A controversial and beloved musician, Nigel Kennedy recently pulled out of a concert at the Royal Albert Hall after Classic FM prevented him from performing a Jimi Hendrix tribute
A fascinating and candid memoir with previously unpublished photographs from Kennedy’s personal collection
Includes revealing interviews and many first-person accounts published for the first time
'My whole life has been spent breaking down barriers between people and this book is proof of that!’ Nigel Kennedy
Nigel Kennedy changed the course of classical music in the late 1980s with his interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. He was revolutionary: in his performance and presentation; and in his technique and open-minded attitude.
A natural boundary-pusher and musical adventurer, Kennedy blew minds – and sales records – as he became the best-selling violinist of all time. Instead of an introduction, Nigel opens with a tongue-in-cheek ‘Warning’: readers should beware of his politically incorrect writing style and his frank take on the BBC, Brexit, record companies, the Bavarian Police and any other ‘self-appointed wielders of power’.
Nigel Kennedy: Uncensored is structured like a musical performance with ‘Interludes’, ‘Outros’ and an ‘Encore’ separating the regular chapters, which cover Nigel’s life story from his humble beginnings and scholarship to the newly created Yehudi Menuhin School – and then New York at The Juilliard School – to his flourishing career and breakthrough as a world-class superstar.
Nigel writes of his interests outside music – boxing and football – which provide inspiration and balance to his creative output (on Aston Villa: ‘A true blessing for me to have an outlet in which I was surrounded by normal, honest, hard-working people who did “proper jobs”.’) as well as a run-in with the Metropolitan Police after a noise complaint at an after-show all-star jam. ‘These guys (the Met) were cheerful, they dealt with the situation and didn’t escalate the problem where there wasn’t one. 10/10!’
This is a wondrous and candid memoir where Kennedy does not pull punches. From insights into his classical work and collaborations with rock musicians, including Robert Plant, the late drummer Michael Lee, Killing Joke singer Jaz Coleman, and producers Eddie Kramer (Jimmy Hendrix) and John Leckie (The Stone Roses), Kennedy reveals his mischievous side such as a messy late night kitchen session with Gary Lineker.
A truly compelling, hilarious and a down-to-earth memoir, which is one of the must-read books of the year.
BOOK ISBN
9781781558560
FORMAT
234 x 156 mm
BINDING
Hardback
PAGES
328 pages
PUBLICATION DATE
25 November 2021
TERRITORY
World
ILLUSTRATIONS
81 colour and 25 black & white photographs
Nigel Kennedy changed the course of classical music in the late 1980s with his interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. He was revolutionary: in his performance and presentation; and in his technique and open-minded attitude.
**THIS BOOK WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR DISPATCH IN OCTOBER 2024** (Please refer to the Terms and Conditions of Pre-Order)
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A controversial and beloved musician, Nigel Kennedy recently pulled out of a concert at the Royal Albert Hall after Classic FM prevented him from performing a Jimi Hendrix tribute
A fascinating and candid memoir with previously unpublished photographs from Kennedy’s personal collection
Includes revealing interviews and many first-person accounts published for the first time
'My whole life has been spent breaking down barriers between people and this book is proof of that!’ Nigel Kennedy
Nigel Kennedy changed the course of classical music in the late 1980s with his interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. He was revolutionary: in his performance and presentation; and in his technique and open-minded attitude.
A natural boundary-pusher and musical adventurer, Kennedy blew minds – and sales records – as he became the best-selling violinist of all time. Instead of an introduction, Nigel opens with a tongue-in-cheek ‘Warning’: readers should beware of his politically incorrect writing style and his frank take on the BBC, Brexit, record companies, the Bavarian Police and any other ‘self-appointed wielders of power’.
Nigel Kennedy: Uncensored is structured like a musical performance with ‘Interludes’, ‘Outros’ and an ‘Encore’ separating the regular chapters, which cover Nigel’s life story from his humble beginnings and scholarship to the newly created Yehudi Menuhin School – and then New York at The Juilliard School – to his flourishing career and breakthrough as a world-class superstar.
Nigel writes of his interests outside music – boxing and football – which provide inspiration and balance to his creative output (on Aston Villa: ‘A true blessing for me to have an outlet in which I was surrounded by normal, honest, hard-working people who did “proper jobs”.’) as well as a run-in with the Metropolitan Police after a noise complaint at an after-show all-star jam. ‘These guys (the Met) were cheerful, they dealt with the situation and didn’t escalate the problem where there wasn’t one. 10/10!’
This is a wondrous and candid memoir where Kennedy does not pull punches. From insights into his classical work and collaborations with rock musicians, including Robert Plant, the late drummer Michael Lee, Killing Joke singer Jaz Coleman, and producers Eddie Kramer (Jimmy Hendrix) and John Leckie (The Stone Roses), Kennedy reveals his mischievous side such as a messy late night kitchen session with Gary Lineker.
A truly compelling, hilarious and a down-to-earth memoir, which is one of the must-read books of the year.
[custom_html] A truly original memoir that is playful, unconventional and carefully executed as his music. [/custom_html]
[smallDescription] A truly original memoir that is playful, unconventional and carefully executed as his music. [/smallDescription]
[tabs] [tab title="AUTHOR(S)"]Nigel Kennedy changed the course of classical music in the late 1980s with his interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. He was revolutionary: in his performance and presentation; and in his technique and open-minded attitude.