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Steve Hogarth: The Invisible Man - Diaries 1991-1997
The debut book from the lead singer of Marillion:
“Some years ago, in the mid-nineties, I went back up north to visit my parents in Doncaster.
‘What have you been up to, son?’ said my dad.
‘I've been in Iceland on a glacier with a helicopter,’ I began.
‘You know what? Will you promise me you'll keep a diary? Stuff like that doesn't normally happen to people,’ he said.”
And so I did. Not all the time, but a lot of the time – often when I've been out on the road being a ‘rock star’ and sometimes when I'm at home fixing the dish-washer and bathing the kids.
Lunch with Neil Armstrong in Garfunkels. Waking up in a hotel room in Canada in the middle of the night, to discover a crowd at the foot of the bed watching me sleeping. Our 747 being diverted and landed in the USA so that the FBI could arrest Cat Stevens. Being arrested myself and marched at machine-gun point off a train in Poland. Getting a phone call from the International Space Station; not to mention the more normal stuff – going to the pub with Rufus Wainright and Julian Lennon; and the slightly odd stuff – being handed a still-warm bra by someone's husband – “...she'd like you to have this.” The recording studios Abbey Road, Metropolis, Trevor Horn's Sarm and Hook End Manor, Peter Gabriel's Real World, our own Racket Club and the famous Nomis rehearsal studios where we rehearsed next door to Mick Jagger, The Who, Iggy, and Princess Stephanie of Monaco. And then there's the many, many gigs all over the world.
They do say, "If you can remember it, it can't have been that good".
That's why you should write it down.
“Some years ago, in the mid-nineties, I went back up north to visit my parents in Doncaster.
‘What have you been up to, son?’ said my dad.
‘I've been in Iceland on a glacier with a helicopter,’ I began.
‘You know what? Will you promise me you'll keep a diary? Stuff like that doesn't normally happen to people,’ he said.”
And so I did. Not all the time, but a lot of the time – often when I've been out on the road being a ‘rock star’ and sometimes when I'm at home fixing the dish-washer and bathing the kids.
Lunch with Neil Armstrong in Garfunkels. Waking up in a hotel room in Canada in the middle of the night, to discover a crowd at the foot of the bed watching me sleeping. Our 747 being diverted and landed in the USA so that the FBI could arrest Cat Stevens. Being arrested myself and marched at machine-gun point off a train in Poland. Getting a phone call from the International Space Station; not to mention the more normal stuff – going to the pub with Rufus Wainright and Julian Lennon; and the slightly odd stuff – being handed a still-warm bra by someone's husband – “...she'd like you to have this.” The recording studios Abbey Road, Metropolis, Trevor Horn's Sarm and Hook End Manor, Peter Gabriel's Real World, our own Racket Club and the famous Nomis rehearsal studios where we rehearsed next door to Mick Jagger, The Who, Iggy, and Princess Stephanie of Monaco. And then there's the many, many gigs all over the world.
They do say, "If you can remember it, it can't have been that good".
That's why you should write it down.
- GenresMusicNonfictionBiography
439 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
25 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 17, 2014
An interesting look 'behind the curtain' into life on the road as part of a touring rock band.(If you are even thinking of reading this book, you almost certainly know that the author, Steve Hogarth, is the singer with the band Marillion.)
If the introduction is to be believed, these are the more or less unedited diary entries from Steve's journal - mostly written while on tour with the band. I think the format of the book is both its biggest strength and its biggest weakness. While the journal format is initimate and revealing, it focuses almost exclusively on the day to day touring aspect of being in the band. The actual recording and release of new albums is barely touched upon, nor are the upheavals that the band went through as they left their long-term record label and struck out in a new direction.
I think that I would enjoy a more considered set of recollections, focusing on key events in his and the band's history. Having said that, there is still much here for fans of the band to pore over, especially if you were present at any of the shows he describes.
Volume 2, bringing things right up to 2014, is now available. Haven't bought that yet, but probably will.
If the introduction is to be believed, these are the more or less unedited diary entries from Steve's journal - mostly written while on tour with the band. I think the format of the book is both its biggest strength and its biggest weakness. While the journal format is initimate and revealing, it focuses almost exclusively on the day to day touring aspect of being in the band. The actual recording and release of new albums is barely touched upon, nor are the upheavals that the band went through as they left their long-term record label and struck out in a new direction.
I think that I would enjoy a more considered set of recollections, focusing on key events in his and the band's history. Having said that, there is still much here for fans of the band to pore over, especially if you were present at any of the shows he describes.
Volume 2, bringing things right up to 2014, is now available. Haven't bought that yet, but probably will.
February 23, 2015
Just for the die-hard fans as myself. A bit of a disapointing, as it is mostly a tour diary, keep describing hotels, soundcheckings, travels, hours to do this and that, what he eat and so on. Almost absent on al the rest concerning his days with marillion. You may find a funny story here and there but in the end it taste few.
October 30, 2018
I didn't think I would enjoy reading someone's diaries, but I did. A lot!
Steve Hogarth is such a kind, passionnate, fascinating human being. Plus, he's a great composer and a fantastic singer. His views of the world align with mine, and I just love reading his thoughts and commentary about the world. The book is a lot like a travelogue - Hogarth visits many, many cities and countries while touring with Marillion. He mostly writes on the road, so we get his thoughts about the places he visits and description of the things he does while being there.
It is much more interesting than it sounds like. But I supposed one has to be a fan of Hogarth in the first place in order to appreciate the book. Or maybe not. I don't know. I find him fascinating. Maybe you would too.
And now, I'm gonna read the second volume. Right now!
Steve Hogarth is such a kind, passionnate, fascinating human being. Plus, he's a great composer and a fantastic singer. His views of the world align with mine, and I just love reading his thoughts and commentary about the world. The book is a lot like a travelogue - Hogarth visits many, many cities and countries while touring with Marillion. He mostly writes on the road, so we get his thoughts about the places he visits and description of the things he does while being there.
It is much more interesting than it sounds like. But I supposed one has to be a fan of Hogarth in the first place in order to appreciate the book. Or maybe not. I don't know. I find him fascinating. Maybe you would too.
And now, I'm gonna read the second volume. Right now!
November 16, 2025
A fascinating series of episodic diary entries mainly covering Hogarth's tours with Marillion, 1991-1997, the soundchecks, the set-ups, the hotels, the concerts plus some incidents at home and other tours. Hogarth is painfully honest and critical about his own performances at times but is constantly appreciative of the fans and audiences. Wonderful comments from Hogarth about experiences of the cities the band tours in, the hotels that they stay in (not all complimentary) the bars, the restaurants, etc.
For any fan of Marillion I would say this is a must read BUT, equally, for anyone interested in how the music industry tours work behind the scene this book will come as both a revelation and an education as to how tours work.
GREAT book - I am looking forward to the next volume.
For any fan of Marillion I would say this is a must read BUT, equally, for anyone interested in how the music industry tours work behind the scene this book will come as both a revelation and an education as to how tours work.
GREAT book - I am looking forward to the next volume.
February 19, 2019
Only for fans of Steve Hogarth, the singer for British band Marillion. And for diehards. And even then ... I was somewhat disappointed. A lot of "went out to buy underwear" stuff, and very little insight. Seems odd he didn't keep a diary during the recording sessions of the four EMI albums he did with the band. Nothing here on that. Surprised there was no reflections on EMI cutting the band loose after Afraid of Sunlight. On starting their own label. On the crowdfunded 1997 North American tour.
There's some interesting bits, but primarily it's a lot of nothing.
Stepping out to buy underwear now.
There's some interesting bits, but primarily it's a lot of nothing.
Stepping out to buy underwear now.
October 27, 2019
Akses yang sangat mewah ini bisa mengetahui sisi kehidupan vokalis Marillion, Steve Hogarth. Buku ini bukan biografi, tidak banyak mengupas polah Marillion sebagai entiti grup. Sebagai diary sang vokalis, tentunya lebih banyak menerjemahkan perasaan Hogarth. Terutama bagaimana dia menilai kinerja sebagai “vokalis pengganti”.
Buku ini juga menggambarkan kehidupan musisi dengan jadwal tur yang konstan sungguhlah tidak mudah serta pengaruhnya kepada keluarga.
Well, siap-siap meluncur ke buku ke-dua.
Buku ini juga menggambarkan kehidupan musisi dengan jadwal tur yang konstan sungguhlah tidak mudah serta pengaruhnya kepada keluarga.
Well, siap-siap meluncur ke buku ke-dua.
December 5, 2019
This really is a book just for the fans.
I’m a fan, I admit it. However this book is, literally, the tour diaries of an ordinary man who has found themselves in an extraordinary job. As a result there are no amazing revelations or fantastic places, but interminable records of touring, recording and promoting. It details hotels, fans, beds, sleep patterns, broken sleep, tour buses, kids growing up, and a band on a the road for a very long time. As such it gets very, very boring for much of the time and became a chore rather than a pleasure to complete.
I’m a fan, I admit it. However this book is, literally, the tour diaries of an ordinary man who has found themselves in an extraordinary job. As a result there are no amazing revelations or fantastic places, but interminable records of touring, recording and promoting. It details hotels, fans, beds, sleep patterns, broken sleep, tour buses, kids growing up, and a band on a the road for a very long time. As such it gets very, very boring for much of the time and became a chore rather than a pleasure to complete.
June 8, 2018
A must for Marillion fans
Steve Hogarth's chronicle of the rock star life is fascinating and authentic. One night he and thr neoprogressive band he fronts, Marillion, play to a full sold-out concert hall and the next morning he is fixing his washing machine at home. A bit of a cynical dreamer, but honest. I found it fascinating, but then again I'm a fan.
Steve Hogarth's chronicle of the rock star life is fascinating and authentic. One night he and thr neoprogressive band he fronts, Marillion, play to a full sold-out concert hall and the next morning he is fixing his washing machine at home. A bit of a cynical dreamer, but honest. I found it fascinating, but then again I'm a fan.
April 27, 2018
While it is a bit repetitive being mainly tour related diary entries, it's well written and very interesting to track the progress of the group in the early h days. You'd have to be a Marillion fan to want to delve into this book and I think any fan of the band would learn a lot.
December 10, 2021
It’s published diaries so the format should be taken as it, but an open honest funny and revealing read.
January 9, 2016
Fabulous
Great personal account of Mr Hogarth life ,love the man ,it's a nice easy read told honestly from a perspective we do not see.I think you can feel where his lyrics have comes from,his rich tapestry of living and his heart,he is still the best and most wonderful performer of any band I've seen.
Great personal account of Mr Hogarth life ,love the man ,it's a nice easy read told honestly from a perspective we do not see.I think you can feel where his lyrics have comes from,his rich tapestry of living and his heart,he is still the best and most wonderful performer of any band I've seen.
July 17, 2015
This is an interesting look into the life of a touring musician. It's not so much a look into the music itself, but the trials and tribulations of traveling from gig to gig, all over the world. A definitely must read for Marillion/Hogarth fans.
January 3, 2015
Most rock autobiographies are about decadence, internal squabbles, and the self-important nature of it all. This one is not. Hogarth writes an incredibly honest, poignant, and often funny look at life on the road. I for one cannot wait for the next addition.
August 18, 2014
Good book which talks about the other side of being a touring musician
January 31, 2018
Really amazing insight into the life of a touring musician. No sordid tales of drugs and women here, this is more a peek into the mind of a writer and seeing other towns through a poets eyes.
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February 1, 2018Philadelphia certainly was memorable for H in the early years!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews