided that it was not the end of his musical career so he picked up his guitar and started playing what one friend dubbed, "campfire punk rock." This was also the name of his first EP, which I highly recommend.
He started playing small clubs in and around London. He played house parties. He played anywhere that would have him. Turner tells many stories of sleeping on the floor of friends and strangers after a show, waking up not remembering where he was, and making his way back home.
Eventually, Turner starts to venture out. One of the first places outside of the UK that he plays is Latvia. He meets strangers who become friends, he gives his all in every show, he parties too hard, but he does it all for his fans because he loves it.
There are stories of gigs that ended early for unforeseen circumstances so Turner goes out into the parking lot to play for the people who came to the show. There are stories about playing in front of ten people, and there are stories of playing at a house party for someone who couldn't afford to see a show.
We follow along as Turner becomes more popular. The book proper ends with a sold out show at the Wembley arena (a 12,000 seat venue, as opposed to Wembley stadium, where Live Aid was), and there is an after note about playing the Olympic opening ceremony. Turner is humble about his success, understands that he is changed because of his experiences, and shows much gratitude for being able to live it all.
A couple of stories to whet your appetite: Moscow, New Year's Eve, 2006. Turner is scheduled to play two shows in a small club - one before midnight and one after. The first show goes off without a hitch. Then, the partying starts. Turner and his Russian friends start with vodka and move to vodka shots dropped into beers. The second set, Turner hardly remembers.
After the show, exhausted and drunk, Turner decides to take a nap. The location he chooses is the cloakroom of the club atop all of the patrons' heavy coats. The evening ends, the customers go to get their coats for the trip home, "to find a wasted Englishman sleeping soundly on their garments."
The people tried, gently, to take their coats without disturbing Turner. Turner, thinking someone was "trying to steal my bedclothes," started to fight them off. They spoke no English, he spoke no Russian. In his state, he ended up standing on a table shouting, "Communist bastards! I'll fight you all!" before being bundled into a taxi by the bar owner and show promoter.
At the end of the book, Turner talks about his Olympic performance. A bar owner friend of his was showing the opening ceremony on a big screen in his bar and invited Turner to attend. Turner, under an non-disclosure agreement, couldn't tell the bar owner why he couldn't come to the party so he made up a lame, ambiguous excuse.
Turner plays the show (it was during an extended opening shown in the UK, not world-wide), leaves the stadium, and heads to the bar. When he walks in the owner, who had just seen him on t.v., smiles wryly and says, "You cheeky bastard."
Picking nits: The names of some of Turner's friends and crew are confusing. "Barbs" and "Lil" are male. It has nothing to do with Turner's writing, it's just the names their parents gave them.
There are a few references to the inspiration of songs that, being a fan of his music, I know well. I love those and would have wished for the stories behind the songs. However, this is not what the book is about.
Recommendation: A fantastic book about life on the road by one of my favorite artists. I recommend you reading this book, and I recommend you listening to Frank Turner's music.
Provenance: Shopping in a used bookstore with my daughter, I came across this book that I never even knew existed, although I've been a fan of Turner's for over 15 years. Looking at the cover, I saw that it was basically a journal of his time on the road, touring, and I had to have it. Well worth the eight bucks!
Expectations: I've seen Frank Turner four times in concert, and will go again whenever he is back in town. I love his music and his shows are energetic and you feel like, not just a fan, but a part of a community. I expected this to be five stars and though I am in no way objective, I was not disappointed.
The Story: Literally, a journal of many of the over 1,000 shows Turner played between the years 2005 and 2012. Turner is a true "road warrior," traversing first the UK, then Europe, then the U.S., then the world as he built his solo career.
What it's really about: Building a career doing what you love? Stories from the road? It is so much more than a recap of concerts. You can follow Turner's star rising. In 2005, Turner's punk band, Million Dead, broke up for good. Frank decided that it was not the end of his musical career so he picked up his guitar and started playing what one friend dubbed, "campfire punk rock." This was also the name of his first EP, which I highly recommend.
He started playing small clubs in and around London. He played house parties. He played anywhere that would have him. Turner tells many stories of sleeping on the floor of friends and strangers after a show, waking up not remembering where he was, and making his way back home.
Eventually, Turner starts to venture out. One of the first places outside of the UK that he plays is Latvia. He meets strangers who become friends, he gives his all in every show, he parties too hard, but he does it all for his fans because he loves it.
There are stories of gigs that ended early for unforeseen circumstances so Turner goes out into the parking lot to play for the people who came to the show. There are stories about playing in front of ten people, and there are stories of playing at a house party for someone who couldn't afford to see a show.
We follow along as Turner becomes more popular. The book proper ends with a sold out show at the Wembley arena (a 12,000 seat venue, as opposed to Wembley stadium, where Live Aid was), and there is an after note about playing the Olympic opening ceremony. Turner is humble about his success, understands that he is changed because of his experiences, and shows much gratitude for being able to live it all.
A couple of stories to whet your appetite: Moscow, New Year's Eve, 2006. Turner is scheduled to play two shows in a small club - one before midnight and one after. The first show goes off without a hitch. Then, the partying starts. Turner and his Russian friends start with vodka and move to vodka shots dropped into beers. The second set, Turner hardly remembers.
After the show, exhausted and drunk, Turner decides to take a nap. The location he chooses is the cloakroom of the club atop all of the patrons' heavy coats. The evening ends, the customers go to get their coats for the trip home, "to find a wasted Englishman sleeping soundly on their garments."
The people tried, gently, to take their coats without disturbing Turner. Turner, thinking someone was "trying to steal my bedclothes," started to fight them off. They spoke no English, he spoke no Russian. In his state, he ended up standing on a table shouting, "Communist bastards! I'll fight you all!" before being bundled into a taxi by the bar owner and show promoter.
At the end of the book, Turner talks about his Olympic performance. A bar owner friend of his was showing the opening ceremony on a big screen in his bar and invited Turner to attend. Turner, under an non-disclosure agreement, couldn't tell the bar owner why he couldn't come to the party so he made up a lame, ambiguous excuse.
Turner plays the show (it was during an extended opening shown in the UK, not world-wide), leaves the stadium, and heads to the bar. When he walks in the owner, who had just seen him on t.v., smiles wryly and says, "You cheeky bastard."
Picking nits: The names of some of Turner's friends and crew are confusing. "Barbs" and "Lil" are male. It has nothing to do with Turner's writing, it's just the names their parents gave them.
There are a few references to the inspiration of songs that, being a fan of his music, I know well. I love those and would have wished for the stories behind the songs. However, this is not what the book is about.
Recommendation: A fantastic book about life on the road by one of my favorite artists. I recommend you reading this book, and I recommend you listening to Frank Turner's music.
March 21, 2024
As a fan of his music and a professional musician myself, of course I was going to read this. And there is much that feels like the experiences I’ve gone through, and his style of writing feels definitely Frank. However, like another review said, after a while it got really into a cycle of “we played here, this many people were there, the set went OK/great/awesome, we had to figure out a crazy way to get to the next gig” and repeat. It…got a little dull after a while, unfortunately. I think a lot of these “musicians telling about touring” books end up this way. I did find a few moments where it led me down some fun rabbit holes listening to music mentioned here (both his and from other bands mentioned in the book), which elevates it up to three stars. But on that note, I think I’ll have more fun, as a songwriter and a fan of his, in reading his second book about the songs and the stories behind them than the road stories.
Taking the words from him directly when discussing the closing of the well-known rock venue London Astoria: “rock n roll is, at base, an ephemeral art form. It’s an explosion of youthful energy; it’s all about the moment - a Polaroid picture rather than an oil painting (I might have mentioned this in a song). It was never supposed to be about monuments and museums, about permanent records. It’s about the one night where everything came together the band tore up the stage you danced and kissed a pretty girl and watched the sun rise with a bottle of whiskey and some good friends.” In this instance, I think it applies to writing basically one long tour diary list as well. I’m sure these moments were great in person, but recording it down on paper permanently like this takes away from what probably worked better as a Polaroid picture. *Shrugs and goes to listen to his album Tape Deck Heart instead*
Taking the words from him directly when discussing the closing of the well-known rock venue London Astoria: “rock n roll is, at base, an ephemeral art form. It’s an explosion of youthful energy; it’s all about the moment - a Polaroid picture rather than an oil painting (I might have mentioned this in a song). It was never supposed to be about monuments and museums, about permanent records. It’s about the one night where everything came together the band tore up the stage you danced and kissed a pretty girl and watched the sun rise with a bottle of whiskey and some good friends.” In this instance, I think it applies to writing basically one long tour diary list as well. I’m sure these moments were great in person, but recording it down on paper permanently like this takes away from what probably worked better as a Polaroid picture. *Shrugs and goes to listen to his album Tape Deck Heart instead*
May 4, 2019
As a huge Frank Turner fan, it was really cool to see some of the stories behind the music, to see where the ideas for some of my favorite songs came from. I discovered Frank's music way, way late in his career, to a point where I read in this book that he was in my city and it didn't even register to me at the time. One of the most interesting parts of this book, being a late-to-the-show fan, was how it seemed like true success didn't come along for him until much later than I would have expected. Maybe it was just his humble way of portraying himself, but it seemed like he was playing tiny run down clubs and house parties during years I would have though he'd be in much higher levels. Of course, if I've learned anything from this book, those crappy little gigs were exactly the kind of shows he loved playing. Since the narrative is split up by shows, my only gripe is that the show that he specified at the beginning of each section was often times a footnote to the story that came before or after. A lot of times it was pages of story and then "the show was good, everyone seemed to enjoy it." I suppose there's only so much you can actually say about the shows themselves when there's so many to talk about, but still. This was a really interesting look into the life of someone whose music I truly admire.
August 11, 2022
Perfecte lengte van het boek dat verdeeld is over 3 delen. Frank Turner vertelt het aan de hand van zijn shows die hij bijna dagelijks bijhoudt. De meest interessante shows zijn telkens een hoofdstuk. In het eerste deel zijn het de underground shows die alle muzikanten vast kennen. Voor 3 man en een hond spelen in een dorp waar niemand je kent tot de redelijk succesvolle shows op onverwachte locaties.
Deel 2 zijn de shows waarmee hij bekender werd, ook zn 2e en 3e album hielpen daarmee. Support slots van bekendere bands zoals Green Day, Social Distortion en Flogging Molly.
Laatste deel is wanneer hij meer gesetteld is, ook in Amerika bekender is en waarin gewerkt wordt naar het einde van het boek. Geen spoiler maar het einde gaat over de uitverkochte headline show in Wembley.
Na die show heeft hij nog veel gespeeld, dat zegt hij ook in het boek al, maar dat maakt het een mooi einde voor een boek. Die 3 delen zijn dus allemaal tof om te lezen.
Wat ik ook mooi vond; in het derde deel gaf hij zelf al aan dat het vertellen van de shows een beetje afgeraffeld voelde, maar dat was ook omdat het meer een geoliede machine werd. Dat was ook een punt waarvan ik dacht, laten we maar doorgaan. Erg sterk dus.
Deel 2 zijn de shows waarmee hij bekender werd, ook zn 2e en 3e album hielpen daarmee. Support slots van bekendere bands zoals Green Day, Social Distortion en Flogging Molly.
Laatste deel is wanneer hij meer gesetteld is, ook in Amerika bekender is en waarin gewerkt wordt naar het einde van het boek. Geen spoiler maar het einde gaat over de uitverkochte headline show in Wembley.
Na die show heeft hij nog veel gespeeld, dat zegt hij ook in het boek al, maar dat maakt het een mooi einde voor een boek. Die 3 delen zijn dus allemaal tof om te lezen.
Wat ik ook mooi vond; in het derde deel gaf hij zelf al aan dat het vertellen van de shows een beetje afgeraffeld voelde, maar dat was ook omdat het meer een geoliede machine werd. Dat was ook een punt waarvan ik dacht, laten we maar doorgaan. Erg sterk dus.
May 17, 2021
This book (more like a tour journal than an autobiography) can be summed up very briefly. Every single entry: “Travelled somewhere. Played a show. Went great. Got some new fans.” Just repeat that over a thousand shows.
It wasn’t bad at all, and not every rock and roll book needs to be The Dirt, but Turner leaves out too many of the juicy details and focusses far too much on details of travel logistics (I don’t think anyone really cares about connecting flight specifics as much as the author may think.) He basically repeats over and over what everyone who has ever played music already knows...touring at any stage is hard work. But when every show goes great and it’s just a steady and constant ramp up to fame, it’s a lot less interesting to read about.
Would recommend just listening to his songs instead, as they paint far more vivid and interesting pictures.
