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Post by Lord Emsworth on Apr 6, 2023 6:52:31 GMT
Saw DMP talk about this book last night 69 Exhibition Road: Twelve True-Life Tales from the Fag End of Punk, Porn & Performance Wans't aware of her but she was in Rema Rema and Psychic TV, and was an early punk scenster I bought a copy of the book What she read suggested it is not particularly well written but she was right in there in the early days. Was at Notre Dame, mates with Jordan, went out with Mick Jones and Andy Warren etc etc I'll let you know what it's like  Published by Strange Attractor which is always a good sign... strangeattractor.co.uk/shoppe/69-exhibition-road/
About 69 Exhibition Road
A vibrant, wry, and engaging account of life as an adventurous, queer young person in late 1970s London discovering themselves as an artist, and an individual.
While working as a photographer’s model, gallery usher, and exotic dancer, Dorothy “Max” Prior witnessed the births of Adam and the Ants, The Monochrome Set, The Sex Pistols, and Throbbing Gristle, as well as drumming in her own cult band Rema Rema and recording with Industrial Records.
Her exuberant commentaries, each presented as a stand-alone episode, illustrate the multilayered nature of the London music, art, and fashion worlds of the late 1970s, and the overlap between the early punk scene with the city’s rapidly evolving club and queer cultures.
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Post by doug61 on Apr 7, 2023 10:34:16 GMT
Yeah, I posted about it elsewhere, I'm reading it at the moment. She's a talented writer. It's done as various "snapshots" through the period. I'm enjoying it. Of course she had a single with Gen and Alex Fergusson that changes hand for quite a few bob nowdays.  |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Apr 7, 2023 17:07:19 GMT
Thanks Doug
I'll be starting sometime fairly soon - looking forward to getting into it
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Post by doug61 on Apr 17, 2023 12:20:56 GMT
Saw DMP talk about this book last night 69 Exhibition Road: Twelve True-Life Tales from the Fag End of Punk, Porn & PerformanceWans't aware of her but she was in Rema Rema and Psychic TV, and was an early punk scenster I bought a copy of the book What she read suggested it is not particularly well written but she was right in there in the early days. Was at Notre Dame, mates with Jordan, went out with Mick Jones and Andy Warren etc etc I'll let you know what it's like Published by Strange Attractor which is always a good sign... strangeattractor.co.uk/shoppe/69-exhibition-road/
About 69 Exhibition Road
A vibrant, wry, and engaging account of life as an adventurous, queer young person in late 1970s London discovering themselves as an artist, and an individual.
While working as a photographer’s model, gallery usher, and exotic dancer, Dorothy “Max” Prior witnessed the births of Adam and the Ants, The Monochrome Set, The Sex Pistols, and Throbbing Gristle, as well as drumming in her own cult band Rema Rema and recording with Industrial Records.
Her exuberant commentaries, each presented as a stand-alone episode, illustrate the multilayered nature of the London music, art, and fashion worlds of the late 1970s, and the overlap between the early punk scene with the city’s rapidly evolving club and queer cultures.
Finished it and enjoyed it and the "snapshot" nature of the sections ignoring time lines makes it different to conventional memoirs You feel at times she was more "periphery" to the scene and attempting to big up her believed state of a muse to certain people, but then again it is a voice from outside the norm of the usual muso or fashion punk we normally hear from. Has a nice "where are they now" section also which is always good to see. I do think they rather take the piss with the pricing of these books though, they do small limited runs to what they know is a particular demographic and charge over the odds as they know it's a one shot deal, with no chance of a reprint happening. It would be a great read at a tenner but £20? |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Apr 17, 2023 15:16:13 GMT
Thanks Doug. I'll add my thoughts to this thread when I read it
Like you, I am most interested in hearing a new voice and, like you, I suspect she may big up her contribution
And yes, very expensive book, which is a shame
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jul 13, 2023 13:45:57 GMT
Finished it and enjoyed it and the "snapshot" nature of the sections ignoring time lines makes it different to conventional memoirs You feel at times she was more "periphery" to the scene and attempting to big up her believed state of a muse to certain people, but then again it is a voice from outside the norm of the usual muso or fashion punk we normally hear from. Has a nice "where are they now" section also which is always good to see. I do think they rather take the piss with the pricing of these books though, they do small limited runs to what they know is a particular demographic and charge over the odds as they know it's a one shot deal, with no chance of a reprint happening. It would be a great read at a tenner but £20? I'm having a similar reaction Still early days and really enjoying the chapters about her life pre-punk |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jul 20, 2023 9:53:29 GMT
Finished
I heard Dorothy Max Prior talk about her memoir 69 Exhibition Road: Twelve True-Life Tales from the Fag End of Punk, Porn & Performance (2023) and was inspired to buy a copy.
Well worth a read it is too, especially if you're interested in the punk era in London. Max's story starts in earnest in that fascinating immediate pre punk era when changes were afoot but the scene, such as it was, had no label and was fairly amorphous, happening at the intersection of fashion, the gay scene, music and art.
Max was a witness of, and participant in, the emergence of Rema Rema, Adam & The Ants, The Monochrome Set, Throbbing Gristle and The El Trains, in addition to being on hand to witness early Pistols shows, hang out at Louises, Billys, Gaz's Rockin Blues, the ICA and more. She also worked as a drummer, strip tease artist in London pubs, amongst other activities. There's plenty I haven't mentioned, she also kept hold of lots of photos and interesting ephemera so her book is illustrated with great photos, book covers, reviews and adverts.
It's also published by the wonderful Strange Attractor Press. What's not to love?
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Jul 20, 2023 9:54:38 GMT
Now available on Amazon for £12 so quite affordable. As Doug mentions above RRP is an eye watering £25
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Post by Billy Idle on Jul 28, 2023 7:35:54 GMT
Thanks .
Sounds like an interesting read .
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