Adventures of a Waterboy

Adventures of a Waterboy

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  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-09-11 08:53:09
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Mike Scott
  • ISBN:1911036351
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

"I was six or seven when I noticed the music in my head。 It was there in the classroom, on the football pitch, at the dinner table, when I went to sleep and when I woke up。 And it’s continued ever since。"

As a teenager in Scotland, Mike Scott played in punk and garage bands, hitchhiked to see Bob Dylan play, and scammed his way into Patti Smith’s inner circle during an eye-opening weekend in London。 In 1983 he formed The Waterboys with an ever-rotating cast of collaborators including The Fellow Who Fiddles (Steve Wickham) and The Human Saxophone (Anthony Thistlethwaite) and soon found international success with the "big music" sound of songs like Don’t Bang The Drum and The Whole Of The Moon

In 1986 Scott travelled to Ireland to spend a week with Wickham and ended up staying for six years。 During that time he developed a deep interest in roots and folk music, resulting in The Waterboys’ best-selling album, Fisherman’s Blues。 After scaling the heights of success and moving the band to New York, he followed another fascination and went to live in the Findhorn spiritual community in Northern Scotland。

Adventures Of A Waterboy is an evocative memoir by one of the great British songwriters of the past four decades。 It is an honest and revealing work, by turns heartfelt and funny, that tells the story of a cocky Scot with a sound in his head and his lifelong efforts to reproduce that sound - a story that runs from teenage fandom to international stardom, from Scotland to New York City and beyond。 This remastered edition adds ten "extra scenes" written and handpicked by Scott, plus a selection of rare images not included in the original book。

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Reviews

Ellamae

This book is a real page turner。

Robert Quinn

An easy read。 Ends a bit abruptly。

Robert Lawson

Possibly the best rock autobiography I've ever read。 Incredible use of language。 Possibly the best rock autobiography I've ever read。 Incredible use of language。 。。。more

Nick

Probably the best rock biography I have ever read。

Eric

More info about The Waterboys and Mike Scott’s songwriting process than I thought possible。 I enjoyed this, but it was very tedious to read at times。 Maybe too much focus on Scott’s obsession with sound and personnel?

Pat

More of a memoir than an autobiography。 This is a rare and insightful account of Mike Scott continually trying to capture the music that he hears in his head。 Scott's exploration of his creative journey from This Is The Sea (the first 2 albums are unfortunately glossed over) to A Rock in A weary Land is beautifully written - intimate, funny, fascinating and as poetic as you'd expect。 I've been a fan of his music for 35 years and found this an absolute joy to read。 More of a memoir than an autobiography。 This is a rare and insightful account of Mike Scott continually trying to capture the music that he hears in his head。 Scott's exploration of his creative journey from This Is The Sea (the first 2 albums are unfortunately glossed over) to A Rock in A weary Land is beautifully written - intimate, funny, fascinating and as poetic as you'd expect。 I've been a fan of his music for 35 years and found this an absolute joy to read。 。。。more

Joe Green

Great memoir from Waterboys founder。 Very under valued band。

Shawn Manning

An excellent autobiography。 His prose strongly echos his lyrics。 The book also provides great insight as to what was going on in his life as albums were being produced。

Lawrence Plummer

First exposed to the Waterboys by KEXP, Cheryl Waters loaned me her copy of this book。 This was just before getting to see them at the Showbox, courtesy of KEXP。 This was an extremely fascinating read about Mike Scott and the growth of his band。 Very enjoyable and a great read。

Jeff Smith

wonderful insight into Mike Scott and his musical journey plus we get to meet the Fellow who Fiddles and the Human Saxophone。。 try the album 'Fisherman's Blues' for starters wonderful insight into Mike Scott and his musical journey plus we get to meet the Fellow who Fiddles and the Human Saxophone。。 try the album 'Fisherman's Blues' for starters 。。。more

John Simes

This is an exceptional book compared to most rock autobiographies。 It is brilliantly written and unfailingly honest and details the early history of Mike Scott and the Waterboys particularly the making of the fisherman's Blues album。 It is so vividly written and compelling that I'm going to give it 5 stars I strongly recommend it。 This is an exceptional book compared to most rock autobiographies。 It is brilliantly written and unfailingly honest and details the early history of Mike Scott and the Waterboys particularly the making of the fisherman's Blues album。 It is so vividly written and compelling that I'm going to give it 5 stars I strongly recommend it。 。。。more

Sean Reeves

One of the most enjoyable books I've read。 One of the most enjoyable books I've read。 。。。more

