Something to Believe In

Description

'Written with great humanity and girded by a soundtrack to die for, this memoir is a punch, unput-downable must-read'. Peter Garrett A memoir of music, madness and love from the author of the cult classic Pig City. For Andrew Stafford, music was a way up and a way out. There was just one little problem- he couldn't play. Because those who can do and those who can't review, he carved out a niche writing about it instead. This is the story of a self-confessed wannabe's life- of growing up in public, of family, of falling in and out of love, and music, sweet music, everywhere. Written with enormous heart and a thumping rhythm, Something To Believe In is an uncompromising, inspiring book for anyone whose life has been saved by rock & roll.

Andrew Stafford is a freelance journalist and the author of Pig City, a musical and political history of Brisbane, first published in 2004 by UQP. Something to Believe In is his second book. He has written for The Age, The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Monthly. You can find him on Twitter @staffo_sez

PRAISE FOR SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN'Written with great humanity and girded by a soundtrack to die for, this memoir is a punchy, unputdownable must-read.'Peter Garrett'A soaring, sweat-soaked tribute to life's two great miracles: music and waking up each day to hear it.'Trent Dalton'This beautifully written book reminded me of how much music helps us navigate through life, in all its complicated glory.'Myf Warhurst'Andrew Stafford takes us on an exhilarating ride through his life as birdwatcher, cab driver, roadie, son, lover and writer.'Lindy Morrison'Lyrical, wise and full of wonder. Andrew Stafford strips himself bare with courage, candour, and vulnerability.'Tracey Spicer FULL ENDORSEMENT QUOTES'Andrew Stafford's Something To Believe In is quite an achievement. Set against the backdrop of Brisbane's burgeoning 80's indie rock scene, it's all here: Part tragi/comic tale of a fanboy writer struggling to translate his primal affair with music into a "real" job; part excoriating account of his ride from adolescence to adulthood and self-discovery; and part blossoming tale of love and forgiveness. Written with great humanity and girded by a soundtrack to die for - which he almost did on more than one occasion - thankfully Stafford made it through, and the result is a punchy, unputdownable must read.' Peter Garrett, Midnight Oil 'A pulsing, rattling jukebox of a music memoir. Drop a coin, find your sound. Stafford knows it all too well. Rock and punk and pop; the rock bottom and the very top. Love, family, sorrow, pain. The birds, the blues, the brain. A pull out your heart and feed it to anyone rock 'n' roll sock to the core. Something brave, something bruising. A soaring, sweat-soaked tribute to life's two great miracles: music and waking up each day to hear it.' Trent Dalton, author of Boy Swallows Universe 'Lyrical, wise and full of wonder. Andrew Stafford strips himself bare with courage, candour, and vulnerability.' Tracey Spicer, broadcaster and journalist 'Andrew Stafford takes us on an exhilarating ride with his very beautifully written story of his life as bird watcher, cab driver, roadie, son, lover and journalist. His astute and insightful observations on music and politics on Brisbane in particular from the late eighties provides a stunning backdrop to this personal expression of his life story.' Lindy Morrison, The Go-Betweens