Complicated Shadows: The Life And Music Of Elvis Costello - Softcover

"Brilliantly written... in the absence of Elvis Costello putting pen to paper himself, this is far and away the next best thing." Record Collector; "A substantive record of the man's energy and brilliance after nearly 30 years of standing up when we might have expected him to be falling down." Observer; "A cracker... meticulously researched and fluently told." Observer Music Monthly; "Thomson's pop scholarship is strong: he has gone deep into the archives and immersed himself in the music." Guardian; "As believable and fair a picture of the man himself as I suspect is actually possible. He'll not like it though." Herald; "Vital" Uncut"

Complicated Shadows paints a detailed and accurate portrait of an intensely private and complex individual. It draws on nearly 50 exclusive interviews with schoolmates, pre-fame friends, early band members, journalists as well as members of The Attractions, producers, collaborators and musicians from all stages of his life and career. Thomson also unearths many previously unknown details about Costello's early years and his personal life, as well as examining his entire musical output using the recollections of those who were there at the time, the majority of whom have never talked on the subject before.