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The Invisible Man: Diaries 1998-2014
Back in 1992 I went back to Doncaster to visit my mum and dad.
“What have you been up to then, son?” my dad said
“I’ve been on top of a mountain on a glacier in Iceland, dad. I was dropped from a helicopter...”
My dad thought for a minute before replying. “Would you make me a promise?”
“Sure,” I said
“Would you begin to keep a diary? What’s happening in your life doesn’t normally happen to people.”
And so I did.
This isn’t a “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’roll tabloid ‘rockstar tells all’” book – this diary is about what it’s like to be a ‘famous’ (whatever that is) touring musician travelling the world, and also how it is to go home, do the garden and plumb the dishwasher in, before popping into London to rub shoulders with Princess Stephanie of Monaco (see volume 1). Having a bath with the kids, and having lunch with Neil Armstrong.
“What have you been up to then, son?” my dad said
“I’ve been on top of a mountain on a glacier in Iceland, dad. I was dropped from a helicopter...”
My dad thought for a minute before replying. “Would you make me a promise?”
“Sure,” I said
“Would you begin to keep a diary? What’s happening in your life doesn’t normally happen to people.”
And so I did.
This isn’t a “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’roll tabloid ‘rockstar tells all’” book – this diary is about what it’s like to be a ‘famous’ (whatever that is) touring musician travelling the world, and also how it is to go home, do the garden and plumb the dishwasher in, before popping into London to rub shoulders with Princess Stephanie of Monaco (see volume 1). Having a bath with the kids, and having lunch with Neil Armstrong.
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 8, 2018
I took over a month to read this short book, but I read a small bit every night before bed, savouring every entries. I just wanted to take my time with it.
I love Steve Hogarth’s writing (either in his songs or his diary). I love his observations, his comments on the world, and also his humble persona.
This is mostly for fans of the rock band Marillion, but it can help everyone to see what it’s like to live the rock star life, to spend all of your time in hotels in different cities and different countries all the time.
It’s a travelogue as well as a diary. I loved it. It made me travel, in the world and also in time.
And it makes me appreciate even more (if that’s even possible!) the fantastic music of Marillion and Steve Hogarth.
I love Steve Hogarth’s writing (either in his songs or his diary). I love his observations, his comments on the world, and also his humble persona.
This is mostly for fans of the rock band Marillion, but it can help everyone to see what it’s like to live the rock star life, to spend all of your time in hotels in different cities and different countries all the time.
It’s a travelogue as well as a diary. I loved it. It made me travel, in the world and also in time.
And it makes me appreciate even more (if that’s even possible!) the fantastic music of Marillion and Steve Hogarth.
February 23, 2019
In addition to being one of rock’s greatest front men, Hogarth is a imaginative lyricist which is what primarily drew me to the book; I was interested in hearing what makes this creative person behind so much music I love tick. However it is more “this is what literally happened” vs “this is what I experienced or felt.” There are some great narratives woven throughout but you have to get through a lot of stories about forgetting underpants and finding Starbucks to get there. So maybe not the best pick for a casual rock bio reader, but it’s a fantastic book for the die-hard Marillion fans—it will feel like they are a part of a Marillion “inside joke.”
December 31, 2019
Ini adalah “volume 2” diary Steve Hogarth, sang “vokalis pengganti” Marillion. Menakjubkan, sudah 20+ tahun masih aja ada menanyakan “Fish masih jadi vokalisnya?”—namun Hogarth menanggapinya secara ksatria hahahaha uhm buku ini bukan biografi. Sesuai namanya, diary, ya merupakan coretan-coretan Hogarth pengalaman saat tur (dan sedikit kehidupan pribadi rumah tangga). Melingkupi periode 1998-2014.
Mungkin akan tersimak repetitif karena ya berisikan pengalaman saat perjalanan, sound checks, no-show days. Namun di sini saya bisa memahami & merasakan kehidupan musisi tur tidak selalu glamour. Terutama saat menjaga keseimbangan pemasukan selama tur dengan pengeluaran (tour bus, hotel, dll.).
Semoga Volume 3 bisa segera rilis. Jika Volume 2 mencakup periode 6 tahun, mungkin buku berikut rilis 2022!
Mungkin akan tersimak repetitif karena ya berisikan pengalaman saat perjalanan, sound checks, no-show days. Namun di sini saya bisa memahami & merasakan kehidupan musisi tur tidak selalu glamour. Terutama saat menjaga keseimbangan pemasukan selama tur dengan pengeluaran (tour bus, hotel, dll.).
Semoga Volume 3 bisa segera rilis. Jika Volume 2 mencakup periode 6 tahun, mungkin buku berikut rilis 2022!
May 16, 2023
Style take a little getting used to but overall I really enjoyed both of these diaries. They exemplify the tedium of life in a rock band, the constant travelling, the boredom of planes and tour buses, the putting up with dodgy hotels all in the interest of entertaining fans and making a living.
September 16, 2021
Couldn't put it down. Honest and entertaining
December 24, 2016
Really, I could just cut and paste my review from volume 1 and everything said would still apply.
Some fascinating and amusing moments but far too much repetition of the trivia in between.
Definitely one for the die hard fans only, but would love to read a more considered set of memoirs rather than the unedited day to day minutiae.
Some fascinating and amusing moments but far too much repetition of the trivia in between.
Definitely one for the die hard fans only, but would love to read a more considered set of memoirs rather than the unedited day to day minutiae.
November 22, 2014
Great insight to what the life of a pop star is like. Really like!
January 26, 2016
Very interesting perspective on touring with a rock band
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews