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The Alternative Hero
By the time most people hit 30, they've managed to do one of the following Grow up2. Quit idolising rock stars3. Move on a bit from the music they were obsessed with at the age of 17.Clive Beresford has failed to do all three. But that's about to change.One unremarkable Saturday morning Clive sees the biggest alternative-pop star of them all walking down the high street with his Lance Webster, disgraced ex-singer of Thieving Magpies ('the biggest British band to emerge from the late-eighties indie-boom' Rolling Stone). Clive hatches a ramshackle plan to befriend his idol and grab the scoop of a lifetime - why did Webster burn out? The ensuing chaos forces both men to revisit the sweat, feedback, T-shirts, stage-dives, hitch-hikes, snakebites and hangovers of British alternative rock at the start of the nineties; to quote Lance Webster himself, 'before Britpop came along and fucked everything up'...
419 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
8 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
About the author
Tim Thornton
30 books4 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Not to be confused with Philosopher/Psychologist Tim Thornton, Historian Tim Thornton or Yachting/IT expert Tim Thornton.
Tim Thornton was born in Darlington in 1973. Despite a boarding-school education and a degree in Drama, his adulthood has largely been spent playing the drums, currently for alt-blues act Fink.
In 2006 he escaped from behind the drumkit and headed for his laptop where he attempted to do what few drummers had done before: string a written sentence together. In fact he managed around 15,000 of them, forming the backbone of his first novel, The Alternative Hero, published by Knopf in 2009.
In 2010 Tim's years of being in bands (9 unsigned, 2 signed) climaxed in a second novel, Death of an Unsigned Band, which contains a further 12,000 sentences, some of which contain verbs. It was released by Jonathan Cape in the UK, and might be available in other global destinations if you ask your bookstore very nicely.
Not to be confused with Philosopher/Psychologist Tim Thornton, Historian Tim Thornton or Yachting/IT expert Tim Thornton.
Tim Thornton was born in Darlington in 1973. Despite a boarding-school education and a degree in Drama, his adulthood has largely been spent playing the drums, currently for alt-blues act Fink.
In 2006 he escaped from behind the drumkit and headed for his laptop where he attempted to do what few drummers had done before: string a written sentence together. In fact he managed around 15,000 of them, forming the backbone of his first novel, The Alternative Hero, published by Knopf in 2009.
In 2010 Tim's years of being in bands (9 unsigned, 2 signed) climaxed in a second novel, Death of an Unsigned Band, which contains a further 12,000 sentences, some of which contain verbs. It was released by Jonathan Cape in the UK, and might be available in other global destinations if you ask your bookstore very nicely.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 10, 2013
A must-read for music fans that have ever been at a loss to describe the incredible feeling that surrounds you while at a live show ... especially that of an artist that is such an immense part of your life.
January 18, 2012
For anyone who spent thier teenage years (and beyond) with a passionate love for music, The Alternative Hero strikes a chord. Using a fictional band as the focal point (which is kinda smart since the reader can then input thier own favorite band to a certain extent), Thornton takes the reader on both a love-letter excursion through the era's English music scene and the pan the protagonist took to end up a 30-something with a dead-end job, still obsessed with a band who broke up years ago.
For an American reader there is one problem--many of the bands Thornton talks about never went beyond England, so I've never heard of them, even though I'm fairly well versed in music. But no matter, the story still resonates.
For an American reader there is one problem--many of the bands Thornton talks about never went beyond England, so I've never heard of them, even though I'm fairly well versed in music. But no matter, the story still resonates.
January 4, 2010
I think Thorton has read a lot of Douglas Coupland. The narrative feels Coupland-esque, which is probably why I enjoyed it. The novel is about a mid-thirties music aficionado whose love for music is permanently stuck in the early 90s with grunge. He runs into a hero of his, an aging, hiding rock star, and sets up a friendship under false pretences. As expected, everything eventually comes out in the open but the character’s motivations and his bumblings are both understandable and full of schadenfreude.
March 8, 2010
I really wanted to like this book! Great concept with poor execution. Much of it reads like a history book of the fictional Thieving Magpies thanks to the band-obsessed boring Clive Beresford.
For me, the book's major problem is that the characters are underdeveloped. Too bad, b/c I never really grew to care about them. In turn, the story is not compelling, the hijinks only mildly interesting, and the ending cheesey and disappointing.
This was the author's first novel, maybe his next will be better. He has potential. The book has its dry humor moments.
For me, the book's major problem is that the characters are underdeveloped. Too bad, b/c I never really grew to care about them. In turn, the story is not compelling, the hijinks only mildly interesting, and the ending cheesey and disappointing.
This was the author's first novel, maybe his next will be better. He has potential. The book has its dry humor moments.
August 23, 2023
A light four stars. Probably not the deepest book ever, and one that shows (possibly unintentionally) the toxic white laddishness that underllied Brit Rock in the 90s. But at the same time, it was a great era for records and festivals and zines and fashion, and The Alternative Hero is a totally fun read capturing all that, providing a fictional snapshot of the UK music scene and the press that fueled it. It’s got lively storytelling, a good amount of humor, nerdy music journo fodder, and a few genuinely earnest emotional moments. The indie cinema world missed the boat on adapting this in 2009-10; Ewan McGregor could have played Lance and Simon Pegg could have played Clive, it would have been brilliant in an Almost Famous kind of way! Maybe The Batch and…somebody?…could do it in the 2020s, who knows. Overall though I loved this as a music writer and a fan of Britpop and Britpop-adjacent music; if you’re like me, I imagine you’d feel the same, but the story is solid enough that readers without that frame of ref might also vibe with it.
July 21, 2017
Ah, wotta classic example of why I should (almost) NEVER listen to others' recommendations. I trust a few people, but most people's recommendations of what I should read ends up on the rubbish heap of existence, unless well-justified. Sometimes, I can suss out who is on the mark and otherwise. In this case, I was caught in a weak moment & took a Goodreads recommendation! Grrr. Wotta mistake.
This was like a knock-off of the much-better Nick Hornby with an unreliable narrator. Pssshh. The author even invokes Hornby at (at least) one point & I felt like chucking the whole bit. I slogged on, but that is all that it amounted to - a slog.
I was a part of the punk/alternative scene from my exposure in 1983 until I just kind of fell out of love with it about a decade later. Do I spraff on about having grown up with a bassist for both Pavement & Sonic Youth? No! I just felt this a weak cuppa.
This was like a knock-off of the much-better Nick Hornby with an unreliable narrator. Pssshh. The author even invokes Hornby at (at least) one point & I felt like chucking the whole bit. I slogged on, but that is all that it amounted to - a slog.
I was a part of the punk/alternative scene from my exposure in 1983 until I just kind of fell out of love with it about a decade later. Do I spraff on about having grown up with a bassist for both Pavement & Sonic Youth? No! I just felt this a weak cuppa.
February 8, 2020
This book is has been on my wish list for over a decade, hunting library sales and online swaps etc looking for it. Finally I gave up and found it at my local library. I connected with this book quite a bit but at the same time it felt foreign. I was heavily into the emo/pop-punk/punk scene in the US 10-15 years later. I travelled all over to shows and festivals, read rags and fanzines (and by that point online blogs too) and idolized our favorite singers and musicians. At times reading this I was crazed being totally unfamiliar with most of the bands discussed and not even knowing if they were real or not. Turns out they all were other than the Thieving Magpies. I tried listening to a number of them and they weren’t my cup of tea so I was kind of glad I couldn’t listen to TM because it allowed them to sound like whomever I wanted them to sound like in my head. All in all a good book I’m very happy I finally got to.
June 14, 2018
Funny trip down memory lane, music in the 90s, Britpop and indie music, the famous musical press and the fan obsession. It took me a while to appreciate the protagonists, but eventually they prevailed.
April 12, 2022
I got about halfway through and called it quits. It read like a half assed High Fidelity. I lost what the plot was by page 250. It seemed more like a constant name dropping of famous bands and made up bands and their histories rather than a linear, cohesive story.
February 25, 2020
Amusing at times, I never really new who were fictional and who were !
April 14, 2020
A brilliant novel that could easily have been written about me and my teenage years and musical experiences.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
October 3, 2021
I imagined The Afghan Whigs being The Thieving Magpies
January 11, 2023
This was genuinely really fun dry humor. Plus, although it may not be enjoyed by all, the unique and nerdy in depth music monologues scratched an itch in my brain.
March 13, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this, especially as i am a bit of a music snob and i love all things british humour
January 8, 2018
Bel gioiellino British, che più British c'è forse solo Bridget Jones (ma io ho disprezzato la versione cartacea di Bridget Jones).
Pieno zeppo di nomi di band che, pur definendomi piuttosto indie, non ho mai sentito nominare.
Un po' di umiltà per me e un pollice in su per l'autore.
Finale troppo... Beh, carino? (Non che questo mi abbia impedito di singhiozzarci su)
Pieno zeppo di nomi di band che, pur definendomi piuttosto indie, non ho mai sentito nominare.
Un po' di umiltà per me e un pollice in su per l'autore.
Finale troppo... Beh, carino? (Non che questo mi abbia impedito di singhiozzarci su)
October 22, 2011
Clive Beresford- 33 year old ex-fanzine writer. Adrift in contemporary London, and deeply attached to early 90's alternative rock band, THE THIEVING MAGPIES.
Lance (Geoffrey) Webster- Lead singer, and creative force behind THE THIEVING MAGPIES. Self-destructive behavior led to the dissolution of the band.
Alan Potter- One year older than Clive, but 'hipper' and more successful. He and Clive traveled all over the UK to cover the English Alternative Musical Scene.
Billy Flushing- One year younger than Clive, and much less 'hip', yet he achieves more success than either of the three classmates.
Gloria Feathers- Maven of the scene, and an artistic influence on all of the bands. Girlfriend of Lance Webster.
A terrific coming-of-age novel which deals with writing, friendship, career, and although the story is set in 2007, the focus is on the alternative music scene of late 80's and early 90's Great Britain. Clive Beresford is adrift in his life, and unnaturally obsessed with The Thieving Magpies, an alternative band from the late 80's. He feels that this band virtually wrote the soundtrack to his life, and one day, to his total amazement, he finds that Lance Webster, lead singer of the band, lives just down the street from him. But, Webster is 'exclusively reclusive', and will not submit to an interview, so Clive must get creative. The novel is the story of the developing friendship between these two men.
While reading this book it is crucial to hit Wikipedia numerous times to learn of the many bands that were part of this very creative musical scene. I guess many would find the massive interaction of so many musical acts tedious or off-putting, however the real story is the growing interaction between the two men. Although I am a fan of the music, I think that it would be possible to enjoy this novel if you were indifferent to the musical setting.
THE THIEVING MAGPIES are a fictional band, yet the author, Tim Thornton has written a complete discography which he includes at the end of the novel.
Lance (Geoffrey) Webster- Lead singer, and creative force behind THE THIEVING MAGPIES. Self-destructive behavior led to the dissolution of the band.
Alan Potter- One year older than Clive, but 'hipper' and more successful. He and Clive traveled all over the UK to cover the English Alternative Musical Scene.
Billy Flushing- One year younger than Clive, and much less 'hip', yet he achieves more success than either of the three classmates.
Gloria Feathers- Maven of the scene, and an artistic influence on all of the bands. Girlfriend of Lance Webster.
A terrific coming-of-age novel which deals with writing, friendship, career, and although the story is set in 2007, the focus is on the alternative music scene of late 80's and early 90's Great Britain. Clive Beresford is adrift in his life, and unnaturally obsessed with The Thieving Magpies, an alternative band from the late 80's. He feels that this band virtually wrote the soundtrack to his life, and one day, to his total amazement, he finds that Lance Webster, lead singer of the band, lives just down the street from him. But, Webster is 'exclusively reclusive', and will not submit to an interview, so Clive must get creative. The novel is the story of the developing friendship between these two men.
While reading this book it is crucial to hit Wikipedia numerous times to learn of the many bands that were part of this very creative musical scene. I guess many would find the massive interaction of so many musical acts tedious or off-putting, however the real story is the growing interaction between the two men. Although I am a fan of the music, I think that it would be possible to enjoy this novel if you were indifferent to the musical setting.
THE THIEVING MAGPIES are a fictional band, yet the author, Tim Thornton has written a complete discography which he includes at the end of the novel.
February 27, 2016
Avrei voglia di ascoltare tutti i dischi di un certo gruppo inglese dal nome Theving Magpies: ne ho letto tanto ultimamente, ho anche sotto gli occhi la loro discografia completa, ma non riuscirò a farlo.
Eppure ecco qui i titoli dei lavori: “Shoot the fish” (1988), “Lovely Youth” (1990), “Bruise unit” (1992), “The social trap” (1995), ma niente da fare, non posso proprio soddisfare questo mio feroce desiderio.
Perché?
Beh, perché le Gazze Ladre esistono solo nel bellissimo libro “L’eroe alternativo” di Tim Thornton (Isbn Edizioni, strano eh?), la storia di una sorta di antieroe alternativo alle prese col suo eroe alternativo della giovinezza.
E come mai questo romanzo d’esordio, scritto davvero molto bene, è così appassionante?
Perché l’atmosfera indie rock di quella prima metà degli anni ’90 viene riverberata in modo talmente perfetto da sentirne i suoni e gli odori.
Perché il panorama musicale di riferimento è ricreato con dovizia di particolari (band, festival, riviste, aneddoti vari).
Perché la storia è bella e non banale, così ti ritrovi a dover assolutamente sapere come va a finire.
Perché i protagonisti loser sono simpatici, basta che non peggiorino troppo le cose.
Perché essere un adolescente che passa sempre completamente inosservato non è una buona cosa, ma condire gli anni della crescita con ottima musica è una piccola rivincita.
Perché la vita del musicista rock è un argomento avvincente.
Perché le diatribe musicali sono interessanti quando risultano faziose (in questo caso: l’autore vs gli Oasis).
Perché le fanzine dalla scarsa qualità grafica e dal nome stupido (che sia “Vorsprung Durch Peanut”, “Assolutamente no” o meglio “Cose che mi fanno muggire”) mi hanno sempre affascinato.
Perché tormentarsi con le ossessioni a volte si trasforma nell’inseguire i sogni.
Perché mi piace leggere di musica anche quando si parla di band inventate, dischi immaginari, testi creati appositamente, interviste vivaci mai esistite.
O forse, più probabilmente, perché la nostalgia è una cosa sempre troppo potente e dolce.
Eppure ecco qui i titoli dei lavori: “Shoot the fish” (1988), “Lovely Youth” (1990), “Bruise unit” (1992), “The social trap” (1995), ma niente da fare, non posso proprio soddisfare questo mio feroce desiderio.
Perché?
Beh, perché le Gazze Ladre esistono solo nel bellissimo libro “L’eroe alternativo” di Tim Thornton (Isbn Edizioni, strano eh?), la storia di una sorta di antieroe alternativo alle prese col suo eroe alternativo della giovinezza.
E come mai questo romanzo d’esordio, scritto davvero molto bene, è così appassionante?
Perché l’atmosfera indie rock di quella prima metà degli anni ’90 viene riverberata in modo talmente perfetto da sentirne i suoni e gli odori.
Perché il panorama musicale di riferimento è ricreato con dovizia di particolari (band, festival, riviste, aneddoti vari).
Perché la storia è bella e non banale, così ti ritrovi a dover assolutamente sapere come va a finire.
Perché i protagonisti loser sono simpatici, basta che non peggiorino troppo le cose.
Perché essere un adolescente che passa sempre completamente inosservato non è una buona cosa, ma condire gli anni della crescita con ottima musica è una piccola rivincita.
Perché la vita del musicista rock è un argomento avvincente.
Perché le diatribe musicali sono interessanti quando risultano faziose (in questo caso: l’autore vs gli Oasis).
Perché le fanzine dalla scarsa qualità grafica e dal nome stupido (che sia “Vorsprung Durch Peanut”, “Assolutamente no” o meglio “Cose che mi fanno muggire”) mi hanno sempre affascinato.
Perché tormentarsi con le ossessioni a volte si trasforma nell’inseguire i sogni.
Perché mi piace leggere di musica anche quando si parla di band inventate, dischi immaginari, testi creati appositamente, interviste vivaci mai esistite.
O forse, più probabilmente, perché la nostalgia è una cosa sempre troppo potente e dolce.
October 5, 2009
Really enjoying this book. Set in London, the story revolves around 33 year old Clive, that followed the indy bands of the mid 80's to mid 90's (eg. Carter USM) but particularly the fictional Thieving Magpies. It turns out that the lead singer he idolised lives down the road from and he wants to know why it all turned sour and why he feels that those times were the best of his life. It's a lot of fun and is pretty funny because the author must have lived through this time because it's so authentic, the bands, the early festivals, the haunts, the gigs and the absolute rapture that can only come from loving going out and seeing bands and discussing every detail with your mates. As I led pretty much the same lifestyle back then it really appeals to me but I don't know if that would translate to a younger, older or reader that doesn't really know who or what this character is talking about. ADDENDUM - Now having finished it, I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter if the reader doesn't know the bands or culture back then. Many of us has a period in time where the music was everything regardless of the era. I think what the crux of it is, as you follow Clive's narrrative to it's conclusion, is that as some point you have to stop pissing about and get on with it and over it.
June 23, 2010
When thirty-something, washed-up music writer Clive finds out that the lead singer of the (now defunct) Thieving Magpies, alt-rock god Lance Webster, has moved in down the street, he immediately begins scheming how to finagle a career reviving exclusive interview and find out what REALLY happened the night the Magpies broke up. Unfortunately, after a few too many drinks he writes a note, the contents of which he can no longer remember, and slips it under his idol's door. The next day, he is visited by two bouncer-types who tell him to never approach Mr. Webster again, or else. But, as luck would have it, down at the local pub, the former rock god strikes up a conversation with him and Clive quickly has to pretend he is someone else. Comedy ensues. Will Lance see through the charade? Will Clive get his interview? What exactly was in that note?
If you have ever loved a band, obessively dissected lyrics, meticulously read every liner note, etc., this book is for you. Flashbacks to the late 80's early 90's London alt/indie music scene (count how many bands you recognize), and suggested tracks for each chapter round out this fun summer (or anytime) read.
Waaaah! it's 2 days later and I really miss this book!!!
If you have ever loved a band, obessively dissected lyrics, meticulously read every liner note, etc., this book is for you. Flashbacks to the late 80's early 90's London alt/indie music scene (count how many bands you recognize), and suggested tracks for each chapter round out this fun summer (or anytime) read.
Waaaah! it's 2 days later and I really miss this book!!!
July 6, 2010
Music is an obsession. Music makes you travel stupid distances to watch bands. Music makes you consider tearing your hair out if a friend or loved one insists on listening to Keane or Coldplay instead of some rare John Peel session by The Fall. Music is life.
This book by Thornton may be set in a particular time period (early 90s Alternative Music scene in Britain before 'Britpop went and fucked everything up') but the way the main character Clive acts pretty much sums up the behaviour of any obsessed music fan. It’s a great portrayal of what it means to love a band when your young and how hard it can be to grow up when everyone tells you too. It’s about bands who had it then lost it and those who have been forgotten about by the media.
Recommended for anyone who stayed up late listening to the radio just to hear a new song by their favourite artist, who spend hours trying to convince friends or even complete strangers they really need to check so and so out and have their live changed.
This book by Thornton may be set in a particular time period (early 90s Alternative Music scene in Britain before 'Britpop went and fucked everything up') but the way the main character Clive acts pretty much sums up the behaviour of any obsessed music fan. It’s a great portrayal of what it means to love a band when your young and how hard it can be to grow up when everyone tells you too. It’s about bands who had it then lost it and those who have been forgotten about by the media.
Recommended for anyone who stayed up late listening to the radio just to hear a new song by their favourite artist, who spend hours trying to convince friends or even complete strangers they really need to check so and so out and have their live changed.
August 4, 2011
Occasionally amusing, but mostly disappointing. This novel centers around a guy who is obsessed with a fake 90s band (The Thieving Magpies) whose leader disappeared after a disastrous concert. When the main character finds that the band's leader is living in his block, he tries to figure out ways to ingratiate himself into his life. Where Nick Hornby would have found a way to make this obsession feel like a universal story, this story instead feels very specific. Although there were some interesting details and observations (mostly about the 90s music scene), it's too long, a little slow, and sort of disjointed.
February 15, 2015
Clive Beresford is a little like Rob Fleming from High Fidelity. Both protagonists love music and are having a hard time transitioning into adulthood. Clive is thrown for a loop after seeing his fictitious rock idol, Lance Webster of the Thieving Magpies, walk out of a dry cleaners. I first read about this book in Details magazine of all places, but turns out it was actually a pretty good read. The rock references, both real and imagined are both nostalgic and fun. In the end I did care about the characters. I would recommend this to anyone who likes 90s rock music and fiction.
November 29, 2010
I fictional story about the experience of growing up with your favarote rock music, amazing fun to read. A pathetic adult having trouble leting go of the past, also fun to read. I was more than halfway through this book before I finallty realized there is no such band as the Theiving Magpies. That's how well written I found this book, it felt so familiar, with all kinds of references to real bands that I like/liked. I felt like the main character could have been a buddy of mine. However, if this kind of subject matter isn't your cup of tea, clearly you may not feel the same way.
November 2, 2009
If I hadn't been in bed with the flu, and walking to my bookshelves in the next room hadn't seemed like too large a task, I probably wouldn't have finished this book. I am not a music person, so the endless lists of "right" bands and songs didn't do a thing for me. This book also needed some serious editing. The modern-day relationship between Lance/Geoff and Clive/Alan didn't provide a firm enough anchor for the ridiculous onslaught of flashbacks. And the ending was terribly precious.
August 25, 2009
Like Chuck Klosterman with a plot. Very enjoyable and fast read. Loved his section on when Clive first listened to the Thieving Magpies first album and felt a sense of belonging. Very entwined in 90s Alternative scene that was borderline over my familiarity but gives enough that they're just speed bumps than stopping you in your tracks.
April 4, 2010
Set in the 90s music scene of the UK, the main character continues to deal with the reasons of his favorite bands meltdown. As a book I give it a three, as a music love I give it a four. If you are reading, be sure to listen to The Brit Box -- UK Indie, Shoegaze and BritPop Gems of the Last Millennium exclusively while enjoying it.
June 15, 2012
A good read for anyone who has their "Rock Gods". If you've ever been a dedicated follower of a band, and no other band was ever as great, you will understand this story. Even though we glorify our gods, and place them above all others, this story reminds us that they are just as human as we all are. We're no different, we just have different occupations.
November 19, 2009
Haven't finished this yet, but so far it's a good examination of finding out one's personal rock god is a false idol. A great journey of how to reconcile with being a music fan/critic. Good use of Abba in the first act. Also excellent account of shitty, large music festivals.
February 1, 2010
Similar to Nick Hornby's "Juliet Naked", Thornton tells of a starstruck fan who is determined to learn the truth behind his favorite band's breakup years before. Well written and fun, and will be enjoyed by music fans, especially those who came of age in the 1990s.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews