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Adventures of a Waterboy
Mike Scott's long awaited musical memoir, Adventures Of A Waterboy, is an eye-opening account of his life in music. Serious, funny, profound, whimsical and enigmatic, it contains descriptions of his days in teenage garage bands, the rise of The Waterboys, his exploits with Steve Wickham and the rest of the gang in the west of Ireland, and much, much more.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2012
17 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Mike Scott
3 books4 followersScottish singer, songwriter and musician. Scott is the founding member, lead singer and the lead songwriter of rock band The Waterboys.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Sco...
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There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Sco...
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 23, 2013
A great read that goes from boyhood up to the turn of the century, through many musical collaborations, inspirations, people and places, never far away is His spiritual quest, the search for the spirit of Pan through not just the music, but rustic landscapes from Scotland to Ireland, to spiritual landscapes like Glastonbury and the Findhorn Community. The people and places weave an intriguing tale of musical influences that have shaped the music down the decades. My only disappointment has been that the story ends at the Glastonbury Festival appearance of 2000, I hope we one day get to hear the story of the creation of the Album An appointment with Mr Yeats, as I would love to hear the journey of what has to be his greatest achievement to date, and was certainly his most ambitious.
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January 5, 2013I’m going to admit for the first time that I had a big crush on Mike Scott when I was a teenager. It probably had as much to do with his rich, soul-searching music, coming as it did at the apex of my Celtic obsession, as with his amazing head of hair and leather-clad charm. At that point, I had little more to sustain my ardour than the Pagan Place album cover I’d purchased secondhand in a 4th Street NYC record shop, which travelled with me to Britain and then to Australia where I’m playing it even now as I type. To an outsider, the story of The Waterboys appears a rosy one. The Waterboys shot to fame in the early 1980s, and are still making music and filling concert venues today. Their music continues to be innovative and powerful, defying categorization and incorporating literary elements such as the poetry of WB Yeats, Robert Burns, and George MacDonald (their latest album, Appointment with Mr Yeats, is all Yeats poems set to music), The reality is somewhat different. In Adventures of a Waterboy Mike Scott goes into a great deal of detail about the rather intensive ups and downs of his musical career, including years of struggling, both pre-and post-Waterboys.
The book opens in 1968, with nine year old Scott already immersed in the world of music; taking note of the noise of the bus, and banging his feet on every surface to the rhythm in his head. It comes as a shock to him that others can’t hear that rhythm—a soundtrack to his life that Scott has been conscious of since he was six. Adventures of a Waterboy, written entirely in first person present tense, is the story of how Scott learned to share that music in his head and grow it into something larger. Though the book is a personal and very honest account of Scott’s experiences as he moves through the changes in his life, the vision never falters from the ‘big music’: the inner, somewhat spiritual, song that motivates every action Scott takes, even when those actions are detrimental to Scott’s career or relationships, as indeed it often is.
Fans of The Waterboys will enjoy reading about how the initial band came together, and the variations through different records, as the the meaning and context of each song becomes clear. It was, for example, a lot of fun reading about the making of hits “Bang on the Ear” and “Whole of the Moon” or the difficulties that Scott had in writing a final version of my favourite song “Fisherman’s Blues”:
Those interested in rock and roll or traditional Celtic music in general will take pleasure out of reading the passages when Scott got himself invited to hang out with the Patti Smith Band, or his dalliances with other musicians like Bono, Bob Dylan, members of De Dannan, The Pogues, Simple Minds, The Pretenders, Robert Plant, and so on. There are plenty of names dropped through the book.
The ups and downs of Scott’s career has been honestly explored in this book, and the first person narrative is cozy and accessible. For Waterboys fans, Adventures of a Waterboy is a bracing, utterly enjoyable read that will illuminate the many turns and twists of Mike Scott’s life and music. But you don’t need to be a Waterboys fan to enjoy this book. Scott is, above all else, a writer, with an intuitive sense of words that matches his musical capability. Reading this book leaves the reader with the sense of being privy, not only to a story about what happened with a particular person through a particular period of time, but an exploration of the meaning of the creative process in its broadest sense. This is a deep, well-written book that, like Mike Scott's music, manages to toe the line beautifully between grass-roots intimacy and a grand, big picture. Above all, there is music, woven into every line, every relationship, every twist.
