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Rebel Rebel: How Mavericks Made the Modern World
Escape the everyday humdrum with this exploration of iconic rebels from the past who became the biggest influencers of fashion, music and society by doing things their own way.
From the internationally bestselling author of Punk and founder of the legendary Wag Club in Soho, Rebel Rebel presents 60 pieces on outsiders. Like a really good party, it’s got musicians (Charlie Mingus, Fela Kuti, Joe Strummer), actors (Louise Brooks, Robert Mitchum, Daniel Day Lewis), artists (Egon Schiele, Man Ray, Jackson Pollock), directors (Fritz Lang, Kenneth Anger, Wong Kar-wai), photographers (Horst, Weegee, David Bailey), DJs (Andrew Weatherall) places (Paris in the Twenties, Muscle Shoals) and things (sunglasses, Levis, the pork pie hat).
The stories in this collection are sharply written, often surprising and a pertinent reminder that most of the people (and things) of lasting significance are those who don’t play by the rules. With brand new work and revitalised articles from the Chris Sullivan archives, Rebel Rebel will amuse, fascinate and inspire your inner rebel for years to come.
From the internationally bestselling author of Punk and founder of the legendary Wag Club in Soho, Rebel Rebel presents 60 pieces on outsiders. Like a really good party, it’s got musicians (Charlie Mingus, Fela Kuti, Joe Strummer), actors (Louise Brooks, Robert Mitchum, Daniel Day Lewis), artists (Egon Schiele, Man Ray, Jackson Pollock), directors (Fritz Lang, Kenneth Anger, Wong Kar-wai), photographers (Horst, Weegee, David Bailey), DJs (Andrew Weatherall) places (Paris in the Twenties, Muscle Shoals) and things (sunglasses, Levis, the pork pie hat).
The stories in this collection are sharply written, often surprising and a pertinent reminder that most of the people (and things) of lasting significance are those who don’t play by the rules. With brand new work and revitalised articles from the Chris Sullivan archives, Rebel Rebel will amuse, fascinate and inspire your inner rebel for years to come.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 1, 2019
With such a broad roster of 'modern mavericks', it's inevitable that some with fascinate and compel, and others disappoint. The further the direct involvement Mr Sullivan has with his subjects, the better the chapter we get: the Aesthetic Movement, Louise Brooks, Orson Welles, Jackson Pollack and Sonny Liston - all were great.
Sadly, the chapters devoted to musicians were the greatest disappointment, as Mr Sullivan just *can't* keep himself out of the narrative, and spends a good deal of him impressing upon you just how *hep* his is. The chapter on David Bowie was almost unreadable at times, the "hipper than thou" oozing off the page. There is also a chapter devoted to - of all people - Anita Pallenberg. Because y'know, when you think of "mavericks who made our modern world", she's right up there (this last sentence was written in Sarcastic font). It's only when reading the chapter Mr Sullivan divulges he went to school with Pallenberg's son, Martin. OK - so we know how *she* got included then. ("Ooooh Chris ! I hear you're doing a book. Can you included my mum ?! Right, thanks then...").
However, again, the chapters where Mr Sullivan gets distance from his fan-boi musical immersions, are so interesting and engaging. The ones involving "rebel" criminals are to a one, excellent. There is a criminally short chapter on Nong Toom, a transexual Thai boxer who I had never heard of. Whether Mr Sullivan couldn't find more information on Ms Toom and/or couldn't be bothered to dig to enrich the story, I can't say. But I could certainly have done with more of Nong Toom and way less of, say, Lemmy for example.
Good read for a pick up / put down as each chapter is a stand alone story.
Sadly, the chapters devoted to musicians were the greatest disappointment, as Mr Sullivan just *can't* keep himself out of the narrative, and spends a good deal of him impressing upon you just how *hep* his is. The chapter on David Bowie was almost unreadable at times, the "hipper than thou" oozing off the page. There is also a chapter devoted to - of all people - Anita Pallenberg. Because y'know, when you think of "mavericks who made our modern world", she's right up there (this last sentence was written in Sarcastic font). It's only when reading the chapter Mr Sullivan divulges he went to school with Pallenberg's son, Martin. OK - so we know how *she* got included then. ("Ooooh Chris ! I hear you're doing a book. Can you included my mum ?! Right, thanks then...").
However, again, the chapters where Mr Sullivan gets distance from his fan-boi musical immersions, are so interesting and engaging. The ones involving "rebel" criminals are to a one, excellent. There is a criminally short chapter on Nong Toom, a transexual Thai boxer who I had never heard of. Whether Mr Sullivan couldn't find more information on Ms Toom and/or couldn't be bothered to dig to enrich the story, I can't say. But I could certainly have done with more of Nong Toom and way less of, say, Lemmy for example.
Good read for a pick up / put down as each chapter is a stand alone story.
October 8, 2023
i read this all over summer and i just adored every single essay / interview
i have never read anything like it but it really made me change the way i think about certain topics (specifically film and literature)
i have never read anything like it but it really made me change the way i think about certain topics (specifically film and literature)
July 27, 2020
Fantastic and insightful
This book has everything in it you would expect. If you are interested in cultural history, and music, then read this book.
This book has everything in it you would expect. If you are interested in cultural history, and music, then read this book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews