{"product_id":"street-level-superstar","title":"Street-Level Superstar, A Year With Lawrence","description":"\u003cp\u003eBooks of the Year 2024 - Number 1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover the full list on our blog.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA year in the life of \u003cstrong\u003eLawrence\u003c\/strong\u003e, Britain's most singular musical genius who never hit the big time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Will has finally written his masterpiece. I'm glad I could be of assistance' - \u003cstrong\u003eLawrence\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Wonderful' - \u003cstrong\u003eBobby Gillespie\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A fascinating tale beautifully told' - \u003cstrong\u003eBrett Anderson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLawrence\u003c\/strong\u003e is the greatest pop star you have never heard of, his dreams of glory thwarted over the past five decades by bad luck and self-sabotage. At sixty-one, he set off on a new mission: to escape poverty, obscurity and the humiliation of kids at the bus stop laughing at him by writing a smash hit. But what is the cost of a dream?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1979, \u003cstrong\u003eLawrence\u003c\/strong\u003e formed \u003cem\u003eFelt\u003c\/em\u003e, who released ten albums and ten singles in ten years before splitting up. In 1991, he reinvented himself with novelty-pop outfit \u003cem\u003eDenim\u003c\/em\u003e. Signed to EMI, riding the wave of Britpop, in 1997, \u003cem\u003eDenim's\u003c\/em\u003e song '\u003cem\u003eSummer Smash\u003c\/em\u003e' became Radio 1's Single of the Week and looked like a sure-fire hit. Then Princess Diana was killed in a car crash. All copies were melted down. Crushing depression, addiction and homelessness followed... but in the face of it all, \u003cstrong\u003eLawrence\u003c\/strong\u003e never gave up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eStreet-Level Superstar\u003c\/em\u003e, bestselling author and journalist Will Hodgkinson follows \u003cstrong\u003eLawrence\u003c\/strong\u003e as he rebuilds his life. He gets mistaken for an old lady by an amorous pensioner, is reduced to dragging sacks of 2p coins to his local bank and wanders through London's distant suburbs in search of lyrical inspiration. As they walk together down rain-soaked streets, Will tells the story of Britain's most eccentric cult star. Will he write the greatest song the world has ever known before the year is out? And was it worth sacrificing everything - family, relationships, health, sanity - for art?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nine Eight Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardback | Signed Copy | Rough Trade Exclusive","offer_id":50424726585675,"sku":"2229383","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Hardback | Signed Copy","offer_id":51293568827723,"sku":"2217143","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Hardback only","offer_id":51293594911051,"sku":"2203948","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Paperback - BOGOHP","offer_id":51803128824139,"sku":"R7226-4625","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback |signed","offer_id":51803128856907,"sku":"R7226-9894","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Street-Level_Superstar_cover_7d245d5f_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726781920","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/products\/street-level-superstar","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}