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Spaceships Over Glasgow cover art

Spaceships Over Glasgow

By: Stuart Braithwaite
Narrated by: John Niven, Stuart Braithwaite
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Summary

Born the son of Scotland's last telescope-maker, Stuart Braithwaite was perhaps always destined for a life of psychedelic adventuring on the furthest frontiers of noise in MOGWAI, one of the best loved and most ground-breaking post-rock bands of the past three decades.

Modestly delinquent at school, Stuart developed an early appetite for 'alternative' music in what might arguably be described as its halcyon days, the late '80s. Discovering bands like Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, and Jesus and Mary Chain, and attending seminal gigs (often incongruously incognito as a young girl with long hair to compensate for his babyface features) by The Cure and Nirvana, Stuart compensated for his indifference to school work with a dedication to rock and roll...and of course the fledgling hedonism that comes with it.

Spaceships Over Glasgow is a love song to live rock and roll; to the passionate abandon we've all felt in the crowd (and some of us, if lucky enough, from the stage) at a truly incendiary gig. It is also the story of a life lived on the edge; of the high-times and hazardous pit-stops of international touring with a band of misfits and miscreants.

This unabridged audio download, narrated by the author, features an audiobook exclusive interview with author and screenwriter John Niven.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Stuart Braithwaite (P)2022 Orion Publishing Group

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Superb....like the band Mogwai themselves

I have been going to gigs for 40 odd years now. Last summer I was offered a ticket to go see Mogwai in Custom.House Square in Belfast. My mate Burnsy had been given two tickets by a friend of his who couldn't go. He and his wife were double booked that night for something else that had been rescheduled because of the pandemic. I was aware of Mogwai but not familiar with their music. Neither was Burnsy but a free gig was not to be sniffed at. I had been off the drink for a few months and met Burnsy in the Ulster Social Club, where they had only one non-alcoholic beer on offer. It wasn't very nice. We dandered round to the gig and caught some of the support band. They were a local band and were alright. Mogwai came on. I had a religious experience. I had never experienced anything like it. I was in awe. Each song was better than the one before. Each song took me to another level of euphoria. Each song sent me further along this new cosmic plane I was now on. This was without question the best gig I have ever been at in my life and I have been to hundreds. I went to the merchandise desk and bought a vinyl copy of their latest album as I needed to know what the previous song was and neither of the people I was with knew. We had ran in to another person I know by this stage. I blurted out to the guy at the merchandise stand "this is the best band I have ever seen"!, to which he simply smiled at me and replied "I know".
That gig changed me life. Literally.
This book is brilliant. I couldn't stop listening to it. I cannot recommend the book enough. Mogwai's music enough and Mogwai live as a religious experience enough either.
I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
Cheers Stuart, you are a cosmic warrior.
Go raibh mile maith agat

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for the mogwai fans out there

'most' (not all but most) music biographies are only interesting to fans of the music and as a huge fan i loved it.

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Superb

Great read from a man who has tried to enjoy life to the max. Now re listening mogwai albums

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Best music memoir I’ve read in years.

Banging. Made me feel nostalgic for times past and want to listen to new music and experience new things (maybe not drugs though) and I can’t recommend it enough.
Start a list, as you will no doubt discover some great bands listening to Stuart’s anecdotes.

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It’s amazing how someone else’s memories can transport you deep into your own past.

As someone 2 years younger than Stuart Braithwaite there’s a lot in this book that deeply resonated with me, having gone through very similar experiences in my youth (well apart from the becoming a well respected, famous musician).

Even if the places and maybe even the bands written about are foreign to you, the author will transport you there. It’s a journey well worth taking.

The author also read the book himself. Something that I much prefer, as I think it always serves autobiographical works.

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Teenage Riot

Absolutely loved this- not one for nostalgia either but loved the passion for music from teenage obsessions onwards and judging people on their music tastes. Honest and very very funny- it’s a love letter to the importance of music but also of friends and family. A wonderful sense of his dad all the way through that also really resonated. Deadpan delivery which really suits the narrative and I’ve gone back to listen to much of the music referenced.

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An honest rendition.. brings back memories 💜

This was a fun book, I started reading the book and switched to audible as I wanted to hear more whilst on the move. Growing up on the periphery of Stuart’s life at the same school and just outside the ‘group of misfits’ he talks so fondly of. This book took me back, I found myself smiling hard at the tales and debacles, many bringing back memories of my life at the time, especially the gigs that I was at or heard about afterwards. I am sure so many others will have felt the same. Well done for the honesty, passion, dirt and all. It was great to hear the journey and success of you and the band. Good luck for the future, stories and next book👍

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Have recommended this book to my friends.

Let me start by saying Mogwai passed me by somehow and I never really got into them.
Yet, I enjoyed this book as it’s a funny and relatable story of a music obsessive who frequented my favourite spots in and around Glasgow. It helps that I love a lot of the bands that he tours with and talks about and I was pleased to read of his bands success. There were many tales of getting ‘mortal’ and ‘out ma ghourd’ but they were told with honesty and didn’t sound like a rock n roll cliche.
I’m away to do my homework now and listen to Mogwai.

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First half ok. Second half boring

Stuart reads this in exactly the same tone from start to finish so if he couldn't be bothered he should have got someone else to read it. It goes much like Mogwais catalogue. Unique and interesting for the first half but predictable and boring the second

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Heady Days

It's a real treat to hear Stuart, in his own words and his own voice, reminiscing on his life and career so far. I was a little surprised that it didn't end with Mogwai deservedly (but a bit unexpectedly) finally getting a number one album - I guess that happened after the book was finished? - and, nerd that I am, I would have liked a little more detail on the songwriting processes. But as is, it's a really warm, often hilarious trip through the wild ride of what's become a bygone era of the music industry.

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