In Up Above the City, Down Beneath the Stars, the enigmatic Barry Adamson shines a probing light into his own heart of darkness.

Born in the black and white world of post-industrial Manchester, Adamson saw music as a chance to turn his world technicolour. Propelled into punk via Magazine, he was the founding bass player in Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, before stumbling too far down a dark, drug-induced path.

Unflinchingly candid, Adamson steers the reader through a mix of harrowing, tragic, funny and often life-affirming straights. Throughout it all, music - be it bass lines, melodies or film soundtracks - is the glue that binds a myriad of memories.

Written in Adamsons distinctive and cinematic noir style, and including personal photographs throughout, Up Above the City, Down Beneath the Stars is an original and powerful memoir, full of suspense, humour and candour.

About the Author

Barry Adamson is a musician, composer, writer, photographer, actor and filmmaker. He started his music career playing bass in Magazine and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. His debut solo release, Moss Side Story, was a critically acclaimed imaginary soundtrack. His second studio album, Soul Murder, was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. He has worked on soundtracks with directors such as David Lynch, Derek Jarman and Oliver Stone.