Jeni Barnett says: This is the brilliant life and tragic death of Kirsty MacColl

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14391 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 358 pages

Synopsis
Kirsty MacColl led a dazzling life - tender, creative, heroic and full of love. This book, by her mother Jean MacColl, charts with moving insight Kirsty's early years, celebrates her brilliant career at the front rank of the music business in the 1980s and '90s, and mourns her tragic and untimely death - killed by a speedboat in Mexican waters in December 2000. It also tells, with heartfelt truth, the shocking story of the elaborate cover-up and gross miscarriage of justice that followed, and appeals for justice to be done in her name. Daughter of legendary folk-singer Ewan MacColl and dancer mother Jean, Kirsty was a precocious child, troubled by ill health, whose talent quickly blossomed into a unique artistry. She signed to the Stiff Records label and after her first tentative success moved to Polydor, which brought her her first major airplay with 'There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis', demonstrating Kirsty's trademark dry wit and social awareness.

Top-ten success - and widespread acclaim as a musical postergirl of the times - followed with such hits as 'A New England' and 'Days', but it was her 1987 collaboration with The Pogues on the Christmas hit 'Fairytale of New York' which really brought her brand of feisty folk-pop to an international audience. By then married to producer Steve Lillywhite, her talents lent magic to an astonishing array of creative collaborations; this book includes new reflections on her life by many of her friends and colleagues, including Jools Holland and Billy Bragg. In 2006 Bono dedicated U2's Mexico concert performances of 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' to Kirsty's memory.But Kirsty's family, friends, and fans still haven't found what they're looking for: justice for those responsible for the needless hit-and-run accident that left her two young sons swimming in her blood. Soon after Kirsty's death, Jean and her friend and colleague John Dalby started the Justice for Kirsty Campaign, which has now grown into a worldwide organisation, ably spearheaded by human rights activist Fred Shortland. The campaign will continue until justice is done.

Meanwhile, Kirsty's vivacious personality lives on in the enduring legacy of her brilliant music. This remarkable book - in equal parts a celebration and an appeal for truth - tells the story of both.

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Customer Reviews

Tomorrow Never Comes
Kirsty MacColl's tragic death in December 2000 robbed the music world of a great singer/songwriter but it also robbed Jean MacColl of her youngest child and in her heartfelt, loving book she tells us of her relationship with Kirsty and the anger that fuels her search for justice for Kirsty's manslaughter off the coast of Cozumel that sunny afternoon.

In her book which had me smiling then moist-eyed then angry, Jean shares memories of her exceptionally bright and inquisitive little girl who captivated all who met her. They shared a unique relationship due to the fact that because Kirsty had chronic asthma as a child she was rarely well enough to go to school so mother and daughter were rarely parted.

This is a biography where for once the subject's showbiz career is sketched in as Jean is more interested in Kirsty's life offstage with her friends & family and above all her devotion to her two sons. This is done so well that while reading of the aftermath of Kirsty's death I again felt the feeling I had when I first heard the news.. that I had lost a friend.

The failure of the Cozumel and wider Mexican judiciary to conduct a proper investigation into Kirsty's death is still a shocking indictment of the corruption inherent in the system - no doubt helped along by the fact that the man who owns and was on board the speedboat that killed Kirsty is Guillermo Gonzalez Nova, one of the richest men in Mexico.

This is a book that ultimately one wishes should never have been written but for it's central core of love and pride I am glad Jean did.

Touching Tribute
The fact that this has been written by Kirsty MacColl's mother adds to the tragedy of the story. From her childhood, to burgeoning musical career, personal life and tragic death this book gives a full account of the life of a great talent. Some may feel the book deals with her life too quickly as a large part of the book details the ongoing fight for justice following her death. However the inclusion of excerpts and memories by a range of known (and lesser known) musicians and as I said the fact the book is written by her mother and not some faceless writer who never met her (something dealt with in the book itself) more than covers for this.

This is a touching mother's tribute to her tragically killed daughter.