Exit Stage Left: The curious afterlife of pop stars

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What is rarely written about (and it is something that applies to all careers) is what happens to the pop star when their moment in the spotlight is over? There are many cautionary tales here, from survivors of the pop machine to bands that were put together by a group of mates who wanted to escape from school, and the narrow confines from what was expected of them in adult life. For fans of music books from David Hepworth, Pete Paphides, Bob Stanley and Craig Brown, as well as thought-provoking human interest stories like Moondust by Andrew Smith, and books by Jon Ronson, Louis Theroux and Stuart Maconie. There are two things in life you can never know for sure - the truth in flattery and the sex of a snake." Snagglepuss

The storyline in this was basically Casey moaning because she hadn’t gotten the lead in the play she was taking part in, and generally trying to find some other way to be in the spotlight, because if she wasn’t the lead in the play, then obviously she needed to find something that she was better at! Exit Stage Left is a funny and poignant book, drawing on Duerden’s considerable experience as a journalist and interviewer . . . he understands what motivates this strange bunch of people.’– Andy Miller, Spectator The desire for adulation is a light that never goes out. We live in a culture obsessed by the notion of fame - the heedless pursuit of it; the almost obligatory subsequent fallout. But what's it like to actually achieve it, and what happens when fame abruptly passes, and shifts, as it does, onto someone else? The message is timely: we should stand up for what we believe in, and fight against fear-mongering even if it costs us dearly. We cannot become fear itself - neither in politics, nor in private life. The book also plays with the idea of masks - masks actors wear in theaters to become characters, and masks people wear in public to become who they are expected to be. But what’s it like to actually achieve it, and what happens when fame abruptly passes, and shifts, as it does, onto someone else? This is the point at which pop stars are at their most heroic, because they don’t give up. They keep on striving, keep making music, and refuse simply to ebb away. Some sustain themselves on the nostalgia circuit, others continue to beaver away in the studio, no longer Abbey Road, perhaps, so much as the garden shed.

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The music industry is not what it once was and neither am I with regards my relationship to music as I have lost touch with who might be the up and comers these days. It could be argued this is a good thing as I think we're unlikely to get so many one hit wonders and curios as we had before. Snagglepuss also appeared in other Hanna-Barbera series, such as Yogi's Gang in 1973, Scooby's All-Star Laff-a-Lympics in 1977 and 1978, Yogi's Treasure Hunt in 1985. His "birthday" is September 30th. I don't know why the person who wrote this article before I edited it put that word in quotation marks. Plus, there’s plenty of memories of bands and singers you’ve probably forgotten, who may well be getting a boost on Spotify as you remember them and their songs.

A biting commentary on the Red Scare and its effect on the arts, as told through the lens of gay playwright Snagglepuss. Only in comics, folks. It's a bizarre set-up that works amazingly well thanks to the nuanced and poetic writing of Mark Russell. Every carefully chosen word that Snagglepuss says has a hidden meaning, or acts as a viewpoint that you might not have anticipated before. Even as everything falls apart around him, Snagglepuss is trying his best to be as authentic as possible in a world that wants him to be anything but who he is. It's a tale of underdogs (and pusses), and while it may not have a massively happy ending, that's kind of the point.With the Communists threatening to overrun America using the entertainment industry, the House Un-American Activities Committee calls Snagglepuss to testify. Snagglepuss, a gay playwright, has other ideas... Duerden finds fascinating layers of humanity, pathos, humour and wisdom in equal measure. A brilliant book, for artists and fans alike.’– Frank Turner

While this is not just quote after quote from his interviews, each chapter does use a mixture of quotes and paraphrasing to convey the story. I am more than happy with this style since just putting the interviews down as they were would have been far less organized. In other words, I appreciate Duerden helping each artist form a more cohesive whole to their narrative.There were times that it was all a little much. The combo of being a closeted gay (cat)man, probably a necessity in the '50's, and being accused of being a communist for creating subversive art, perhaps things were a bit diluted. Either one of these storylines would probably serve without the other. But it's enjoyable, the art is really good, and like I said, WAY better than it has any business being. Exit Stage Left is a funny and poignant book, drawing on Duerden’s considerable experience as a journalist and interviewer… he understands what motivates this strange bunch of people.’– Andy Miller, Spectator I enjoyed it - the sort of book you can dip in and out of with ease. I liked the diverse range of artists featured; I don’t think there are many books that collectively feature Don Mclean, Chumbawumba and Paul from S Club 7! This is the point at which pop stars are at their most heroic, because they don’t give up. They keep on striving, keep making music, and refuse simply to ebb away. Some sustain themselves on the nostalgia circuit, others continue to beaver away in the studio, no longer Abbey Road, perhaps, so much as the garden shed. But all of them, in their own individual ways, still dare to dream. Exit Stage Left was one of those books that I really enjoyed reading but didn’t actually like that much, if that makes any sense. There was a real addictive quality to it for sure, but it was also frustrating for me.