The mononymous Lawrence is the very definition of a cult musician. He first rose to underground fame in the ’80s as the enigmatic leader of delicate indie art-poppers Felt, before setting off on an unparalleled glam/novelty pop odyssey with Denim, Go-Kart Mozart and Mozart Estate.
A talented artist with a singular vision, his dreams of stardom have been constantly thwarted by a complex combination of bad luck, stubborn self-sabotage and the inescapable fact that Lawrence – great though he is – is just too ‘weird’ for mainstream consumption.
Street Level Superstar, music journalist Will Hodgkinson’s highly entertaining account of Lawrence’s unusual life and career is so much more than a mere rock biography. It’s a fascinating, funny and occasionally sad character study written with tremendous affection and empathy, an insightful tribute to a sometimes selfish and exasperating eccentric who nevertheless remains strangely lovable.
Hodgkinson’s year with Lawrence involves them wandering around various London boroughs, liminal spaces, unlovely suburbs and our hero’s modest books and records-filled council flat – in essence, a topographic journey around Lawrence’s mind.
He’s always imposed a strict set of rules upon his life and art – which are basically the same thing – but it’s still surprising to learn that he’s never bothered with the internet and doesn’t have a bank card. His only concession to modernity is a very old, basic Nokia mobile phone. He purposefully makes life difficult for himself.
He’s also been celibate for over 20 years, having eventually realised that he’s incapable of having a conventional romantic relationship (interviews with two ex-girlfriends confirm this; he sounds impossible, an absolute nightmare).
