Fast Forward: Confessions of a Post-Punk Percussionist: Volume II

After reading Stephen Morris' first volume on Joy Division, I was eager to read this volume 2, which segues into New Order. I was not disappointed! Stephen is a great writer with a great sense of humor throughout both books. A must read for Joy Division/New Order fans!

I have read Peter hooks and Barneys book but Steve's take the cake it's the best so far I love how funny and witty he is.

It can't compete with Peter Hook's NO memoir in terms of forensic recall (maybe thanks to Steve being much fonder of weed), but this is certainly the more enjoyable, funny and relatably self-deprecating book. What shines through here is Morris' sheer love of music and the processes behind its creation, whereas in Hooky's version the music often seemed like a means to get trolleyed in various exotic locales. It gradually emerges that Morris' lack of a Herculean ego caused him no end of grief in the music business - being unable to gain entrance to the Hacienda and indeed the odd New Order gig is a recurring motif - but this is all told with an apparently total absence of bitterness or score-settling. However, it is countered by some disarmingly honest accounts of his own frayed-nerve sulks and tantrums while on the road.Us music tech nerds can rejoice that Morris goes even further than Hooky in detailing New Order's struggles with flakey early digital equipment (the first Emulators could be forced to load samples with a strategic hammer-blow, fact fans!). In fact, these sections will probably appeal to anyone with even a non-muso interest in electronic music - after all, his compulsive early adoption of every computer music program going helped to shape some of the most danceable, hedonistic tracks ever made.The more traumatic episodes of New Order's existence are dealt with in a disbelieving but matter-of-fact way, the utter misery of recording 'Republic' amidst the collapse of Factory Records and the descent of the Hacienda into horrific violence both presented as the inevitable result of Factory's naive planning-is-for-squares ethos. On the other hand, the excitement of being in the eye of Factory's no-compromise approach to beauty and innovation is thrillingly and hilariously portrayed, even when those lofty aims were grounded by the most mundane of obstacles (usually the tax office or knackered vehicles). Finally, an awful spate of bereavement and serious illness among Steve's loved ones during the early 2000s is related frankly and very movingly, dwarfing the petty, fractious end of the original New Order in its human importance.

Volume 1 was an amazing read.I relate to Stephen Morris. His sense of humour, a vague disbelieving humbleness in your self, when you know you are creating something unbelievable, yet don't see it at the time. I can't wait to read this.Barny, Hooky, read them all. I'd love to go for a pint with Stephen (Full name is important. It's Northern)I want to give amazon no stars. This was left out, behind my bin, in the poring rain. Covid times are hard times, but I think they contract out to real lazy C^^^S.

I enjoyed the first volume of tales from Stephen Morris that went from his childhood to the death of Ian Curtis in Joy Division.I'm more of a New Order fan so naturally enjoyed this one even more. Morris admits that he would sit on the fence during band arguments and the trouble seemed to start after Factory Records went bust and things ended up on a more professional footing when they signed to London. Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook were arguing a lot and the band continued despite Hooky saying they had split when he left. I get the feeling Morris isn't as excited these days as previously, possibly because of his age or things not being as good as their imperial phase?Definitely worth reading if you're a fan of either Joy Division or New Order (did anyone actually buy The Other Two album?!).

This is an excellent book, probably not quite as good as Part 1 but that may be because I prefer Joy Division to New Order. But Stephen Morris writes very well.Or at least he sounds like he does; not for the first time (most recent other example being Bunnyman by Will Sergeant, itself also very good) I seem to have been sent a pre-proof copy. Is this on account of pre-ordering I wonder? It is one thing both books have in common, that I pre-ordered them. Poor show Amazon if you are sending out unproofed copies of this otherwise very good book. Hence the lost star.

Morris’s 2nd book continues from the excellent 1st volume and is as funny/entertaining as that was. Hooky’s books are more encyclopaedic at points, Barney missed out a huge chunk, but this sits squarely in the middle- it’s much more enjoyable to read than the others though. Morris’s self-deprecating humour and honesty come through and, as the middle man, gives the best account of The Split so far.