PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- I mainly know of Stuart Coupe from his radio show on 2SER, Dirt Music, and was aware of his work as a music journo going back many years (and think I saw him on a panel at BigSound 2010 (I was a punter - not a panellist), where I also bumped into Gudinski). So it was a revelation learning of his journey as, armed only with passion and hustle, he eked out a career from most areas within the arena of music - journalist, artist management, recording label, publicity, touring, retail. The memoir gives glimpses into the world of the 80s onwards, especially Sydney, and there are plenty of stories of questionable behaviour, spats and being on the wrong foot and plenty of names, both big and niche. There's a personal toll exacted and it certainly gives an insight into how home-spun the industry could (can?) be. I became aware of roots artist Chris Whitley late in his short life and there's a fascinating story of a tour that Coupe promoted, which illustrated just how chaotic the life of a troubled troubadour can be. Craig
Stuart Coupe has worked as a journalist, author, editor, manager, record label director, radio presenter, publicist and tour promoter. After growing up in Launceston, Tasmania he attended Flinders University in Adelaide where he became editor of the university magazine, Empire Times, and founded the music magazine Roadrunner. In late 1978 he was poached by Rock Australia Magazine (RAM) and moved to Sydney. After 18 months at RAM he became the music writer for the Sun Herald for the next decade as well as freelancing for countless publications ranging from the National Times to Dolly. Stuart is the only Australian to interview Bob Dylan twice and has conducted thousands of conversations with musicians from around the globe. He estimates that he has had in excess of eight million words published over the years. Stuart also managed the Hoodoo Gurus, and then Paul Kelly through the period when Kelly recorded the quartet of classic albums Post, Gossip, Under the Sun and So Much Water, So Close to Home. As a tour promoter Stuart was responsible for Australian tours by musicians Lucinda Williams, Link Wray, Dick Dale, Harry Dean Stanton, Rosanne Cash, Mary-Chapin Carpenter and others. He also promoted events and tours with authors James Ellroy, Ed McBain, Lawrence Block, Elmore Leonard and PJ O'Rourke. After a stint co-presenting the album show on 2MMM in the 1980s, Stuart has spent the past fifteen years presenting a weekly show on FBi radio in Sydney. For five years he has also presented the nationally syndicated radio show entitled 'Dirt Music' on radio 2SER and 'Wildcard' on FBI radio. He is also a frequent commentator on radio, TV and in print media on matters relating to music and popular culture. Stuart has frequently worked as a publicist, starting with The Clash, The Cramps and other international artists. He currently runs Stuart Coupe Publicity with a wide range of clients from the independent music world in Australia as well as international touring artists. He was a founder and director of Laughing Outlaw Records which released music from predominantly new and emerging Australian artists. For 17 years Stuart was the crime fiction book reviewer of the Sydney Morning Herald. He also founded and edited Mean Streets magazine, co-edited three crime fiction anthologies and co-founded the Ned Kelly Awards. In 2005 he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Ned Kelly Award for his contribution to the crime fiction genre. Among the books he has written, edited or collaborated on are The New Music (1980), The New Rock 'n' Roll (1983), The Promoters (2003), Gudinski (2015), Tex (2017). Roadies (2018) and Paul Kelly (2020). Stuart, the father of four adult children, lives in the inner west of Sydney. He likes talking about Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and the Sydney Swans, not necessarily in that order.
ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- I mainly know of Stuart Coupe from his radio show on 2SER, Dirt Music, and was aware of his work as a music journo going back many years (and think I saw him on a panel at BigSound 2010 (I was a punter - not a panellist), where I also bumped into Gudinski). So it was a revelation learning of his journey as, armed only with passion and hustle, he eked out a career from most areas within the arena of music - journalist, artist management, recording label, publicity, touring, retail. The memoir gives glimpses into the world of the 80s onwards, especially Sydney, and there are plenty of stories of questionable behaviour, spats and being on the wrong foot and plenty of names, both big and niche. There's a personal toll exacted and it certainly gives an insight into how home-spun the industry could (can?) be. I became aware of roots artist Chris Whitley late in his short life and there's a fascinating story of a tour that Coupe promoted, which illustrated just how chaotic the life of a troubled troubadour can be. Craig
