Rags,Riches, trauma & success (True: An Autobiography - Martin Kemp)

Member Name: Trixi

Product:	True: An Autobiography - Martin Kemp
Date:	04/09/01 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Compelling, Interesting, Frank & real

Disadvantages: None

Now I love books, but I am not really one for the showbiz gossip. I asked for this book for my Christmas last year because I had heard about Martin Kemp's Brain surgery.

In this book Martin Kemp talks about his childhood, his dream to make it big, his first job, the big break for the group etc.

I have found this book to be very open and down to earth.

Born into a working class family, needless to say Martin did not have it all. He did have a very loving family who grafted hard.

Martin was first introduced to the stage at an early age and he speaks about the fun and fundamental lessons that he learnt from his drama teacher at his weeking lessons.

This led to a few jobs for him but he definately had the bug.

When Martin left school his dad got him about his apprenticeship at the printshop. This was a very frustrating time as he yearned for something more....and being the apprentice his colleagues loved to take tbe Mickey out of him.

So when his brother Gary got into a band, Martin would go along and carry the gear. The band was not happy with their bass player and one night in the club it was suggested that Martin should learn to play the bass guitar fast...

The early days of the band were rough. There was a name change along the way and of course the band was a hit.

It is fair to say that the band lead a sterotypical Rock n Roll lifestyle with lots of parties and big spreads.

Martin mentions the Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet rivalry and how the band often came out second best. The band also had a long dispute with the record compamy.

Martin then rediscovered his love of acting and for a time felt that he was split down the middle. The band did eventually split and Martin tried to focus on the acting career.

The story of the Kray brothers was something that both he and his brother were asked to star in and it was a success.... His acting career in the State
s was not such a hit.

During one film in which he had to wear a skull cap, Martin suddenly realised how mis-shapen his head was...This lead to surgery.

There is so much in this book it is hard to do it justice. Martin speaks quite openly and frankly throughout the book. In many ways writing the book was part of the healing process.

There is much that I have not mentioned here about the birth of his children, his vivid dreams and of course Eastenders. I feel that it better to leave some things out so that you read it for yourself.

As someone that was in my early teens at the time of Spandau Ballet, I have found this a good read. I did not hold the band in awe but there are elements of the book that did surprise me. To finish off I will say that this book is a very compelling read and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.

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