It wasn’t bad at all, and not every rock and roll book needs to be The Dirt, but Turner leaves out too many of the juicy details and focusses far too much on details of travel logistics (I don’t think anyone really cares about connecting flight specifics as much as the author may think.) He basically repeats over and over what everyone who has ever played music already knows...touring at any stage is hard work. But when every show goes great and it’s just a steady and constant ramp up to fame, it’s a lot less interesting to read about.
Would recommend just listening to his songs instead, as they paint far more vivid and interesting pictures.
December 10, 2018
I have never come to the end of a book and had it full of sticky notes! During the first few shows I kept stopping to look up the other bands that Frank talks about listening to and working with but I was getting nowhere because there were so many to look up that I had never heard of! So I started putting sticky notes on all the pages where there was something I wanted to look up. In the end there’s over thirty I think, I did stop a couple times when my curiosity was too big, like the house show in Philadelphia. Love the book, love seeing where Frank Turner started from! My first show was #1417 at the Toronto Urban Roots Festival, sometime after the time the book covers but maybe he’ll write another one eventually!
July 23, 2020
Overall this is a pretty good book! I've seen quite a few reviews that say its repetitive, and yes, it kind of is, but what do you expect from a book that's pretty much a tour diary? That's the nature of touring, and plenty of unique stories and events and people pop up along the way, to the extent to which I'd say its actually much less repetitive that I'd expect the average account of touring to be.
I really enjoyed reading about the adventures and mishaps of Frank and his team, and their many many friends. As a fan of Frank for a long time now, I loved this peak into the behind the scenes of his touring life and how hard he worked to get to where he is today.
For any fans of Frank Turner, this is a must read.
I really enjoyed reading about the adventures and mishaps of Frank and his team, and their many many friends. As a fan of Frank for a long time now, I loved this peak into the behind the scenes of his touring life and how hard he worked to get to where he is today.
For any fans of Frank Turner, this is a must read.
March 18, 2023
I'm a huge fan of Frank Turner, so I was excited to read his book. I started this book back in 2016. Now, I know it took me 7 years to finish, but it wasn't because it was boring. I had bought the book for me to read while traveling by plane to visit my parents. I was able to read about half of it during my waits and plane rides to-and-from. Problem was, I lost the book shortly after returning home, with us boxing things up to work on home renovations. Lo and behold, we're going through random boxes this month and I came across it again. I quickly picked it back up and and finished it off. Interesting book with some interesting stories about his touring time. It's a quick and easy read that I think any Frank Turner fan will find enjoyable. He seems like a very genuine guy.
February 27, 2024
I'm a big fan of Frank Turner's music and was ecstatic to find a show I attended in 2010 mentioned, but this was not one of my favorite books. This is in no way due to poor writing, just the kind of book that it is.
Life doesn't really provide standard beginning- middle- end plots and this book was all real life. It follows ever growing shows and some of the difficulties of being on the road. He doesn't get into significant detail about his personal life, probably for the protection of his friends, but there's a ghost of what's been going on throughout. If you like his music or want to learn more about being on the road this is a great book for you!
Life doesn't really provide standard beginning- middle- end plots and this book was all real life. It follows ever growing shows and some of the difficulties of being on the road. He doesn't get into significant detail about his personal life, probably for the protection of his friends, but there's a ghost of what's been going on throughout. If you like his music or want to learn more about being on the road this is a great book for you!
August 23, 2019
I don’t know why I keep reading rock autobiographies. At BEST there’s a fun anecdote or two. At worst, they’re written by Morrissey. But mostly they’re this, a samey catalog of events that are important to the author, but not expressed in the medium they excel at.
The most annoying part of this is how the details of getting from show to show and the struggles of success are detailed painstakingly, while anything that might contain the ingredients of an interesting song are alluded to in passing. It’s an infuriating inversion of the book I’d be interested in reading.
The most annoying part of this is how the details of getting from show to show and the struggles of success are detailed painstakingly, while anything that might contain the ingredients of an interesting song are alluded to in passing. It’s an infuriating inversion of the book I’d be interested in reading.
April 23, 2020
Frank Turner is my favorite artist over the past two years. He’s an excellent dude and his music is just amazing. To say I’ve become obsessed might be an understatement lol. Since I’m a recent fan of his I was so glad to read this one as it gave much of his early history. It was so amazing to hear about all his personal friends he references in song, the stories behind some of his songs, and find out who some of Frank’s influences are (and subsequently listen to them). A must read for any of Franks fans.
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