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Rebel Rebel: How Mavericks Made the Modern World
Thirty-four essays and interviews with some of the greatest individuals, malcontents and free thinkers of the last 150 years - including Louise Brooks, Richard Pryor, David Bowie, Liam Gallagher and Daniel Day Lewis - this is a collection that exonerates the maverick and celebrates the individual. It is an essential read for the left of field.
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