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Disco Days #2
The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas (2)
The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is the timeless story of the quest for pop immortality. When a young Ayrshire band miraculously hits the big time with the smash hit record of 1984, international stardom beckons. That’s despite having a delusional teenage manager propelled by a dark, malign voice in his head…
Can Max Mojo’s band of talented social misfits repeat the success and pay back the mounting debts accrued from an increasingly agitated cartel of local gangsters? Or will they have to kidnap Boy George and hope for the best?
Featuring much-loved characters from the international bestseller, The Last Days of Disco , this is an absurdly funny, riotously ambitious and deeply human story of small-town rivalries, music, confused adolescence and, above all, hope, from one of Scotland’s finest new voices.
Can Max Mojo’s band of talented social misfits repeat the success and pay back the mounting debts accrued from an increasingly agitated cartel of local gangsters? Or will they have to kidnap Boy George and hope for the best?
Featuring much-loved characters from the international bestseller, The Last Days of Disco , this is an absurdly funny, riotously ambitious and deeply human story of small-town rivalries, music, confused adolescence and, above all, hope, from one of Scotland’s finest new voices.
- GenresFiction
265 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2015
7 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
David F. Ross
29 books34 followersDavid F. Ross is a Scottish author, best known for the Disco Days trilogy of novels.
He resides in Kilmarnock with his wife and their two children.
He resides in Kilmarnock with his wife and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 10, 2016
This book is a joy to read!
Following on from The Last Days Of Disco, the compelling story continues with the same witty, gritty, heartbreaking, hilarious and outrageous joys and sadness of these splendid, down to earth characters growing up in Scotland.
And now, The Miraculous Vespas are heading for the big time.....
Such clever writing and an amazing knowledge of this era with music in the 80's
Once you get used to the lingo, you won't put it down.
I'm still chuckling to myself. Brilliant!
Following on from The Last Days Of Disco, the compelling story continues with the same witty, gritty, heartbreaking, hilarious and outrageous joys and sadness of these splendid, down to earth characters growing up in Scotland.
And now, The Miraculous Vespas are heading for the big time.....
Such clever writing and an amazing knowledge of this era with music in the 80's
Once you get used to the lingo, you won't put it down.
I'm still chuckling to myself. Brilliant!
February 29, 2016
This is the first novel I have read by this author and even though some of the characters in The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas feature in the authors other novel, The Last Days of Disco, I am living proof that you don’t need to have read it first to fully enjoy this one.
The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is very much a story of nostalgia. As soon as I started reading it I was transported back to the eighties with memories of Top of The Pops and getting ready with my tape recorder to record my favourite songs that were in the top forty. There are many mentions of various groups that were around at that time. Some were certainly a blast from the past as I had totally forgotten about them. I have to admit to always being mainly a pop music kind of gal but quite a few of the groups that get mentioned were certainly a big influence in my brothers life which in a way still also played a part in mine.
I think the story gives the reader a feel for what it must be like for a band to try and make it big. I couldn’t help but want the band to succeed and at times I could feel how disheartened they were.
Even though there is a whole array of characters, Max is certainly the one to stand out. At first I wasn’t to sure whether I liked him. He obviously wants to make his mark on the world but is very much fuelled with anger. Even though there is quite a lot of swearing in the novel, I think it is very paramount and made the whole vibe of that time feel a lot more real.
The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is an engaging and enjoyable read and is an absolute must read for lovers of the eighties and the whole music scene.
Many thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is very much a story of nostalgia. As soon as I started reading it I was transported back to the eighties with memories of Top of The Pops and getting ready with my tape recorder to record my favourite songs that were in the top forty. There are many mentions of various groups that were around at that time. Some were certainly a blast from the past as I had totally forgotten about them. I have to admit to always being mainly a pop music kind of gal but quite a few of the groups that get mentioned were certainly a big influence in my brothers life which in a way still also played a part in mine.
I think the story gives the reader a feel for what it must be like for a band to try and make it big. I couldn’t help but want the band to succeed and at times I could feel how disheartened they were.
Even though there is a whole array of characters, Max is certainly the one to stand out. At first I wasn’t to sure whether I liked him. He obviously wants to make his mark on the world but is very much fuelled with anger. Even though there is quite a lot of swearing in the novel, I think it is very paramount and made the whole vibe of that time feel a lot more real.
The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is an engaging and enjoyable read and is an absolute must read for lovers of the eighties and the whole music scene.
Many thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2016
Another glorious tale set in 80's Scotland. Welcome the return of a few favourites along with another great soundtrack of the era and its very own single. Funny, dark, and whilst The Last Days of Disco set the bar pretty high, David Ross has comfortably cleared it with room to spare.
Roll on book 3, and a fuller review up on the blog soon.
Roll on book 3, and a fuller review up on the blog soon.
March 8, 2016
Rock 'n' Roll doesn't necessarily mean a band. It doesn't mean a singer, and it doesn't mean a lyric, really. It's that question of trying to be immortal.
- Malcolm McLaren, quoted in this book
I am grateful to Karen at Orenda Books for a copy of The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas and - full disclosure - for quoting from my review of Ross's previous book, The Last Days of Disco.
Like Last Days, Miraculous Vespas is set in Ayrshire in the early 80s. It follows on from the events of the earlier book and features some of the same characters. It doesn't though continue the story of the Heatwave Disco boys, but focuses instead on the titular band, formed by would-be music mogul Max Mojo (born Dale Wishart). Injured in the dust-up that concluded Last Days, Max/ Dale rises from a coma, changes his name and personality and sets out to make his dream of immortality real. But it isn't easy. Adopting a florid New Romantic dress sense and at the mercy of a war between two very different inner personalities, the cards seem to be stacked against him. But he has determination. He wants to make it big, and to create something beautiful. So he forms a band consisting of drummer Maggie, (fostered, just out of care, and short of trust in anyone), Grant (whose father - lieutenant to local crime boss Fat Franny Duncan, the would be nemesis of Heatwave - died in the earlier book) and the Sylvester boys (who have never got over the tragic loss of their mother in a lawnmower accident).
Can this collection of orphans, together, produce music that is new and true?
At the same time, the Ayrshire crime families we met before also face challenges. The riot that left Max with brain damage set them against each other, and the McLartys, hard cases from Glasgow, are trying to move back in. While the local gangsters are amateurish and even - at times - a wee bit sympathetic, there's nothing likeable about the McLartys who are about, it seems, to eat the Wisharts, the Quinns and Fat Franny's crew for breakfast.
The two plots run in parallel though the book, alongside Max's recollections, delivered in a 2014 interview. This provides his personal account of what was going on, contrasting with the more dispassionate, even forensic voice of the narrator who not only describes the action but also provides background information and even context (such as on Maggie's trust issues, the looming miners' strike or the local music scene).
Put like that, the technique ought not to work but it is actually very effective. The band parts of the story tend towards hair raising escapades at gigs or in visits to clubs, often featuring toilet cubicles and generally ending in the band as a whole or Max in particular getting chased down a wet backstreet at 2 in the morning. (Though not all of them. He's also chased down a wet High Street in daylight, the result of holding a meeting with a female Pakistani journalist in the Wrong Sort of Pub). Between these, Ross gives a genuinely moving account of their musical development, of Max's creative drive and of musical influences which - like in Last Days - gives him the opportunity to write passionately and even lovingly about the music of the time and to show how that music touches each of the band members. Switching between the two styles allows Ross to produce something like the documentary that Max is taking part in, illuminating the actual events with his unique take.
Max is on the face of things a profoundly unsympathetic character, foul mouthed and driven, yet he has a vision and there are moments of real pathos in the book as the reader knows - from the title and from the framing of the story - that something is going to go wrong for him. Indeed, Ross is very good at getting the reader to view his characters, even those who are on the face of it pretty awful, with a degree of sympathy and understanding. They quickly become real and we care about what happens to them.
The book has its comic aspects, whether it's a trip by the be-kilted Max and Grant to see Scotland play England at Wembley (and to make contacts in the music business), the running joke of the local Shabby Road recording studios, or the bizarre gig the Vespas play in support of "The Heid", a fading local hypnotist who's surprised in his dressing room while enjoying the close attentions of his daughter in law. (The Heid seems to be a fraud with a bunch of stooges, including said D-I-L: but still he manages to leave one of the Sylvester boys believing he's agoraphobic - tricky if you're the guitarist in an up-and-coming band). But the background is bleak, set in the lead up to, and during, the Miners' Strike. It is though less engaged with national events than Last Days was with the Falklands War (although the strike and the uncertainty that preceded it are referred to as one of the reasons that business is so bad for the three rather bumbling local crime families).
As a result this story is I think much more squarely about the music, about the hopes of Max, Maggie, Grant, Eddie and Simon - and especially about the difficulty of being noticed. It's a time when you can't record your breakout single in the bedroom with Garageband and put it up on the web: Max adopts a variety of means to catch the attention of the right producer or DJ - some pretty extraordinary (joining a crew of roadies to get into a club, ascending in a window cleaners' cradle and posting discs through the open windows of Broadcasting House), some more mundane (buying a biryani for the receptionist at a local radio station).
In short, the book is both hilarious and moving. It's well up to the standard of the previous part of what I understand is to be a trilogy and I'm looking forward to the final instalment. (Except, I don't want it to be the final part, I want more!)
- Malcolm McLaren, quoted in this book
I am grateful to Karen at Orenda Books for a copy of The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas and - full disclosure - for quoting from my review of Ross's previous book, The Last Days of Disco.
Like Last Days, Miraculous Vespas is set in Ayrshire in the early 80s. It follows on from the events of the earlier book and features some of the same characters. It doesn't though continue the story of the Heatwave Disco boys, but focuses instead on the titular band, formed by would-be music mogul Max Mojo (born Dale Wishart). Injured in the dust-up that concluded Last Days, Max/ Dale rises from a coma, changes his name and personality and sets out to make his dream of immortality real. But it isn't easy. Adopting a florid New Romantic dress sense and at the mercy of a war between two very different inner personalities, the cards seem to be stacked against him. But he has determination. He wants to make it big, and to create something beautiful. So he forms a band consisting of drummer Maggie, (fostered, just out of care, and short of trust in anyone), Grant (whose father - lieutenant to local crime boss Fat Franny Duncan, the would be nemesis of Heatwave - died in the earlier book) and the Sylvester boys (who have never got over the tragic loss of their mother in a lawnmower accident).
Can this collection of orphans, together, produce music that is new and true?
At the same time, the Ayrshire crime families we met before also face challenges. The riot that left Max with brain damage set them against each other, and the McLartys, hard cases from Glasgow, are trying to move back in. While the local gangsters are amateurish and even - at times - a wee bit sympathetic, there's nothing likeable about the McLartys who are about, it seems, to eat the Wisharts, the Quinns and Fat Franny's crew for breakfast.
The two plots run in parallel though the book, alongside Max's recollections, delivered in a 2014 interview. This provides his personal account of what was going on, contrasting with the more dispassionate, even forensic voice of the narrator who not only describes the action but also provides background information and even context (such as on Maggie's trust issues, the looming miners' strike or the local music scene).
Put like that, the technique ought not to work but it is actually very effective. The band parts of the story tend towards hair raising escapades at gigs or in visits to clubs, often featuring toilet cubicles and generally ending in the band as a whole or Max in particular getting chased down a wet backstreet at 2 in the morning. (Though not all of them. He's also chased down a wet High Street in daylight, the result of holding a meeting with a female Pakistani journalist in the Wrong Sort of Pub). Between these, Ross gives a genuinely moving account of their musical development, of Max's creative drive and of musical influences which - like in Last Days - gives him the opportunity to write passionately and even lovingly about the music of the time and to show how that music touches each of the band members. Switching between the two styles allows Ross to produce something like the documentary that Max is taking part in, illuminating the actual events with his unique take.
Max is on the face of things a profoundly unsympathetic character, foul mouthed and driven, yet he has a vision and there are moments of real pathos in the book as the reader knows - from the title and from the framing of the story - that something is going to go wrong for him. Indeed, Ross is very good at getting the reader to view his characters, even those who are on the face of it pretty awful, with a degree of sympathy and understanding. They quickly become real and we care about what happens to them.
The book has its comic aspects, whether it's a trip by the be-kilted Max and Grant to see Scotland play England at Wembley (and to make contacts in the music business), the running joke of the local Shabby Road recording studios, or the bizarre gig the Vespas play in support of "The Heid", a fading local hypnotist who's surprised in his dressing room while enjoying the close attentions of his daughter in law. (The Heid seems to be a fraud with a bunch of stooges, including said D-I-L: but still he manages to leave one of the Sylvester boys believing he's agoraphobic - tricky if you're the guitarist in an up-and-coming band). But the background is bleak, set in the lead up to, and during, the Miners' Strike. It is though less engaged with national events than Last Days was with the Falklands War (although the strike and the uncertainty that preceded it are referred to as one of the reasons that business is so bad for the three rather bumbling local crime families).
As a result this story is I think much more squarely about the music, about the hopes of Max, Maggie, Grant, Eddie and Simon - and especially about the difficulty of being noticed. It's a time when you can't record your breakout single in the bedroom with Garageband and put it up on the web: Max adopts a variety of means to catch the attention of the right producer or DJ - some pretty extraordinary (joining a crew of roadies to get into a club, ascending in a window cleaners' cradle and posting discs through the open windows of Broadcasting House), some more mundane (buying a biryani for the receptionist at a local radio station).
In short, the book is both hilarious and moving. It's well up to the standard of the previous part of what I understand is to be a trilogy and I'm looking forward to the final instalment. (Except, I don't want it to be the final part, I want more!)
March 8, 2016
Review posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2016...
4.5
Last year I read and loved The Last Days of Disco by David F. Ross, so I couldn’t wait to see where he would take the eccentric characters next in The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas, and what new personalities he would bring us too. Though this can be read as a standalone, I’d recommend grabbing a copy of the first book anyway because it’s a great book, full of humour and nostalgia and a story that had me hooked. The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas, however, is just as good or maybe even a little better, a comical yet touching tale of the lives of various characters living in Scotland in the 1980s and how they intertwine in a chaotic and wholeheartedly fun fashion.
The writing is completely fitting in its representation of Scotland 1980 and what it was like to live in that time. From the dialect to the cursing, the banter and the wit, to the musical and cultural references, the bold and brash characters, as mad as the whole story sounded you can kind of nod your head and believe it too. The author knows what he’s writing about and it pays off – dragging you as the reader into 1980s Scotland and keeping you fully engaged right til the end until you’re left impatiently waiting for more. The final book of the trilogy can’t come soon enough.
The band of the Miraculous Vespas are obviously at the forefront of this book but they are not the only characters of interest. There are several of them but don’t let that put you off because the author manages to ensure it’s not a challenging task keeping up with them all. They’re all so different and memorable and really add life to the story. I love or at the very least love to hate every single character David writes. Somehow amongst all the chaos and the sweary nature of this book, throughout pages of car-crash situations and jaw-achingly good wit, the author creates vivid characters with such depth to them that you begin to like them and grow attached to watching the crazy way in which everything unfolds for them.
In my experience, you don’t even need to relate to them. Other than a taste for the 80s soundtrack across the novel, I clearly had nothing in common with the characters’ lives or interests but it was almost irrelevant because I was wholly invested in their lives. I felt for the band throughout all the hope and despair, trying to make it and not always getting what they wanted. Max Mojo and his mental health also contributed to a lot of the emotional impact this story had. I was even moved by Fat Franny Duncan of all people, throughout his relationship and bond with his mother.
The writing in this book excels because it takes what would ordinarily be page upon page of humour and one-liners, keeps them, embraces them and yet at the same time the story is poignantly crafted, the wit balanced out with pure, genuine emotion. Having said that, that’s not to underestimate David’s one-liners of which there are too many to mention but you will laugh reading this book and I mean really you will.
My time spent trying to decipher the Scottish dialect in this book was made well worth it with a brilliantly entertaining story and one that really had all you could possibly want in a novel from the gritty themes of mental health, death and destruction to the lightness of laughter and the undeniable carnage brought through love and music. No moment goes wasted in this book as everything leaves an impression on the reader, whether it’s one of laughter or a feeling of nostalgia inspired by all the cultural references. The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is page-to-page entertainment and pretty unforgettable at that.
(review copy)
March 15, 2016
I must admit I hadn't heard of David F Ross or his books until I was chatting to a fellow blogger who had highly recommended them (the first book was in her top 10 of last year!) So I jumped at an opportunity to see what all the hype was about and ended up back down memory lane reading this fabulous flashback to Scotland in the 1980s. I haven't read the first book in the trilogy but as this isn't strictly a follow on there will be no problem if you haven't either as this can totally be read as a standalone (Last Days of Disco has been added to my wishlist though!)
This is the tale of The Miraculous Vespas and the road to their short lived success as a band. Grant Delgado, his girlfriend Maggie, the Sylvester twins Eddie and Simon all overseen by Dale Wishart-now known by his alter ego name Max Mojo (after a spell of being unconscious in hospital). It's a tale full of local gangsters, friendships and dark humour set in a time where no-one knew about political correctness and Christmas dinner wasn't allowed to interfere with the Top Of The Pops Christmas Day special.
As a teenager growing up in Scotland at the time this novel is set, I found it to be a totally realistic social commentary of that time! I loved the way it was told in local dialect (this may take a little time to get used to for some but my husband's collection of Oor Wullie and The Boons annuals have always been a Christmas highlight for me!) as this makes it feel like your are just having a chat down the pub with your mates. Be warned though the language is VERY strong if you are easily offended but again this novel is committed to realism so that's to be expected.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the memories this book has brought back-the songs and the pop culture media of the time. In fact I had forgotten about Look-In but now I can even remember the totally annoying advert for it (la la la la la look iiiiiin!)
This novel was a revelation for me, a breathing fresh air and I can honestly say I have never read anything like it. Roll on the final book in the trilogy!
Huge thanks to Karen at Orenda books for providing my review copy.
This is the tale of The Miraculous Vespas and the road to their short lived success as a band. Grant Delgado, his girlfriend Maggie, the Sylvester twins Eddie and Simon all overseen by Dale Wishart-now known by his alter ego name Max Mojo (after a spell of being unconscious in hospital). It's a tale full of local gangsters, friendships and dark humour set in a time where no-one knew about political correctness and Christmas dinner wasn't allowed to interfere with the Top Of The Pops Christmas Day special.
As a teenager growing up in Scotland at the time this novel is set, I found it to be a totally realistic social commentary of that time! I loved the way it was told in local dialect (this may take a little time to get used to for some but my husband's collection of Oor Wullie and The Boons annuals have always been a Christmas highlight for me!) as this makes it feel like your are just having a chat down the pub with your mates. Be warned though the language is VERY strong if you are easily offended but again this novel is committed to realism so that's to be expected.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the memories this book has brought back-the songs and the pop culture media of the time. In fact I had forgotten about Look-In but now I can even remember the totally annoying advert for it (la la la la la look iiiiiin!)
This novel was a revelation for me, a breathing fresh air and I can honestly say I have never read anything like it. Roll on the final book in the trilogy!
Huge thanks to Karen at Orenda books for providing my review copy.
March 21, 2016
The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespers – A Funny trip round Kilmarnock
David F. Ross returns with The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespers, after the success of his debut The Last Days of Disco, this book is set around the same time, with some characters making the cross over. Once again this is written as a laugh out loud bounce along to 80s tunes that you cannot get out of your head after putting the book down.
This time the lesser characters come to the fore as they try to set up a band that will take the world by storm, even if their ‘manager’ Max Mojo is rather nuts. We see the story through the eyes of a narrator looking back to 1983 and with lots of history of that time used as the back drop to the story. The criminal characters are somewhere in the background and along with the band produce quite a few laughs.
Like his previous book you will have to read this with a west Scottish accent which really does add to the joy of the book. I also loved the inclusion of Boy George as well as the sounds of those years, but this book shows how hard was to break in to the music business before reality TV and social media.
This is a great second part of the trilogy and David F Ross we have an author who is doing for West Scotland what Irving Welsh did for Edinburgh. The book is packed with humour and music and you cannot help but laugh at and with the characters in this book. Yet another winner I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Ross beating Welsh at his own game!
David F. Ross returns with The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespers, after the success of his debut The Last Days of Disco, this book is set around the same time, with some characters making the cross over. Once again this is written as a laugh out loud bounce along to 80s tunes that you cannot get out of your head after putting the book down.
This time the lesser characters come to the fore as they try to set up a band that will take the world by storm, even if their ‘manager’ Max Mojo is rather nuts. We see the story through the eyes of a narrator looking back to 1983 and with lots of history of that time used as the back drop to the story. The criminal characters are somewhere in the background and along with the band produce quite a few laughs.
Like his previous book you will have to read this with a west Scottish accent which really does add to the joy of the book. I also loved the inclusion of Boy George as well as the sounds of those years, but this book shows how hard was to break in to the music business before reality TV and social media.
This is a great second part of the trilogy and David F Ross we have an author who is doing for West Scotland what Irving Welsh did for Edinburgh. The book is packed with humour and music and you cannot help but laugh at and with the characters in this book. Yet another winner I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Ross beating Welsh at his own game!
March 8, 2016
There are precious few strong novels about music. It could well be because the reality would be considered too unbelievable as fiction (have you read Keith Richards’ Life?) and capturing the magic and power in making music without coming across heavy on the cliché can be tricky. For every Almost Famous and Great Jones Street there’s a Young Person’s Guide To Becoming A Rock Star.
However; The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous Vespas can now be added to that short list of great books about music.
Taking us back to Kilmarnock in the early 80’s, David F Ross presents the story of The Miraculous Vespas, a band formed and driven by their manager, Max Mojo, who – via some hard graft, a great song and couple of crucial run-ins with Boy George (though it’s still hard to believe there was a time when he wasn’t simply another ‘celebrity DJ’/talent-show judge with a highly questionable head tattoo) – manage to crack the top of the charts with their song It’s A Miracle (Thank You), taking us along for their ride to the almost-top.
However, this is more than a bitingly funny account of a young band’s quest for immortality – there’s also the gang-war that’s running alongside as local gangs work to pull a fast-one over a big Glasgow crime family and come away clean. As every bit as compelling as the fortunes of The Miraculous Vespas, the McLarty storyline is a gripping and, at times, brutally violent and thrilling slab of gangster rivalry that wouldn’t be out of place in an early Bob Hoskins film (here I’m talking The Long Good Friday rather than the one with the cartoon rabbit).
