Pop Polymaths (he said poly)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

katstevens suggested that I ask about pop stars who do OTHER THINGS. I think this is a fine area of study. First of all, let's find out who they are:

[Poll #1034227]

It seems to be that being a pop star makes it less likely that people will take your other things seriously (or will assume that you will be bad at them). Is this fair - and is it prejudice or precedent that causes it? Has anyone actually read Madonna's children's book? Is anyone going to see Daft Punk's robot movie in the serious expectation that it will be good?

USW!

Comments

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

haha i really nearly put bruce instead of chuck berry -- but i have not read it (chuck berry's autobiog is genuinely weirdly brilliant tho...)

[giddyoldgoat.livejournal.com]

I believe there is a Lord Iffy sequel, too

Chronicles by Dylan = grate
Tarantula by Dylan = toss

Perhaps the most strangely sought-after/expensive 'pop star' bk is Grapefruit by Yoko Ono - her fluxus association gives her big fine art cred points, too

Other 'pop star' novs/biogs off the top of my bonce:

Hype - Robert Calvert
lots of ghastly Henry Rollins 'tomes'
The Basketball Diaries - Jim Carroll
Babel - Patti Smith (even worse than her recs)
The Ass Saw the Angel - Nick Cave
Louise Wener has written a cpl of novs
various Jim Morrison lizard poetry volumes
Michael Gira's short story collection (quite gd, can't remember name)
a fair few volumes of 'pornography' by Peter Sotos
The Big Wheel - Bruce Thomas (thinly disguised roman-a-clef abt x x and the xs - has also written non-fic biog of Bruce Lee)
X-Ray - by Ray Davies
Pete Townsend's ropey old short stories for Faber
Sir Henry at Rawlinson's End - Vivian Stanshall (is this just the film script? can't remember)
Beneath the Underdog - Charles Mingus

[martinskidmore.livejournal.com]

Ian Hunter's Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star is very good. And we haven't mentioned Leonard Cohen, who is a really good novelist.

[(Anonymous)]

I am dismayed that you have all forgotten GO NOW by RICHARD HELL which you surely all keep under your pillows, no?

(NB Dear Poptimists, for the love of God do not seek out GO NOW by RICHARD HELL because it is krub.)

bopkids