Article first published as Book Review: Adventures of a Waterboy by Mike Scott on Blogcritics.
The book opens in 1968, with nine year old Scott already immersed in the world of music; taking note of the noise of the bus, and banging his feet on every surface to the rhythm in his head. It comes as a shock to him that others can’t hear that rhythm—a soundtrack to his life that Scott has been conscious of since he was six. Adventures of a Waterboy, written entirely in first person present tense, is the story of how Scott learned to share that music in his head and grow it into something larger. Though the book is a personal and very honest account of Scott’s experiences as he moves through the changes in his life, the vision never falters from the ‘big music’: the inner, somewhat spiritual, song that motivates every action Scott takes, even when those actions are detrimental to Scott’s career or relationships, as indeed it often is.
Fans of The Waterboys will enjoy reading about how the initial band came together, and the variations through different records, as the the meaning and context of each song becomes clear. It was, for example, a lot of fun reading about the making of hits “Bang on the Ear” and “Whole of the Moon” or the difficulties that Scott had in writing a final version of my favourite song “Fisherman’s Blues”:
How was I to choose between the Pete McKinney version of ‘Fisherman’s Blues’ with its lusty, crashing drums and the Noel Bridgeman version with its subtle groove, both of which I loved? Even as I vacillated the music kept evolving with new sounds and players entering our orbit, like Vinnie Kilduff and his Irish pipes. We fearlessly integrated these new elements with often thrilling results, but with the consequence that songs we’d cut a year, even six months previously now sounded like another group.
Those interested in rock and roll or traditional Celtic music in general will take pleasure out of reading the passages when Scott got himself invited to hang out with the Patti Smith Band, or his dalliances with other musicians like Bono, Bob Dylan, members of De Dannan, The Pogues, Simple Minds, The Pretenders, Robert Plant, and so on. There are plenty of names dropped through the book.
The ups and downs of Scott’s career has been honestly explored in this book, and the first person narrative is cozy and accessible. For Waterboys fans, Adventures of a Waterboy is a bracing, utterly enjoyable read that will illuminate the many turns and twists of Mike Scott’s life and music. But you don’t need to be a Waterboys fan to enjoy this book. Scott is, above all else, a writer, with an intuitive sense of words that matches his musical capability. Reading this book leaves the reader with the sense of being privy, not only to a story about what happened with a particular person through a particular period of time, but an exploration of the meaning of the creative process in its broadest sense. This is a deep, well-written book that, like Mike Scott's music, manages to toe the line beautifully between grass-roots intimacy and a grand, big picture. Above all, there is music, woven into every line, every relationship, every twist.
Article first published as Book Review: Adventures of a Waterboy by Mike Scott on Blogcritics.
September 10, 2012
I loved the Waterboys before I read this, but I loved them more afterwards.
January 3, 2026
This book transported me through a life devoted to rock and punk and new wave and trad Celtic and back to rock, a long voyage full of highs and lows and in-betweens. The part that immersed me most deeply and intimately was the years in Ireland — never as a lifer because Mike is too honest to presume that, but through him, I lived vicariously as a good-timer, community builder and ancestral expatriate seeking a portal to a spiritual home. Albeit temporarily.
All that sounds like excitable hogwash, but I’ll leave it because it’s honest and it’s in the spirit of Mike Scott, although he writes more clearly and level-headedly than I do. I don’t know why I didn’t give this book five stars — maybe because it ends around 2000 and I was not yet satisfied.
I first heard of Mike and the Waterboys when a friend quoted “Further Up, Further In” in our senior yearbook. Shortly afterward “The Return of Jimi Hendrix” hooked me, but even though I recognized Mike to be a kindred spirit and fellow seeker, I didn’t dig deeper until maybe age 40, when I found a Fisherman’s Blues CD at a library book sale and discovered the fresh water I had spent my whole life searching for, a deep well that enriched me further the more I drank. From there it was on to everything else they did, and I finally saw them live this year.
I’m not a naive fan; as I’ve matured I’ve come to appreciate more deeply the youthful wonder and joy artists like the Waterboys express. Reading Mike’s story in his own words, especially his self-awareness and humble sense of humor, reinforces my belief that we’re on the right track.
All that sounds like excitable hogwash, but I’ll leave it because it’s honest and it’s in the spirit of Mike Scott, although he writes more clearly and level-headedly than I do. I don’t know why I didn’t give this book five stars — maybe because it ends around 2000 and I was not yet satisfied.
I first heard of Mike and the Waterboys when a friend quoted “Further Up, Further In” in our senior yearbook. Shortly afterward “The Return of Jimi Hendrix” hooked me, but even though I recognized Mike to be a kindred spirit and fellow seeker, I didn’t dig deeper until maybe age 40, when I found a Fisherman’s Blues CD at a library book sale and discovered the fresh water I had spent my whole life searching for, a deep well that enriched me further the more I drank. From there it was on to everything else they did, and I finally saw them live this year.
I’m not a naive fan; as I’ve matured I’ve come to appreciate more deeply the youthful wonder and joy artists like the Waterboys express. Reading Mike’s story in his own words, especially his self-awareness and humble sense of humor, reinforces my belief that we’re on the right track.
May 22, 2022
Best music (auto-)biography or music book I've ever read!
Mike shows both sides of himself, the passionate music fan in his youth who goes to London for a Patti Smith concert, gets to have personal contact with her and Lenny Kay, and the musician who never stops evolving and seeking new frontiers of truth and beauty. Talking about beauty, the man can write !!
The book covers Mike's life and career until about 2010.
Mike shows both sides of himself, the passionate music fan in his youth who goes to London for a Patti Smith concert, gets to have personal contact with her and Lenny Kay, and the musician who never stops evolving and seeking new frontiers of truth and beauty. Talking about beauty, the man can write !!
The book covers Mike's life and career until about 2010.
December 9, 2016
I've been a fan of the Waterboys since I saw the video for "The Return of Pan" on the old alternative music show 120 Minutes back when MTV used to show actual music videos. Like many I was surprised when their style changed suddenly from alt-rock to traditional Irish music / rock fusion, but that only exposed me to genres of music I had never been really into. Anyway, I was looking on Amazon for some of the Waterboys' catalogue of previously unreleased material when I saw that the lead singer and driving force of the band, Mike Scott, had released an autobiography. I was prepared to pass it by but was intrigued by the high ratings and positive reviews. I figured that was just Waterboys fans who would love anything with his name on it but review after review assured me that this book was more than expected so I took a chance and ordered it.
This is without a doubt one of the best rock autobiographies I've ever read, and just a damn fun read regardless. For those not familiar with the band, the Waterboys came out of Scotland and England in the early 80s in the "new wave" of music at that time. Even then they were known for their "literate" and intelligent lyrics written by Scott. His writing skill doesn't end with song lyrics, as this book is a fascinating and a real page turner throughout. Mike Scott paints a vivid and entertaining picture of what it was like to be a kid from Scotland trying to have a successful band in the 80s. He peppers the memoir with fun anecdotes of hanging out with his contemporaries like Bono just as U2 was hitting it big (and wondering how bottles of champagne always seemed to magically appear when he was around) and dragging himself into the favorite breakfast spot of up-and-coming bands in London on a Sunday morning after weekend gigs and eating eggs and sausages with A Flock of Seagulls, whose hair was, as always, sprayed into solid asymmetric shapes.
One of the most insightful parts of the book is the honest and personal account of how Mike Scott fell in love with traditional Irish music and took the huge risk of changing styles just as the band had signed a lucrative multi album deal with a major label. This is where, in the late 80's, he took the band to Spiddal on Ireland's Atlantic coast, rented a dowdy old mansion, brought in pub musicians from the area, and over a few months produced "Fisherman's Blues," a true classic and hybrid of Irish "trad" and rock. While this lost many Waterboys fans and arguably tanked a promising alternative rock career in the U.S., by following his passion Scott produced a true masterpiece that is still recognized today.
The book continues on with the problems of trying to follow up a critically acclaimed album, issues with trying to balance friendships in the band with maintaining the integrity of the music, and Scott's own spiritual journey and retreat into a religious community right at the moment of his success. If you're a Waterboys fan this book is a must have. Even if you're not though, this book is well written and surprisingly engaging and would be a fun read for anyone interested in the experiences of a creative musician trying to balance integrity with success.
