The The The Book

Forgive me for the name of this post but I couldn't resist. It is one of the answers I have given when asked what I am currently working on. Just to clarify, it will be the authorised biography of Matt Johnson. Those with even a modicum of good taste in their record purchases back in the eighties and nineties will need no introduction. In fact you may be one of the many who have been wondering what happened to Matt as The The (assuming you have been following his recent soundtrack releases) since his last album - Naked Self - was way back in 2000 and his last public performance was at David Bowie's Meltdown festival of 2002? You might have bought the recent vinyl remaster of Soul Mining and be wondering if the planned remaster of Infected will include the legendary film, screened to acclaim on Channel 4 at the time of the album's initial release.* You are possibly prone to contemplating whether the almost mythical Pornography of Despair will ever see the light of day?

I can't promise answers to all these questions but can promise a great story, not just about the life and career of a musician who has managed to retain his artistic integrity and credibility while so many others have succumbed to the nostalgia circuit, but about how the music industry has changed along the way, how the London where Matt was born and currently resides has changed and, sadly, how the political climate that Matt described with such insight on Infected and Mind Bomb, remains much the same, only worse.

In covering the entire career of The The - as it is still ongoing (yes), I will be including everything of note up until the time the manuscript has to be delivered to Scott Pack at The Friday Project next year. Updates will appear here, as well as tasters and unused material, so if you are a The The fan don't touch that dial...so to speak.

* word on the street is...very possibly...

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