A portrait of a man as fascinating as he is flawed, someone who is committed to exposing truths about himself while creating all sorts of fabrications . . . Kessler's detached, freewheeling biography is ultimately about someone who, for better or worse, has unquestionably done it his way.-- "Times (UK)"
An engrossing tale of someone following their own path . . . whose artworks now change hands for serious money, and is feted by the very institutions and publications that previously dismissed him.-- "Mojo"
This is a wild, frank, and yet friendly biography of the musician, artist, poet, and writer . . . Funny, sad, and uplifting in equal proportions--you can't read it without seeking out an album or twenty.-- "Record Collector"
Billy Childish, he of the extravagant moustache, is not a household name, but he was known as a high priest of underground music and art scenes. In this unusual collage of prose, oral history, telephone conversations between author and artist, and correspondence, Kessler creates as whole a portrait of the elusive Childish as we are likely to get. Kessler calls him the UK's "most prolific creative force--a painter, poet, photographer, musician, memoirist, and novelist who is in constant production of the goods" . . . Always the outsider, Childish has done what he wanted to do without succumbing to popular taste or bowing to fickle trends. An unconventional "history" of an unconventional artist.-- "Booklist"
A wildly compelling narrative. Packed with equal parts trauma and joie de vivre . . . A fascinating, all-but unbelievable story.--Roy Wilkinson, author of Do It for Your Mum
Increasingly in life I ask myself, What would Billy Childish do? Thanks to Ted Kessler's kaleidoscopic, inspiring, and affectionate portrait of this complex true original I think I now know the answer.--Benjamin Myers, author of Cuddy
Ted Kessler gets as close as anyone is ever likely to get to one of the most enigmatic artists of the modern age, with an electric text that brings in multiple voices and viewpoints to present a complex portrait of a damaged boy alone with his art against the world. It is a touching, sad, sometimes hilarious, and ultimately inspirational work.--David Keenan (singer-songwriter)
The book is not a conventional biography. It was done at Childish's suggestion, with his cooperation, on the basis that he would never have to read it.-- "Uncut"
Kessler's ability as a storyteller results in a profound portrait. Part life story, part art history, part investigation, part lover's quarrel, it weaves a complex, compelling tapestry of Childish from fragments of his existence--ones that in the hands of another would likely have remained shapeless chaos. Here? It's cosmic dust given form.--Terri White, author of Coming Undone
Ted Kessler has elegantly, wittily documented Billy Childish's maverick life, achievements, and persona with insight and skill, never allowing himself to be slavishly captivated--or repelled--by Billy's 'dangerous charisma.'--Miki Berenyi, author of Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success
To negotiate the convoluted life of Wild Billy Childish in text is roughly the literary equivalent of attempting to count the hairs on a copulating yak's back. But somehow Ted does it brilliantly--with style and grace. A story of domestic violence, abandonment, misunderstood artistic integrity, dyslexic poetry . . . and guitars . . . Billy told me he probably won't read this book. If so--he'll be missing out.--Marc Riley, cohost of BBC Radio 6's Riley & Coe
Compulsively readable and hugely inspiring, Kessler's book is an overdue tribute to a man who not only contains multitudes but projects them relentlessly into the world.--Guy Picciotto (Fugazi)
[Childish is] the UK's most prolific creative force--painter, poet, musician, publisher, memoirist, and novelist.-- "Financial Times"
A revered cult figure whose prolific output in the fields of painting, writing, and music have never failed to enlighten, annoy, and confuse in equal measure . . . With a unique mixture of gallows humor, uncomfortably confessional literature, strangely beautiful paintings, and incendiary manifestos, he has relentlessly carved the niche of a true original.-- "Dazed"