📖 Overview
Nick Kent is a British music journalist and author known for his influential work during the 1970s, particularly for the New Musical Express (NME). His writing focused heavily on punk rock, glam rock, and other emerging musical movements of the era, with a distinctive gonzo journalism style that helped shape music criticism.
Kent's most notable work is his memoir "The Dark Stuff" (1994), which chronicles his experiences in the music industry and his relationships with major artists including Iggy Pop, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. His personal involvement in the London music scene, including a brief stint playing guitar with an early version of the Sex Pistols, gave his writing a unique insider perspective.
Throughout his career, Kent struggled with heroin addiction, which he documented openly in his work and later memoir "Apathy for the Devil: A 1970s Memoir" (2010). His raw, uncompromising writing style and tumultuous personal life became as much a part of his narrative as the musicians he covered.
Kent's influence on music journalism continues to be recognized, with his work serving as a blueprint for the immersive, first-person style that became prevalent in rock writing. His articles and books provide a vital historical record of the British punk and rock scenes of the 1970s.
👀 Reviews
Readers value Kent's insider access and raw accounts of 1970s rock culture. His personal experiences with musicians and honest portrayal of addiction add credibility to his narratives.
What readers liked:
- First-hand details about iconic musicians and scenes
- Unflinching descriptions of drug culture and music industry darkness
- Writing style that puts readers "in the room" during key moments
- Personal anecdotes about The Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, and other bands
What readers disliked:
- Self-indulgent tangents and name-dropping
- Unreliable narration due to drug use during described events
- Focus on personal drama over music analysis
- Bitter tone toward certain artists
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: "The Dark Stuff" - 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings)
"Apathy for the Devil" - 3.8/5 (400+ ratings)
Amazon: "The Dark Stuff" - 4.2/5 (80+ reviews)
One reader noted: "Kent writes from the trenches of rock's most dangerous era with the scars to prove it." Another criticized: "Too much Kent, not enough insight into the music itself."
📚 Books by Nick Kent
The Dark Stuff: Selected Writings on Rock Music - A collection of interviews and profiles of musicians including Iggy Pop, Brian Wilson, and Kurt Cobain, originally published in NME and other music magazines during the 1970s and beyond.
Apathy for the Devil: A 1970s Memoir - A first-person account of Kent's experiences as a music journalist during the 1970s, covering his relationships with major rock figures and his own struggles with drug addiction.
The Beast of Jersey - A journalistic investigation into the case of Edward Paisnel, a serial criminal who terrorized the island of Jersey in the 1960s, co-authored with Roy Grubb.
The Dark Stuff: Selected Writings on Rock Music, 1972-1993 - An expanded version of the original Dark Stuff collection, featuring additional articles and updated content covering Kent's music journalism career.
Apathy for the Devil: A 1970s Memoir - A first-person account of Kent's experiences as a music journalist during the 1970s, covering his relationships with major rock figures and his own struggles with drug addiction.
The Beast of Jersey - A journalistic investigation into the case of Edward Paisnel, a serial criminal who terrorized the island of Jersey in the 1960s, co-authored with Roy Grubb.
The Dark Stuff: Selected Writings on Rock Music, 1972-1993 - An expanded version of the original Dark Stuff collection, featuring additional articles and updated content covering Kent's music journalism career.
👥 Similar authors
Lester Bangs wrote about rock music and counterculture for Rolling Stone and Creem during the same era as Kent, covering many of the same artists and scenes. His collection "Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung" captures similar firsthand accounts of 1970s music culture.
Charles Shaar Murray worked alongside Kent at NME and documented the British punk movement extensively. He shares Kent's immersive approach to music journalism and insider perspective on the 1970s London scene.
Paul Morley wrote for NME during the post-punk period and chronicled the Manchester music scene with a similar level of cultural analysis as Kent. His work combines music criticism with personal narrative in the same tradition.
Richard Meltzer pioneered the gonzo style of rock criticism that influenced Kent's approach to music writing. His work in the late 1960s and early 1970s established the framework for the personal, experiential style of music journalism.
Jon Savage covered punk rock for Sounds magazine and wrote "England's Dreaming," which examines the same period and personalities as Kent's work. His research methods and first-person documentation mirror Kent's approach to music journalism.
Charles Shaar Murray worked alongside Kent at NME and documented the British punk movement extensively. He shares Kent's immersive approach to music journalism and insider perspective on the 1970s London scene.
Paul Morley wrote for NME during the post-punk period and chronicled the Manchester music scene with a similar level of cultural analysis as Kent. His work combines music criticism with personal narrative in the same tradition.
Richard Meltzer pioneered the gonzo style of rock criticism that influenced Kent's approach to music writing. His work in the late 1960s and early 1970s established the framework for the personal, experiential style of music journalism.
Jon Savage covered punk rock for Sounds magazine and wrote "England's Dreaming," which examines the same period and personalities as Kent's work. His research methods and first-person documentation mirror Kent's approach to music journalism.