This is without a doubt one of the best rock autobiographies I've ever read, and just a damn fun read regardless. For those not familiar with the band, the Waterboys came out of Scotland and England in the early 80s in the "new wave" of music at that time. Even then they were known for their "literate" and intelligent lyrics written by Scott. His writing skill doesn't end with song lyrics, as this book is a fascinating and a real page turner throughout. Mike Scott paints a vivid and entertaining picture of what it was like to be a kid from Scotland trying to have a successful band in the 80s. He peppers the memoir with fun anecdotes of hanging out with his contemporaries like Bono just as U2 was hitting it big (and wondering how bottles of champagne always seemed to magically appear when he was around) and dragging himself into the favorite breakfast spot of up-and-coming bands in London on a Sunday morning after weekend gigs and eating eggs and sausages with A Flock of Seagulls, whose hair was, as always, sprayed into solid asymmetric shapes.
One of the most insightful parts of the book is the honest and personal account of how Mike Scott fell in love with traditional Irish music and took the huge risk of changing styles just as the band had signed a lucrative multi album deal with a major label. This is where, in the late 80's, he took the band to Spiddal on Ireland's Atlantic coast, rented a dowdy old mansion, brought in pub musicians from the area, and over a few months produced "Fisherman's Blues," a true classic and hybrid of Irish "trad" and rock. While this lost many Waterboys fans and arguably tanked a promising alternative rock career in the U.S., by following his passion Scott produced a true masterpiece that is still recognized today.
The book continues on with the problems of trying to follow up a critically acclaimed album, issues with trying to balance friendships in the band with maintaining the integrity of the music, and Scott's own spiritual journey and retreat into a religious community right at the moment of his success. If you're a Waterboys fan this book is a must have. Even if you're not though, this book is well written and surprisingly engaging and would be a fun read for anyone interested in the experiences of a creative musician trying to balance integrity with success.
August 31, 2012
This is probably one of the best music biographies I have ever read. Mike Scott is a wonderful writer as well as lyricist- the prose is poetic and at times so beautiful you just have to stoop and savour it. I loved all his stories especially the ones involving Mike meeting his idols over the years (especially Patti Smith). There are laugh out load momenets and also some very tender adn moving passages. I would recommend this to any music lover- you dont need to be a Waterboys fan but I guarantee you will be by the end of it! I hope he writes a second volume in time.
April 11, 2015
I love Mike Scott and his search for the light. He is a true Bard, a musical poet. He has sought truth and shares it through his brilliant music.
This book details his adventures. Mike Scott is not your typical rock star. He travels to mystical places in search of something better. Something better may mean love, music or spiritual enlightenment.
This book is a must for Waterboys fans.
Mike Scott allowed us into his spirit, his music and life is more meaningful because of it.
Find the pan within and hear the big music!
If you want to see the whole of the moon, read this book!
This book details his adventures. Mike Scott is not your typical rock star. He travels to mystical places in search of something better. Something better may mean love, music or spiritual enlightenment.
This book is a must for Waterboys fans.
Mike Scott allowed us into his spirit, his music and life is more meaningful because of it.
Find the pan within and hear the big music!
If you want to see the whole of the moon, read this book!
November 13, 2015
I Was Recommended This Book By A Friend Who Doesn't Even Like The Waterboys.It Is Absolutely Beautifully Written.Mike Certainly Has A Way With Words.For Anyone Involved In The Music Scene In Dublin & Ireland,From The Mid Eighties Through Most Of The Years That Followed,This Book Is A Must Read.And No,You Don't Have To Be A Huge Fan Of The Band To Thoroughy Enjoy This Excellent Book.I'd Go So Far As To Say It's The Best Music Biography I've Read To Date............... And That's Saying Something !
February 17, 2020
This is an exceptional book compared to most rock autobiographies. It is brilliantly written and unfailingly honest and details the early history of Mike Scott and the Waterboys particularly the making of the fisherman's Blues album. It is so vividly written and compelling that I'm going to give it 5 stars I strongly recommend it.
November 27, 2020
Probably the best rock biography I have ever read.
October 5, 2014
Excellent (though the last couple of chapters do start to drag a little bit).
December 30, 2021
Possibly the best rock autobiography I've ever read. Incredible use of language.
December 23, 2021
Mom sent me the link to A Bang on the Ear a few weeks ago, and while Ronan and I listened to it on our train back home from Glasgow, Stuart's keen eye noticed it on my Spotify's activity. A couple of days later he saw the book at our local Oxfam store, and out of curiosity I decided to buy it to compliment my music discovery journey.
Scott's writing ended up being as beautifully crafted as his songs (even though I only know a couple of them). I felt identified with his 20 year old self, drowning in any kind of source of traditional music he came upon. I admire his bewilderment towards his Celtic roots and his necessity to pay tribute to them, and I feel like he would be glad to know that current generations are pleading to him as a music idol.
His creativity at the time of composing music is exciting. He found inspiration in the ordinary and beauty on the blemished. It makes me want to listen to all of his songs and try to discover what each one of them was awakened by.
I think the book is of high interest for any Waterboy's or Mike Scott's fan, as it is a first hand account of his adventures and hard work. Therefore, because of my little familiarity with the band, I found some sections of the book a bit too clustered with detail about the hundreds of people he worked with.
Maybe in a couple of years when I have listened to his music, I will enjoy it to a greater extent.
Scott's writing ended up being as beautifully crafted as his songs (even though I only know a couple of them). I felt identified with his 20 year old self, drowning in any kind of source of traditional music he came upon. I admire his bewilderment towards his Celtic roots and his necessity to pay tribute to them, and I feel like he would be glad to know that current generations are pleading to him as a music idol.
His creativity at the time of composing music is exciting. He found inspiration in the ordinary and beauty on the blemished. It makes me want to listen to all of his songs and try to discover what each one of them was awakened by.
I think the book is of high interest for any Waterboy's or Mike Scott's fan, as it is a first hand account of his adventures and hard work. Therefore, because of my little familiarity with the band, I found some sections of the book a bit too clustered with detail about the hundreds of people he worked with.
Maybe in a couple of years when I have listened to his music, I will enjoy it to a greater extent.
January 9, 2024
Mike does a great job of capturing how he came to be a musician and accomplishes it with some modesty. I am the kind of person that wants to read a musician’s biography to find out how they achieved their art; unfortunately, some biographies seem to limit that information in favor of more ethereal storytelling. Mike Scott does a bit of this but always come round to how it applies to his music. I especially appreciated the discussion of how he and The Waterboys found traditional Irish music resulting in one of their finest albums, Fishermen’s Blues.
November 27, 2023
I never knew the struggles that Mike Scott went through all these years. Very sad to hear some of them.
I loved everything the Waterboys did and Mike's solo works.
This was a great read for me and for anyone who truly loves anything Mike Scott did and does.
No spoilers here because I am terrible at writing reviews!
I loved everything the Waterboys did and Mike's solo works.
This was a great read for me and for anyone who truly loves anything Mike Scott did and does.
No spoilers here because I am terrible at writing reviews!
October 31, 2018
First exposed to the Waterboys by KEXP, Cheryl Waters loaned me her copy of this book. This was just before getting to see them at the Showbox, courtesy of KEXP. This was an extremely fascinating read about Mike Scott and the growth of his band. Very enjoyable and a great read.
September 1, 2020
More info about The Waterboys and Mike Scott’s songwriting process than I thought possible. I enjoyed this, but it was very tedious to read at times. Maybe too much focus on Scott’s obsession with sound and personnel?
March 27, 2018
wonderful insight into Mike Scott and his musical journey plus we get to meet the Fellow who Fiddles and the Human Saxophone.. try the album 'Fisherman's Blues' for starters
December 27, 2018
An excellent autobiography. His prose strongly echos his lyrics. The book also provides great insight as to what was going on in his life as albums were being produced.
February 25, 2019
Great memoir from Waterboys founder. Very under valued band.
June 18, 2021
An easy read. Ends a bit abruptly.
October 17, 2017
One of the most enjoyable books I've read.
September 4, 2013
Mike Scott – Adventures of a Waterboy
For any Waterboys fan this book would be a dizzying pleasure – and as a lifelong fan of their music I disclose my interest. To hear how some of my favourite songs (e.g. 'A Pagan Place'; 'The Whole of the Moon'; 'Fisherman's Blues'; 'The Return of Pan') were conjured up, and to discover Mike Scott's journey, which until now had only been gleaned through those songs was an unmitigated delight. I read the book cover-to-cover in a state of sustained bliss – akin the ecstatic euphoria that Mike's 'Big Music' creates. From his early Punk days (teenage Ayr; Edinburgh Punk Wars); to slim young popster (Another Pretty Face); and onto the High Seas of rock'n'roll with the first Waterboys with their cold, edgy sound full of righteous fire. This meteoric velocity could only be sustained for so long, and reached its natural heat-death (sadly) at the end of an exhausting US tour, when their star failed to reach its zenith. There follows the most evocative part of the book (for me) as Mike repairs 'into the west' of Ireland, to lick his rock star wounds and reinvent himself in the Celtic cauldron of folk music, myth and literature. The description of the creation of 'Fisherman's Blues' – in a wild ferment of musical warlockery in Spiddal, along with the picaresque adventures of rural Irish life, weaves a picture so enticing it makes one want to hit the road for the Emerald Isle. Mike's crystal prose evokes vivid vignettes of both people and place. Each chapter starts with an enticing snapshot emblematic of that period, before rewinding and going into the context. Mike builds up the texture in skirling paragraphs – witty, well-observed, and lucidly self-aware. He never succumbs to sentimentality, avoiding difficult material, or self-aggrandisement. This man, aware of his faults, has done work on himself – and we get the advantage of his wiser perspective. He has gone through the fire, been broken down, and come back stronger – the Hoop Dancer, holding all his worlds and aspects of his musical persona in balance. The only disappointment is the journey finishes at the millennium – and so we miss out on the journey that takes him to his successful 'comeback' album of 'An Appointment with Mr Yeats' where he seems to have managed to finally blend the Celtic Twilight and the Rock'n'Roll - the esoteric and the mainstream – in a potent blend. Perhaps these last dozen or so years are intended for a follow-up volume, but there's certainly a sense of rebirth by the end of the book. One feels Skipper Scott has navigated the Clashing Rocks of egos and the music business, the Doldrums of obscurity, and the Sirens of selling out, and – with a firm hand at the tiller, is steering his strange boat of raggle-taggle wizards into calmer, clearer waters where the true soul of the Waterboys shine at their best – a Celtic Rock/Folk fusion with a pagan heart and a poetic tongue.
Kevan Manwaring
For any Waterboys fan this book would be a dizzying pleasure – and as a lifelong fan of their music I disclose my interest. To hear how some of my favourite songs (e.g. 'A Pagan Place'; 'The Whole of the Moon'; 'Fisherman's Blues'; 'The Return of Pan') were conjured up, and to discover Mike Scott's journey, which until now had only been gleaned through those songs was an unmitigated delight. I read the book cover-to-cover in a state of sustained bliss – akin the ecstatic euphoria that Mike's 'Big Music' creates. From his early Punk days (teenage Ayr; Edinburgh Punk Wars); to slim young popster (Another Pretty Face); and onto the High Seas of rock'n'roll with the first Waterboys with their cold, edgy sound full of righteous fire. This meteoric velocity could only be sustained for so long, and reached its natural heat-death (sadly) at the end of an exhausting US tour, when their star failed to reach its zenith. There follows the most evocative part of the book (for me) as Mike repairs 'into the west' of Ireland, to lick his rock star wounds and reinvent himself in the Celtic cauldron of folk music, myth and literature. The description of the creation of 'Fisherman's Blues' – in a wild ferment of musical warlockery in Spiddal, along with the picaresque adventures of rural Irish life, weaves a picture so enticing it makes one want to hit the road for the Emerald Isle. Mike's crystal prose evokes vivid vignettes of both people and place. Each chapter starts with an enticing snapshot emblematic of that period, before rewinding and going into the context. Mike builds up the texture in skirling paragraphs – witty, well-observed, and lucidly self-aware. He never succumbs to sentimentality, avoiding difficult material, or self-aggrandisement. This man, aware of his faults, has done work on himself – and we get the advantage of his wiser perspective. He has gone through the fire, been broken down, and come back stronger – the Hoop Dancer, holding all his worlds and aspects of his musical persona in balance. The only disappointment is the journey finishes at the millennium – and so we miss out on the journey that takes him to his successful 'comeback' album of 'An Appointment with Mr Yeats' where he seems to have managed to finally blend the Celtic Twilight and the Rock'n'Roll - the esoteric and the mainstream – in a potent blend. Perhaps these last dozen or so years are intended for a follow-up volume, but there's certainly a sense of rebirth by the end of the book. One feels Skipper Scott has navigated the Clashing Rocks of egos and the music business, the Doldrums of obscurity, and the Sirens of selling out, and – with a firm hand at the tiller, is steering his strange boat of raggle-taggle wizards into calmer, clearer waters where the true soul of the Waterboys shine at their best – a Celtic Rock/Folk fusion with a pagan heart and a poetic tongue.
Kevan Manwaring
November 14, 2013
Like Patti Smith and Bob Dylan, Mike Scott is equally excellent at writing prose narrative as he is at writing songs. His lyrical prose mirrors perfectly the words that he writes for The Waterboys. Scott's a Romantic, a mystic in the tradition of Yeats, Van Morrison, Rimbaud, and Patti Smith - and his prose flows like a Romantic river whose source is a supreme combination of his heart and the (to quote one of his songs) "Spirit" that binds us together.
The book touches on Scott's boyhood and experiences as an adolescent punk. His trip to meet Patti Smith is especially enlightening. He took this trip when he was a sprightly teenager energized by the rebellious prospect of punk.
But the main focus on the book is on Scott's career from the mid-1980s to 1999 or thereabouts. I was heartened to learn about Scott's interest in magic, mythology, spirituality, and Rimbaud. The chapters on the artistic triumphs of This Is the Sea and Fisherman's Blues are fascinating and detailed (although I wanted an explanation of the relationship between Irish chord progressions and Indian modal music; I still can't figure out why the chord progression of "When Ye Go Away" works).
Scott unflinchingly comments on his commercial difficulties in the 1990s. I'm happy for him that he sought spiritual solace during these years. He had the good sense to follow his heart and seek spiritual oneness - perhaps this is what makes him seem so humble and his music so egoless that it attains the universal.
I would like to have learned more about Scott's understanding of Yeats, especially considering The Waterboys' 2011 release, An Appointment with Mr. Yeats. But the Yeats record didn't fit the focus of the book.
The book touches on Scott's boyhood and experiences as an adolescent punk. His trip to meet Patti Smith is especially enlightening. He took this trip when he was a sprightly teenager energized by the rebellious prospect of punk.
But the main focus on the book is on Scott's career from the mid-1980s to 1999 or thereabouts. I was heartened to learn about Scott's interest in magic, mythology, spirituality, and Rimbaud. The chapters on the artistic triumphs of This Is the Sea and Fisherman's Blues are fascinating and detailed (although I wanted an explanation of the relationship between Irish chord progressions and Indian modal music; I still can't figure out why the chord progression of "When Ye Go Away" works).
Scott unflinchingly comments on his commercial difficulties in the 1990s. I'm happy for him that he sought spiritual solace during these years. He had the good sense to follow his heart and seek spiritual oneness - perhaps this is what makes him seem so humble and his music so egoless that it attains the universal.
I would like to have learned more about Scott's understanding of Yeats, especially considering The Waterboys' 2011 release, An Appointment with Mr. Yeats. But the Yeats record didn't fit the focus of the book.
December 3, 2012
I finished reading this book a couple of weeks ago but have been waiting for my lasting impressions before reviewing. I should start by saying that I've loved Mike Scott since I first heard A Pagan Place. In high school and in college I kind of considered him a personal prophet. I was taken by his spirituality; his words helped me understand Life. Only Mike Scott can sing a lyric that should come off as cheesy or pretentious and have it sound like the truth. I love his sincerity.
So the book...I wouldn't recommend it to anyone not a Mike Scott fan, unless one is studying the loathsome history of the music industry. Mike spends a lot of time on labels and even more describing the endless cast of musicians that passed through his recordings. He also spends a lot of time recounting missteps or failures (in view of the charts, his labels and it also seems by Mike himself). It hurt to read about Room to Roam as a disappointment. Doesn't Mike realize how immensely happy his record (still) makes me every time I listen to it? And what about what I refer to as the greatest concert of my life, Mike Scott @ the Merkin Concert Hall, NYC, 9/18/95? Does he really not mention it? Was it just another disappointing moment to him?
After reading this book, I wanted to hug Mike Scott and tell him, "I've loved you all along".
So the book...I wouldn't recommend it to anyone not a Mike Scott fan, unless one is studying the loathsome history of the music industry. Mike spends a lot of time on labels and even more describing the endless cast of musicians that passed through his recordings. He also spends a lot of time recounting missteps or failures (in view of the charts, his labels and it also seems by Mike himself). It hurt to read about Room to Roam as a disappointment. Doesn't Mike realize how immensely happy his record (still) makes me every time I listen to it? And what about what I refer to as the greatest concert of my life, Mike Scott @ the Merkin Concert Hall, NYC, 9/18/95? Does he really not mention it? Was it just another disappointing moment to him?
After reading this book, I wanted to hug Mike Scott and tell him, "I've loved you all along".
April 26, 2013
Surprisingly well-written, mostly candid and deftly self-aware, this is a gift to anyone who is/was a fan of the Waterboys, given the relative paucity of material that was available at the time. Strange that he stops in 2000 - was it for the arc of the tale (slight upswing to end on) or to leave stuff for (an at this point rather unlikely) Part 2? Some of the scenes he describes are brilliantly done; he really is a writer. Things I missed in the book: he skips over what took him from post punk and Another Pretty Face to the sound on The Waterboys (the piano thrum on December for example) and sprints right past A Pagan Place (my point of entry to his tale, so there was that). For many - although this is a book that will surely preach more to the converted than the sceptics - those will be minor quibbles. Anyone with an interest in an articulate and talented almost-big rock star's travels (the song/harangue It Should Have Been You could have basically been aimed at himself) will find succour here. Any true Waterboys fan has probably read it already. Can he come back with something else and force a sequel with the missing 13 years? Here's hoping.
August 28, 2014
The Replacements Trivia:
1.)
"Red red wine on Sunday. Just like Martin said."
This is a reference to Martin Zellar of the Gear Daddies. The story, as Martin himself related it, was that they, Paul and Martin, were at a party once talking about visiting their grandparents when they were young. Martin told Paul that every Sunday he would go to his grandparents and be allowed to drink a glass of wine for the occasion.
The verdict, or edict, after scientifically running it through the Daniel Meter Tubes, is as follows: "Probably true."
2.)
"Kids Don't Follow" was a response song that Paul Westerberg wrote after hearing U2's breakthrough hit "I Will Follow."
The verdict, or edict, after scientifically running it through the Daniel Meter Tubes, is as follows: "Highly, if not entirely, doubtable."
3.)
Keanu Reeves gained 23 pounds for his role as quarterback Shane Falco.
The verdict, or edict, after scientifically running it through the Daniel Meter Tubes, is as follows: "Absolutely true. And that's acting, my local community theater friends!"
1.)
"Red red wine on Sunday. Just like Martin said."
This is a reference to Martin Zellar of the Gear Daddies. The story, as Martin himself related it, was that they, Paul and Martin, were at a party once talking about visiting their grandparents when they were young. Martin told Paul that every Sunday he would go to his grandparents and be allowed to drink a glass of wine for the occasion.
The verdict, or edict, after scientifically running it through the Daniel Meter Tubes, is as follows: "Probably true."
2.)
"Kids Don't Follow" was a response song that Paul Westerberg wrote after hearing U2's breakthrough hit "I Will Follow."
The verdict, or edict, after scientifically running it through the Daniel Meter Tubes, is as follows: "Highly, if not entirely, doubtable."
3.)
Keanu Reeves gained 23 pounds for his role as quarterback Shane Falco.
The verdict, or edict, after scientifically running it through the Daniel Meter Tubes, is as follows: "Absolutely true. And that's acting, my local community theater friends!"
February 12, 2017
Loved the pictures
June 16, 2012
What a fantastic book (so far - and I'm only at the end of chapter 4). I received the chief Waterboy's autobiography today and am already having to force myself to slow down in order to truly savour it. So far, wonderful tales of Scott's life as a star-struck fan (including a couple of lovely vignettes featuring Bono and Paul Weller) before he became something of a rock star himself. Some of the writing is so good (e.g. the end of the Patti Smith chapter) that it gives me the same spine-tingles as being in the front row of a Waterboys gig. Mike Scott writes from an exquisite memory and a spirit of generosity, warmth and humility. Some wonderful phrases too, my absolute favourite being: "Leather-jacketed, grimacing, one shoulder hoisted insolently in a well-practised pose of defiance, brightly-coloured zips mysteriously sewn all over his trousers, and, denuded of the camouflage of his native habitat, [Joe] Strummer looked like a homicidal hunchback who'd found a sewing manual in a landfill". Love it!
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