Hardcore Troubadour: The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle

Description

A biography of a legendary singer and song-writer, written with his exclusive and unfettered co-operation, this is the life behind the award-winning albums of Steve Earle, rebel, rocker and Nashville legend. Steve Earle is the musicians' idol - a hero to Emmylou Harris - who has said of his life "If I'd known I was going to live this long I'd have taken better care of myself". He was taking heroin at 13 and by the age of 40 was mired in a seemingly permanent "vacation in the ghetto" as he described his life then. In and out of jail for a variety of offences, Earle seemed determined to make good on his boast that when the end of the world came (and it seemed pretty close at times) only he, Keith Richards and the cockroaches would be left standing. Not yet 50, he has been married six times, twice to the same woman, and amazingly forgiven by almost all of the ex-wives. In moments of consciousness he has, through sheer musical ability, shared a stage with, among others, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Sheryl Crow, the Pogues and Bob Dylan. A legend and one of the most gifted songwriters of his generation, Nashville just wouldn't be the same without him.

Lauren St John is a biographer and music writer for many publications including the Independent and the Sunday Times. Her previous book, WALKING AFTER MIDNIGHT was published by Picador in 2000.

"Could be I'm just some Big City sucker for a hard-rocking, Nietzsche-reading, Che Guevara-quoting redneck country singer, but ... if Steve Earle isn't a Great American, he'll have to do until the real thing comes along."- Mark Jacobson, Men's Journal reviewing Steve Earle's bestselling story collection Doghouse Roses.