Dirty Windshields: The Best and Worst of the Smugglers Tour Diaries

by Grant Lawrence

Dirty Windshields is the long-awaited memoir from CBC host and award-winning author Grant Lawrence, baring all the salacious and hilarious details from his touring days as the lead singer of Vancouver-based rock and roll band The Smugglers.

Formed when most of the members were still in high school, The Smugglers came of age during the height of the grunge explosion in the early 1990s, when Grant, working as a concert promoter, put on shows for Nirvana, Green Day and Bad Religion, among many others.

In Dirty Windshields, Grant chronicles the band’s booze-fuelled, sweaty, broke and wayward attempts at rock and roll glory as they trekked across Canada, the United States, and eventually, Europe and the Pacific Rim. In their sixteen years of touring, the Smugglers experienced all the highs and lows the road can offer, from playing a gig at New York’s legendary CBGB club to starting a riot in a Denver nightclub to having their performance tuxes stolen in Australia.

Through the fights, sexual misadventures, new friendships, dance contests and mayhem, the band grew up together on the road. Told with Grant’s signature self-deprecating wit, the anecdotes develop into a compelling story of the growth of an independent, do-it-yourself touring band, a community, and a musical movement. So crack open a semi-cold can of Black Label beer, stick a Smugglers tape into the cassette deck and let the good times roll.

Genres: Music, Memoir, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Nicholas Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly entertaining recounting of The Smugglers on tour around the world for nigh on 10 years. Countless nights spent sleeping at fans houses, driving miles and miles to poorly attended gigs, yet slowly building a loyal following all over the world, this is a humorous tale not without it's dark side as alcohol and drugs take their toll on some bandmates and others fall away due to those all present "musical differences" aka personality conflicts. Reading between the lines, it appears as if Grant Lawrence was somewhat of a control freak although the band retained most of it's members throughout it's life. I only saw The Smugglers once believe it or not and they were very enjoyable. I have yet to listen to any of their albums (sorry Grant) but I did love reading this book.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only started this book so I could round out the list of all books Grant Lawrence has written. I had never heard of The Smugglers and had to YouTube a video to get an idea of their sound. I slogged through the first few chapters, and then suddenly I was really into this road tale. While his musical talents leave me underwhelmed (sorry, Grant), his writing is absolutely rock solid and I mowed through the book voraciously. Looking forward to whatever he writes about next.

[Kay McCracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I attended Grant Lawrence's workshop at our Word on the Lake Writer's Festival in May 2018. He's a great workshop leader and I'd read his first book and loved it, so I bought his recent book. Didn't know his band The Smugglers but I'm decades older than Grant and missed the Grunge scene in the early 90's. Was just setting up my bookstore then.

Age doesn't matter. I laughed out loud so many times reading Dirty Windshields, a delirious tale of touring with his band as teenagers. The naivety of their youthful ambition reminded me of my youth and all the crazy, dangerous things I did without much thought.

Grant's book is raunchy, hilarious, thoughtful and I loved the ending, too. You pulled it off, Grant. Congratultions.

[Ian Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent rock and roll expose told in the first person. Grant Lawrence is perhaps a better storyteller than musician, so that makes this book really work. I'm impressed that even at his tender age when forming the smugglers he had the foresight to keep a tour diary. The book really comes alive with pages from the tour diary interspersed with pictures of the Smugglers in locales both near and far, and outrageous tales of the naivete and excesses of young punks in a band. It also provides an historical narrative of the garage-punk-pop scene that developed worldwide. No regrets on spending time with this book. And, the surprise ending to the book was really special as well.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In a sense, The Smugglers were the Forrest Gump of rock ‘n’ roll bands”.

Grant Lawrence has always been an extraordinary storyteller, but this book about his time as a touring musician may be his best yet.

You don’t have to be a fan of The Smugglers to enjoy this book. If you love music, and have a little bit of knowledge about alternative bands from the 90s and 00s, this book is a thrilling ride. The feelings -of excitement, of heartbreak- will be even more intense if you have a deep appreciation for the humans behind your favourite records.

I’ve never had such a hard time reaching the end and letting a story go. I think this is my new favourite book.

[Shelby Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dirty Windshields surprised me - many times - with it's unexpected heart, hope, and wide range of spraying bodily fluids. The details and reflections are fantastically portrayed - so much so you feel like you may have been on a few of the tours, but blacked out later and forgot. Above all, this book shares what makes any book, fiction or not, worth your precious time and money. Outstanding writing.

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started off super fun and had me thinking of all the early 90s indie rock shows I was going to and made me hop on YouTube to listen to The Mummies, Mudhoney and other garage 90s bands to relive the moment. I only saw The Smugglers once at the Mighty Niagara and I showed up late so I caught only 1 song, so you don't need to be a fan to read this travelling band memoir. Unfortunately, Lawrence seems a bit of a dink so what would have been a fun 5 star summer read gets knocked down to 4.

[Tien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read about the joys, mishaps, and adventures of a touring DIY band. You have to respect a band willing to load up in a van for months of touring on a shoestring budget, all for the love of rock 'n roll! I'm also a little biased since the Smugglers also happen to be one of my favorite bands!

[J.b.e. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty fun

[Rod Horncastle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Smugglers - a Vancouver Punkish band from a few decades back. Nothing like the Ramones or The Offspring. Garage punk they call this stuff.

this is their story and it gets crazy. Super low budget tours around the world with almost no money. I no longer have any desire to travel anywhere musically. This was insanity and chaos and filth.

There is a lot to be learned from this tale. Like why punks should not be put in charge of anything: let alone a societies morals or politics or bank accounts. Or even sound systems... Ahhh, to be young again. I might have dreamed of this when I was a teenager. Not now.