Up Above the City, Down Beneath the Stars

by Barry Adamson

A member of seminal new-wave band Magazine, the original bassist in the legendary Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, a Mercury-Prize-nominated solo artist, and pioneer of the imaginary soundtrack album—no matter where Barry Adamson’s career has taken him, the result has been consistently impressive. Covering his early life up to the 1990s, ‘The Barry Adamson Story’ addresses Adamson’s Mancunian and mixed-race roots, beginning in the late 1950s, through to the highs of his momentous musical achievements and the lows of psychiatric hospitals and drug rehabs. Using a ‘noir’ style of self examination, he also investigates the acute loss of his parents and sister in his early twenties, multiple failed relationships and arrives at the beginnings of a successful Hollywood soundtrack career.

Genres: Music, Memoir, Biography

352 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2021

Reviews

[Nigeyb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up Above the City, Down Beneath the Stars (2021) by the wonderful Barry Adamson was always likely to be a five star read, and so it proved.

Barry has a heck of a story to tell.

If he was only known for his groundbreaking work as a founder member of Magazine, he would have had enough material for a memoir

As it turns out, his childhood reminiscences are worth the price of admission alone. These are a mixture of the very dark, and more prosaic tales, which provide lots of great period detail, alongside the challenges of growing up mixed race in 1960s Manchester.

We also get his memories of playing bass with Pete Shelley and Iggy Pop, deputising for Tracey Pew during the latter days of The Birthday Party, and being part of first incarnation of The Bad Seeds. For those that are interested this is a wonderful read. His honest, clear eyed depictions of struggles with addiction add to the drama.

Barry Adamson is perceptive, very honest, and self deprecating. Up Above the City, Down Beneath the Stars is a nuanced and, ultimately, uplifting memoir that covers abuse, addiction, love, race, identity, and collaborations with musical heavyweights.

5/5

More info...

A member of seminal new-wave band Magazine, the original bassist in the legendary Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, a Mercury-Prize-nominated solo artist, and pioneer of the imaginary soundtrack album—no matter where Barry Adamson’s career has taken him, the result has been consistently impressive. Covering his early life up to the 1990s, ‘The Barry Adamson Story’ addresses Adamson’s Mancunian and mixed-race roots, beginning in the late 1950s, through to the highs of his momentous musical achievements and the lows of psychiatric hospitals and drug rehabs. Using a ‘noir’ style of self examination, he also investigates the acute loss of his parents and sister in his early twenties, multiple failed relationships and arrives at the beginnings of a successful Hollywood soundtrack career.

[Alex Sarll]

Barry Adamson was in two unequivocally great bands, Magazine and the original Bad Seeds, besides spells in the Birthday Party and Visage, and playing with Pete Shelley and Iggy Pop, so he was always going to have some good rock'n'roll anecdotes. But, as is often the way lately, his autobiography is halfway through before that first fateful rehearsal with Howard Devoto. At times I did get impatient; given the spy film sheen of his solo work, an account of his first time in the cinema for James Bond makes perfect sense, but did we really need to hear about the ads beforehand too? Still, for the most part the scene-setting makes sense; if anything he writes even more evocatively about the music that made him than the music he made, and the darker side of his childhood (racism, abuse, family mysteries, and extensive hospitalisation to ameliorate the effects of dyschondroplasia) lays the groundwork for some of the mess he'll get into later. Although I still find something almost comically incongruous in the idea of a musician from Manchester, who's done time in London and pre-clean-up NYC, eventually getting into snack in, of all places, Melbourne. Just leaves me hearing the Neighbours theme tune as covered by Nico (and yes, she's here too). Spoiler alert: that doesn't end well. Though I suppose it kind of does, in that eventually he gets clean and stays that way, just as his solo career is getting underway, which is where the book ends. I assume part of that is that there are fewer stories when you're not shooting up, having affairs with bandmates or their girlfriends, or wanting to smash other bandmates' faces in, but even without that the writing about music alone is sufficiently perceptive that I'd read a sequel – and not just because Adamson's Oedipus Schmoedipus must be the only album ever to corral Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker and Billy Mackenzie.

Also: unlike the memoirs of certain fake-ass wannabes, this one does include a genuine account of adolescent sofa-fucking.

[Stephen Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an obsessed fan of Magazine and a follower of BA’s work as a contributor to some of best music of the 80’s (Devoto solo,Luxuria ,Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) I thought I had some knowledge of Mr A.Little did I know…..this book is a revelation from a number of points,the candid ,open no holds barred approach to the storytelling.The elegant prose and use of language is exemplary and engaging.
The phrase “page Turner” does not do this book justice.
Cannot wait for contusion of the journey into solo career and more life affirming stories.

Brilliant!

[Andi Chorley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a gripping brave and moving autobiography. The early years of Barry's life were spent in areas close to where I live now in Manchester but his subsequent musical career playing in Magazine, The Bad Seeds and with Iggy Pop took him all over the world. I am glad he managed to overcome addiction and guilt in the midst of terrible loss to continue to make music as a solo artist.

[Lee Stuart Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a few days into February and already I think it highly unlikely I will read a more affecting book this year.

As a big fan of Barry Adamson the musician, I was always going to buy this book, but it - and he - is about so much more than that.

An incredible book about an incredible life.

[fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

barry adamson is criminally underrated. as a bass player, as a composer, as a writer.

[Katy F · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only regret is that l read it so fast and finished it in about a week and now l don’t have another equally amazing book to read. This book is a total must read regardless if you’re a fan of Barry’s or not. But for a huge fan like me who has alot of admiration for the great man l know that l won’t ever read another book like this.

[Tamar Elmensdorp-lijzenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This man isn't only made of music, but also of poetry. And oh my, what a sad story he had to tell. Must have been very hard to write. I'm super glad he managed to fight the vulture and deal with his addiction.

[Hugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An astonishingly unflinching work, parts of this can't have been easy to write, but it's a fascinating read. And talk about musical pedigree, sheesh!

[Derek Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book. Barry Adamson begins his story with an amazing conceit that will definitely throw a few people off the bus before the ding ding. Stay for the ride, I say.

What a life he has had, I really had no idea. It takes many dozens of pages before the focus turns to music. His childhood illness, crude racism, his mum dad and sister, all portrayed quite beautifully. Then, almost as if by magic, he is in the band Magazine, only the greatest band ever.

Many more adventures ensue, all related with unflinching honesty and no attempt to disguise his own responsibility for, without going into too much detail, some of the million and one things that go wrong. But plenty else is just bitter fate. Barry quite literally loses his sanity and, to be candid, I wasn’t in the least surprised.

I believe there may be a second volume, bringing us into the present day, and I can’t wait. For the meantime I am full of admiration for a quite tremendous man. Way to go Barry.

[ANDRÉ PINHEIRO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barry Adamson is one of my favorite musicians. Since I discovered his bass playing in Magazine, through his collaborations with Visage, Bad Seed and Pete Shelly, up to his amazing solo career, his music has never let me down, never a bad moment. This is his autobiography, and, from the first pages, the reader knows he is in for a different ride. Heavy moments, drug addiction, family problems, bad relationships, Barry has lived through it all and describes his adventures, ups and downs in a unique way. One of the best autobiographies that I have read from a musician.