A memoir is a 2015 autobiography written by former sonic youth bass guitarist. Kim gordons memoir, girl in a band, begins and ends with two seminal gigs, the final sonic youth concert in 2011 that also marked the end of her marriage to front man thurston moore and last years induction ceremony for the rock and roll hall of fame when gordon was invited to sing with the remaining members of nirvana. New york times bestsellerkim gordon, founding member of sonic y. In girl in a band she tells with complete openness the story of her family, her work in the visual arts, her move to new york city, the men in her life, her marriage, her relationship with her daughter, her music and her band. On kim gordons upcoming book about sonic youth, girl in. Primarily a visual artist, gordon moved to new york city and formed sonic youth in 1981 with thurston moore her husband from 19842012. Its as much about how she looks as what she sees, and it has a suppleness that feels authentic, as embarrassing as that word has become. Gordon s book, and life, too, has taken unlikely turns that make her an even more dynamic and. Read an exclusive excerpt from kim gordon s new memoir, girl in a band. Sonic youths kim gordon was indie rocks poster girl for having it all, but. In girl in a band kim gordon, founding member of sonic youth and role model for a generation of women, tells her story. Her memoir is titled girl in a band a nod to her annoyance at being constantly asked what it was like to be the only female in her. In addition to a sharp analysis of an artist and a marriage, girl in a band is a portrait of a scene. Kim gordon on cheating ex and mentally ill courtney love.
Read an exclusive excerpt from kim gordons new memoir, girl in a band. Its not a bad book by any means, but i do find the writing rather flat and humourless, with. In the new york times, questlove praised the books careful introspection, detail and real feeling, noting that even when the many celebrities in. Jamies book is a biography of a famous australian surfer whos transgender, man to woman, and still surfs.
Kim gordon s memoir girl in a band but as gordon reveals in her memoir, girl in a band, out tuesday, their personal and musical union came apart in 2011 when she discovered moores. A founding member of sonic youth, fashion icon and role model for a generation of women, now tells her story a memoir of life as an artist, of music, marriage, motherhood, independence and as one of the first women of rock and roll. Now the book, due out via harper collins imprint dey street books. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. This is a fancy way of saying that im probably in the sweet spot when it comes to kim gordon s memoir, girl in a band. The band is on a tour of south america following the end of gordons 27year marriage to guitarist and fellow singer thurston moore. Author kim gordon and the cover of the book girl in a band. Girl in a band is a study of her subsequent disillusionment. I liked her descriptions of manhattan life in the late 70s and early 80s and also the sections that deals with her ill brother. Gordon takes us back to the lost new york of the 1980s and 90s. With girl in a band, gordon is back in charge, telling an unconventional story of her own creation. Gordon takes us back to the lost new york of the 1980s and 90s that gave rise to sonic youth, and the alternative. Gordon looks back on the experience in a new memoir called girl in a band. Feb 24, 2015 there are few artists who inspire such reverence as kim gordon.
Gordon takes us back to the lost new york of the 1980s and 90s that gave rise to sonic youth, and the. Kim gordon, founding member of sonic youth, fashion icon, and role model for a generation of women, now tells her storya memoir of life as an artist, of music, marriage, motherhood, independence, and as one of the first women of rock and roll, written with the lyricism and haunting beauty of patti smiths just kids. Thurston moore and kim gordon s, bereft fans sought answers. The title of kim gordon s strikingly confessional new memoir, girl in a band feb. Kim gordon on her new memoir, girl in a band chicago. Kim althea gordon born april 28, 1953 is an american musician, singer, songwriter and bassist, guitarist, and vocalist in the alternative rock band sonic youth. Kim gordons girl in a band memoir has 2015 street date. Kim gordon s highly anticipated memoir, girl in a band, has been given a release date of february 24, 2015. New york times bestsellerkim gordon, founding member of sonic youth, fashion icon, and role model for a generation of women, now tells her storya memoir of life as an artist, of music, marriage, motherhood, independence, and as one of the first women of rock and roll, written with the lyricis. But first and foremost this is a book about gordon s. Telling the story of her family, growing up in california in the 60s and 70s, her life in visual art, her move to new york city, the men in her life, her marriage, her relationship with her daughter, her music, and her band, girl in a band. She takes us back to the lost new york of the 1980s and 90s that gave rise to sonic youth, and the alternative.
Gordon laments, with palpable grief, the loss of the new york she. Kim gordons girl in a band offers interesting insights, especially on the formation of sonic youth, how. Girl in a band by kim gordon overdrive rakuten overdrive. As gordon writes in her unflinching new memoir, girl in a band, they had been the couple everyone believed was golden and normal and eternally intact, who gave younger musicians hope. Gordons book, and life, too, has taken unlikely turns that make her an even more dynamic and. Sonic youth came into being more than 30 years ago, when kim gordon and thurston moore started playing together in new york city. Read an exclusive excerpt from kim gordons new memoir, girl. Oct 08, 2014 news \ kim gordons eagerly anticipated memoir, girl in a band, will be released next year the book will tell the sonic youth story and more. Girl in a band is a fascinating and honest memoir full of raw emotion and insight. Much of the early press on kim gordons new memoir focused on controversial passages about lana del reys misguided views on feminism.
She sings, plays bass and guitar in the alternative rock band sonic youth. The standout passages in sonic youth singer kim gordon s new book, girl in a band, are all about her personal style. Harpercollins audio books 9781481533430,blackstone audiobooks none format. Kim gordons memoir, girl in a band, reflects on her life, sonic. The speaking portion of this event is free and open to the public. But at its core, girl in a band examines the route from girl to woman in uncharted territory, music, art career, what partnership meansand what happens when that identity dissolves. Telling the story of her family, growing up in california in the 60s and 70s, her life in visual art, her move to new york city, the men in her life, her marriage, her relationship with her daughter, her music, and her band, girl in a band is a rich and beautifully written memoir. Gordon, of course, was the bassist for sonic youth, the legendary. Feb 19, 2015 gordon describes the split in her new memoir, girl in a band, as the most conventional story ever, implying that the worst thing about being betrayed by ones husband is that its.
The band helped build a vocabulary of musicpaving the way for nirvana, hole, smashing pumpkins and many other acts. Founding member of sonic youth and solo artist kim gordon s autobiography has been reissued in a new paperback edition. Kim gordon has 27 books on goodreads with 70330 ratings. Telling the story of her family, growing up in california in the 60s and 70s, her life in visual art, her move to new york city, the men in her life, her marriage, her relationship with her daughter, her music, and her band. Amy poehler, actor, producer, writer ive always admired kim gordon.
Its a history she carried with her when she headed from california to the no wave underground of new york in 1980, where she met moore, the lanky, punkobsessed guitarist and soul mate who was already worshipping at the altar of cbgbs. The book begins in 2011, with gordon looking out at the audience in sao paulo during sonic youths last ever concert. Yes, the book covers her role as cofounder, singer and bassist. Love, art, success sonic youths kim gordon was indie rocks poster girl for having it all, but she never had a plan, she admits in her candid, fascinating memoir. There is a nononsense bluntness to kim gordon s writing. Girl in a band digital downloads collaboration overdrive. Kim gordons memoir girl in a band to be published in. Kim gordon, guitarist with sonic youth, talks about her memoir, girl in a band. Sonic youth, the seminal alternative rock, postpunk new york group she formed in 1981 with her thenboyfriend, later husband, thurston moore.
Fiercely, honestly, and with the creative abandon of a singular artist. Until the band and their marriagebroke up in 2011, the author sang and played bass, made art, and raised a daughter. In the first chapter, darkly titled the end, chronicling sonic youths final. Kim gordons eagerly anticipated memoir, girl in a band. She writes frankly about her route from girl to woman and pioneering icon within the music and art scene of new york city in the 1980s and 90s as well as marriage, motherhood, and independence. The most badass quotes from kim gordons memoir, girl in a band. In some ways, girl in a band can be viewed as a sequel to patti smiths just kids, since it picks up in the 1980s new york city alternative music scene. Last year, kim gordon announced plans to release girl in a band, a memoir chronicling her life and decadeslong music career. Telling the story of her family, growing up in california in the 60s and 70s, her life in visual art, her move to new york city, the men in her life, her marriage, her relationship with her daughter, her music, and her band, girl in a band is a rich and. Gordon, of course, was the bassist for sonic youth, the legendary downtown noise band coanchored by two guitarists, thurston moore, gordons husband for 27 years, and lee ranaldo. A memoir by kim gordon kim gordon, founding member of sonic youth, fashion icon, and role model for a generation of women, now tells her story a memoir of life as an artist, of music, marriage, motherhood, independence, and as one of the first women of rock and roll, written with the lyricism and haunting beauty of patti. The sonic youth bassist and singer on her disillusionment with the band, her. A founding member of sonic youth, fashion icon and role model for a generation of women, now tells her storya memoir of life as an artist, of music, marriage, motherhood, independence and as one of the first women of rock and roll. In girl in a band she tells with complete openness the story of her family, her work in the visual arts, her move to new york city.
Kim gordon reflects on her memoir, girl in a band, sonic youth, her breakup with thurston moore, billy corgan and authentic vs. New york in the 80s, a period when the art and music worlds bled into one another. How cool is it that celine chose her for their new ad campaign. Gordon also formed the musical projects bodyhead, free kitten, ciccone youth, harry crews, and mirrordash. Burak cingigetty images books the most badass quotes from kim gordon s memoir, girl in a band the sonic youth cofounder dishes on music, breakups, and kurt and courtney.
In girl in a band she tells with complete openness the story of her family, her work in the v. Mar 02, 2015 is there anyone cooler than kim gordon. I came to gordons book with lots of respect for her place in the music world, and lots of curiosity. Kim althea gordon is an american musician, vocalist, and artist. Feb 12, 2015 girl in a band is a study of her subsequent disillusionment.
Often described as aloof, kim gordon opens up as never before in girl in a band. More than a memoir, girl in a band is kim gordon s sensibility as book. Read an exclusive excerpt from kim gordons new memoir. Oct 08, 2014 kim gordon s highly anticipated memoir, girl in a band, has been given a release date of february 24, 2015. Kim gordon and thurston moore were indie rocks power couple until their marriage, and their band, ended in 2011. Feb 22, 2015 kim gordon and thurston moore were indie rocks power couple until their marriage, and their band, ended in 2011. Girl in a band king county library system overdrive. Girl in a band tonight we are thrilled to welcome kim gordon, founding member of sonic youth, to talk with terry lickona of austin city limits about gordon s new memoir, girl in a band. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. Kim gordon on life after sonic youth gordon cofounded sonic youth with thurston moore. This is a fancy way of saying that im probably in the sweet spot when it comes to kim gordons memoir, girl in a band.
Experimentalrock icon kim gordon reflects on life before and after sonic youth. On kim gordon s upcoming book about sonic youth, girl in a band. The founding member of the seminal band sonic youth is also a talented musician, artist, writer, and, oh yeah, role model to a generation of women. Mar 24, 2015 the standout passages in sonic youth singer kim gordons new book, girl in a band, are all about her personal style. Gordon takes us back to the lost new york of the 1980s and 90s that gave rise to. Gordon tells the story of her family, growing up in california in the 60s and 70s, her life in visual art, her move to new york city, the men in her life, her marriage, her relationship with her daughter, her music, and her band. Kim gordon, founding member of sonic youth, fashion icon, and role model for a generation of women, now tells her story a memoir of life as an artist, of music, marriage, motherhood, independence, and as one of the first women of rock and roll, written with the lyricism and haunting beauty of patti smiths just kids. I love sonic youth, theyre one of my all time favorite bands, but kims book.
Chicago tribune pages from 1918 show eerie similarities between coronavirus and spanish influenza. Kim gordon s book is a very personal account of the people and scene of the music industry and of going from an unknown to a big name. Eventually, gordon found herself submitting to his dominating personality. Thurston moore and kim gordons, bereft fans sought answers. Kim gordon performing at the coachella valley music and arts festival in 2007. Apr 23, 2015 but first and foremost this is a book about gordons. There are few artists who inspire such reverence as kim gordon. A section in kim gordon s new memoir, girl in a band, is getting some attention, where the sonic youth founder makes an example out of lana del rey, saying she doesnt know a thing about feminism. Girl in a band is kim gordons truest performance to date. New york times bestsellerkim gordon, founding member of sonic youth, fashion icon, and role model for a. Girl in a band begins and ends with the slowmotion collapse of gordon s 27year marriage to thurston moore. Girl in a band kim gordon paperback harpercollins publishers. Girl in a band kim gordon paperback harpercollins us. When their marriage broke up in 2011, so did the band.
When kim gordon formed sonic youth with thurston moore in 1981, she gave little thought to the idea of being a girl in a band with a bunch of guys. Mar 01, 2015 the musician and author of the memoir girl in a band is a fan of joan didion. Apr 21, 2015 new york times bestseller kim gordon, founding member of sonic youth, fashion icon, and role model for a generation of women, now tells her storya memoir of life as an artist, of music, marriage, motherhood, independence, and as one of the first women of rock and roll, written with the lyricism and haunting beauty of patti smiths just kids. She writes frankly about her route from girl to woman and pioneering icon within the music and art scene of new york city in the 1980s and 90s as well as. She also plays in the band free kitten with julie cafritz of pussy galore, and she has collaborated with musicians such as ikue mori, kurt cobain, dj olive, william winant, lydia lunch, alan licht, and chris corsano. Gordon describes the split in her new memoir, girl in a band, as the most.
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