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  • I Know This Much

  • By: Gary Kemp
  • Narrated by: Gary Kemp
  • Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (48 ratings)
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I Know This Much cover art

I Know This Much

By: Gary Kemp
Narrated by: Gary Kemp
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Summary

Gary's story begins in North London, where the Kemp family rented a home with no bathrooms and chickens in the yard. After a couple of failed attempts to kill his brother, Martin, his parents gave him a guitar for Christmas.

From schoolyard battles between the Bowie Boys and the Prog Rockers to Mrs Kemp's firm insistence on net curtains, from acting for the Children's Film Foundation to manning a fruit and veg stall on Saturdays, Gary brilliantly evokes an upbringing full of love, creativity and optimism.

As the Thatcher years begin, Gary's account of the outrageous London club scene centred around the Blitz and Billy's is just sizzling. Out of this glamorous mayhem of kilt-wearing mascara'd peacocks would emerge Spandau Ballet - the band that would define the era, and hold high the victorious standard of the New Romantics.

Gary's thrilling journey with Spandau Ballet would see them record worldwide hits such as True, Gold and Through the Barricades, play the biggest stadiums in the world, and take to the stage in togas when their luggage gets lost in flight. Stallions, supermodels and dwarves would be hired for video shoots, and through it all, Gary records the wonderful friendships, and the slowly-building tensions that would eventually see five old friends facing each other in court.

I Know This Much tells the story of Spandau Ballet, but it's far more than a book about being in a band. Whether it's meeting Ronnie Kray before filming The Krays, sketching out the fashions and subcultures of the day, or hanging out with Princess Diana, this book offers a story in every minute. And all the more so because it's all written - brilliantly - by Gary himself.

©2009 HarperCollins Publishers (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about I Know This Much

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Cracking story that really draws you in

Gary narrates his own story very well. He subtly draws you into his world of being kids wanting to be famous and eager to make it in music. The best image of all has to be the time 80/81 with so many British bands all on the verge of breaking through and yet all coming together at The Blitz club in London ran by Steve Strange. Such a great story with the inside track on how Spandau really broke though whilst navigating such fierce competition. Witty, graphic, moving, easy listening and very informative of the 80’s decade. The only very minor gripe I had was Gary didn’t really close out the court case enough for me and I felt needed to relay his respect for the band members more. Sure he does, but it would have been a class move. Still, the music remains and “True” will forever be a timeless classic for everyone. Well worth the read thanks Gary Kemp.

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  • Overall
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Amazing story made me cry!

Last chapter, what a tear jerker! Love the story from rags to riches and hearing about my part of town. I lived very close to Gary and Martin in Holloway. Brilliant and would recommend x

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved the style of writing.

Totally loved this book. The tale of love and simplicity at home from parents of a generation where honest hard work and faith in Great Britain was enough for an Eastend kid to catapult himself into his dreams.
Gary Kemp does embellish parts of the story eg around the era of underground music / New Romantics where the band seemed to rub shoulders with every hip name of the day but I can forgive him that as he is scene setting and at the same time gives a lovely historical context. Born in East London in 1970 myself, I could associate with so much that he wrote about his childhood.
The parents play a beautiful part in the author's story and the passing of his father had me sobbing. It was beautifully retold.
Gary Kemp has written his story in a totally enthralling way. He continually aims for self improvement which he describes throughout the book in its many different guises. For an artist that has achieved so much it is refreshing to hear. He experiences strokes of luck throughout his childhood that shape his path but in addition he is a determined character from the very beginning.
This is an audio book that I will listen to again just because it was special and resonated with me . I'm very glad to have found this book.

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Excellent

I've listened to quite a few autobiographies on audible and this is probably the best. For a start is always better when read by the author which this is. The level of detail is amazing and really paints a vivid and emotionally engaging picture in your mind of his journey, starting with his working class childhood and right through the colourful 70s/80s youth and music scene and up to 2009 when it was published. I also enjoyed meeting other 80s legends in there and the inside point of view of events such as Band Aid and Live Aid.

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Excellent book

A brilliant well read book
Not a fan of the band but Gary’s story is awesome

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A story of life and stardom

I attended the same school as Gary and other members of Spandau Ballet, but a few years later and after its relocation from Islington to Hertfordshire. The school stayed close to its roots and Gary's story resonates strongly and is told straightforwardly and lovingly, vis a vis friends, bandmembers, lovers and family. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure, although i doubt it was written or narrated to deliberately pull at the heartstrings. Being down to earth and honest conveyed the highs and lows more than any hyperbole could do. This is not just for Spandau Ballet fans, although the band is the obvious strong thread upon which the book is based. If you grew up in the 80's, or are curious about how music is made and promoted (Steve Dagger, the band's manager was quite a genius) or simply enjoy a good autobiography, you can enjoy this tale, as i did, very much.

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A great listen!

Highly recommended and well delivered by Gary. A real insight into an exciting musical era.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Listening to Gary

Really enjoyed it. Dramatic, sometimes a bit grandiose ( even pompous) but nonetheless a descriptive, interesting time capsule. Good that it’s authentic and is narrated by the writer himself.

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Loved this

Incredibly well written. I was a Spandau ballet fan as a young teen but I would have listened to this anyway it’s so well described. The area my husband grew up and a different London to today. The music scene at that time so well described. Awesome !

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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Should have got the book by his brother Martin Kemp 🤦‍♂️

As a person who properly grew up and had my best time in the '80s, I was told about the book from the guy in spandeau Ballet reminiscing on the good times back then.

Okay, I was not a fan of theirs but loved the '80s regardless .
So, I purchased this on audible . It started off well enough, but I didn't seem to hear much about the music scene and the stories about that time . This was because I should have purchased the book by MARTIN KEMP ( his brother )!!
3 chapters in , and I'm getting bored of yet more gangster / kray stories ! Yes the krays were very naughty boys , but I think we know everything there is to know in the uk anyway and quite frankly it all bores me. I cannot see myself finishing this .

Ontop of that, the narrator seems to be trying too hard.
If he was a football commentator for example , he would make the most boring game sound like a gripping game with end to end excitement .

I'll purchase the Martin Kemp book , and hopefully this will be a lot better.
If not, my friend will be told off 😾😺

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