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Paul Kelly: The Man, The Music and the Life in Between
Renowned music journalist Stuart Coupe examines the life of an Australian music icon - honest, revealing and a must-read for Paul Kelly fans and music lovers alike.
He's been called Australia's Bob Dylan and likened to Springsteen and Neil Young, but Paul Kelly stands alone as a chronicler of his and our times.
He is Australia's best-loved singer, songwriter, author and poetic observer and though he has written his own stories, no one has captured the broader life and times of Paul Kelly - until now.
Renowned music journalist, author and for many years Kelly's manager, Stuart Coupe takes us from Kelly's family life as the sixth of nine children in Adelaide to his life today. With Paul's blessing and access to friends, family, band mates and musical collaborators, Coupe shows Paul's evolution from a young man who only really picked up a guitar in his late teens, to an Australian music icon.
Through hundreds of interviews, Coupe details the way Paul juggled the demands, temptations and excesses of rock'n'roll with real life. Revealing Paul Kelly's personal relationships, his friendships, his generosity and support of other artists, such as Archie Roach, Kasey Chambers, Kev Carmody, Vika and Linda Bull and Courtney Barnett, the force of Kelly's powerful storytelling, his musical creativity, his activism and his work ethic also shines through.
PAUL KELLY: THE MAN, THE MUSIC AND THE LIFE IN BETWEEN is honest, revealing and a must-read for anyone interested in one of Australia's greatest artists.
He's been called Australia's Bob Dylan and likened to Springsteen and Neil Young, but Paul Kelly stands alone as a chronicler of his and our times.
He is Australia's best-loved singer, songwriter, author and poetic observer and though he has written his own stories, no one has captured the broader life and times of Paul Kelly - until now.
Renowned music journalist, author and for many years Kelly's manager, Stuart Coupe takes us from Kelly's family life as the sixth of nine children in Adelaide to his life today. With Paul's blessing and access to friends, family, band mates and musical collaborators, Coupe shows Paul's evolution from a young man who only really picked up a guitar in his late teens, to an Australian music icon.
Through hundreds of interviews, Coupe details the way Paul juggled the demands, temptations and excesses of rock'n'roll with real life. Revealing Paul Kelly's personal relationships, his friendships, his generosity and support of other artists, such as Archie Roach, Kasey Chambers, Kev Carmody, Vika and Linda Bull and Courtney Barnett, the force of Kelly's powerful storytelling, his musical creativity, his activism and his work ethic also shines through.
PAUL KELLY: THE MAN, THE MUSIC AND THE LIFE IN BETWEEN is honest, revealing and a must-read for anyone interested in one of Australia's greatest artists.
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
335 pages, Paperback
Published July 28, 2020
23 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 28, 2020
When I received Paul Kelly to review, I wasn’t sure if I was up to the task. I didn’t really know anything about him – as an artist, songwriter, singer and Australian music icon – which is pretty terrible on my part. But I have to say I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book of Paul Kelly’s life, warts and all.
Paul Kelly’s career has spanned over 40 years now, and as he went through the eighties, the saying “drugs, sex and rock’n’roll” was rife. Paul was into it all. One thing dominated everything – his sheer determination and desire to succeed. Paul’s love of his lifelong idol, Bob Dylan, showed in much that he did. He had the brooding good looks (you only have to look at the cover of this book to pick that up) which many say are still with him although his looks have certainly changed. (He also toured with Dylan at one stage)
Born in Adelaide, the sixth of nine children, his father died at an early age and his mother brought up the children herself. She was a strong Christian woman and Paul’s intelligence and thirst for knowledge grew from the close family bonds. He wrote poetry before he picked up a guitar – and then, as they say, the rest is history.
I found many familiar names and bands littered throughout the book, which took me back to my youth and love of music. Paul’s support of other artists shines through, and their admiration and respect for him follows.
Paul joined Neil Finn and they played as ‘Neil Finn and Paul Kelly, Live at the Opera House’ in 2013 – a clip on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK8mn...
