One Train Later

One Train Later is Andy Summers' memoir of his life as guitarist for The Police, starting from his childhood in post-war England through the band's rise to global fame in the 1980s. The book opens with a pivotal moment before a Police concert at Madison Square Garden, then traces back through Summers' musical journey. Summers recounts his early years playing in British psychedelic bands, his classical guitar studies, and the struggles of trying to make it as a professional musician in London's competitive scene. His path intersects with many figures of British rock history before he joins Sting and Stewart Copeland to form The Police in 1977. The narrative follows The Police's transformation from a punk-era startup to one of the world's biggest bands, chronicling their tours, recordings, and internal dynamics. Summers provides an insider's perspective on the music industry of the late 1970s and early 1980s. As both participant and observer, Summers explores themes of artistic ambition, fame's impact on relationships, and the price of success in the music business. The book stands as a document of a specific era in rock history while examining universal questions about creativity and human connection.

Readers found Summers' writing style engaging and literary, noting his detailed accounts of The Police's rise and his early years playing in British R&B bands. Several reviews mentioned his thoughtful reflections on music theory and guitar techniques. Likes: - Deep musical insights and technical details - Coverage of pre-Police career and London music scene - Honest portrayal of band tensions - Philosophical and introspective tone Dislikes: - Some felt he was overly intellectual/pretentious - Limited coverage of The Police's peak years - Not enough behind-the-scenes stories - Too much focus on his photography hobby Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (150+ ratings) Sample review quote: "Unlike most rock memoirs, this one has real literary merit. Summers writes with intelligence about music, creativity, and the price of fame." - Goodreads reviewer Critics noted the book offered a unique perspective on The Police but may disappoint readers seeking traditional rock biography content.

Life by Keith Richards, James Fox A raw account of the Rolling Stones' guitarist's journey through music, addiction, and stardom parallels Summers' introspective look at rock history.

Just Kids by Patti Smith The story chronicles Smith's relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe while navigating New York's 1970s art scene during the same era Summers experienced.

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis The Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman's memoir details his path through music, fame, and recovery in the same candid style as Summers' reflections.

Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan Dylan's non-linear memoir explores the music industry's evolution and personal artistic development during the same transformative decades Summers writes about.

Set the Boy Free by Johnny Marr The Smiths' guitarist shares his musical evolution and technical approach to guitar playing with similar attention to craft as found in Summers' autobiography.

🎸 Andy Summers wrote the memoir without a ghostwriter, drawing from detailed journals he kept during his years with The Police 📝 The book's title comes from a moment when Summers nearly missed joining The Police – if he had taken a different train, he might never have connected with Stewart Copeland and Sting 🎼 Before joining The Police, Summers played with several prominent artists including Eric Burdon, Kevin Coyne, and Kevin Ayers 📚 The memoir reveals that Summers initially declined to join The Police, believing the punk movement was beneath his sophisticated jazz background 🎧 Many of the book's scenes were later adapted for the 2012 documentary "Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving The Police," narrated by Summers himself