Mud Sharks

by Dave Barbarossa

Mud Sharks describes how it was to be a mixed-race teenager growing up in 1970s Britain, with the casual racism of the time, and how the emergence of punk rock changed so many lives, including that of the protagonist, Harry Ferdinand. A wry, fast-paced, and honest look at the machinations of the music industry, it is also the story of Harry's journey from boy to man.

342 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Nigeyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable, well written, semi-autobiographical coming of age novel.

As a fan of Dave Barbarossa's old bands (Adam and the Ants / Bow Wow Wow), and having grown up in the same part of north London, this was always likely to tick my boxes, and so it proved.

The rags to riches story is nothing new but it is well told and part of the fun is trying to discern which bits are true. Most of it I reckon, including a horrific portrait of a disturbed and abusive father, and - of course - the junkie guitarist.

It is slightly overlong, and occasionally a tad incoherent and repetitive, but - these minor quibbles aside - it's a great read and recommended for anyone who likes rock n roll novels.

4/5

[Phil Lecomber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ostensibly Mud Sharks is the story of drummer Harry’s rock ’n’ roll journey from his working class upbringing in 1970s North London, through the maelstrom of Punk, to the dizzy heights of fame and fortune in the 1980s. But there’s another journey at the core of Harry’s story – his escape from his charismatic but abusive father, the Mauritian. The gravitational pull of this wife-beating, snake-hipped, suburban Lothario is strong enough to span the years and the thousands of miles that his son travels on his flight from his loveless family home; and his father’s prophetic mantra ‘Like you I was, like me you’ll become’ haunts Harry throughout his musical odyssey.
Having fled the family home the teenage Harry (perhaps on account of inheriting a little of the Mauritian’s swagger and charisma) enjoys the kindness and charity of strangers, and finds the long-yearned-for companionship and solidarity of a true friend in the punky, cocky guitarist, Christian. The two of them join a band and before long they’re working out their rock ’n’ apprenticeship in the rough, sweaty dives of Britain’s punk scene. With his consuming passion for drumming and the camaraderie of his fellow band mates Harry finally seems to have found a way to fill the voids in his life; blissfully ignorant of what’s waiting in the wings he grabs his sticks and walks out onto that stage towards the drum riser …
I found Mud Sharks a compelling novel, well-crafted and written with insight. A nostalgic read for anyone who grew up in Britain in the 1970s, it is also a poignant memoir for those of us who misspent our teenage years in dank rehearsal rooms and sweaty clubs, dreaming that dream … and all the more authentic given the author’s musical pedigree. I look forward to Mr Barbarossa’s next novel.

[Robert Halbert- Pereno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the book! Love the man! get it! read it! Rock n roll with it x