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It Takes Blood and Guts
- Narrated by: Skin, Lucy O’Brien
- Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
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It Takes Blood and Guts
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Summary
Best music books of 2020
Lead singer of multi-million-selling rock band Skunk Anansie, solo artist, LGBTQ+ activist and all around trail blazer – Skin is a global icon, and she has been smashing stereotypes for over twenty-five years. Her journey from Brixton to one of the most influential women in British rock is nothing short of extraordinary.
‘It’s been a very difficult thing being a lead singer of a rock band looking like me and it still is. I have to say it’s been a fight and it will always be a fight. That fight drives you and makes you want to work harder... It’s not supposed to be easy, particularly if you’re a woman, you’re black or you are gay like me. You’ve got to keep moving forward, keep striving for everything you want to be.’
Born to Jamaican parents, Skin grew up in Brixton in the 1970’s. Her career as an artist began in the ‘90s, when Skunk Anansie was formed in the sweat-drenched backrooms of London’s pubs. Since then she has headlined Glastonbury and toured the world, both as lead singer of Skunk Anansie and as a solo artist.
Her success has been groundbreaking in every way, which has come at a personal cost. She has always been vocal about social and cultural issues, and was championing LGBTQ+ rights at a time when few artists were out and gay.
Told with honesty and passion, this is the story of how a gay, black, working-class girl with a vision fought poverty and prejudice to write songs, produce and front her own band, and become one of the most influential women in British rock.
Critic reviews
"One of the most important females in British music of my lifetime." (Colin Murray)
"A beautiful, raw and exhilarating book that will leave you feeling empowered." (Fearne Cotton)
"The pioneering Skunk Anansie frontwoman’s memories offer a very different take on the Britpop era…Skin’s story is one of a rhomboid peg spurning both the round and square hole, drilling dimensions of her own…We now have a lot of language – intersectionality, microaggressions – to describe many of the events in this memoir. However, nothing can really equal candid, first-hand experience, recounted matter of factly here. It would be instructive for anyone who thought they knew the story of the 90s to spend 300 pages in Skin’s Skin." (Observer)
What listeners say about It Takes Blood and Guts
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- Anonymous User
- 05-04-21
Much more than a rock star autobiography
This is a fierce and informative biography, made all the more direct because Skin tells the story in her own voice (for 95% of the book). I remember Skunk Anansie breaking into the white, testosterone-saturated rock scene of the 90s. Hearing that story from her point of view is something I will reflect upon for months to come, I suspect. Hugely recommended!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-10-20
Brilliant book
Absolutely loved it. I was a huge fan of her and the band, saw them live and will again. It was great hearing the story read by her own voice too.
A very talented and inspirational woman.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Luke Barclay
- 24-03-21
Brilliant!
This was just the book I needed to read. It's got great anecdotes, bio stuff and life lessons from THE best P.O.C. in rock. I couldn't put it down and honestly I felt stronger after reading it.
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- Jane
- 19-12-22
Wonderful
A fantastic insight into Skins life and career.
Made more special by being read by her.
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- Nikki
- 25-09-20
Hooked
Only started listening to today and can’t turn off. skin’s voice is captivating and beautiful
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Agnieszka
- 04-10-20
What a joy!
Absolutely loved every part of the book but having Skin reading it, was just a bliss! Brilliant idea of starting chapters with songs! loved it ! loved it! loved it!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Janine Olivier Greener
- 23-09-22
Amazing.
A must read if you want to work in the music industry. Thank you to Skin for her eye opening and sincere honesty of her experience in her and her band's impressive career over the years.
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- Eric
- 28-01-23
Thank you
I lovéd thé music but didn’t know the story behind the band or skin. I really enjoyed it and just want to say thank you for sharing it
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- Kurt F.
- 03-05-21
Honest & Captivating - Narated Beautifully
While I've seen Skunk Anansie at several festivals, I wouldn't consider myself a die-hard fan. So I didn't really know what to expect from this Audiobook, but I was really pleasantly surprised. The story is really well written and captivates throughout with wonderful anecdotes and insights. The cherry on the cake is that Skin reads her own story in her own unique beautiful voice.
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- K. N. Gibson
- 16-01-21
A really interesting insight into the life of Skin
for any fans, a great listen with lots of interesting stories about Skin and her engagement with the world around her. Skin is a great narrator and it's good to hear her story in her own words.
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