The Longest Suicide: The Authorized Biography of Art Bergmann

by Jason Schneider, Michael Turner (Introduction)

As Canada's punk poet laureate, Art Bergmann has been tearing up stages, and terrifying the music industry, for half a century. Often referred to as "Canada's Lou Reed," Art's story is one of rock and roll's great tales untold. Until now. From his days helping to lay the foundation of the Vancouver punk scene with The K-Tels, to his acclaimed solo work in the '80s and '90s, and a late career resurgence that has culminated with being named to the Order of Canada, The Longest Suicide chronicles every unlikely twist and turn Art's life has taken. Working with veteran music journalist Jason Schneider, Art lays it all out in his own inimitable way, with dozens of people who took part adding their own voices to corroborate (and sometimes dispute) the often-incredible chain of events. With cameos by John Cale, Bob Rock, The Clash, Bob Geldof and many others, The Longest Suicide is both a triumphant story of personal survival, as well as a unique glimpse inside the rise of alternative rock. Above all, it is a tribute to Canada's most unheralded singer-songwriter, whose greatness is only now being widely recognized. Illustrated throughout. Literary Nonfiction. Music.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Biography

168 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2022

Reviews

[Scott King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Punk was a worldwide phenomenon in the late 1970’s and Canada’s contribution to it can be traced back to just a few people. Art Bergmann is one of those people. But his story goes way beyond the reactionary shouting of that moment. Art’s story is about the Canadian music scene as it existed and exists; the gulf often found between talent and opportunity; lessons in timing and luck and most of all the healing power of finding love.

[Benjamin Kahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good summation of Art Bergmann's career. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of peaks and valleys. Bergmann would get a band together, they'd have some success, they'd put out an album that would be largely ignored and then break up. Repeat.

Along the way, there was a heroin addiction, a lot of self-destructive behaviour, and a lot of disrespect from the Canadian music industry. Bergmann met the love of his life, who seemed to help curb some of his more self-destructive impulses. She unfortunately passed away very recently at the age of 58 - there seems to be no information anywhere on what happened, and Schneider passes over it very quickly in the book.

I'm not a huge fan - I sort of got into him when What Fresh Hell Is This came out - I bought the album, noticed that Sam's had his back catalogue on sale and bought the rest, and saw him at the Horseshoe in Toronto. I think I liked it all well enough, but none of it really stayed with me - a few choruses, but not much beyond that. So being more of a casual fan, I might have got less out of this book than I would have otherwise.

On the other hand, although it's an authorized biography, we don't really get to know Bergmann. We rely on quotes from people who know him, but Bergmann's quote are mostly from interviews in other sources. So the man himself remains largely a mystery.

Anyway, a decent biography. I'm glad I read it and glad that Schneider wrote it.

[Boris Vorobev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art Bergmann - the best kept secret of Canadian punk rock - had a life that closely mirrors transformations endured by the music industry, rock'n'roll and society in general between the 60s and present day. A life like that seems like it would make for an interesting biography - and this book does indeed suggest that Art's life was interesting. Unfortunately it doesn't quite manage to capture what made it so.

Way too focused on the minutiae (tracking the exact release dates of records, naming every supporting musician and every semi-notable band coming out of the same scene), the book reads like an expanded wikipedia article. Large portions are dedicated to things that had at most circumstantial connections to Art's story, while significant chunks of his actual life - like almost the entire first decade of the 2000s - are relegated to several paragraphs saying basically "nothing particularly interesting happened during that time".

This is decent summary of Art Bergmann's career (he would certainly hate that word) as a musician, but it gives you barely a glimpse into Art the person. Perhaps this is the way he wanted it: staying out of the spotlight and letting his music do the talking. But for anyone looking to get to know the man behind the songs this book won't offer much insight.

[Gregory Klages · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that as an Art Bergmann fan, I was looking forward to reading this book about a too-long overlooked artist, about whom it is difficult to find much background information. This book certainly helps in that regard, providing some nice insights and anecdotes into his formative years, early bands, recording processes, etc.

Unfortunately, the book suffers from some weaknesses, too. Although the book is 'authorized' by Bergmann, it appears to have been based primarily on accounts provided by people other than Bergmann, and previously published interviews with Art. The authors cite three contemporary interviews with Bergmann. This may be a product of the artist himself having a book underway, and perhaps choosing to keep some of his best stories, insights, and jokes back for his own work.

On an entirely personal note, there was something about the writing that felt a little 'bloodless'. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it felt a little like a series of bits pulled from interviews without any organizing theme or underlying passion. You, however, might love it.

[Dusty Chipura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about the Vancouver punk scene from reading this book but there are also some people I know who worked with Art Bergmann who were not asked to have quotes in this book, not interviewed or consulted, who worked closely with him and who maybe had more to add to the story. The book did a good job painting a picture of the different eras of the Canadian music scene!

[Ellie O'Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great chronicle of those years in the Vancouver music scene, from the 70s to 90s. Bergmann has always been the greatest songwriter I've known. As our bodies wear out with age it's great to know that Art's spit and vinegar passion is adamantly carried by his lyrics.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maiku:


Fascinating glimpse
into Canada’s music
scene in this bio.