Bit of a Blur: The Autobiography

James, bass player of the British group Blur-which rose to stratospheric fame in Britain and had varying degrees of success worldwide in the 1990s-has penned a roguish portrait of his hedonistic and compelling life that also illuminates the music and art worlds of the time. James recounts his childhood in middle-class England and the early years of Blur with tales of touring and promotional jaunts. As success and fame increase, his bustling social life takes center stage and is rendered with bons mots on topics ranging from art and travel to astronomy and cheese that illustrate a pleasure in discovery and an unabashed joy in living. James's amiable storytelling of a wild life lived without remorse concludes with the portrait of a man who has ultimately achieved stability and contentment. Fans of Brit pop and music of the 1990s will find this essential reading, but it should also appeal to those who appreciate popular culture, as James's writing transcends the traditional music memoir with freshness, humor, and pithy social observation. Recommended for larger public libraries.
—Jim Collins

"More than happy to reveal the nitty-gritty in a surprisingly honest and almost humble way . . . you get a really good sense of what it was like being him, of finally being in the right place at the right time and hell-bent on having a blast."  —Daily Mirror 

"Bright, passionate . . . James writes with wit and flair."  —Time Out

"The definitive guide to Britpop . . . this effervescent memoir emerges as the most fascinating, as well as hilarious, document to date of those times."  —Observer

"Guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye—in a good way."  —Elle

"His prose style is unique . . . There is something funny, or charming, or absurd on nearly every page."  —Daily Telegraph

A dreamy, witty spin on his life as a supremely debauched rock star . . . James's inquisitive nature makes him eminently and continuously likeable." —Guardian

"His picaresque autobiography describes, with some wit and verve, an existence that has encompassed both chemical and natural highs and lows . . . There are one-liners to treasure on virtually every page."  —New Statesman 

"Sharp and highly entertaining . . . one of the most engaging rock memoirs you're likely to read . . . a wry, witty commentary on the absurdities and temptations of fame." —Daily Mail