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Mud Sharks
An intense, true-to-life story about the reality of life behind the trappings of fame, proving that Dave Barbarossa is not only an influential musician but also a gifted writer. Growing up amidst the casual racism in London in the 1970's, Harry plunges as a 15-year old into the world of rock 'n' roll finding purpose and redemption with its adventure, he finally transforms from boy to man.
Laura Reinberger Vive Le Rock!
The characters are portrayed with such care and attention to their individual complexities that it's obvious that Barbarossa has taken time to understand and treasure them. Stereotypes and flat character are few and far between. It really is a character driven piece and a well written one at that.
Lizzie Alderdice Louder that War
Harry Ferdinand is a misplaced North London teenager - in trouble at school, his dad hates him, a victim of racism who flees to a hippy squat where he discovers a drum kit, and then punk…There is little in the way of boil-in-the-bag anarchy here, and the real heart of the novel is Harry trying impress his uninterested and estranged father, punk's lost boy screaming to fit in over the music's iconoclastic and methamphetamine roar.
Eamonn Forde Q Magazine ****
Laura Reinberger Vive Le Rock!
The characters are portrayed with such care and attention to their individual complexities that it's obvious that Barbarossa has taken time to understand and treasure them. Stereotypes and flat character are few and far between. It really is a character driven piece and a well written one at that.
Lizzie Alderdice Louder that War
Harry Ferdinand is a misplaced North London teenager - in trouble at school, his dad hates him, a victim of racism who flees to a hippy squat where he discovers a drum kit, and then punk…There is little in the way of boil-in-the-bag anarchy here, and the real heart of the novel is Harry trying impress his uninterested and estranged father, punk's lost boy screaming to fit in over the music's iconoclastic and methamphetamine roar.
Eamonn Forde Q Magazine ****
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 27, 2015
A very enjoyable, well written, semi-autobiographical coming of age novel.
As a fan of Dave Barbarossa's old bands (Adam and the Ants / Bow Wow Wow), and having grown up in the same part of north London, this was always likely to tick my boxes, and so it proved.
The rags to riches story is nothing new but it is well told and part of the fun is trying to discern which bits are true. Most of it I reckon, including a horrific portrait of a disturbed and abusive father, and - of course - the junkie guitarist.
It is slightly overlong, and occasionally a tad incoherent and repetitive, but - these minor quibbles aside - it's a great read and recommended for anyone who likes rock n roll novels.
4/5
As a fan of Dave Barbarossa's old bands (Adam and the Ants / Bow Wow Wow), and having grown up in the same part of north London, this was always likely to tick my boxes, and so it proved.
The rags to riches story is nothing new but it is well told and part of the fun is trying to discern which bits are true. Most of it I reckon, including a horrific portrait of a disturbed and abusive father, and - of course - the junkie guitarist.
It is slightly overlong, and occasionally a tad incoherent and repetitive, but - these minor quibbles aside - it's a great read and recommended for anyone who likes rock n roll novels.
4/5
September 28, 2014
Just finished reading this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ostensibly Mud Sharks is the story of drummer Harry’s rock ’n’ roll journey from his working class upbringing in 1970s North London, through the maelstrom of Punk, to the dizzy heights of fame and fortune in the 1980s. But there’s another journey at the core of Harry’s story – his escape from his charismatic but abusive father, the Mauritian. The gravitational pull of this wife-beating, snake-hipped, suburban Lothario is strong enough to span the years and the thousands of miles that his son travels on his flight from his loveless family home; and his father’s prophetic mantra ‘Like you I was, like me you’ll become’ haunts Harry throughout his musical odyssey.
Having fled the family home the teenage Harry (perhaps on account of inheriting a little of the Mauritian’s swagger and charisma) enjoys the kindness and charity of strangers, and finds the long-yearned-for companionship and solidarity of a true friend in the punky, cocky guitarist, Christian. The two of them join a band and before long they’re working out their rock ’n’ apprenticeship in the rough, sweaty dives of Britain’s punk scene. With his consuming passion for drumming and the camaraderie of his fellow band mates Harry finally seems to have found a way to fill the voids in his life; blissfully ignorant of what’s waiting in the wings he grabs his sticks and walks out onto that stage towards the drum riser …
I found Mud Sharks a compelling novel, well-crafted and written with insight. A nostalgic read for anyone who grew up in Britain in the 1970s, it is also a poignant memoir for those of us who misspent our teenage years in dank rehearsal rooms and sweaty clubs, dreaming that dream … and all the more authentic given the author’s musical pedigree. I look forward to Mr Barbarossa’s next novel.
Having fled the family home the teenage Harry (perhaps on account of inheriting a little of the Mauritian’s swagger and charisma) enjoys the kindness and charity of strangers, and finds the long-yearned-for companionship and solidarity of a true friend in the punky, cocky guitarist, Christian. The two of them join a band and before long they’re working out their rock ’n’ apprenticeship in the rough, sweaty dives of Britain’s punk scene. With his consuming passion for drumming and the camaraderie of his fellow band mates Harry finally seems to have found a way to fill the voids in his life; blissfully ignorant of what’s waiting in the wings he grabs his sticks and walks out onto that stage towards the drum riser …
I found Mud Sharks a compelling novel, well-crafted and written with insight. A nostalgic read for anyone who grew up in Britain in the 1970s, it is also a poignant memoir for those of us who misspent our teenage years in dank rehearsal rooms and sweaty clubs, dreaming that dream … and all the more authentic given the author’s musical pedigree. I look forward to Mr Barbarossa’s next novel.
November 13, 2013
Love the book! Love the man! get it! read it! Rock n roll with it x
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews