Echoes: A Memoir Continued

Will Sergeant - Memoirs #2

by Will Sergeant

This book ‘Echoes’ is the continuing story of my ―Will Sergeant, cofounder and guitarist of Echo and the Bunnymen― journey in our band, we are learning on the job. The story starts when Sire Records head honcho, the late Seymore Stein, insists we replace our very primitive Drum Machine, the mini pops Jr. AKA Echo, with a real-life and not-in-the-slightest-bit primitive human drummer. We find our drummer in the form of the now deceased and much-missed Pete De Freitas. His baptism of fire was as we were bottled off the stage by Nazi Skinheads. The story continues with the joys and inventive eye-opening studio recording of our first two LPs at Rockfield Studios in the Welsh countryside. Touring distant lands, including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, and Germany. Featuring a death-defying journey through the frozen transit corridor into East Berlin. In the days when the wall was very firmly still rooted in concrete commie jackboots and dissecting that great city. Unnerving tales of fights, Acid adventures, biker gangs and back alley drunken gunmen. Post-gig trips to the secretive After-hours clubs of New York. Plus Hanging out with rock legends Robert Plant, Ray Manzarek (The Doors), Ginger Baker (Cream) and his little jack russle Toe-Rag. In Echoes, legendary guitarist and founding member of Echo & the Bunnymen, Will Sergeant, recounts the band's whirlwind rise to stardom with his trademark wryness and intelligence. Sharing never-before-told anecdotes - including the heady Rockfield Studio sessions and touring across the US, playing sold-out shows at Whisky a Go Go and experiencing the iconic New York club scene from dusk 'til dawn - and accompanied by snapshots of the cultural, social and political scene at the time, this is a memoir to remember.

Genres: Music, Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Pop Culture, Audiobook

344 pages, Paperback

Published May 21, 2024

Reviews

[Nigeyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Sergeant's Echoes: A memoir continued . . . picks up exactly where Bunnyman: A Memoir, the first book, leaves off and chronicles the crucial period when Echo and the Bunnymen transformed from a local Liverpool band with a drum machine into an established and influential post-punk group.

If you enjoyed the first one, then you’ll doubtless enjoy this one too. More interesting, droll, and often acerbic observations from Mr Sergeant. It will send you back to the music of Echo and the Bunnymen which sounds better than ever. And that’s never a bad thing.

Perhaps slightly less enthralling now the band are starting to get established. This lacks a lot of the fascinating period detail that made the first one so engaging. There’s also a lot about life on the road touring in America in Europe which is maybe a bit too detailed.

In the main though I lapped it up.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it may not have quite the same magic as his first volume, this book is still propelled along swiftly and humorously by Sergeant’s wry, witty, and self-deprecating voice as he looks back on a time when he and his band seemed untouchable, with success falling into their hands almost effortlessly. If “Bunnyman” was the story of how place and peers shaped the creative awakening of a 70s kid from whom little was expected, then it’s fair to say “Echoes” shows how the pursuit of that creativity led to a world opening up: Friendships and professional partnerships with posh southerners, and travels to everywhere from East Berlin to Manhattan clubland to sweltering Australia in an ill-thought-out tweed overcoat. While I would have liked for him to delve a little bit more into the process of songwriting (particularly as a good chunk of the book describes the recording of the first two Bunnymen albums, and if you’re reading this book, then Heaven Up Here is probably on your list of desert islands discs), there’s plenty of insight into the dynamics of a band when it’s firing on all cylinders, everyone young and bold and with tension in bucketloads.

Sergeant is still funny as hell in a way that can only come from looking back from the perspective of mellow near-pensionable age (if any young guys out there think joining a band is a surefire way to lose your virginity fast…perhaps temper your expectations). He’s at his best when recalling the arrogance of youth and the ways that both its successes and its backfirings shaped his life. The book flags a bit when it drifts into the more rote recollection of events, but overall it’s still a warm and amusing story of a long-gone era of the music industry. I don’t know how many more volumes he has planned, but £10 says one of them is going to be called Reverberations.

Oh, and “Cymbals Are Shit” is a brilliant chapter title.

[TIM HERRING]

2nd part of what could be a long series ...this one takes the reader up to the 2nd album from Echo and the Bunnymen
Not sure I enjoyed it quite as much as the first one but a very easy, fun read with lots of insights for a fan and those into post punk early 80's music.

[Keith Astbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first installment that was simply called Bunnyman which ended late 1979 and the death of the drum machine. This sequel picks up from there with the late Pete De Freitas coming aboard and initially I felt that Will was trying too hard and had a little of his natural voice of the first book.
And as a fan of the Teardrop Explodes, I could have done without the digs at them. Surely that is more Mac' territory! For what it's worth, I saw both bands on the same bill on two occasions and I'm sorry Will, but as great as the Bunnymen were you definitely did not blow the Teardrops offstage!
But I digress...
There's much to enjoy here, especially relating to their recording and those early tours of the USA and Europe. I now await part three! x

[Gordon Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest memoir of Echo and the Bunnymen by Will Sergeant captures the early years of the band - Crocodiles and Heaven Up Here. It is interesting read re-calling the creative process around these two releases and the band’s first tours beyond Liverpool to the US, Australia, and other parts of Europe. Ian McCulloch remains a bit of an enigma while Will seems much closer to band mate Les. Humour throughout and blunt introspection by Will as he matures and wrestles with his insecurities. I look forward to part three as the band wrestles with egos, fame, and the passing of Pete.

[Lissa Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will's first memoir was very detailed and absorbing, stopping just as the first 3 band members were meeting and the band was formed. Volume 2 here charts the progress of the band, now joined by Pete de Freitas, their tours and song writing, and is even more enjoyable, I think. I was left disappointed by its abrupt end! It finishes just after Heaven Up Here and the Wee Scottish Tour and I just wanted to keep going! Hurry up with Volume 3, Will!

[Colm Mccrory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't how he can remember things with such detail, maybe because he never really went nuts with drugs once they hit the big time. His writing is enjoyable as he comes across as very unassuming and is always ready to take himself down a peg if he feels he is (or was) being a bit of a wally. The approach works really well as he writes with self-deprecating humour and remains humble, you feel like you could have been there. I liked his apologetic name-dropping.

[Stevolende · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd of Bunnyman Will Sergeant's volumes of memoir.
Like the 1st one it's a great read.
I'm hoping there will be more volumes. He cuts off here before the recording of the 3rd lp Porcupine.
I'm finding his writing quite rewarding, showing his experience of Liverpool and here the World as he goes on tour to Europe US and Oz/NZ.
He talks about the music to some extent, how it came to be written etc.
I've enjoyed the band for the last few decades so yeah found this pretty great.
Recommended

[Duncan Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

weirdly, not quite as interesting as Bunnyman, despite focusing on the bands rise to fame. His childhood was infinitely more engaging and evocatively told, whereas this kind of degenerates into a fairly humdrum gigs n sessions recounting. McCulloch is strangely absent as well, Les Pattinson is clearer, obviously a closer comrade. still he comes over as a likeable cove, and I'll read the next one, if only for his take on Ocean Rain.

[Ray Smillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this more than the first volume, which I loved. His memory is amazing and includes their gig in Dunfermline (on the Wee Scottish Tour), the first time I saw the Bunnymen. My memory of the gig is that the sound was iffy but it was still a great gig despite that glitch. Like the precursor, this is definitely for fans of the band, especially auld yins like me.

[Steve Gillway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. It's going to be a few volumes to complete this as this takes us up to the beginnings of album 2. Having said that, I like the honesty of this memoir and Will has a great way looking back at events with wry humour.

[Gabriel Rojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty, lively, fun and really gets you into the spirit of the times. Sometimes I wish he would skip some irrelevant anecdotes and details and speed up a little - it's been two full books and we're barely in 1982! Still, a solid, often hilarious read.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the first book ‘Bunnyman’, I was looking forward to the next instalment. I wasn’t disappointed. Covering the early years of Echo and the Bunnymen, this volume provides an intimate and detailed insight into Will’s life and thoughts. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Simon Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers Crocodiles and Heaven Up Here so there is still plenty to go.
He's still engaging and this is enjoyable but gets a bit "...and then ...and then" towards the end.
TBH, I want to get past the Bunnymen as Will is best when he's writing about his personal life.

[Paul Robbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 2 of The Bunnymen guitarist Will Seargeants autobiography, sees him and the band discover America, Australia, New Zealand and all points in between. Described by The Bunnyman is his typically self deprecating style.

[AJRXII · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant stuff, funny and well written. Can't wait for the 3rd installment as this only takes us to 1982. Fully recommend.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Bunnyman this is written with great humour right from the opening paragraph. Will certainly has a way with words and I look forward to reading the next instalment!

[Mosstin Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read but, Will, get to the bloody point. Two memoirs in and we're still awaiting 'Ocean Rain'.

[Markku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dry, but also funny sometimes. The story of bunnymen in its first stages, quite a lot of happening in just three years. And what magical music which has not dated at all.

[GRAESPACE · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely a memoir. A lot of musings about not much really. I got bored

[Richard E · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/10

[Iain Cargill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I've always loved the Bunnymen, and based my guitaring on Wills style. One of the greatest bands ever in the world.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Sergeant continues his memoir through the Bunnymen years. Well worth the wait.