Opalfruit

An very readable and entertaining dip into the world of Mike Scott, his music and his influences。

Bumbierītis

Loved the pictures

Mike Boutot

I've been a fan of the Waterboys since I saw the video for "The Return of Pan" on the old alternative music show 120 Minutes back when MTV used to show actual music videos。 Like many I was surprised when their style changed suddenly from alt-rock to traditional Irish music / rock fusion, but that only exposed me to genres of music I had never been really into。 Anyway, I was looking on Amazon for some of the Waterboys' catalogue of previously unreleased material when I saw that the lead singer an I've been a fan of the Waterboys since I saw the video for "The Return of Pan" on the old alternative music show 120 Minutes back when MTV used to show actual music videos。 Like many I was surprised when their style changed suddenly from alt-rock to traditional Irish music / rock fusion, but that only exposed me to genres of music I had never been really into。 Anyway, I was looking on Amazon for some of the Waterboys' catalogue of previously unreleased material when I saw that the lead singer and driving force of the band, Mike Scott, had released an autobiography。 I was prepared to pass it by but was intrigued by the high ratings and positive reviews。 I figured that was just Waterboys fans who would love anything with his name on it but review after review assured me that this book was more than expected so I took a chance and ordered it。 This is without a doubt one of the best rock autobiographies I've ever read, and just a damn fun read regardless。 For those not familiar with the band, the Waterboys came out of Scotland and England in the early 80s in the "new wave" of music at that time。 Even then they were known for their "literate" and intelligent lyrics written by Scott。 His writing skill doesn't end with song lyrics, as this book is a fascinating and a real page turner throughout。 Mike Scott paints a vivid and entertaining picture of what it was like to be a kid from Scotland trying to have a successful band in the 80s。 He peppers the memoir with fun anecdotes of hanging out with his contemporaries like Bono just as U2 was hitting it big (and wondering how bottles of champagne always seemed to magically appear when he was around) and dragging himself into the favorite breakfast spot of up-and-coming bands in London on a Sunday morning after weekend gigs and eating eggs and sausages with A Flock of Seagulls, whose hair was, as always, sprayed into solid asymmetric shapes。 One of the most insightful parts of the book is the honest and personal account of how Mike Scott fell in love with traditional Irish music and took the huge risk of changing styles just as the band had signed a lucrative multi album deal with a major label。 This is where, in the late 80's, he took the band to Spiddal on Ireland's Atlantic coast, rented a dowdy old mansion, brought in pub musicians from the area, and over a few months produced "Fisherman's Blues," a true classic and hybrid of Irish "trad" and rock。 While this lost many Waterboys fans and arguably tanked a promising alternative rock career in the U。S。, by following his passion Scott produced a true masterpiece that is still recognized today。 The book continues on with the problems of trying to follow up a critically acclaimed album, issues with trying to balance friendships in the band with maintaining the integrity of the music, and Scott's own spiritual journey and retreat into a religious community right at the moment of his success。 If you're a Waterboys fan this book is a must have。 Even if you're not though, this book is well written and surprisingly engaging and would be a fun read for anyone interested in the experiences of a creative musician trying to balance integrity with success。 。。。more

Marite Juul

Mike Scott kan virkelig skrive, det er det ingen tvil om。 Har skriver godt om musikken, men jeg ble litt lei av å lese om rekruttering og sparking av en hærskare musikere, produsenter og managere。 Av en eller annen grunn velger Scott å la være å skrive om oppstarten til The Waterboys, det skulle jeg gjerne lest om。

Jim Dunedin

‘Adventures of a Waterboy’, Mike Scott。 A musical talent who not only wrote some of the best literate and mystic lyrics and tunes of his time, but also transcribed the poetry of W。B。 Yeats into an astonishing and acclaimed album (‘An Appointment With Mr Yeats’)。 So, expectations were high for this one。 Disappoint he does not。 A frank and introspective look back on his life, the various steps and stumbles leading to success and later regeneration's of musical output。 He recognizes mistakes with b ‘Adventures of a Waterboy’, Mike Scott。 A musical talent who not only wrote some of the best literate and mystic lyrics and tunes of his time, but also transcribed the poetry of W。B。 Yeats into an astonishing and acclaimed album (‘An Appointment With Mr Yeats’)。 So, expectations were high for this one。 Disappoint he does not。 A frank and introspective look back on his life, the various steps and stumbles leading to success and later regeneration's of musical output。 He recognizes mistakes with band-mates, trusting the wrong advisers, and above all trying to ethically and philosophically find a way of life that can coexist with his rock and roll world。 from my Medium review see:https://medium。com/music-voices/the-r。。。 。。。more

Keith

I Was Recommended This Book By A Friend Who Doesn't Even Like The Waterboys。It Is Absolutely Beautifully Written。Mike Certainly Has A Way With Words。For Anyone Involved In The Music Scene In Dublin & Ireland,From The Mid Eighties Through Most Of The Years That Followed,This Book Is A Must Read。And No,You Don't Have To Be A Huge Fan Of The Band To Thoroughy Enjoy This Excellent Book。I'd Go So Far As To Say It's The Best Music Biography I've Read To Date。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 And That's Saying Something I Was Recommended This Book By A Friend Who Doesn't Even Like The Waterboys。It Is Absolutely Beautifully Written。Mike Certainly Has A Way With Words。For Anyone Involved In The Music Scene In Dublin & Ireland,From The Mid Eighties Through Most Of The Years That Followed,This Book Is A Must Read。And No,You Don't Have To Be A Huge Fan Of The Band To Thoroughy Enjoy This Excellent Book。I'd Go So Far As To Say It's The Best Music Biography I've Read To Date。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 And That's Saying Something ! 。。。more

Timothy Swartout

I wish it didn't end the narrative in 2000。 I would have loved to have some insight into the more recent albums。 I wish it didn't end the narrative in 2000。 I would have loved to have some insight into the more recent albums。 。。。more

Tara

I love Waterboys songs but a whole book written in the style of their lyrics is a bit much。 So many people are mentioned in the text it is difficult to keep track of them all and the book would have been enhanced by the explanations left until the appendix actually being in the text。

Christopher Conn

I've been a Waterboys fan since the 80's when I was givena copy of the album Fisherman's Blues。 We saw them performin Austin in April and I came across his autobiography aroundthe same time。 I've really enjoyed it。This is a great book for Waterboys fans。 I feel that I know Scottreally well now and how he came to create his music。 I'm looking forward to listening to the albums I have and buying more。 I've been a Waterboys fan since the 80's when I was givena copy of the album Fisherman's Blues。 We saw them performin Austin in April and I came across his autobiography aroundthe same time。 I've really enjoyed it。This is a great book for Waterboys fans。 I feel that I know Scottreally well now and how he came to create his music。 I'm looking forward to listening to the albums I have and buying more。 。。。more

Dave Glorioso

I love Mike Scott and his search for the light。 He is a true Bard, a musical poet。 He has sought truth and shares it through his brilliant music。This book details his adventures。 Mike Scott is not your typical rock star。 He travels to mystical places in search of something better。 Something better may mean love, music or spiritual enlightenment。This book is a must for Waterboys fans。Mike Scott allowed us into his spirit, his music and life is more meaningful because of it。Find the pan within and I love Mike Scott and his search for the light。 He is a true Bard, a musical poet。 He has sought truth and shares it through his brilliant music。This book details his adventures。 Mike Scott is not your typical rock star。 He travels to mystical places in search of something better。 Something better may mean love, music or spiritual enlightenment。This book is a must for Waterboys fans。Mike Scott allowed us into his spirit, his music and life is more meaningful because of it。Find the pan within and hear the big music!If you want to see the whole of the moon, read this book! 。。。more

Tim

Charming memoir from the lead singer of one of my favorite bands。 The descriptions of growing up in Scotland and living in Ireland gave more depth to the songs。 Recommend listening to the music while reading for the fully immersed experience。

Nic

Excellent (though the last couple of chapters do start to drag a little bit)。

Natasha

I feel this book basically gives an explanation to where The Waterboys' ever-changing sound came from。 Does what it says on the cover - a wonderful read about Mike Scott's adventures。 He's a really interesting guy。 Lost interest in a couple of parts, hence only four stars, but not for long。 I'm pretty grateful for this insight into his life, and he became more than just a musical influence to me after I read it - after reading I kinda wanted to be more adventurous。 I feel this book basically gives an explanation to where The Waterboys' ever-changing sound came from。 Does what it says on the cover - a wonderful read about Mike Scott's adventures。 He's a really interesting guy。 Lost interest in a couple of parts, hence only four stars, but not for long。 I'm pretty grateful for this insight into his life, and he became more than just a musical influence to me after I read it - after reading I kinda wanted to be more adventurous。 。。。more

Stephen

The Replacements Trivia:1。)"Red red wine on Sunday。 Just like Martin said。"This is a reference to Martin Zellar of the Gear Daddies。 The story, as Martin himself related it, was that they, Paul and Martin, were at a party once talking about visiting their grandparents when they were young。 Martin told Paul that every Sunday he would go to his grandparents and be allowed to drink a glass of wine for the occasion。The verdict, or edict, after scientifically running it through the Daniel Meter Tubes The Replacements Trivia:1。)"Red red wine on Sunday。 Just like Martin said。"This is a reference to Martin Zellar of the Gear Daddies。 The story, as Martin himself related it, was that they, Paul and Martin, were at a party once talking about visiting their grandparents when they were young。 Martin told Paul that every Sunday he would go to his grandparents and be allowed to drink a glass of wine for the occasion。The verdict, or edict, after scientifically running it through the Daniel Meter Tubes, is as follows: "Probably true。"2。)"Kids Don't Follow" was a response song that Paul Westerberg wrote after hearing U2's breakthrough hit "I Will Follow。"The verdict, or edict, after scientifically running it through the Daniel Meter Tubes, is as follows: "Highly, if not entirely, doubtable。"3。)Keanu Reeves gained 23 pounds for his role as quarterback Shane Falco。The verdict, or edict, after scientifically running it through the Daniel Meter Tubes, is as follows: "Absolutely true。 And that's acting, my local community theater friends!" 。。。more

Ciaran Finnegan

If you were a fan of The Waterboys in the 80s this is a fascinating glimpse of what you remember and what happened after 'Dream Harder'。。。 If you were a fan of The Waterboys in the 80s this is a fascinating glimpse of what you remember and what happened after 'Dream Harder'。。。 。。。more

Paul Gleason

Like Patti Smith and Bob Dylan, Mike Scott is equally excellent at writing prose narrative as he is at writing songs。 His lyrical prose mirrors perfectly the words that he writes for The Waterboys。 Scott's a Romantic, a mystic in the tradition of Yeats, Van Morrison, Rimbaud, and Patti Smith - and his prose flows like a Romantic river whose source is a supreme combination of his heart and the (to quote one of his songs) "Spirit" that binds us together。The book touches on Scott's boyhood and expe Like Patti Smith and Bob Dylan, Mike Scott is equally excellent at writing prose narrative as he is at writing songs。 His lyrical prose mirrors perfectly the words that he writes for The Waterboys。 Scott's a Romantic, a mystic in the tradition of Yeats, Van Morrison, Rimbaud, and Patti Smith - and his prose flows like a Romantic river whose source is a supreme combination of his heart and the (to quote one of his songs) "Spirit" that binds us together。The book touches on Scott's boyhood and experiences as an adolescent punk。 His trip to meet Patti Smith is especially enlightening。 He took this trip when he was a sprightly teenager energized by the rebellious prospect of punk。But the main focus on the book is on Scott's career from the mid-1980s to 1999 or thereabouts。 I was heartened to learn about Scott's interest in magic, mythology, spirituality, and Rimbaud。 The chapters on the artistic triumphs of This Is the Sea and Fisherman's Blues are fascinating and detailed (although I wanted an explanation of the relationship between Irish chord progressions and Indian modal music; I still can't figure out why the chord progression of "When Ye Go Away" works)。Scott unflinchingly comments on his commercial difficulties in the 1990s。 I'm happy for him that he sought spiritual solace during these years。 He had the good sense to follow his heart and seek spiritual oneness - perhaps this is what makes him seem so humble and his music so egoless that it attains the universal。I would like to have learned more about Scott's understanding of Yeats, especially considering The Waterboys' 2011 release, An Appointment with Mr。 Yeats。 But the Yeats record didn't fit the focus of the book。 。。。more

SpatialH

This reads like Mike is telling you his life story over a beer in a pub。 He brings you along, revealing his creative process at different stages, when it worked for him and when it didn't。 I think anyone who appreciates music, or any other creative endeavor, will recognize the inner dialogue that brings a person from self-centered egotist, to empathetic and self-critical, back around to confident and in the zone。 Well written, every Waterboys fan should read it。 I didn't want it to end。P。S。 I de This reads like Mike is telling you his life story over a beer in a pub。 He brings you along, revealing his creative process at different stages, when it worked for him and when it didn't。 I think anyone who appreciates music, or any other creative endeavor, will recognize the inner dialogue that brings a person from self-centered egotist, to empathetic and self-critical, back around to confident and in the zone。 Well written, every Waterboys fan should read it。 I didn't want it to end。P。S。 I definitely spent time on YouTube looking up the songs and concerts and other bands he spoke about while I read。 What a treat。 。。。more

Chris Harris

As good with prose as with songs