Told with the occasional retrospective interjection from a modern-day Max Mojo, The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is an absolute belter of a book that’s populated by an amazing array of characters. There’s a couple of familiar faces from The Last Days of Disco including Fat Franny Duncan (of whom this installment paints a softer image and, surprisingly, has one of the novel’s most genuinely touching scenes) but you’re never given to think there’s too many characters as Ross balances the story expertly amongst the cast as their roles, the rise of the Vespas and the McLarty saga come together into a brilliantly thought out and well executed – not to mention bloody funny – conclusion.
Chief amongst these new characters is the aforementioned Max Mojo. A heady blend of hair dye, a passion for music, lithium compounds and a dermination to live the Malcolm McLaren quote, that sits on the books jacket, that Rock ‘n’ Roll is “… that question of trying to be immortal”. If only he could get control of the voice in his head. Mojo is one of the most original and brilliant characters I’ve seen in fiction for some time and has probably given me more laughs than many.
Much like his first book, The Last Days of Disco, David F Ross paints a fond picture of this time despite the obvious shafting the region (where didn’t?) was taking under Thatcher. Times are tough – especially for the crooks – yet there’s an optimism shot through this time and you can’t help but shake the feeling that – for some – that fabled ship may just be about to come in. Ross does a great job of painting a truly encompassing picture of the era – the impending Miner’s Strike, the end of the Falklands Conflict and racism all help set the scene – while his use of regional dialect places the reader firmly in place as well as making for some of the funniest insults and dialougue I’ve read.
If I had a quid for every time this book sent me to Spotify to play a track I’d have… well, I’d probably have about £20 but the fact is that with references to tracks by Orange Juice, The Clash, Big Star and, of course, Paul Weller, The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous Vespas has got one of the best soundtracks you’ll find in fiction .
Social commentary, gang war, relationship ups and downs, interband relationships, Spinal Tap moments, humour and heartbreak and the power of music; it’s all here. There’s a lot going on in this book and David F Ross, an author to watch, injects it all with an genuine passion for music, an unquestionable talent as both a writer and storyteller and, above all, a wicked sense of humour; The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is uproariously funny. So many times I had to stop as I was laughing so hard I was turning into the annoying commuter in Mr Bean. Just the prologue, the creation of Max Mojo if you will, had me in stitches ( “…hands absolutely bastart achin’ fae they nails”). And as for the assumption that Hairy was Hairy Doug’s first name and the consequences for his partner…. well. If this book doesn’t make you laugh then, frankly, there’s something wrong with you.
However; The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous Vespas can now be added to that short list of great books about music.
Taking us back to Kilmarnock in the early 80’s, David F Ross presents the story of The Miraculous Vespas, a band formed and driven by their manager, Max Mojo, who – via some hard graft, a great song and couple of crucial run-ins with Boy George (though it’s still hard to believe there was a time when he wasn’t simply another ‘celebrity DJ’/talent-show judge with a highly questionable head tattoo) – manage to crack the top of the charts with their song It’s A Miracle (Thank You), taking us along for their ride to the almost-top.
However, this is more than a bitingly funny account of a young band’s quest for immortality – there’s also the gang-war that’s running alongside as local gangs work to pull a fast-one over a big Glasgow crime family and come away clean. As every bit as compelling as the fortunes of The Miraculous Vespas, the McLarty storyline is a gripping and, at times, brutally violent and thrilling slab of gangster rivalry that wouldn’t be out of place in an early Bob Hoskins film (here I’m talking The Long Good Friday rather than the one with the cartoon rabbit).
Told with the occasional retrospective interjection from a modern-day Max Mojo, The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is an absolute belter of a book that’s populated by an amazing array of characters. There’s a couple of familiar faces from The Last Days of Disco including Fat Franny Duncan (of whom this installment paints a softer image and, surprisingly, has one of the novel’s most genuinely touching scenes) but you’re never given to think there’s too many characters as Ross balances the story expertly amongst the cast as their roles, the rise of the Vespas and the McLarty saga come together into a brilliantly thought out and well executed – not to mention bloody funny – conclusion.
Chief amongst these new characters is the aforementioned Max Mojo. A heady blend of hair dye, a passion for music, lithium compounds and a dermination to live the Malcolm McLaren quote, that sits on the books jacket, that Rock ‘n’ Roll is “… that question of trying to be immortal”. If only he could get control of the voice in his head. Mojo is one of the most original and brilliant characters I’ve seen in fiction for some time and has probably given me more laughs than many.
Much like his first book, The Last Days of Disco, David F Ross paints a fond picture of this time despite the obvious shafting the region (where didn’t?) was taking under Thatcher. Times are tough – especially for the crooks – yet there’s an optimism shot through this time and you can’t help but shake the feeling that – for some – that fabled ship may just be about to come in. Ross does a great job of painting a truly encompassing picture of the era – the impending Miner’s Strike, the end of the Falklands Conflict and racism all help set the scene – while his use of regional dialect places the reader firmly in place as well as making for some of the funniest insults and dialougue I’ve read.
If I had a quid for every time this book sent me to Spotify to play a track I’d have… well, I’d probably have about £20 but the fact is that with references to tracks by Orange Juice, The Clash, Big Star and, of course, Paul Weller, The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous Vespas has got one of the best soundtracks you’ll find in fiction .
Social commentary, gang war, relationship ups and downs, interband relationships, Spinal Tap moments, humour and heartbreak and the power of music; it’s all here. There’s a lot going on in this book and David F Ross, an author to watch, injects it all with an genuine passion for music, an unquestionable talent as both a writer and storyteller and, above all, a wicked sense of humour; The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is uproariously funny. So many times I had to stop as I was laughing so hard I was turning into the annoying commuter in Mr Bean. Just the prologue, the creation of Max Mojo if you will, had me in stitches ( “…hands absolutely bastart achin’ fae they nails”). And as for the assumption that Hairy was Hairy Doug’s first name and the consequences for his partner…. well. If this book doesn’t make you laugh then, frankly, there’s something wrong with you.
Read
May 15, 2016Novel set in AYRSHIRE (and London)
This review first appeared on our blog: http://www.tripfiction.com/novel-set-...
The Rise and Fall Of The Miraculous Vespas is a ride down memory lane - back to the pop scene of the early 1980s. It is funny, witty, and extremely well written. An Ayrshire band, The Miraculous Vespas, blags its way onto the Glasgow music scene - and even all the way to an appearance on Top Of The Pops before finally imploding. The band are all social misfits - from manager Max Mojo (formerly known as Dale Wishart, the son of a local Ayrshire villain...), through lead singer Grant Delgado (formerly known as Grant Dale...) to Maggie Abernathy, the drummer, and the Sylvester Brothers - Eddie, the Motorcycle Boy and guitarist, and Simon, the bass guitarist. Maggie and Grant are in item. Their producer, Clifford 'X-Ray' Raymonde is very definitely larger than life... An ideal cast for an engaging book.
On top of that you have a parallel / sub plot of the rivalry between the the three Ayrshire gangs - The Wisharts (as in Dale's father), the Quinns, and Fat Franny Duncan's North West Kilmarnock Crew. Not exactly top flight criminal masterminds (selling low grade drugs out of the back of an ice cream van is a typical activity...), but many a nicely drawn character.
The story takes us from the initial coming together and rehearsing of the band, through their meeting with record producer 'X-Ray' (and their subsequent first demo recording whilst high on cocaine...), to the stalking of a Radio Clyde disc jockey, a trip to London for a international football match for Max and Grant - after which they meet Boy George in a gay club - to a serious recording contract, and the Top Of The Pops appearance... before it all goes seriously pear-shaped. It's quite a romp.
The Rise of the Miraculous Vespas takes one back to the not too distant past, and it works really well. All sorts of old technology - from vinyl discs to cassettes to tape recorders - feature. It was a simpler pre social media time! It really is a book of the 80s... And there is a nice final touch. After the story ends, there is a 'where are they now'? couple of pages that records how life develops for the main protagonists between the 80s and the present day. It almost makes you thing the book is a true record of events (and I even Googled The Miraculous Vespas to make sure it wasn't!)
My only 'complaint' - and it's not really as serious one - is that I found the phonetic rendering of the Ayrshire accent in the written word at times both confusing and distracting. But all in all The Rise and Fall Of The Miraculous Vespas is an easy and enjoyable read. Especially for those of us of a certain age...
This review first appeared on our blog: http://www.tripfiction.com/novel-set-...
The Rise and Fall Of The Miraculous Vespas is a ride down memory lane - back to the pop scene of the early 1980s. It is funny, witty, and extremely well written. An Ayrshire band, The Miraculous Vespas, blags its way onto the Glasgow music scene - and even all the way to an appearance on Top Of The Pops before finally imploding. The band are all social misfits - from manager Max Mojo (formerly known as Dale Wishart, the son of a local Ayrshire villain...), through lead singer Grant Delgado (formerly known as Grant Dale...) to Maggie Abernathy, the drummer, and the Sylvester Brothers - Eddie, the Motorcycle Boy and guitarist, and Simon, the bass guitarist. Maggie and Grant are in item. Their producer, Clifford 'X-Ray' Raymonde is very definitely larger than life... An ideal cast for an engaging book.
On top of that you have a parallel / sub plot of the rivalry between the the three Ayrshire gangs - The Wisharts (as in Dale's father), the Quinns, and Fat Franny Duncan's North West Kilmarnock Crew. Not exactly top flight criminal masterminds (selling low grade drugs out of the back of an ice cream van is a typical activity...), but many a nicely drawn character.
The story takes us from the initial coming together and rehearsing of the band, through their meeting with record producer 'X-Ray' (and their subsequent first demo recording whilst high on cocaine...), to the stalking of a Radio Clyde disc jockey, a trip to London for a international football match for Max and Grant - after which they meet Boy George in a gay club - to a serious recording contract, and the Top Of The Pops appearance... before it all goes seriously pear-shaped. It's quite a romp.
The Rise of the Miraculous Vespas takes one back to the not too distant past, and it works really well. All sorts of old technology - from vinyl discs to cassettes to tape recorders - feature. It was a simpler pre social media time! It really is a book of the 80s... And there is a nice final touch. After the story ends, there is a 'where are they now'? couple of pages that records how life develops for the main protagonists between the 80s and the present day. It almost makes you thing the book is a true record of events (and I even Googled The Miraculous Vespas to make sure it wasn't!)
My only 'complaint' - and it's not really as serious one - is that I found the phonetic rendering of the Ayrshire accent in the written word at times both confusing and distracting. But all in all The Rise and Fall Of The Miraculous Vespas is an easy and enjoyable read. Especially for those of us of a certain age...
March 10, 2016
This is the second book in a trilogy .. I haven’t read the first, The Last Days of Disco but I truly don’t believe that reduced my enjoyment of this book. I am a sucker for the 80’s so anything that transports me back to what could be described as a happier time is instantly attractive.
This is set in Scotland so be prepared for the associated dialect, luckily I am familiar with it but if you are not allow longer to read and understand it! Totally quirky, brash, vulgar, humorous and nostalgic an awesome mixture for a story.
It revolves around a few families .. you may want to familiarise yourself with all the names in ‘The Principle Players’ list at the front, useful to refer back to until you slot each person into place. Basically we follow Max Mojo and his desire to form the teenage band The Miraculous Vespas. He struggles with his mental health and some sections are particularly poignant, however Max infuriated me and endeared himself to me in equal measures. Add in debt, violence, gangsters and dark gritty references .. you get the picture?!
The inclusion of Boy George (I used to adore him in his heyday) is a classic edition. The whole vibe is spot on, music, TV, food, films they all get mentioned and instantly spark recognition. I had totally forgotten the absolute hype of appearing on Top of the Pops. Almost innocent days of perfection before all the modern social media that is taken for granted so much these days. For all the wannabe musicians/band members this shows how tough the whole scene can be and the elation if the pinacle is reached.
Don’t expect pure, sickly sweet characters .. these are all hard and realistic of the area and the time. I really enjoyed it and will add the previous book to my wishlist in the hope of reading it before the next instalment.
Thanks to the author and Karen at Orenda Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is set in Scotland so be prepared for the associated dialect, luckily I am familiar with it but if you are not allow longer to read and understand it! Totally quirky, brash, vulgar, humorous and nostalgic an awesome mixture for a story.
It revolves around a few families .. you may want to familiarise yourself with all the names in ‘The Principle Players’ list at the front, useful to refer back to until you slot each person into place. Basically we follow Max Mojo and his desire to form the teenage band The Miraculous Vespas. He struggles with his mental health and some sections are particularly poignant, however Max infuriated me and endeared himself to me in equal measures. Add in debt, violence, gangsters and dark gritty references .. you get the picture?!
The inclusion of Boy George (I used to adore him in his heyday) is a classic edition. The whole vibe is spot on, music, TV, food, films they all get mentioned and instantly spark recognition. I had totally forgotten the absolute hype of appearing on Top of the Pops. Almost innocent days of perfection before all the modern social media that is taken for granted so much these days. For all the wannabe musicians/band members this shows how tough the whole scene can be and the elation if the pinacle is reached.
Don’t expect pure, sickly sweet characters .. these are all hard and realistic of the area and the time. I really enjoyed it and will add the previous book to my wishlist in the hope of reading it before the next instalment.
Thanks to the author and Karen at Orenda Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 26, 2016
The search for pop immortality in 1980s Kilmarnock
See the locations in the book here : Booktrail on a Vespa
This book messes with your head. I mean I’ve not stopped humming many an 80’s tune since reading it. Granted I did play the record that came with the review copy, but the music from the words on the page is more than catchy. The swearing and cursing are back with a vengeance an whilst this won’t suit everyone – it fits the time and place and the attitude of a young band at the time.
The Scottish banter, vernacular and general Scottish setting make this story both unique and a right bloody laugh. Honest, raw and brutal in equal measure. It’s a fast and furious ride into the music world, the highs and the lows and all those grey areas in between. This was a great sequel to those disco days and there’s a third in the series which I can’t wait for.
It’s just so much fun this book – although there’s a serious overtone to it too – this book is a raucous ride back through the eighties on the back of a Vespa with the music blaring out and the wind in your hair. Well, this is how it made me feel although some of the redness in my cheeks was due to the very colouful language in some very unexpected places! It’s a journey in every way from the very first page until the end when you close the book and the hum of that vespa driving off into the distance.
See the locations in the book here : Booktrail on a Vespa
This book messes with your head. I mean I’ve not stopped humming many an 80’s tune since reading it. Granted I did play the record that came with the review copy, but the music from the words on the page is more than catchy. The swearing and cursing are back with a vengeance an whilst this won’t suit everyone – it fits the time and place and the attitude of a young band at the time.
The Scottish banter, vernacular and general Scottish setting make this story both unique and a right bloody laugh. Honest, raw and brutal in equal measure. It’s a fast and furious ride into the music world, the highs and the lows and all those grey areas in between. This was a great sequel to those disco days and there’s a third in the series which I can’t wait for.
It’s just so much fun this book – although there’s a serious overtone to it too – this book is a raucous ride back through the eighties on the back of a Vespa with the music blaring out and the wind in your hair. Well, this is how it made me feel although some of the redness in my cheeks was due to the very colouful language in some very unexpected places! It’s a journey in every way from the very first page until the end when you close the book and the hum of that vespa driving off into the distance.