[from Grabowsky] ‘You know you’re working with a master when you’re working with someone like this.’
[from George Negus’ introduction at a festival] ‘The Yanks have got Bob Dylan and we’ve got Paul Kelly.’ And the place erupted. It was something akin to Beatlemania, like an aeroplane’s jet engine noise. It was phenomenal.
The author, Australian Stuart Coupe, was Paul Kelly’s manager for a lot of years, and is a music journalist; he’s written an excellent rendition of Paul Kelly’s life which I thoroughly enjoyed. My son took his son to see Paul Kelly at Groovin the Moo in 2019 – and so a new generation of fans is born! Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
Paul Kelly’s career has spanned over 40 years now, and as he went through the eighties, the saying “drugs, sex and rock’n’roll” was rife. Paul was into it all. One thing dominated everything – his sheer determination and desire to succeed. Paul’s love of his lifelong idol, Bob Dylan, showed in much that he did. He had the brooding good looks (you only have to look at the cover of this book to pick that up) which many say are still with him although his looks have certainly changed. (He also toured with Dylan at one stage)
Born in Adelaide, the sixth of nine children, his father died at an early age and his mother brought up the children herself. She was a strong Christian woman and Paul’s intelligence and thirst for knowledge grew from the close family bonds. He wrote poetry before he picked up a guitar – and then, as they say, the rest is history.
I found many familiar names and bands littered throughout the book, which took me back to my youth and love of music. Paul’s support of other artists shines through, and their admiration and respect for him follows.
Paul joined Neil Finn and they played as ‘Neil Finn and Paul Kelly, Live at the Opera House’ in 2013 – a clip on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK8mn...
[from Grabowsky] ‘You know you’re working with a master when you’re working with someone like this.’
[from George Negus’ introduction at a festival] ‘The Yanks have got Bob Dylan and we’ve got Paul Kelly.’ And the place erupted. It was something akin to Beatlemania, like an aeroplane’s jet engine noise. It was phenomenal.
The author, Australian Stuart Coupe, was Paul Kelly’s manager for a lot of years, and is a music journalist; he’s written an excellent rendition of Paul Kelly’s life which I thoroughly enjoyed. My son took his son to see Paul Kelly at Groovin the Moo in 2019 – and so a new generation of fans is born! Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2020
A biographv about one of my personal rock’n’roll and writing heroes, written by a man “in the know” who used to manage Paul in a significant period of his career.
Though this book migh be sort of a collection of well-known facts for Australian readers it is a fascinating window into recent history of Aussi music and for me reading it was like having a glass of ice-cold water on a hot summer day.
Finely structured and leading the reader chronologically up to the most recent days of Covid lockdown, this book presents Paul as a complex and talented, fiercely competitive and well-accomplished author, and most of all - a decent human being.
“The Yanks have Bob Dylan - we have Paul Kelly”, says one of the Australians in the book, snd they should be damn proud that they do.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves music - and please, use Paul Kelly’s music as the best possible soundttack for his story.
It’s been a constant soundtrack of my life for more than thirty years.
Well done, guys!
Though this book migh be sort of a collection of well-known facts for Australian readers it is a fascinating window into recent history of Aussi music and for me reading it was like having a glass of ice-cold water on a hot summer day.
Finely structured and leading the reader chronologically up to the most recent days of Covid lockdown, this book presents Paul as a complex and talented, fiercely competitive and well-accomplished author, and most of all - a decent human being.
“The Yanks have Bob Dylan - we have Paul Kelly”, says one of the Australians in the book, snd they should be damn proud that they do.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves music - and please, use Paul Kelly’s music as the best possible soundttack for his story.
It’s been a constant soundtrack of my life for more than thirty years.
Well done, guys!
September 14, 2020
The vast majority of Paul Kelly’s fans will die before they ever get a chance to hear his first two albums in full. The singer-songwriter’s 1981 debut Talk and its 1982 follow-up Manila — each recorded with his band The Dots — are long out of print in CD and vinyl form and are not available on any streaming service.
But for a handful of remnant clips and television performances from the era still extant on the world’s greatest music archive, YouTube, it’s as though Talk and Manila never existed at all.
And the most curious thing about this act of erasure is that it’s entirely self-driven.
As the owner of the rights to those songs, Kelly has done everything in his considerable power to scrub his first two albums from the historical record. But why? Plenty of artists are embarrassed about their early work. Such is the nature of growing up in public when you put your name to material that later feels dated and divorced from your current tastes and aspirations.
As detailed in Stuart Coupe’s extensive biography of one of the most popular Australian musicians working today, several of Kelly’s close friends and associates theorise that he has not just disowned but actively sought to destroy those early releases because they remind him of a painful and regrettable period of his life, where his heroin use was out of control.
As for Kelly himself? “Talk and Manila had a good run,” he tells the author of Paul Kelly: The Man, the Music and the Life in Between.
“They were available to buy for around 16 years but they didn’t sell. When I gained control of my work in the late 90s I simply chose not to make them available anymore. It wasn’t the fault of the bands on those records. It was me. I don’t like the songs or the singing on them. They’re embarrassing to listen to.”
Coupe puts it this way: Kelly wants the world to believe that his career began in Sydney with the 1985 release of his acoustic solo album Post, which contained From St Kilda to Kings Cross, among several other songs now regarded as classics of the songwriter’s extensive canon.
But the world doesn’t work that way. It doesn’t bend toward the will of the narrative that wants to be told. Instead the one that needs to be told usually emerges, often thanks to the hard work of skilled writers and historians.
If for no other reason than the fact Coupe deals in detail with this curious chapter, which might have otherwise been a footnote in the grand sweep of Kelly’s career, this book is highly recommended to anyone who has even fallen under the spell of one of his songs.
To read my full review, visit The Australian: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts...
But for a handful of remnant clips and television performances from the era still extant on the world’s greatest music archive, YouTube, it’s as though Talk and Manila never existed at all.
And the most curious thing about this act of erasure is that it’s entirely self-driven.
As the owner of the rights to those songs, Kelly has done everything in his considerable power to scrub his first two albums from the historical record. But why? Plenty of artists are embarrassed about their early work. Such is the nature of growing up in public when you put your name to material that later feels dated and divorced from your current tastes and aspirations.
As detailed in Stuart Coupe’s extensive biography of one of the most popular Australian musicians working today, several of Kelly’s close friends and associates theorise that he has not just disowned but actively sought to destroy those early releases because they remind him of a painful and regrettable period of his life, where his heroin use was out of control.
As for Kelly himself? “Talk and Manila had a good run,” he tells the author of Paul Kelly: The Man, the Music and the Life in Between.
“They were available to buy for around 16 years but they didn’t sell. When I gained control of my work in the late 90s I simply chose not to make them available anymore. It wasn’t the fault of the bands on those records. It was me. I don’t like the songs or the singing on them. They’re embarrassing to listen to.”
Coupe puts it this way: Kelly wants the world to believe that his career began in Sydney with the 1985 release of his acoustic solo album Post, which contained From St Kilda to Kings Cross, among several other songs now regarded as classics of the songwriter’s extensive canon.
But the world doesn’t work that way. It doesn’t bend toward the will of the narrative that wants to be told. Instead the one that needs to be told usually emerges, often thanks to the hard work of skilled writers and historians.
If for no other reason than the fact Coupe deals in detail with this curious chapter, which might have otherwise been a footnote in the grand sweep of Kelly’s career, this book is highly recommended to anyone who has even fallen under the spell of one of his songs.
To read my full review, visit The Australian: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts...
August 4, 2020
Devoured this in a couple of days. Bloody well written and a fascinating insight into the career & the man. More than a few surprises along the way, even for a longtime Paul Kelly fan. Packed with brilliant anecdotes from those who know PK well, both personally and professionally. This one hits all the right marks.
March 21, 2021
Must-read for Kelly fans. Easy to digest page-turner that’s ultimately an insightful and, at times, eye-opening portrait of the greatest song craftsman that Australia has produced. However, even after 300 pages of anecdotes and illumination of Kelly’s life and career, to me the artist remains strangely elusive and lingeringly mysterious.
August 22, 2020
‘Over more than four decades Paul’s built an enviable body of work.’
In this book, Stuart Coupe (music journalist, author, and one-time manager of Paul Kelly) examines Paul Kelly’s life. Plenty of different people were interviewed, and their views shine a light on different facets of a man who is one of my favourite Australian singers and songwriters. I am listening to his music now, as I write this review.
Mr Coupe takes us back to the beginning, to Adelaide, where Paul Kelly was born (in 1955) as the sixth child in a family of nine children, through to today. A lot has happened along the way.
What did I learn that I did not already know, from reading Paul Kelly’s ‘mongrel biography’ ‘How to Make Gravy’? Or from listening to his music, or reading through the poems selected in ‘Love is Strong as Death’?
I did learn more about some of the earlier music and different bands Paul Kelly was part of. There are images of a complex, creative, reserved (and at times difficult) individual. But the most important aspect of this book, for me, was reading about his work with other artists especially with Archie Roach, Kev Carmody, and Vika and Linda Bull. Who can forget Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly performing ‘From little things, big things grow’ ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=...) at a memorial service for Gough Whitlam in 2014?
Listening to Paul Kelly’s music, reading ‘How to Make Gravy’ and ‘Love is Strong as Death’ has given me space to reflect and has brought me much joy. Learning a bit more about the man behind the books and the music enables me to appreciate some of the complexity of this creative genius.
Recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In this book, Stuart Coupe (music journalist, author, and one-time manager of Paul Kelly) examines Paul Kelly’s life. Plenty of different people were interviewed, and their views shine a light on different facets of a man who is one of my favourite Australian singers and songwriters. I am listening to his music now, as I write this review.
Mr Coupe takes us back to the beginning, to Adelaide, where Paul Kelly was born (in 1955) as the sixth child in a family of nine children, through to today. A lot has happened along the way.
What did I learn that I did not already know, from reading Paul Kelly’s ‘mongrel biography’ ‘How to Make Gravy’? Or from listening to his music, or reading through the poems selected in ‘Love is Strong as Death’?
I did learn more about some of the earlier music and different bands Paul Kelly was part of. There are images of a complex, creative, reserved (and at times difficult) individual. But the most important aspect of this book, for me, was reading about his work with other artists especially with Archie Roach, Kev Carmody, and Vika and Linda Bull. Who can forget Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly performing ‘From little things, big things grow’ ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=...) at a memorial service for Gough Whitlam in 2014?
Listening to Paul Kelly’s music, reading ‘How to Make Gravy’ and ‘Love is Strong as Death’ has given me space to reflect and has brought me much joy. Learning a bit more about the man behind the books and the music enables me to appreciate some of the complexity of this creative genius.
Recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
August 14, 2021
Having grown up with much of Paul Kelly's music playing on the radio, I found this bio quite interesting. I learned a lot I didn't previously know about the man and his music, as well as his relationships and interactions with other figures in the Australian music industry of the '70s, '80s and '90s. I recommend this to Aussies who grew up with Kelly's music.
March 28, 2021
If you're a Paul Kelly or an Australian music fan, this is a fantastic eye-opening book.
Surprisingly, PK doesn't always come across in a great light which makes this even more fantastic to read. It's a quick journey through his early years, the Messengers/Dots, his periods of little success and most recently, his collaborations.
Plenty of interviews with 'who's who' of Australian music and even if you don't like Paul Kelly, you can't doubt his impact and influence on Australian music and songwriting today.
You do get an even better understanding of his passion for the written word through his addiction to poetry and reading.
If you're not a PK fan, you won't get as much out of this book as fans (obviously) so maybe hold fire on this one. I'm a tragic fan so lapped it up.
Surprisingly, PK doesn't always come across in a great light which makes this even more fantastic to read. It's a quick journey through his early years, the Messengers/Dots, his periods of little success and most recently, his collaborations.
Plenty of interviews with 'who's who' of Australian music and even if you don't like Paul Kelly, you can't doubt his impact and influence on Australian music and songwriting today.
You do get an even better understanding of his passion for the written word through his addiction to poetry and reading.
If you're not a PK fan, you won't get as much out of this book as fans (obviously) so maybe hold fire on this one. I'm a tragic fan so lapped it up.
January 15, 2021
A detailed recount of the life and times of one of Australia’s greatest living singer songwriters and poets. It’s comforting, intimate, and revealing; Coupe writes this biography with honesty and conviction, a life review through the eyes of a well renowned journalist, and I hope to read many more of his books.
March 3, 2022
For me this was a fascinating insight into how Paul Kelly works and some of his beginnings. The author Mr Coupe has a long history as a music journalist and author and for a time was Paul's manager. He states at the beginning of the book that his purpose in this biography was to include the bits that Paul left out of his own memoir. I first came across Paul Kelly's music when his album Gossip was released in the US in 1987. I still have the CD but sadly not the tour t-shirt I bought when I saw him and Crowded House in September of that year. The book only touches at his childhood and adolescence. Paul Kelly was a voracious reader and was heavily into Hermann Hesse, Jack Kerouac, Baudelaire and Arthur Rimbaud. Shortly after The Dots were formed in 1978, Ron Brown entered the scene and offered his services as manager. His tireless work led to folks at Mushroom becoming interested. Ron Brown's best advice given was not to sign the first contract offered to Paul Kelly by Gudinski as it was a terrible deal and that he could do better. However, Paul was desperate to be signed and Mr Brown shortly left the scene. Stuart Coupe became manager in 1984. In 1987 Mushroom offered to pay Paul to go to America for an extended period to drive around, to soak up the scene and with the hope that songs would develop from the trip. One funny story was a scene they withnessed driving from Memphis to New Orleans, mostly on Highway 61, they encountered two young kids hitchhiking., one carrying a rabbit on a skewer. Paul decided to stop and offer them a lift. When they approached the open window of the car, they ran off with a look of horror on their faces. Eventually Paul realized that here were two white guys offering a lift to two black kids. They must have been terrified. "Welcome to America." Towards the end of the book John Watson gives examples of why Paul Kelly's music is special, by taking ordinary, even ugly scenes and areas and turning them into something magical. Overall a very interesting read.
June 9, 2023
Absolutely loved this book! Such a detailed account of Paul, his music and his life going right back to the early, early days - including my personal memories of adventures with close friends Tim Brosnan from The Dots and his partner Katy Johnson now sadly deceased. And more of Paul's incredible career highlights right up until 2020.
What struck me most, was the massive amount of respect other musicians have for him. I admire the fact he knows exactly what he wants, speaks his truth but always with consciousness and consideration. And his work ethic is pretty admirable too.
Despite the fact we are co-god parents to the lovely Grace Brosnan, & Maddy & my son were friends at Primary School, I haven't seen Paul for years, & really appreciated the detailed update of his last 20 years.
What struck me most, was the massive amount of respect other musicians have for him. I admire the fact he knows exactly what he wants, speaks his truth but always with consciousness and consideration. And his work ethic is pretty admirable too.
Despite the fact we are co-god parents to the lovely Grace Brosnan, & Maddy & my son were friends at Primary School, I haven't seen Paul for years, & really appreciated the detailed update of his last 20 years.
January 3, 2021
look barely ok for me..I love Paul kelly and I really enjoyed his How to make Gravy..I felt that this added very little to my understanding of him..the main point that the author seemed to be making( which he did ad nauseum) was that PK had a bit of an issue with drugs and that he was a bit of a control freak..the author suggested lots but I never felt that he really came up with anything remotely insightful about his time together with Paul Kelly..as noted many times Paul Kelly was a guy that did not say much..neither did this book for me..I did really enjoy the anecdotes about him and Steve Connolly and thought that I would like to hear a bit more about Steve..
May 15, 2023
This is not a book for the casual fan of Australian musician Paul Kelly.
It's for the completist types, like myself, who've been buying his albums since the '80s and want to know a little but about what makes the art tick.
The author, Kelly's former manager turned music journalist, delivers a workmanlike recitation of his career. It's no prose masterpiece but Coupe talked to a ton of people and delivers a wealth of anecdotes and nuggets.
Put this book together with Kelly's 2010 semi-memoir, 'How to Make Gravy', and the 2012 documentary "Stories of Me", and one actually gets something approximating a 360-degree understanding of his career.
It's for the completist types, like myself, who've been buying his albums since the '80s and want to know a little but about what makes the art tick.
The author, Kelly's former manager turned music journalist, delivers a workmanlike recitation of his career. It's no prose masterpiece but Coupe talked to a ton of people and delivers a wealth of anecdotes and nuggets.
Put this book together with Kelly's 2010 semi-memoir, 'How to Make Gravy', and the 2012 documentary "Stories of Me", and one actually gets something approximating a 360-degree understanding of his career.
August 31, 2020
As a big fan of Paul Kelly, and one who is old enough to have heard his early stuff, I thought I knew him well. Wrong! I knew very little at all.
I really enjoyed this book as it made me realise the breadth of the man’s influence, focus and brilliance. It was also fantastic to see many other musician that I admire have been a part of his universe.
We’re blessed to have such a natural treasure - long may he continue to bring so much art to life. Highly recommended for fans of Kelly, and if you’re not a fan, read the book, listen to the music, and you just might find you become a fan.
I really enjoyed this book as it made me realise the breadth of the man’s influence, focus and brilliance. It was also fantastic to see many other musician that I admire have been a part of his universe.
We’re blessed to have such a natural treasure - long may he continue to bring so much art to life. Highly recommended for fans of Kelly, and if you’re not a fan, read the book, listen to the music, and you just might find you become a fan.
January 25, 2021
A very good read which is most informative about the life of a much loved Australian. A fierce determination is what made him into the singer he is today . There are many references to many recordings done throughout his career only some of which made it into the index. If you are a ' follower ' of a particular artist it is the minutae of ther like and dislikes that make them interesting. As an index in the book i would give it a 2 out of ten. very poor, and could be a lot better.
June 27, 2021
Bio of Paul's whole career. I would have liked a few more details on some stuff. But i learned lots from this book. Stuart managed Paul back in the late 80's. For me, Paul is one of the BIG artists, with a catalog of songs that is jaw-dropping. Worth a read if you like Paul. If you don't know who Paul is, go buy some records.
March 11, 2021
Learned a lot I didn't know about Paul Kelly. A bit journalisty though. He did this, she did then, then they went there. could have done with a few more anecdotes and stories. Overall a worthwhile read about one of Australia's best singer/songwriters.
November 29, 2021
Paul Kelly, warts and all, written by Stuart Coupe, his manager for a few years. I must say, there are many warts, but what shines through is Kelly’s humanity and fierce determination to ‘remember everything’ in his music and poetry. This is a great companion piece to How to Make Gravy!
March 28, 2021
This book gave me a greater respect for the man and I really want to investigate his more recent work and collaborations. I feel I have a better understanding now of the Australian music family....
June 10, 2021
Couldn’t finish it which is saying something for me. For diehard fans only.
November 28, 2021
An indepth insight into the trial and triumphs of one of Australia's iconic and talented musicians.
December 30, 2023
Great perspective and history from up close. Captured both the changing times and changing person. Really enjoyed it
February 11, 2025
I found it difficult to get into in the beginning because it jumps around a bit but persevered and got through it.
October 27, 2025
A good solid 5 star read.
The content is earthy, honest and informative.
Cheers and enjoy the book.
The content is earthy, honest and informative.
Cheers and enjoy the book.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews