The Wedding Present: Sometimes these words just don't have to be said

by Richard Houghton, David Gedge

This is not a story of rock’n’roll debauchery involving Class A drugs and wrecked five star hotel bedrooms. Rather, it’s a tale of wannabe fanzine editors stealing crisps from the rider and missing the last bus home, of getting autographs and not getting encores. From David Gedge’s school days through to concerts in 2016, the book also features contributions from record producers, recording engineers and celebrity fans including Gaz Coombes of Supergrass, Mark Burgess of the Chameleons, Martin Noble of British Sea Power, John Robb of The Membranes and Hot Fuzz actor Nick Frost along with broadcasters Marc Riley, Shaun Keaveny, Andy Kershaw and Andrew Collins.

Genres: Music

448 pages, Hardcover

Published October 30, 2018

Reviews

[Alister Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite band, my favourite book, my favourite dress....

[Mancman · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you fail to give this five stars? Let’s face it, you have to be a fan of The Wedding Present to read this, and if you’re that, then most things in here will chime with you.
It’s a fascinating insight into people’s devotion and joy, and the myriad of facts that tumble through the book enlightened me frequently.
It’s a book full of warmth, happiness, nostalgia and occasionally bathos. Isn’t that a perfect mix for a book? Or a song? Or a group?

[Steve Gillway · Rating 5 out of 5]

In some ways this is a very life affirming book. You can hear how countless people fell in love with The Wedding Present. Plus, you get a small snapshot of that person, which tells you the importance of music, booze, shyness etc in Bristish culture. Ostensibly, it goes through the gigs and the records, but the gigs are key. It is great to listen along to the band while reading.

[Mick Ingleson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not to be missed for any fans of the weddoes with more than a causual interest

[Betheliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it interesting to read where the various contributors’ appreciation of the band started, and to identify my own within that. To clarify: which song / recording they started with or within which era / incarnation of the band. I very much enjoyed many contributors’ recollections of how they had embarrassed themselves in front of their idols.
An enjoyable read.

The formatting is not great on Kindle, and there is one sentence seemingly left hanging at the end of 1995: Cooking on Vinyl.

[Iain Cargill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, typical David Gedge

Bloody fantastic, not a biography, but a great book with a lot of fan input. Its entirely difficult to not love The Wedding Present