Cruel To Be Kind

Even the Jesus of Cool needs a St. Paul to spread his gospel and Will Birch is more than up to the task in Cruel to Be Kind. In this intimate, engrossing, and eye-opening biography of Nick Lowe, Birch reveals deep insights into the man and his work. It’s a book as elegant as one of Lowe’s songs: filled with just the right combination of pathos, humor, and wit, told with an economy of style, and nary a wasted word or sentence. Absolutely brilliant * Bob Mehr, author of the New York Times bestseller Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements *
Brilliant biography of an undersung late-blooming treasure … subtly profound as well as wickedly entertaining, this biography does its subject scintillating justice * Mojo *
Birch also knows a good Spinal-Tappish anecdote when he hears one and, drawing on Lowe’s formidable skill as a raconteur, this book is stuffed with them * Spectator *

Will Birch is a former drummer and songwriter with the Kursaal Flyers (‘Little Does She Know’) and The Records (‘Starry Eyes’). During the 1980s he moved into record production, working with such acts as Any Trouble, Dr Feelgood, Hollies, Billy Bremner (Rockpile) and the Long Ryders. Throughout the 1990s Birch wrote many articles for MOJO and other music magazines. He is the author of No Sleep Till Canvey Island: The Great Pub Rock Revolution, and Ian Dury: The Definitive Biography. He lives near London.

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