A new Paul Kelly biography is out.
Stuart Coupe, the revered music writer who’s penned quintessentially Australian books such as Roadies: The Secret History of Australian Rock’n’Roll, The Promoters: Inside Stories from the Australian Rock Industry and Gudinski: The Godfather of Australian Rock’n’Roll, is back with another adventure, this time diving deep into the Paul Kelly story.
Until now, no-one has written the definitive biography of arguably Australia’s most respected songwriter, but through the trusty lens of Stuart Coupe, Kelly’s former manager, a crucial period in Australian music history is documented.
Via Coupe’s endlessly-erudite appraise, the story begins when Kelly first picked up a guitar in his late teens; growing up as one of nine children in Adelaide and then going on to establishing himself as an artist who would pen songs varnished with immeasurable timelessness.
Kelly has become known for his relationships and generosity. A man who’s been represented by upward of eight bands across his career, Kelly has always thrived on collaboration and the ability to bring others along, to share in a Kelly journey that’s been as much about growth and education as it has been about plaudits and success.
From Paul Kelly’s debut record, Talk, alongside his band, The Dots, through to the seminal Gossip, Under the Sun and So Much Water So Close To Home, the Kelly name is eternal. And thanks to Stuart Coupe, music-lovers the world over are welcomed along for a Paul Kelly pilgrimage like none other.
Paul Kelly: The man, the music and the life in between is out now via Hachette Australia. Grab a copy of the biography via Booktopia.
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