March 16, 2016
You don’t have to have read Last Days in order to enjoy the Vespas but you really don’t want to miss out on either of them and I recommend you get them both read before the final part of this charming trilogy is released. Boy George might be unaware of the part he played in the rise of the Miraculous Vespas but he is surely poorer for that.
Full review here: https://livemanylives.wordpress.com/2...
Full review here: https://livemanylives.wordpress.com/2...
May 3, 2020
Oh I am loving this series. It is full of nostalgia (although clearly I am slightly too young to remember all of the bands and current affairs referenced in the book 😳), humour, a bit of drama, a few, ewww moments and a lot of swearing and boy is it fun.
Events in The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas pick up, more or less, where The Last Days of Disco leaves off, maybe part way through, and whilst there are many recurring characters, particularly amongst KIlmarnock's underworld, it is not really a sequel. In this story we are following the fortunes of Dale Wishart, former front man of The Miraculous Vespas, who, how should I put this, runs into a little trouble during a gig in book one which leads to a rather dramatic change in both character and ambition. Having sustained a brain injury, Dale reinvents himself as Max Mojo, wannabe music Manager whose only aim is to reform the Vespas and take them to the point of super stardom. Alongside this his father, 'Washer' Wishart is on the brink of a turf war with a Glasgow based crew that could shatter the peaceful co-existence that he and the other Crew Bosses have managed thus far. With Fat Franny Duncan torn between the desire to keep his criminal empire alive and the pull of a life on the straight and narrow, the scene is set for a very interesting few months for Kilmarnock's underworld.
What I love about this series are the really colourful characters that inhabit the pages. From the mad, both literally and figuratively, world of Max Mojo, through to the more criminal elements of the story, you have such a varied and lifelike group that you can't help but become vested in their futures, even those who operate on the wrong side of the law. The story begins with Max Mojo being interviewed about a Vespas reunion, some years after the brief period in which they enjoyed any kind of commercial success. David F. Ross then leads readers on a journey from the very start of Max's fledgling career, through the turbulent times that followed, right through to the point at which it all begins to fall apart.
Max is a wonderful character, absolutely crazy, largely driven by the brain injury and the. subsequent medication, but the many internal battles he fought were both humorous and believable. The author had done a brilliant job in ensuring he sits just the right side of becoming a caricature, whilst invoking sympathy to his plight on a mental health perspective. His hyperactivity drives the story, the comedy elements being laughing as much with as at him.
Then you have the new lead singer, Grant Delgado, whose on father played a significant part in the previous book, who is only just discovering not only a love for music, but a natural talent for it too. Watching him navigate a relationship with the band's drummer, Maggie, was kind of endearing as was watching him mature a the story progresses. The other members of the band, Simon and Eddie Sylvester, come with their own share of issues, one agoraphobic and the other a kleptomaniac. It certainly makes for an interesting dynamic amongst the group, one which means you're never quite sure what to expect when they head off to another gig. Many of their scenes made me smile, but whilst this is a book about their rise to fame, it also isn't entirely about that.
It was interesting seeing another side to Fat Franny Duncan this time around. To be fair in the last book he came across as a bit of a tit. This time around I actually found that I felt some empathy for him. He is struggling personally, both with issues in his romantic life and with his mother, in the advance stages of dementia, and it is Fat Franny whose story elicited the most emotion this time around. Perhaps not in the way that the previous book touched me, but it is hard not to feel something for the world weary mobster.
One of the great things about these books is that they are filled with action but not necessarily in a way that tries to take itself too seriously. With very memorable settings and a socio-political element that doesn't dominate but does brilliantly reflect the early eighties in which the books are set, they really are something that anyone who lived through the time can identify with, even if you were only a nipper like I was. They have a wonderful thread of dark humour, moments that will make you laugh even though you know you shouldn't, and are a kind of release from the world of political correctness. It wouldn't be possible to truly write about the eighties in a style that wasn't even slightly tinged with offence, but again the author stays just the right side of the line whilst highlighting just how thoroughly inappropriate life was back then in 'the good old days'.
These are books to be savoured. Books that recreate that particular era in a mix of rich imagery, evocative language and musical nostalgia that will have you both cringing and laughing out loud. With an abundant use of the vernacular, you may have to concentrate if, like me, you are not native to the area, but it does add that real sense of truth to the story, as fantastical as the whole thing may appear. If you can read your way through this and not become invested in the fates of Max, Grant, Fat Franny and Washer then you're a hard reader to please because I'm loving it.
Events in The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas pick up, more or less, where The Last Days of Disco leaves off, maybe part way through, and whilst there are many recurring characters, particularly amongst KIlmarnock's underworld, it is not really a sequel. In this story we are following the fortunes of Dale Wishart, former front man of The Miraculous Vespas, who, how should I put this, runs into a little trouble during a gig in book one which leads to a rather dramatic change in both character and ambition. Having sustained a brain injury, Dale reinvents himself as Max Mojo, wannabe music Manager whose only aim is to reform the Vespas and take them to the point of super stardom. Alongside this his father, 'Washer' Wishart is on the brink of a turf war with a Glasgow based crew that could shatter the peaceful co-existence that he and the other Crew Bosses have managed thus far. With Fat Franny Duncan torn between the desire to keep his criminal empire alive and the pull of a life on the straight and narrow, the scene is set for a very interesting few months for Kilmarnock's underworld.
What I love about this series are the really colourful characters that inhabit the pages. From the mad, both literally and figuratively, world of Max Mojo, through to the more criminal elements of the story, you have such a varied and lifelike group that you can't help but become vested in their futures, even those who operate on the wrong side of the law. The story begins with Max Mojo being interviewed about a Vespas reunion, some years after the brief period in which they enjoyed any kind of commercial success. David F. Ross then leads readers on a journey from the very start of Max's fledgling career, through the turbulent times that followed, right through to the point at which it all begins to fall apart.
Max is a wonderful character, absolutely crazy, largely driven by the brain injury and the. subsequent medication, but the many internal battles he fought were both humorous and believable. The author had done a brilliant job in ensuring he sits just the right side of becoming a caricature, whilst invoking sympathy to his plight on a mental health perspective. His hyperactivity drives the story, the comedy elements being laughing as much with as at him.
Then you have the new lead singer, Grant Delgado, whose on father played a significant part in the previous book, who is only just discovering not only a love for music, but a natural talent for it too. Watching him navigate a relationship with the band's drummer, Maggie, was kind of endearing as was watching him mature a the story progresses. The other members of the band, Simon and Eddie Sylvester, come with their own share of issues, one agoraphobic and the other a kleptomaniac. It certainly makes for an interesting dynamic amongst the group, one which means you're never quite sure what to expect when they head off to another gig. Many of their scenes made me smile, but whilst this is a book about their rise to fame, it also isn't entirely about that.
It was interesting seeing another side to Fat Franny Duncan this time around. To be fair in the last book he came across as a bit of a tit. This time around I actually found that I felt some empathy for him. He is struggling personally, both with issues in his romantic life and with his mother, in the advance stages of dementia, and it is Fat Franny whose story elicited the most emotion this time around. Perhaps not in the way that the previous book touched me, but it is hard not to feel something for the world weary mobster.
One of the great things about these books is that they are filled with action but not necessarily in a way that tries to take itself too seriously. With very memorable settings and a socio-political element that doesn't dominate but does brilliantly reflect the early eighties in which the books are set, they really are something that anyone who lived through the time can identify with, even if you were only a nipper like I was. They have a wonderful thread of dark humour, moments that will make you laugh even though you know you shouldn't, and are a kind of release from the world of political correctness. It wouldn't be possible to truly write about the eighties in a style that wasn't even slightly tinged with offence, but again the author stays just the right side of the line whilst highlighting just how thoroughly inappropriate life was back then in 'the good old days'.
These are books to be savoured. Books that recreate that particular era in a mix of rich imagery, evocative language and musical nostalgia that will have you both cringing and laughing out loud. With an abundant use of the vernacular, you may have to concentrate if, like me, you are not native to the area, but it does add that real sense of truth to the story, as fantastical as the whole thing may appear. If you can read your way through this and not become invested in the fates of Max, Grant, Fat Franny and Washer then you're a hard reader to please because I'm loving it.
July 11, 2021
The second book in the Disco Days trilogy is as much a stand alone as it is part of the series. Before you think I have totally lost the plot I say this as although it does have many of the characters from the first book it doesn’t necessarily follow their lives, but they do have a part to play in the action that takes place.
After spending time in hospital after getting caught up in a fight at a gig, Dale Wishart reinvents himself as Max Mojo and decides to reform the Vespas with new members and appoints himself as their manager. Now under normal circumstances this would seem very straightforward but with Max clearly suffering from mental health issues and having to remember to take medication to keep him calm he often finds himself in the middle of altercations that cause the newly formed band problems. The band themselves all seem to have their own issues that when added together do have you wondering if they will ever make the big time. With Max’s dad investing money into the band, the criminal element is never going to be far behind, but family is everything to them and they will protect their own when the time comes.
I am absolutely loving this series, after all what’s not to love about a book that takes you back in time to your youth with such clarity. Once again David Ross has given his readers colourful characters that will have you laughing and crying in equal measure. Max is certainly one of a kind and the main focus of this story in my eyes. Often the source of most of the chaos, he has a drive that cuts through any issues the band have with each other and somehow helps them succeed. At no point are you left in any doubt that things are tough and hard work doesn’t always pay off, but it was also great to see a different side to the hard men of Kilmarnock as they did everything they could to defend family and territory. Another brilliant read and I can’t wait to get stuck into the final instalment in the series and see what is in store for these unforgettable characters or if I can finally understand some of the lingo without having to read it twice.
After spending time in hospital after getting caught up in a fight at a gig, Dale Wishart reinvents himself as Max Mojo and decides to reform the Vespas with new members and appoints himself as their manager. Now under normal circumstances this would seem very straightforward but with Max clearly suffering from mental health issues and having to remember to take medication to keep him calm he often finds himself in the middle of altercations that cause the newly formed band problems. The band themselves all seem to have their own issues that when added together do have you wondering if they will ever make the big time. With Max’s dad investing money into the band, the criminal element is never going to be far behind, but family is everything to them and they will protect their own when the time comes.
I am absolutely loving this series, after all what’s not to love about a book that takes you back in time to your youth with such clarity. Once again David Ross has given his readers colourful characters that will have you laughing and crying in equal measure. Max is certainly one of a kind and the main focus of this story in my eyes. Often the source of most of the chaos, he has a drive that cuts through any issues the band have with each other and somehow helps them succeed. At no point are you left in any doubt that things are tough and hard work doesn’t always pay off, but it was also great to see a different side to the hard men of Kilmarnock as they did everything they could to defend family and territory. Another brilliant read and I can’t wait to get stuck into the final instalment in the series and see what is in store for these unforgettable characters or if I can finally understand some of the lingo without having to read it twice.
February 19, 2026
I’ve read a few novels by this author and picked this up in a charity shop - it was on my radar as it’s a sequel and sounded like it would be a quick, funny read.
I don’t know why but it took me a while to get into it. It’s not particularly challenging but it took me much longer to read than usual and it definitely began to drag. Character wise, I really liked Maggie & Grant and was rooting for them (the third novel in the series is possibly about them?!) but aside from that I really didn’t care about them.
The plot was ludicrous but I did enjoy all the local references (is it really set in Kilmarnock if it doesn’t mention John Finnie St?)
Overall a decent wee read!
I don’t know why but it took me a while to get into it. It’s not particularly challenging but it took me much longer to read than usual and it definitely began to drag. Character wise, I really liked Maggie & Grant and was rooting for them (the third novel in the series is possibly about them?!) but aside from that I really didn’t care about them.
The plot was ludicrous but I did enjoy all the local references (is it really set in Kilmarnock if it doesn’t mention John Finnie St?)
Overall a decent wee read!
January 20, 2018
Just brilliant! Can’t wait to read The Man Who Loved Islands ...
July 31, 2025
Can not put into words how good this trilogy is. I realise that isn’t ideal for a review. What I will say is by the end I felt I genuinely knew the characters. I had a sense of loss and went into book mourning.
February 10, 2016
“The Last Days of Disco” by David F Ross (Orienda Books, 2015) was one of my surprise favourite books of 2015, an unexpected joy with vividly depicted characters. Its sequel “The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas” has now been published on Kindle on 24th December 2015.
It’s a spin-off from the earlier novel, mostly with a new set of characters but still in Ayrshire, south west Scotland. The language seems more extreme than in the earlier novel, with more frequent references to drug-taking. If that offends you, this book may not be for you.
Here’s the blurb:
‘Rock ‘n’ Roll doesn’t necessarily mean a band. It doesn’t mean a singer, and it doesn’t mean a lyric, really. It’s that question of trying to be immortal’ - Malcolm McLaren.
The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is the timeless story of the quest for such pop immortality. When a young Ayrshire band miraculously hits the big time with the smash hit record of 1984, international stardom beckons. That’s despite having a delusional teenage manager propelled by a dark, malign voice in his head … Can Max Mojo’s band of talented social misfits repeat the success and pay back the mounting debts accrued from an increasingly agitated cartel of local gangsters? Or will they have to kidnap Boy George and hope for the best? Featuring much-loved characters from the international bestseller, The Last Days of Disco, this is an absurdly funny, riotously ambitious and deeply human story of small-town rivalries, music, confused adolescence and, above all, hope, from one of Scotland’s finest new voices."
Yes the language is colourful, but it’s a highly enjoyable pacy read. The story is set in the Thatcherite backdrop of the early 1980s, but it’s the timeless story of a band of musicians trying to make it big in the music business. The book recounts their early gigs, their attempts to record a demo tape and their relentless search to connect with those who can give them their break. All of this against the musical backdrop of 1983/84 with references to The Clash, the Smiths, Top of the Pops and Midge Ure.
There are cameo appearances galore including a new Pakistani reporter in the local paper to the mother of the local gangster who is in need of nursing care. We read of tales of ice-cream turf wars, of money laundering and big-time Glasgow gangsters wrecking vengeance on their counterparts in Ayrshire . There’s even a trip to Wembley to see a Scotland/England football match. “Max delegated the task of sourcing the kilts; de rigeur for a Scotland away fixture. Reluctantly Grant took up the challenge. His find was less kilt, more tartan blanket with big belt holding it up.”
As in the previous book, there are several tales hilariously told all of which are incredible enough to be true. The story of a man coming into a restaurant in his rain-soaked socks because his brogues have been stolen to order from a lane in Glasgow could well, I suspect, have featured in the law reports of the District Court.
My personal favourite was the account of Frankie Fusi ‘s victory over Gregor Gidney in a pub brawl in Glasgow (or should that be Renfrewshire?) to settle a score.
“Forty-five minutes later, one man emerged bruised and battered from the entry to the four-in-a block in Glasgow’s southside. An eye was closed, a tooth had been knocked out and he had a knife wound in his side. But he was still in better condition than his opponent. Frankie had gone to Howwood and he was still standing.”
The Miraculous Vespas is out in Kindle just now, but is published in paperback in February 2016. And the best news of all – there’s a final part to this Trilogy still to come. Looking forward already to “The Man Who Loved the Islands.”
It’s a spin-off from the earlier novel, mostly with a new set of characters but still in Ayrshire, south west Scotland. The language seems more extreme than in the earlier novel, with more frequent references to drug-taking. If that offends you, this book may not be for you.
Here’s the blurb:
‘Rock ‘n’ Roll doesn’t necessarily mean a band. It doesn’t mean a singer, and it doesn’t mean a lyric, really. It’s that question of trying to be immortal’ - Malcolm McLaren.
The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is the timeless story of the quest for such pop immortality. When a young Ayrshire band miraculously hits the big time with the smash hit record of 1984, international stardom beckons. That’s despite having a delusional teenage manager propelled by a dark, malign voice in his head … Can Max Mojo’s band of talented social misfits repeat the success and pay back the mounting debts accrued from an increasingly agitated cartel of local gangsters? Or will they have to kidnap Boy George and hope for the best? Featuring much-loved characters from the international bestseller, The Last Days of Disco, this is an absurdly funny, riotously ambitious and deeply human story of small-town rivalries, music, confused adolescence and, above all, hope, from one of Scotland’s finest new voices."
Yes the language is colourful, but it’s a highly enjoyable pacy read. The story is set in the Thatcherite backdrop of the early 1980s, but it’s the timeless story of a band of musicians trying to make it big in the music business. The book recounts their early gigs, their attempts to record a demo tape and their relentless search to connect with those who can give them their break. All of this against the musical backdrop of 1983/84 with references to The Clash, the Smiths, Top of the Pops and Midge Ure.
There are cameo appearances galore including a new Pakistani reporter in the local paper to the mother of the local gangster who is in need of nursing care. We read of tales of ice-cream turf wars, of money laundering and big-time Glasgow gangsters wrecking vengeance on their counterparts in Ayrshire . There’s even a trip to Wembley to see a Scotland/England football match. “Max delegated the task of sourcing the kilts; de rigeur for a Scotland away fixture. Reluctantly Grant took up the challenge. His find was less kilt, more tartan blanket with big belt holding it up.”
As in the previous book, there are several tales hilariously told all of which are incredible enough to be true. The story of a man coming into a restaurant in his rain-soaked socks because his brogues have been stolen to order from a lane in Glasgow could well, I suspect, have featured in the law reports of the District Court.
My personal favourite was the account of Frankie Fusi ‘s victory over Gregor Gidney in a pub brawl in Glasgow (or should that be Renfrewshire?) to settle a score.
“Forty-five minutes later, one man emerged bruised and battered from the entry to the four-in-a block in Glasgow’s southside. An eye was closed, a tooth had been knocked out and he had a knife wound in his side. But he was still in better condition than his opponent. Frankie had gone to Howwood and he was still standing.”
The Miraculous Vespas is out in Kindle just now, but is published in paperback in February 2016. And the best news of all – there’s a final part to this Trilogy still to come. Looking forward already to “The Man Who Loved the Islands.”
April 6, 2016
You may recall that last year David Ross released The Last Days of Disco? It was set in 1980’s Ayrshire, it was very Scottish, very sweary and was a very, very good story.
Good news…Mr Ross returns with The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas which is very Scottish, very sweary and is another very, very good story. It also features quite a few familiar faces from Disco which I really enjoyed!
But The Miraculous Vespas allows new characters to take centre stage (literally) so you do not *have* to have read Disco to enjoy Vespas. The familiar faces are mainly kept in the wings which allows the wonderful Max Mojo to steal the show!
The Miraculous Vespas are a musically talented bunch of social misfits that Max brings together. He is fully convinced that they can unite as a band which would have what it takes to make it big in the music industry – Max will be the one to see their talents get the recognition that they deserve.
As the book opens we learn how The Miraculous Vespas fare in their quest for musical excellence. Max is reminiscing over the journey the band took and so the narration picks up at a time before he had met the band members. As we read we follow Max as he rounds up potential band members, the calamitous practice sessions, the early gigs and then their efforts to secure a wider audience.
If you read The Last Days of Disco you will know that there are guaranteed laughs along the way. However, Mr Ross once again succeeds in taking his cast through some emotional highs but down into the darkest places too – it is compelling reading.
One key element of the book which cannot be overlooked – the musical influences which pull the story along. David Ross has a phenomenal knowledge of the music of the time and the number of band and song references are staggering. If you have any memories of the music of the 1980’s you are bound to come across some favourite songs as you read.
Everyone loves a rags to riches story. The Miraculous Vespas are on that path – you should join them to see how it turns out, you won’t be disappointed!
Good news…Mr Ross returns with The Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas which is very Scottish, very sweary and is another very, very good story. It also features quite a few familiar faces from Disco which I really enjoyed!
But The Miraculous Vespas allows new characters to take centre stage (literally) so you do not *have* to have read Disco to enjoy Vespas. The familiar faces are mainly kept in the wings which allows the wonderful Max Mojo to steal the show!
The Miraculous Vespas are a musically talented bunch of social misfits that Max brings together. He is fully convinced that they can unite as a band which would have what it takes to make it big in the music industry – Max will be the one to see their talents get the recognition that they deserve.
As the book opens we learn how The Miraculous Vespas fare in their quest for musical excellence. Max is reminiscing over the journey the band took and so the narration picks up at a time before he had met the band members. As we read we follow Max as he rounds up potential band members, the calamitous practice sessions, the early gigs and then their efforts to secure a wider audience.
If you read The Last Days of Disco you will know that there are guaranteed laughs along the way. However, Mr Ross once again succeeds in taking his cast through some emotional highs but down into the darkest places too – it is compelling reading.
One key element of the book which cannot be overlooked – the musical influences which pull the story along. David Ross has a phenomenal knowledge of the music of the time and the number of band and song references are staggering. If you have any memories of the music of the 1980’s you are bound to come across some favourite songs as you read.
Everyone loves a rags to riches story. The Miraculous Vespas are on that path – you should join them to see how it turns out, you won’t be disappointed!
March 7, 2016
I am not a big fan of non-fiction books, to say the truth, but the reviews of this book caught my attention so I decided to give it a chance. Because, who can resist a book where the music band is mixed with gangsters?
This book hasn't disappointed me, it has everything you need to keep reading while you get some 80's nostalgia... the music, the people...
You will enter in the world of The Vespas, a young Scottish band with some big problems but at the same time a big passion for music. You will love all the characters even if their actions where not as good as they need to be... but it makes the book more real and authentic.
It is quite strange reading the dialogues in Scottish, some words sound so strange!
Be prepared to return to the past with this David F. Ross book, but I can assure you will be enchanted with his words and while you enter in the "music" world!
Ready for the fame?
This book hasn't disappointed me, it has everything you need to keep reading while you get some 80's nostalgia... the music, the people...
You will enter in the world of The Vespas, a young Scottish band with some big problems but at the same time a big passion for music. You will love all the characters even if their actions where not as good as they need to be... but it makes the book more real and authentic.
It is quite strange reading the dialogues in Scottish, some words sound so strange!
Be prepared to return to the past with this David F. Ross book, but I can assure you will be enchanted with his words and while you enter in the "music" world!
Ready for the fame?
September 18, 2016
If you can get past or at least, used to the heavy Scottish Dialect that he dialogue is written in, this is a fun read about a group of teens in 80s Scotland starting a band and their somewhat crazy manager. Conflicts arise when the band members start fighting and the local mafia starts becoming interested in the fact that one of their own is investing money in the band in order to "wash" their dirty money.
January 20, 2016
Another fabulous tale of 80's Kilmarnock. Looking forward to the last part of the trilogy
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