Now in paperback and updated in 2024 with fresh interviews and a new cover design by James Marsh, this is the first complete, in-depth biography of Mark Hollis. The new, revelatory text includes interviews with musician Tony Paknadel, who jammed with Hollis in 1979; producer Gareth Jones, who worked with Hollis on a demo in 1980 and discusses a Hollis-compiled mixtape from the period; Axel Ray Steuerwald, who lived with Mark’s brother Ed for much of the last year of his life; and EMI executive Nigel Reeve, who enjoyed a long working relationship and personal friendship with Hollis from 1986 until 2019. It all makes for as complete a history of the life and work of Mark Hollis as there is, told in fascinating detail.
The new text enriches the original narrative which was created from interviews with, among others, Simon Brenner; producer Phill Brown; musical collaborators George Page, Phil Ramocon, Martin Ditcham, Dominic Miller, Mark Feltham and Johnny Turnbull; Talk Talk live sound engineer Chris Beale; long-time manager Keith Aspden; original A&R manager Ashley Goodall, and many more.
About the author
Ben Wardle is a writer and lecturer in music business. He has written several books, and contributed features to publications including The Guardian, and The Word. He has written and presented regularly for BBC’s Front Row and hosted a podcast about vinyl for several years. Previously he was A&R for various record companies, signing artists including Sleeper, The Wannadies and Stephen Duffy.
