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The Prettiest Star: Whatever Happened to Brett Smiley?
Details two people's search for redemption and is a tender and sad love letter to the heady days of glitter, champagne, cocaine and platform boots.
- GenresMusic
192 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 26, 2022
In the early Seventies there was this ad that ran every issue in Rolling Stone Magazine, way back in the Classified Ads Section. It was a photo of a cocky kid in aviator sunglasses looking jaded and stoned with the caption above him reading, “Jay Gatsby is the most wasted boy alive”. This thing must have run every issue for a whole year. Nothing really became of him.
Several years later at Rodney’s English Disco I used to see silver stickers of a glam boy with severe Garbo cheekbones making orgasm face with the name “Brett Smiley” on them. Again, nothing really became of that, either. The word was that he was Elvis, Garbo, and James Dean all rolled in one, but alas, no music or career to back up the hype. Although he recorded a brilliant album during this period, it would not see the light of day for almost thirty years, which devastated him.
The Prettiest Star reads like a glam version of The Bell Jar, reporting an endless downward spiral into drugs, crime and violence. After a few chapters it becomes impossible to connect the androgynous waif with the toxic derelict he became. As a matter of fact, towards the end of the book, the still alive Smiley sees a photo of his teen, glam persona and remarks, "Wasn't she cute?" As John Mendelssohn once said, “Hollywood can be cruel”.
Several years later at Rodney’s English Disco I used to see silver stickers of a glam boy with severe Garbo cheekbones making orgasm face with the name “Brett Smiley” on them. Again, nothing really became of that, either. The word was that he was Elvis, Garbo, and James Dean all rolled in one, but alas, no music or career to back up the hype. Although he recorded a brilliant album during this period, it would not see the light of day for almost thirty years, which devastated him.
The Prettiest Star reads like a glam version of The Bell Jar, reporting an endless downward spiral into drugs, crime and violence. After a few chapters it becomes impossible to connect the androgynous waif with the toxic derelict he became. As a matter of fact, towards the end of the book, the still alive Smiley sees a photo of his teen, glam persona and remarks, "Wasn't she cute?" As John Mendelssohn once said, “Hollywood can be cruel”.
April 29, 2025
This may be my favorite of Nina Antonia’s books. She goes back and forth recounting Brett Smiley’s life and her own—they were both really interesting.
October 2, 2009
Well I finally purchased this rock bio, and it is actually an excellent book. First of all "The Prettiest Star is both a biography on forgotten glam figure Brett Smiley, but also a memoir by the author. What ties the book together is Nina Antonia's puppy love for Smiley in the early 70's. She was one of the few who saw his appearance on British Tv (now on YouTube, watch it!) and fell in love of sorts with his image when she was 14 or 13 years old.
But Nina had a difficult teenage life, partly goth, but mostly in love with the New York Dolls. In ways, it reminds one of Morrissey and his passion for the Dolls. The Dolls were big for people who felt outside of the mainstream. And Nina and Morrissey (I wonder if they are friends?) fit that role perfectly.
Brett Smiley also had a very difficult life as well. Drugs, drinking, disappointment, and a glam rock album that was recorded in the early 70's and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham, but never came out till two years ago. So he was truly a forgotten glam figure.
But alas, this is what makes the story so emotional and kind of beautiful in a damaged way. Brett's "Space Ace" is a great pop record. Really unique listening experience due that it is dated, but still a powerful kicker of a tune.
Also in the book you get a good look into the life of Johnny Thunders, for whom Atonia wrote a biography on. And basically this is all a good snapshot of the early 70's from the bottom up.
While goofing off on YouTube I found this great footage of The Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham and at the time his new artist: Brett Smiley. Oldham managed and produced his one and only album which was never released called "Breathlessly Brett." About four years the finally realesed this 30 year old album and it's great. Very uber-glam and it sort of reminds me of that other lost 'glam' artist Jobrieth.
Nina Antonia who specializes in writing bios on the lost boys of rock n' roll (Johnny Thunders and Peter Perrett) also wrote a bio on Brett. I can't wait to get my hands on this book. Check Brett on YouTube. A new obsession got a hold on me.
November 15, 2013
This book was recommended to me by Mark, after we discovered a shared love of (amongst other things) Glam Rock. I was vaguely aware of Brett Smiley because one of his songs, the wonderful "Va Va Va Voom" appears on the equally wonderful compilation album "Velvet Tinmine".
What I did not realise was that Brett had also inspired this book, and that an album he recorded around the same time as "Va Va Va Voom" also finally saw the light of day in 2004 - the same year this book was published.
This is the first book I've read by Nina Antonia, despite being interested in the subjects of her other books (Johnny Thunders, Pete Perrett, and the New York Dolls), and I enjoyed her personal style. She puts herself firmly in the narrative, so much so that it is as much about her own life as Brett Smiley's life. Both stories are compelling.
Brett's brief flirtation with fame started as a child actor in a stage production of "Oliver!". Later, as an 18 year old, he was discovered by Andew Loog Oldham, which finally resulted in the release of the "Va Va Va Voom" single in the UK. As part of the publicity for the record, Brett appeared on the Russell Harty Show. This can be viewed on YouTube and is well worth watching if anything I have written sounds interesting.
The single did not chart and that was the end of Brett's chances of achieving the fame he assumed was an inevitability. One person who never forgot Brett, or that appearance on Russell Harty, was Nina Antonia. His appearance had a profound effect on her.
Nina's own early life was not easy, and talismanic figures like Brett Smiley helped her to cope. I really enjoyed this interesting and well written book. A lot happens to both Brett and Nina, and both finally attain some hard earned insights and wisdom.
For fans of Glam Rock, Brett's 1970's Glam album "Breathlessly Brett" is wonderful and well worth acquiring. The reissued CD is now very expensive however the album can be downloaded for a far more reasonable price.
What I did not realise was that Brett had also inspired this book, and that an album he recorded around the same time as "Va Va Va Voom" also finally saw the light of day in 2004 - the same year this book was published.
This is the first book I've read by Nina Antonia, despite being interested in the subjects of her other books (Johnny Thunders, Pete Perrett, and the New York Dolls), and I enjoyed her personal style. She puts herself firmly in the narrative, so much so that it is as much about her own life as Brett Smiley's life. Both stories are compelling.
Brett's brief flirtation with fame started as a child actor in a stage production of "Oliver!". Later, as an 18 year old, he was discovered by Andew Loog Oldham, which finally resulted in the release of the "Va Va Va Voom" single in the UK. As part of the publicity for the record, Brett appeared on the Russell Harty Show. This can be viewed on YouTube and is well worth watching if anything I have written sounds interesting.
The single did not chart and that was the end of Brett's chances of achieving the fame he assumed was an inevitability. One person who never forgot Brett, or that appearance on Russell Harty, was Nina Antonia. His appearance had a profound effect on her.
Nina's own early life was not easy, and talismanic figures like Brett Smiley helped her to cope. I really enjoyed this interesting and well written book. A lot happens to both Brett and Nina, and both finally attain some hard earned insights and wisdom.
For fans of Glam Rock, Brett's 1970's Glam album "Breathlessly Brett" is wonderful and well worth acquiring. The reissued CD is now very expensive however the album can be downloaded for a far more reasonable price.
June 11, 2025
this is an absolutely beautiful dual narrative of two people frankly too good for this world. Brett Smiley deserved so much better, but the music world was too rough for a soul as pure as him. this is a book to be cherished, as is the music he left behind. At the end when Smiley is watching his old videos and saying "wasn't she cute?" is so poignant.
July 27, 2020
I confess I hadn't heard Brett Smiley's music before now, even though I grew up in a city only around 50 miles from where Brett was born. His star flared and fled through the night sky before my attention was lured away from the Osmonds and Partridge Family to the music-makers of glam/punk/hard rock. The detail Nina Antonia provides of Brett Smiley's life, always on the precipice of breaking through, was riveting for me. His path crossed those of a multitude of the biggest names in music and acting at the time, yet his inner hauntings ruled the day, invariably dragging him back down into the muck.
The author's story, running parallel throughout the book, was an intense tale in itself. Recognition registered in my solar plexus at some of the feelings of isolation and disappointment she described both in familial and early romantic relationships. The outcomes for the author and subject of the book were quite different. Nina Antonia's background and wit has forged an engaging style to tell the personal stories of the famous she came to know. Brett Smiley didn't fare as well, although I hope the music he created gains the recognition that it deserves as an insightful poet with imaginings that spanned the galaxy.
The author's story, running parallel throughout the book, was an intense tale in itself. Recognition registered in my solar plexus at some of the feelings of isolation and disappointment she described both in familial and early romantic relationships. The outcomes for the author and subject of the book were quite different. Nina Antonia's background and wit has forged an engaging style to tell the personal stories of the famous she came to know. Brett Smiley didn't fare as well, although I hope the music he created gains the recognition that it deserves as an insightful poet with imaginings that spanned the galaxy.
July 7, 2022
Took me back…
This took me back to the glam rock period in a fantastic way. I wasn’t aware of who Brett Smiley was, but I remembered after seeing a few of the pictures in the book. Nina perfectly captured his struggles while intermingling what her life was like during this time period and what drew her to the world of Glam Rock. Excellent and gritty work!
This took me back to the glam rock period in a fantastic way. I wasn’t aware of who Brett Smiley was, but I remembered after seeing a few of the pictures in the book. Nina perfectly captured his struggles while intermingling what her life was like during this time period and what drew her to the world of Glam Rock. Excellent and gritty work!
July 6, 2022
Hats off to my dear friend and musical partner...Brett who will be truly missed by all who knew him well. May we both meet again one day under more auspicious circumstances and create some great tunes once again. Errol Bulutt
September 10, 2023
Breathlessly Brett
Si riscopra Brett Smiley! Si fondi un fans club! Si ristampi quel capolavoro di 'Breathlessly Brett! Si faccia qualcosa, perdio, non vorremo mica morire ignavi?
Si riscopra Brett Smiley! Si fondi un fans club! Si ristampi quel capolavoro di 'Breathlessly Brett! Si faccia qualcosa, perdio, non vorremo mica morire ignavi?
January 31, 2008
For anyone who might be interested in the overlooked world of 70's glam, this book is a must have.
This author has also written books about Peter Perrett, Johnny Thunders, New York Dolls, and Iggy Pop. Needless to say, I'm a fan of most of her books.
I'll give this book a proper review later.
I just wanted to get it on my list.
This author has also written books about Peter Perrett, Johnny Thunders, New York Dolls, and Iggy Pop. Needless to say, I'm a fan of most of her books.
I'll give this book a proper review later.
I just wanted to get it on my list.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews