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To Hell with Poverty!: A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four
A poignant and dramatic memoir from the lead singer and songwriter of the legendary British underground band Gang of Four.
TO HELL WITH POVERTY! documents Jon King’s story from a South London slum and impoverished working-class background to international success as core musician, lyricist, writer, and producer in the legendary postpunk/funk band Gang of Four. The reader is taken on an episodic and kaleidoscopic journey full of adventures from childhood to the end of Gang of Four’s “golden period” in 1984. Thrown off the hit British TV show Top of the Pops; beaten by police at an anti-Nazi rally; being at the heart of the UK postpunk movement in the 1970s; fraternizing with Hells Angels and other “undesirables”; supported by bands like R.E.M. and playing with the likes of the Police and Talking Heads—King’s times with Gang of Four are rich with stories.
Gang of Four’s Entertainment! LP is consistently ranked as one of the greatest debut albums of all time and continues to inspire new generations of musicians today. The band has influenced numerous bands, from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and INXS, to 2024-era hip-hop giants Run the Jewels, whose hit song “The Ground Below” is built on samples from the Gang of Four’s song “Ether.” Gang of Four have been championed by the likes of Flea, Sofia Coppola, Massive Attack, Damien Hirst, Greil Marcus, and many more.
TO HELL WITH POVERTY! documents Jon King’s story from a South London slum and impoverished working-class background to international success as core musician, lyricist, writer, and producer in the legendary postpunk/funk band Gang of Four. The reader is taken on an episodic and kaleidoscopic journey full of adventures from childhood to the end of Gang of Four’s “golden period” in 1984. Thrown off the hit British TV show Top of the Pops; beaten by police at an anti-Nazi rally; being at the heart of the UK postpunk movement in the 1970s; fraternizing with Hells Angels and other “undesirables”; supported by bands like R.E.M. and playing with the likes of the Police and Talking Heads—King’s times with Gang of Four are rich with stories.
Gang of Four’s Entertainment! LP is consistently ranked as one of the greatest debut albums of all time and continues to inspire new generations of musicians today. The band has influenced numerous bands, from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and INXS, to 2024-era hip-hop giants Run the Jewels, whose hit song “The Ground Below” is built on samples from the Gang of Four’s song “Ether.” Gang of Four have been championed by the likes of Flea, Sofia Coppola, Massive Attack, Damien Hirst, Greil Marcus, and many more.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published April 15, 2025
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April 17, 2025BIG UP SEVENOAKS!!
August 25, 2025
I liked how Jon King formatted this as a bunch of short memory snips. Cool guy and cool book. Dragged a bit towards the end but that’s probably because once he talked about making Entertainment! I kinda lost interest. Nice read though
August 12, 2025
OK, so I'm like a Go4 uber-fan. One of my favorite bands since I saw them live in the 1980s - and couldn't hear properly for four days afterwards! 🔊😮 As in real life, Jon King jumps around a lot with engaging anecdotes of his and the band's story, weaving a tapestry of "What a Ride!" and "How Great the Time!" I think Go4's great strength and appeal is to grab potent one-liners that resonate with commentary regarding Capitalism, Governments, Chasing Money, Sex, Women's Liberation, Existentialism, and Conflict. Decades later, still meaningful, like the song "He'd Send in the Army!" wrt. some of Donald Trump's second-term focus! 😲
April 25, 2025
I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
The voice in this book is fantastic. The personality of Jon King carries the reader from the first page to the last, seeing tragedy and joy from one human perspective. It’s an interesting mix of telling it straight and obviously concealing things, but it doesn’t feel dishonest, perhaps because this mix is precisely what it’s like to exist as a person. You can’t see what you can’t see, and when you tell a story you can only tell it from your perspective, even if you have more information when you tell it than you did at the time.
King’s account of growing up was striking. His voice lends a starkness to the life he lived as a child. The way class and mistreatment (but also love, care and kindness) shaped his childhood are apparent and foreshadow, in a way, how his life shapes up later.
I enjoyed the pacing of the book, because the rather thorough telling of his childhood explains a lot about how he functioned in the band, and what his goals and intellectual proclivities are.
As he enters into the first years with the band, he’s enjoyably explicit about how joyful the music making is. The narration style allows him to describe hardship and disappointment at the same time he was experiencing some fantastic creative years, without glossing over it to make it seem too romantic. He was convincing enough, however, that it inspired me to get back on the keyboard.
It’s hard to read the later chapters of the book, wherein the band falls apart, after seeing how it could flourish with all present and working together, but it’s clear that well-oiled creative machine couldn’t exist for very long, and wasn’t that well-oiled while it was working. The oddest part, I have to say, was the somewhat tender In Memoriam to Andy Gill, after the last third of the book. I won’t say more at risk of saying too much.
I’d highly recommend this book, even to those like me who were unfamiliar with Gang of Four. It’s a window on an experience that is compelling to read.
The voice in this book is fantastic. The personality of Jon King carries the reader from the first page to the last, seeing tragedy and joy from one human perspective. It’s an interesting mix of telling it straight and obviously concealing things, but it doesn’t feel dishonest, perhaps because this mix is precisely what it’s like to exist as a person. You can’t see what you can’t see, and when you tell a story you can only tell it from your perspective, even if you have more information when you tell it than you did at the time.
King’s account of growing up was striking. His voice lends a starkness to the life he lived as a child. The way class and mistreatment (but also love, care and kindness) shaped his childhood are apparent and foreshadow, in a way, how his life shapes up later.
I enjoyed the pacing of the book, because the rather thorough telling of his childhood explains a lot about how he functioned in the band, and what his goals and intellectual proclivities are.
As he enters into the first years with the band, he’s enjoyably explicit about how joyful the music making is. The narration style allows him to describe hardship and disappointment at the same time he was experiencing some fantastic creative years, without glossing over it to make it seem too romantic. He was convincing enough, however, that it inspired me to get back on the keyboard.
It’s hard to read the later chapters of the book, wherein the band falls apart, after seeing how it could flourish with all present and working together, but it’s clear that well-oiled creative machine couldn’t exist for very long, and wasn’t that well-oiled while it was working. The oddest part, I have to say, was the somewhat tender In Memoriam to Andy Gill, after the last third of the book. I won’t say more at risk of saying too much.
I’d highly recommend this book, even to those like me who were unfamiliar with Gang of Four. It’s a window on an experience that is compelling to read.
December 20, 2025
To Hell With Poverty! would make a great companion piece to Nonbinary by Genesis P-Orridge -- King and P-Orridge were five years apart, generally peers, and both books are beautifully written accounts of growing up in postwar England and building bands out of philosophies on art or politics during the '70s. The language here is excellent. Wouldn't be surprised if it had been dictated, it's so conversational and vivid around places and times, though I was caught off guard every time King pulled a Clueless and came out with "gross!" or "as if!" I'd love to read Andy Gill's account (if only), because this book paints Gill as a gross teenager, an indulgent drinker, someone who preferred the flashy lifestyle to the political messaging, and someone who really didn't know how to play any music but his own. Whereas King himself doesn't come off so badly here. But King pays tribute to Gill at book's end, makes it clear he loved him like a brother, which repaints my perspective and suggests he isn't trying to paint Gill as a bad guy but rather look at the big picture plainly and without rose-colored revisionism.
I'd read 300 more pages of this, easily. And given where the book ends, I almost wish he had written a few more chapters to cover the band's reunions, as well as the handoff of the band from Andy Gill after Gill's passing, and the recruitment of names like David Pajo, Gail Greenwood and Ted Leo in the last couple of years. But I also get the feeling there were so many rough spots in the band, given how King describes Gill here and there, and ending the story at the early/mid-'80s allows him to dip out somewhat gracefully without having to apologize much for Gang of Four's later albums or phases. They got it right when they decided to celebrate the old stuff, which is still so vibrant.
I'd read 300 more pages of this, easily. And given where the book ends, I almost wish he had written a few more chapters to cover the band's reunions, as well as the handoff of the band from Andy Gill after Gill's passing, and the recruitment of names like David Pajo, Gail Greenwood and Ted Leo in the last couple of years. But I also get the feeling there were so many rough spots in the band, given how King describes Gill here and there, and ending the story at the early/mid-'80s allows him to dip out somewhat gracefully without having to apologize much for Gang of Four's later albums or phases. They got it right when they decided to celebrate the old stuff, which is still so vibrant.
March 26, 2025
This is a very fun, and funny, memoir. Jon King delivers numerous engaging stories about growing up in Kemsing and attending (along with some future Mekons and filmmakers) Sevenoaks School. The future Gang of Four vocalist describes a less-than-wealthy monochrome upbringing that is enlivened by snatches of popular culture and an inspiring school art department. There are also many telling vignettes detailing the jobs (from farming to a paper sack factory) he had prior to attending university. These (often amusing) accounts explore an area rarely covered in the Gang of Four story. A ‘class act’ indeed. King also supplies a revealing snapshot of his times at university in Leeds and his complex, on-again-off-again, relationship with Andy Gill. Fans of Gang of Four will be fascinated by how King contrasts himself, both in terms of temperament and artistic leanings, with Gill. Much of the material here makes for a good companion to the (somewhat more academically-inclined) song descriptions contained within the Gang of Four 77-81 boxed set. As for the anecdotes about the band’s activities, they are absurd, touching and farcical – tales that are positively Spinal Tapian at times. The Hard-era crazed and decadent tales of being in Los Angeles and Miami stand in stark contrast to King’s austere upbringing. In spite of the weighty topics touched on here, King never loses sight of the ludicrous and humorous nature of being in a band. In this way the singer seems firmly tied to one of his key influences - the Situationist International. Much like King’s electrically-charged performances the writing in To Hell With Poverty! is riveting, charismatic, assertive but always with a twinkle in the eye and a tongue planted ever-so-slightly in cheek. – Jim Dooley
May 8, 2025
I thought this was great! Super interesting, no boring bits. Basically told in chronological order, nothing fancy, with a lot of short chapters that are vignettes or thematic. The early part in a lot of memoirs, the part about the ancestors and childhood, are often a bit of a snooze to me, but I really enjoyed reading about King's childhood in 1960s working class London. The scene in Leeds and all the jobs he had at the bakery, brick factory, paper bag factory etc, and his travels. Then everything about Gang of Four was funny and interesting--terrific stories! As I was reading along I was looking up lots of British words and phrases (like slap, kicked into touch, brown bread, the old bill, how's your father, tea leafs) but this wasn't necessary; it was clear what they all meant from context except something like donkey jacket where I needed a picture. But I just wanted to know were they Cockney rhyming slang or from rugby or what.
My favorite Gang of Four song is I Love A Man in a Uniform and I always wondered how does the snare sound so good, and this question is answered in the book!
The ending of this book did surprise me. As the pages began to dwindle, I was expecting it to be a couple chapters like this: short synopsis of the last 40 years, some nice words about wife and children if any, how sad when Andy Gill died, getting the band back together. Instead
I think any casual reader who is interested in music or the late 20th century would like this book. I do not think you need to be a Gang of Four fan. I gratefully received a free copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review, via librarything. (PS--get your ARCS from librarything. I never ever win a Goodreads giveaway but it's more openhanded at librarything.)
My favorite Gang of Four song is I Love A Man in a Uniform and I always wondered how does the snare sound so good, and this question is answered in the book!
The ending of this book did surprise me. As the pages began to dwindle, I was expecting it to be a couple chapters like this: short synopsis of the last 40 years, some nice words about wife and children if any, how sad when Andy Gill died, getting the band back together. Instead
I think any casual reader who is interested in music or the late 20th century would like this book. I do not think you need to be a Gang of Four fan. I gratefully received a free copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review, via librarything. (PS--get your ARCS from librarything. I never ever win a Goodreads giveaway but it's more openhanded at librarything.)
September 18, 2025
Gang of Four was an essential part of my life in early 1980s Seattle, and I enjoy introducing people to their still-relevant musicality, lyrics, and politics! "To Hell with Poverty!" is a spare, evocative backstory of those times, of how GoF came together and fell apart. I'm a year younger than Jon King, so these snippets vividly bring back to life the 1960s to early 1980s.
And now I finally understand how the travesty of "Hard" could be released. I wish I had kept "Songs of the Free," but I cranked up my vinyl "Solid Gold" again today so I could hear Jon King's voice as I finished this compelling memoir.
And now I finally understand how the travesty of "Hard" could be released. I wish I had kept "Songs of the Free," but I cranked up my vinyl "Solid Gold" again today so I could hear Jon King's voice as I finished this compelling memoir.
April 3, 2025
4/5 STARS! Ever wonder what it feels like to be in the middle of a band from start to finish? This book puts you right there with Gang of Four from a singers perspective. Its funny, raw, vulnerable, & insanely British & I enjoyed every page of it. Jon is incredibly smart & the way he describes things is insanely descriptive & rich. Loved the format & style of this too. It's a memoir, but also the tale of buddies getting into a mad business together & all that ensues. Crazy story, a true must read!
Thank you to Akashic Press for the review copy.
Thank you to Akashic Press for the review copy.
September 14, 2025
Cool stories, very much in the brief-vignette style of a lot of recent musician memoirs I’ve read and totally readable throughout. Heavily weighted toward early life, even pre-Gang of Four, and I didn’t mind that as much as I thought I would, but maybe would’ve appreciated a little more detail on that golden first-album era.
March 18, 2025
This is a wonderful recollection from one of the greatest frontmen there ever was. It’s not just the story of Jon and Gang Of Four, it’s the story of growing up in Leeds, post-punk, success, failure and mostly - for standing for what you believe in no matter the cost.
June 17, 2025
King’s life up through the first dissolution of Gang of Four in the ‘80s. Frank, funny, no holding back.
September 8, 2025
Enjoyable read, King's writing style is spiky, like the band's music
November 12, 2025
Great telling of the early life of the author and the formation of his band, right up until it collapsed in the early 80s. Do I want more? Hell yes, I want more! Very readable.
June 21, 2025
Book Review: To Hell with Poverty!: A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four by Jon King
Rating: 4.3/5
Reviewer’s Perspective & Initial Reactions
As a female sociologist and public health professional, I approached King’s memoir with a dual interest: its exploration of class mobility through art and its implicit critique of systemic inequities in the music industry. While the book is a raucous, episodic account of punk rebellion, its subtext—how working-class creativity thrives despite structural barriers—resonated deeply with my research on social determinants of health. King’s journey from a South London slum to international fame stirred admiration for his resilience. Still, his occasional romanticization of "undesirables" (e.g., Hells Angels) triggered unease, given their often gendered violence.
Strengths & Emotional Impact
-Class as a Central Theme: King’s unapologetic title (To Hell with Poverty!) and vivid depictions of working-class life offer a rare, unfiltered lens into how economic precarity shapes artistic expression. His anti-Nazi rally account parallels sociological studies on music as political resistance.
-Public Health Subtext: The memoir’s darker moments—police brutality, industry exploitation—unintentionally highlight how marginalized artists face physical and mental health risks. As a public health scholar, I longed for King to connect these dots explicitly.
-Emotional Resonance: The chaotic energy of King’s prose (e.g., being thrown off Top of the Pops) evoked both exhilaration and exhaustion, mirroring the unsustainable grind of creative labor under capitalism.
Constructive Criticism
-Gendered Blind Spots: King’s narrative centers male camaraderie, with little reflection on how women navigated the same scenes. A feminist critique of punk’s patriarchal underbelly is missing.
-Structural Analysis Lacking: While King critiques poverty, he rarely implicates the systems perpetuating it (e.g., austerity policies). A sociologist’s lens demands deeper systemic critique.
-Health Implications Glossed Over: The memoir’s hedonism (e.g., touring excesses) begs for a public health perspective on artist well-being, especially given punk’s legacy of addiction and early deaths.
Why This Book Matters
To Hell with Poverty! is a vital document of working-class artistry and punk’s radical potential. Its raw honesty and cultural significance outweigh its gaps in intersectional and structural analysis.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy via Edelweiss. Rated 4.3/5—a must-read for scholars of cultural sociology, supplemented with feminist and political-economic critiques.
Pair With: Girl in a Band (Kim Gordon) for feminist counterpoint or Lipstick Traces (Greil Marcus) for punk theory. Ideal for readers seeking a visceral, if incomplete, class analysis of music history.
Rating: 4.3/5
Reviewer’s Perspective & Initial Reactions
As a female sociologist and public health professional, I approached King’s memoir with a dual interest: its exploration of class mobility through art and its implicit critique of systemic inequities in the music industry. While the book is a raucous, episodic account of punk rebellion, its subtext—how working-class creativity thrives despite structural barriers—resonated deeply with my research on social determinants of health. King’s journey from a South London slum to international fame stirred admiration for his resilience. Still, his occasional romanticization of "undesirables" (e.g., Hells Angels) triggered unease, given their often gendered violence.
Strengths & Emotional Impact
-Class as a Central Theme: King’s unapologetic title (To Hell with Poverty!) and vivid depictions of working-class life offer a rare, unfiltered lens into how economic precarity shapes artistic expression. His anti-Nazi rally account parallels sociological studies on music as political resistance.
-Public Health Subtext: The memoir’s darker moments—police brutality, industry exploitation—unintentionally highlight how marginalized artists face physical and mental health risks. As a public health scholar, I longed for King to connect these dots explicitly.
-Emotional Resonance: The chaotic energy of King’s prose (e.g., being thrown off Top of the Pops) evoked both exhilaration and exhaustion, mirroring the unsustainable grind of creative labor under capitalism.
Constructive Criticism
-Gendered Blind Spots: King’s narrative centers male camaraderie, with little reflection on how women navigated the same scenes. A feminist critique of punk’s patriarchal underbelly is missing.
-Structural Analysis Lacking: While King critiques poverty, he rarely implicates the systems perpetuating it (e.g., austerity policies). A sociologist’s lens demands deeper systemic critique.
-Health Implications Glossed Over: The memoir’s hedonism (e.g., touring excesses) begs for a public health perspective on artist well-being, especially given punk’s legacy of addiction and early deaths.
Why This Book Matters
To Hell with Poverty! is a vital document of working-class artistry and punk’s radical potential. Its raw honesty and cultural significance outweigh its gaps in intersectional and structural analysis.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy via Edelweiss. Rated 4.3/5—a must-read for scholars of cultural sociology, supplemented with feminist and political-economic critiques.
Pair With: Girl in a Band (Kim Gordon) for feminist counterpoint or Lipstick Traces (Greil Marcus) for punk theory. Ideal for readers seeking a visceral, if incomplete, class analysis of music history.
March 26, 2025
This is a very fun, and funny, memoir. Jon King delivers numerous engaging stories about growing up in Kemsing and attending (along with some future Mekons and filmmakers) Sevenoaks School. The future Gang of Four vocalist describes a less-than-wealthy monochrome upbringing that is enlivened by snatches of popular culture and an inspiring school art department. There are also many telling vignettes detailing the jobs (from farming to a paper sack factory) he had prior to attending university. These (often amusing) accounts explore an area rarely covered in the Gang of Four story. A ‘class act’ indeed. King also supplies a revealing snapshot of his times at university in Leeds and his complex, on-again-off-again, relationship with Andy Gill. Fans of Gang of Four will be fascinated by how King contrasts himself, both in terms of temperament and artistic leanings, with Gill. Much of the material here makes for a good companion to the (somewhat more academically-inclined) song descriptions contained within the Gang of Four 77-81 boxed set. As for the anecdotes about the band’s activities, they are absurd, touching and farcical – tales that are positively Spinal Tapian at times. The Hard-era crazed and decadent tales of being in Los Angeles and Miami stand in stark contrast to King’s austere upbringing. In spite of the weighty topics touched on here, King never loses sight of the ludicrous and humorous nature of being in a band. In this way the singer seems firmly tied to one of his key influences - the Situationist International. Much like King’s electrically-charged performances the writing in To Hell With Poverty! is riveting, charismatic, assertive but always with a twinkle in the eye and a tongue planted ever-so-slightly in cheek. – Jim Dooley
April 23, 2025
I was first introduced to the music of Gang of Four in 1981 while I was in college when a local band covered "I Found that Essence Rare". Then, "I Love a Man in Uniform" was perfect for me at the time since I was dating an Army guy. I have continued to enjoy their amazing music through the past 40+ years.
When I was given the chance to read an advance copy of this book through Akashic Books, I knew that it would be a great read. And, it was! Jon King has created a wildly readable book, starting with his upbringing in a London slum. Though his true love was art, he found himself in a post-punk band with his friends and the rest is history!
Reading the book is like sitting in a room talking to a friend and the stories just keep coming! Full of humor, friendship (with its usual conflicts) and name-dropping adventures, this is a fast paced book and will hold your attention from start to finish. Since I am American, a lot of the language and locations were a bit difficult for me to follow and I'm sure that British readers would enjoy this book even more.
Thanks, Jon King, for reminding me of a lot of great memories involving your music. I am happy that I rediscovered your discography and know that I will continue to listen to your work until the day I die!
When I was given the chance to read an advance copy of this book through Akashic Books, I knew that it would be a great read. And, it was! Jon King has created a wildly readable book, starting with his upbringing in a London slum. Though his true love was art, he found himself in a post-punk band with his friends and the rest is history!
Reading the book is like sitting in a room talking to a friend and the stories just keep coming! Full of humor, friendship (with its usual conflicts) and name-dropping adventures, this is a fast paced book and will hold your attention from start to finish. Since I am American, a lot of the language and locations were a bit difficult for me to follow and I'm sure that British readers would enjoy this book even more.
Thanks, Jon King, for reminding me of a lot of great memories involving your music. I am happy that I rediscovered your discography and know that I will continue to listen to your work until the day I die!
June 6, 2025
Jon King pulls no punches in this gem, he’s clearly a master of the English language and also throws in a ton of English (England) slang, as well as words and phrases from about a half dozen other languages.
It was wonderful to learn not only about his personal history and upbringing, as well as the history of one of my all-time favorite bands, Gang of Four.
It was shocking and frightening to read about his 3-4 near death and/or serious injury experiences, and personally I couldn’t be happier that he escaped largely unscathed.
I'm going to see the band’s last ever concert at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, although his tale of threats and violence there definitely give me pause. It was fun to see that King is a big fan of many of the bands that I love, most notably the Ramones, who we both mention in some depth in our books. www.JustaFan.space
It was wonderful to learn not only about his personal history and upbringing, as well as the history of one of my all-time favorite bands, Gang of Four.
It was shocking and frightening to read about his 3-4 near death and/or serious injury experiences, and personally I couldn’t be happier that he escaped largely unscathed.
I'm going to see the band’s last ever concert at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, although his tale of threats and violence there definitely give me pause. It was fun to see that King is a big fan of many of the bands that I love, most notably the Ramones, who we both mention in some depth in our books. www.JustaFan.space
December 12, 2025
5 stars based on my love of Gang of Four but just 3 stars as a memoir. It was very stream of consciousness like vocally telling someone about your life and getting sidetracked by funny stories. That could be a bit of a drag to get through (especially with the heavy British slang) but I like how that's in line with King's overall approach to art, like how everything from his physical art to his lyrics was kind of like a collage. In a memoir, I typically want a narrative throughline, and this one just didn't have that.
June 20, 2025
An entertaining read, BUT... I wish he had spent less time on his youth and more time on Gang of Four. I would have liked to read more about what it was like recording Entertainment!. The sections on the next albums felt rushed and skimpy. I also want to know what happened after the disastrous Hard was released.
September 9, 2025
It's a fun read. I wish there were more Gang of Four stories in it, however. Over half the book is about King's upbringing and schooling, which IS a hard look back at the economic disparity in 1960s and 1970s England. The GOF stories are fun, and you learn how often they got screwed over by labels, managers, and the BBC.
January 23, 2026
3.5. King’s written voice, like his lyrics, is snarky, wildly intelligent, and quintessentially British. He just didn’t reveal enough about himself outside of the music, and it ends far too abruptly. Entire decades are left out that I presume would make for some interesting chapters. Those were some of the years I was most excited to read about.
May 14, 2025
Brilliant book....
September 8, 2025
This is a brilliant book. It feels like King is just talking with you. It is honest, open and revealing.
November 13, 2025
See StoryGraph
December 21, 2025
Ready or not, Jon King tells all. British cheek but all heart and soul. Picked it up at their farewell tour this year.
January 10, 2026
Interesting if you know the music. He wrote the words for most of the Gang of Four songs.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews