Tainted Life

by Marc Almond

The autobiography of the eighties pop star Marc Almond. An intimate portrait of the star-making abilities of eighties personalities and the frank story of rising from a fall from commercial grace to rebuild a new career with dignity, and living life in a world of rumours, some cultivated, many not.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Queer, Memoir, LGBT, Autobiography

448 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Steph Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge M.A. fan, I couldn't help but want to know what was going through his head all those years, but I think this book could benefit from another round of editing. I often wonder why--in the case of stories where the person of focus has a substance abuse problem--we are treated to numerous "episodes" that illustrate this point, when perhaps narrowing it down to a poignant few would do much to improve the flow/readability of the story.

[Ester Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Gutterheart and a big fan of Marc Almond's, I was intrigued going into 'Tainted Life.'

What I read, over the course of 450 pages, is nothing short of a masterpiece of an autobiography. Almond's author voice is eccentric and unique with an overt adding of dramaticism a stylistic imprint that is quite typical of the torch singer's discography.

Marc leaves no stone unturned as he takes you on a journey throughout his life, which is packed full with either *very* high moments or *very* low moments. Almond's experimentation with drugs can sometimes be a hard read, but the low moments are written with emotional fragility and poignancy.

Published in 1999, Marc gives his audience a detailed look into his career and the making of each of his albums; from Marc and Dave Ball creating Soft Cell demos at Leeds Polytechnic to his work with P.J at the turn of the millennium. These are all intersected with tales of Almond moving from location to location. From Europe, back to London, to New York and back again... it feels turbulent, and gives an insight into how quick Marc's career and life ultimately moved. The book's pace throughout remains quick and filled with high energy anecdotes.

I was expecting this book to be good, but I don't think I was expecting it to be this good. Being a super-fan, I am of course biased, but Almond has created an absolutely delightful read. I recommend it to all fans, but also to all who are not so familiar with his work.

One of my favourite reads.

[Alvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

You probably have to be a Soft Cell fanatic to love this book, but I am and I did. Marc is wildly self-aware and honest, and just as you'd expect from his music, manages to wring a few laughs out of his perpetual torment. Yay!

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an outstanding, fascinating, and thoroughly entertaining look at the life of Marc Almond (best known as the singer from Soft Cell) from his own words. I wasn't even a big fan of his when I read this, but became one after. One of my favorite books.

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. And I'm in it, so it really needs 6 stars, instead of 5.

[Carlos Úbeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Las memorias de Marc Almond, publicadas en 1999, son todo un hallazgo. Más allá de su previsible interés como repaso de la carrera de un personaje tan controvertido, excesivo y un tanto viperino como Almond, el libro funciona como extenso y detallado retrato de una época, con unos lugares, unos personajes y una industria musical que ya no existen. Pero, por encima de todo, esta autobiografía sorprende por su pasión por la música pop, llena de reflexiones sobre su rol en la sociedad, sostenida por su inesperada calidad literaria, de una escritura elegante -clara pero florida- y un pulso narrativo bien llevado que merecería transcender a los interesados en la figura de Almond. ¿Para cuándo un segundo volumen con los siguientes 20 años?

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has been on my to-read list for years, finally pulled it off the bookshelf! Very enjoyable, some unbelievable stories here, I enjoyed reading it much more than I thought I would and (as usual when I read a music biography) I will be dipping into Marc's back catalogue soon.

[Aaron Badgley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest and brilliant account of a brilliant artist.

[Pauline MacLeod · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit long.

[Tom Ryerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very detailed and deep read. I originally read this book back in 2000, and 2012, and after reading Dave Ball's autobiography, "Electronic Boy," I had to read this book for a third time! Marc leaves no stone unturned as he follows his life from birth up to the spring of 2000. He definitely needs to write a new book about the last 20 years. Soft Cell fans will also want to read Dave Ball's "Electronic Boy," Soft Cell's "To Show You I've Been There," Soft Cell's "Keychains and Snowstorms," and Marc Almond's "Trials of Eyeliner." A must have for any Soft Cell fan!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely in depth look at the life of singer Marc Almond. If you think its easy being rich and famous, it is and that's the problem.

[Maj · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO well written!
Once you start you really can't stop... :)

[Peter Mceachern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best autobiography I have read so far, and there have been many.
Brutally honest yet humorous.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and found the story very different from what I expected...good read if you are into the 80s and Almonds music