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Spaceships Over Glasgow

Mogwai, Mayhem and Misspent Youth

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Spaceships Over Glasgow

By: Stuart Braithwaite
Narrated by: John Niven, Stuart Braithwaite
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About this listen

 Born the son of Scotland's last telescope-maker, Stuart Braithwaite was perhaps always destined for a life of psychedelic adventuring on the furthest frontiers of noise in MOGWAI, one of the best loved and most ground-breaking post-rock bands of the past three decades.

Modestly delinquent at school, Stuart developed an early appetite for 'alternative' music in what might arguably be described as its halcyon days, the late '80s. Discovering bands like Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, and Jesus and Mary Chain, and attending seminal gigs (often incongruously incognito as a young girl with long hair to compensate for his babyface features) by The Cure and Nirvana, Stuart compensated for his indifference to school work with a dedication to rock and roll . . . and of course the fledgling hedonism that comes with it.

Spaceships Over Glasgow is a love song to live rock and roll; to the passionate abandon we've all felt in the crowd (and some of us, if lucky enough, from the stage) at a truly incendiary gig. It is also the story of a life lived on the edge; of the high-times and hazardous pit-stops of international touring with a band of misfits and miscreants.

This unabridged audio download, narrated by the author, features an audiobook exclusive interview with author and screenwriter John Niven. Entertainment & Celebrities Music Celebrity
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Listening to Stuart narrate brings extra brilliance to an already amazing story. Reliving my own youth thru this journey and learning so much about how amazing the journey for them has been. Mogwai between my ears has carried me in all sorts of way in life and this brings colour to the amazing
music.

Insightful, entertaining, hilarious and delightful.

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Well written and structured, easy listening. I’m a Glaswegian so I really enjoyed hearing Stuart tell his story. I love how this band have always stuck to there style and it obviously paid off through believe , determination and patience.
politically I didn’t always agree with the author, but he doesn’t push anything down your throat either.
I would have like more insight into the forming of some of mogwais most monumental tracks. But suppose let the music speak for itself .
All in all, This story strengthened my appreciation to this great Scottish band and one man’s passion and drive behind the making of it. Reminds me of the power of being around open minded adults at an early age early, that produce significant positive outcomes that can change a life forever.
What Marvellous parents he had.
Bravo Stuart


Good story , another dimension to Mogwai

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I'll preface any criticism of Braithwaite's book by acknowledging that his narration throughout is excellent – reading your own material is notoriously tricky and he pulls it off very well – and by saying that his evocation of his pre-Mogwai childhood is a real delight. The perspective of a young man seeing the bands he loves for the first time, meeting people and making his way is beautifully executed. However, once the early Mogwai days are covered, the narrative descends into a seemingly endless chemical and alcoholic bacchanal  – these events are no doubt true/close to - but the fact is, they're dull. Dull as dishwater. I don't care how wasted Braithwaite got at Coachella or Reading, how hard he was tripping watching 'The Matrix; or what happened on Elastica's tour bus. It was a seemingly endless cavalcade of cliched rock excess. Yawn. Publishing house Editor please edit, it's your job.  I've loved Mogwai forever, seen them live plenty, have their records. This book didn't change that in the least. One of the greatest bands of the last 25 years. But getting wasted is dull. Evidence lies here.

Promising opening falls away to dull excess

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