8 Books All Britpop Fans Should Read

Sometimes the stories of the individuals behind the music were as compelling as the songs themselves. Add your recommendations in the comments! Thumbnails (c) NME.

The Last Party: Britpop, Blair, and the Demise of English Rock by John Harris

HarperCollins

Harris's book is a wide-ranging, detailed summary of the 90s that hones in on Britpop's key players, the trinity of Oasis, Blur, and Pulp, yet also devotes time to the fates of such lesser known bands as Menswear. Discussing the antics within the music industry, Harris crucially intertwines tales of chart battles with the political backdrop of the 90s and the rise of New Labour, drawing on his extensive experience as a music journalist. An informative and funny starting point for Britpop fans that often feels more like a dramatic saga than a non fiction text.

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The History of the NME: High Times and Low Lives at the World's Most Famous Music Magazine by Pat Long

Portico Books

Long's text spans the NME's turbulent history from 1952-2012. While Britpop only rears its head towards the end, this history of the magazine offers endless wild insights into the lives of those who wrote the headlines that would propel Britpop into mass consciousness. Expect to see the names mentioned in this book consistently reappear across any Britpop-based texts, such as Stuart Maconie and Steve Lamacq.

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Getting High: The Adventures of Oasis by Paolo Hewitt.

Macmillan

Hewitt's book is produced using interviews with the Gallagher's mother, Peggy, among other figures in the Oasis universe. Hewitt's own time spent on the road with the band makes this an often hilarious read, as incidents mentioned in Harris's book here become fully developed scenes. A worthwhile text written from the eye of the Gallagher hurricane as the band's popularity reached its most immense peak.

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In Their Own Write: Adventures in the Music Press by Paul Gorman

Sanctuary Publishing

Gorman's book also offers a backstage feel, training its lens firmly on the names on the bylines of many of the articles produced in the 90s and beyond. Gorman's book is particularly enjoyable when discussing now-defunct publications such as Melody Maker, whose features of bands such as Elastica are significant.

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3862 Days: The Official History of Blur by Stuart Maconie

Virgin Books

The definitive history of Britpop's most creative band, Maconie's book quotes extensively from exclusive interviews conducted with the four band members. The result is a compelling adventure through the chaotic events of Blur's existence, and Maconie's writing is direct and often brutally honest. The book now takes on a greater poignancy, reading it since the band's reformation, and highlights Blur's significance not just as a Britpop act (a genre from which they now distance themselves), but as one of Britain's all-time best.

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Bit of a Blur: The Autobiography by Alex James

Little Brown

Probably the most famous book on this list, James's autobiography is sharp, searingly honest, and holds mass appeal. A bestseller, James invites his readers into the decadent whirlwind of Blur's 90s peak, and brings events to a close long after the cloud of white powder has cleared, with James now situated as country cheesemaker and occasional pilot. James is fearless in his prose, and addresses some of the famous spats that rocked the band.

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Just For One Day: Adventures in Britpop by Louise Wener

Random House

In an industry and genre dominated by male rock stars, Wener's memoir gives a chance to experience Britpop as a woman. Wener, now a bestselling author of fiction, details the messiness of becoming a 90s sex symbol whilst trying to navigate a truly challenging musical landscape. Some of Wener's best passages are in her discussions of gigs played by Sleeper, both as headline and support act, and the process of winning over the crowd.

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Creation Stories: Riots, Raves, and Running a Label by Alan Mcgee

Macmillan

McGee's breakdown is detailed in the first book on this list, but his recent memoir offers a personal dimension to the myth of 'The Man Who Discovered Oasis'. As the owner of Creation Records, McGee is a first hand witness to many of the major Britpop events, and discusses both the musical and political aspects of the 90s.

Get it on Amazon.

Have any recommendations to add? Leave them in the comments!