The London Boys by Marc Burrows is not so much a biographical look at Bowie and Bolan (though that is a central element) as it is a look at how a generation born into the destructive aftermath of war transformed themselves, their city, their country, and indeed the world through their music and their taking on and shedding of various personae.

If you're of a certain age (as in old, like me) this will be nostalgic to some degree. Most of the stories involving Bowie and Bolan will be familiar, but probably not in the detail or contextualizing Burrows gives you. It is that extra specificity of relationships coupled with the broader societal situating of events that makes this a truly enjoyable book.

Even those who know a good bit about these musicians will learn a lot. I am no expert, maybe a dozen books about Bowie and a couple about Bolan/T Rex, but I didn't expect a lot of new information, mostly I was looking forward to new perspective on things I might already know. I gained those new perspectives and also a lot of very interesting details which were new to me. You gotta love when a book gives you what you want, plus a whole lot more.

Certainly a must read for fans of Bowie, Bolan, and the music of the late 60s and 70s, but also a great read for those with an interest in social and cultural history more generally. And for old folk like me, a great trip down memory lane.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )