Bodies: Life and Death in Music

Description

Money, freedom, adoring fans: professional musicians seem to have it all. But beneath the surface lies a frightening truth: for years the music industry has tolerated death, addiction and exploitation in the name of entertainment. In Bodies, Ian Winwood explores the industry's reluctance to confront its many failures in a far-reaching story which features first-hand access to artists such as Foo Fighters, Green Day, Trent Reznor, Biffy Clyro, Kings of Leon, Chris Cornell, Mark Lanegan, Pearl Jam. Much more than a touchline reporter, Winwood also tells the tale of his own mental-health collapse following the shocking death of his father. Written with warmth, humour and bracing honesty, Bodies is a deeply personal story and essential reading for musicians and fans alike.

Ian Winwood is a music journalist whose work has appeared in the Telegraph, the Guardian, Kerrang!, Rolling Stone, Mojo, NME, Q and the BBC. His most recent book, Smash!, was published in 2019.

"This is an important book." -- SIMON NEIL (Biffy Clyro) "Finally, a book about the music industry, now and in the past, that tells the truth. Anyone with any interest in the real stories behind the music they love should devour this; but they should brace themselves for some difficult stories." -- FRANK TURNER "This is the ugly truth. And It's an essential read." -- Classic Rock "I urge absolutely everyone in bands, the music industry and otherwise to read Bodies by Ian Winwood immediately. A sensitive, raw and fascinating look at substance abuse and mental health within the music industry. It felt like a cosmic signal reading it now." -- YARD ACT "Highly recommended!" -- Louder Than War "The best and most important books are those that demand to be written. This electrifying, thought-provoking read certainly falls into that category. File under 'essential'." -- Kerrang "The book has opened up a much-needed debate about the nature of the music industry as an insatiable meat grinder for creative souls with an instinct for self-destruction...Required reading, because living fast and dying young has become distinctly over-rated." -- NME