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The Unstable Boys
London 1968:
The Unstable Boys are the name on every music insider's lips and tipped to follow in the footsteps of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. This is their chance to hit the bigtime. They don't know they're about to be obliterated by a series of tragedies and a chaotic breakup that puts paid to the band's starry-eyed dreams of stratospheric success. One day you're the dog's bollocks; the next day you're a nobody - fame is a fickle friend.
London 2016:
Bestselling crime writer Michael Martindale has reached breaking point. Estranged from his wife and children following the very public fallout of his disastrous affair, he is alone, with only his self-pity to keep him warm at night. Until he makes the mistake of publicly declaring his admiration for his teenage musical obsession, the Unstable Boys. When the band's twisted and feral frontman, the Boy, turns up on his doorstep, Martindale quickly learns that sometimes you should be careful what you wish for.
Razor-sharp and laced with a caustic wit, The Unstable Boys is a dark comic caper with an unmistakeable musicality from legendary music journalist Nick Kent.
The Unstable Boys are the name on every music insider's lips and tipped to follow in the footsteps of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. This is their chance to hit the bigtime. They don't know they're about to be obliterated by a series of tragedies and a chaotic breakup that puts paid to the band's starry-eyed dreams of stratospheric success. One day you're the dog's bollocks; the next day you're a nobody - fame is a fickle friend.
London 2016:
Bestselling crime writer Michael Martindale has reached breaking point. Estranged from his wife and children following the very public fallout of his disastrous affair, he is alone, with only his self-pity to keep him warm at night. Until he makes the mistake of publicly declaring his admiration for his teenage musical obsession, the Unstable Boys. When the band's twisted and feral frontman, the Boy, turns up on his doorstep, Martindale quickly learns that sometimes you should be careful what you wish for.
Razor-sharp and laced with a caustic wit, The Unstable Boys is a dark comic caper with an unmistakeable musicality from legendary music journalist Nick Kent.
- GenresFiction
320 pages, Hardcover
Published October 19, 2021
5 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 7, 2021
This is Nick Kent’s first work of fiction.
The 1960s vs the 2010s, crime, drugs, fame, kismet, love (and sex), money, musicianship, nostalgia, record labels, redemption, rock music, tragedy, and writing.
I liked the Ral Coombes storyline more than the others, which I found too anxiety-inducing just for the sake of it. I also pictured Pieter as looking like Arjen Lucassen (AKA Ayreon).
Moral of the story: Don’t idolise your favourite bands.
The 1960s vs the 2010s, crime, drugs, fame, kismet, love (and sex), money, musicianship, nostalgia, record labels, redemption, rock music, tragedy, and writing.
I liked the Ral Coombes storyline more than the others, which I found too anxiety-inducing just for the sake of it. I also pictured Pieter as looking like Arjen Lucassen (AKA Ayreon).
Moral of the story: Don’t idolise your favourite bands.
March 31, 2023
Nick Kent worked for the NME in the early 70s, becoming a celebrated rock music journalist. Back then, Kent fraternised with the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Iggy Pop, lived with Chrissy Hynde and played guitar in an early Sex Pistols line-up. By 1975, though, by his own admission, Kent’s drug habit significantly impaired his writing.
Nearly 50 years on, Kent wrote his first novel, Unstable Boys. Probably unsurprisingly, the story revolves around two members of a briefly infamous band of the late 60s, the eponymous Unstable Boys, and a 21st century popular writer of crime fiction.
Undoubtedly drawing on Kent’s journalistic experiences, for me, the most convincing section of the book describes how the unlikely band members came together and achieved their breakthrough. But the plot really gathers pace in the present day when the ageing lead singer, “The Boy”, turns up on the doorstep of Michael Martindale. A successful but naive middle-aged author, recently caught in a tabloid sting, Martindale believes he has been presented with an unexpected and wonderful opportunity to re-establish his reputation by writing a biography of his music idol. Whereas the deluded, but opportunistic, front-man sets out to take full advantage of the writer’s hospitality and earnings. This element of the story is anarchic, drug fuelled and borderline implausible, but nevertheless a cautionary tale of ‘never meet your heroes’.
In a parallel storyline, dictated by his feud with “The Boy” since the band’s break-up, we learn about the later life of the guitarist and band’s creative force, Ral Coombes. Beset by personal tragedy, Coombes eventually finds himself in Amsterdam. There are drugs a plenty in this strand of the narrative too, but with much less volatile effect. Coombes’ story is much more reflective, self-aware and empathetic and all the more engaging and believable for that.
An enjoyable (if sometimes erratic read), particularly if you are interested in the music industry and especially the music of the 60s and 70s. Just not a Brit Award contender in my opinion.
Nearly 50 years on, Kent wrote his first novel, Unstable Boys. Probably unsurprisingly, the story revolves around two members of a briefly infamous band of the late 60s, the eponymous Unstable Boys, and a 21st century popular writer of crime fiction.
Undoubtedly drawing on Kent’s journalistic experiences, for me, the most convincing section of the book describes how the unlikely band members came together and achieved their breakthrough. But the plot really gathers pace in the present day when the ageing lead singer, “The Boy”, turns up on the doorstep of Michael Martindale. A successful but naive middle-aged author, recently caught in a tabloid sting, Martindale believes he has been presented with an unexpected and wonderful opportunity to re-establish his reputation by writing a biography of his music idol. Whereas the deluded, but opportunistic, front-man sets out to take full advantage of the writer’s hospitality and earnings. This element of the story is anarchic, drug fuelled and borderline implausible, but nevertheless a cautionary tale of ‘never meet your heroes’.
In a parallel storyline, dictated by his feud with “The Boy” since the band’s break-up, we learn about the later life of the guitarist and band’s creative force, Ral Coombes. Beset by personal tragedy, Coombes eventually finds himself in Amsterdam. There are drugs a plenty in this strand of the narrative too, but with much less volatile effect. Coombes’ story is much more reflective, self-aware and empathetic and all the more engaging and believable for that.
An enjoyable (if sometimes erratic read), particularly if you are interested in the music industry and especially the music of the 60s and 70s. Just not a Brit Award contender in my opinion.
June 21, 2022
Somewhat disappointing, I was expecting more writing finesse, more references to music of the 60s, more sophisticated plot. Instead the book finally came out as a lukewarm plot, sprinkled with a few touches of music and sentimentalism, and not much writing artistry. Still worthwhile reading for 60s' music fans like me.
August 26, 2021
This is an enjoyable read and as you'd expect Nick Kent throws in some well observed characters.
April 15, 2022
Full of machismo and misery!! But Nick Kent is a good writer and it’s enjoyable lol
June 16, 2025
What a mess of a novel. The premise was pretty good, but ruined by an author completely out of their depth
January 2, 2022
Nick Kent should know the music world of the ‘70 s and ‘80 s like the back of his hand, being a music journalist who lived the life as his memoirs and collected journalism will attest.
It’s no surprise then that his first novel focuses on three characters, an unstable lead singer from an old rock band, the estranged lead guitarist, and a famous author who gets the chance to think that he can write the biography of his hero and get the band to reform. The singer has other plans however.
The book is well written and flows nicely, is funny in parts and takes interesting view on rock music of an era acting as nostalgia for a generation of middle aged men approaching older age. It’s also a good take on the old never meet your heroes schtick
Read together with Nick Hornby’s “Juliet Naked” Alan Warner’s “Kitchenly 434”,David Mitchell’s “ Utopia Avenue” and Andrew O’Hagan’s “Mayflies “ - all good fiction looking at the the relationship between Men and rock music
It’s no surprise then that his first novel focuses on three characters, an unstable lead singer from an old rock band, the estranged lead guitarist, and a famous author who gets the chance to think that he can write the biography of his hero and get the band to reform. The singer has other plans however.
The book is well written and flows nicely, is funny in parts and takes interesting view on rock music of an era acting as nostalgia for a generation of middle aged men approaching older age. It’s also a good take on the old never meet your heroes schtick
Read together with Nick Hornby’s “Juliet Naked” Alan Warner’s “Kitchenly 434”,David Mitchell’s “ Utopia Avenue” and Andrew O’Hagan’s “Mayflies “ - all good fiction looking at the the relationship between Men and rock music
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews