‘Cut-Throat – How to get started in the music business – and survive!’ is a newly published book drawn from the archives of the sadly now departed Nash The Slash (the late Jeff Plewman) that I received recently in its limited edition form. Published by Skill, which bills itself as an ‘outsider micro-label and press offering discerning multi-genre releases in beautifully rendered limited editions’ the wonderfully packaged limited version is now sold out, but the regular edition is available – view the Skill Bandcamp. Along with the ‘Nash The Slash Rises, Again!’ [Facebook link] documentary, this will surely help keep the interest alive.
This is the first time the book has been published in print form (or, it seems, in any form), it originally hails from 1997 and acts as something of a handbook drawn from Nash’s own inimitable wisdom and advice on surviving the music industry. The main part of the book comprises twelve chapters written by Nash, very much a typically wry guide for what to look out for should you wish to make it in the music business. Written in 1997, it is obviously of its time now, though the Skill publisher, and editor of this book, Andy Cowan, has thoughtfully added contemporary perspective for good measure (‘Postscript: Not In Kansas Anymore’).
In addition to Nash’s take on things, there are interview chapters (‘Nash Chats’) with some of his well known collaborators/associates including Steve Hillage (the producer of 1981’s ‘Children of the Night’ album), Nash’s photographer/‘image-maker’ Paul Till, Gary Numan, and Bill Nelson, while recollections from Colin Brunton, friend and documentary producer, are to be found too.
The standard edition provides the book plus one button badge and bookmark – this limited edition adds one further button badge, postcards, poster and wraps the book in bandage, appropriately enough.
While obviously a period piece in the ruthlessly cut-throat 21st century music streaming climate, there are core principles outlined by Nash that remain sound advice nevertheless and this is a well-designed, nicely illustrated book and deserves shelf-space on any self-respecting Nash the Slash fan… buy now or eat swill!
I was an immediate fan of Nash The Slash from 1978 and his amazing performances on the FM album “Black Noise.” It was the first album I bought following the arrival of my first stereo that summer. They were a late-blooming Canadian Prog act, but they were AMAZING! It’s the last great Prog album for my ears. I went off the genre by that same year but I have loved and played that album ever since. Nash rose far above the “Star Trek” lyrics. He played electric violin and mandolin in the band. They had a synth player and a drummer. There’s no guitar on it at all. Nash played electric mandolin into an Echoplex and it sounded like sequenced synthesizers. And in those days Nash hadn’t hit upon the bandages, so that was a shock when I next encountered him, following his exit from FM after the “Black Noise” album.
I absolute;y love that book cover and need to read that one! And I’m eager to see the documentary “Nash The Slash Rises, AGAIN!” My pal Rob Preuss did the soundtrack for that and appears in the film. He was friends with Nash, who had toured with Rob’s band, Spoons. He says that Nash would often join Spoons onstage when playing the song “Arias + Symphonies.” The title track from their excellent album of the same name. That’s an album to check out if you’ve not had the pleasure. Canada’s best New Romantic record!