Clandestino: In Search of Manu Chao - Softcover

Manu Chao? He was a pain in the arse when he was four. And he still is! (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

To distil the nature of Chao's elusive genius requires a bold author and a special kind of book - and Peter Culshaw has risen to the task...a compelling story, brilliantly told... By the journey's end, one is left with the satisfying conclusion that the fabulous experiences and curious explorations along the way have been more important than any imagined or real destination - for author, subject and reader alike. (Nigel Williamson Songlines 2013-05-01)

Manu Chao is a nomadic non-conformist, bard of the dispossessed and pied piper of the poor ... An engaging new biography ... Culshaw does a fine job keeping track of the musician's helter-skelter movements ... he's also strong when analysing Chao's winning musical formula. (Alastair Smart Daily Telegraph 2013-04-27)

It's bloody brilliant. Really. The whole structure works really well, the storytelling is really vivid. I loved the digressions and learned plenty. (Caspar Llewellyn Smith, Music Editor Guardian 2013-05-14)

A carnival of photojournalism and trans-continental reportage ... Culshaw is a disciplined and talented biographer ... a fine story. (Richard Elins The List 2013-05-10)

Any story which features a band playing shows on trains around Colombia or on cargo ships sailing up and down South America is always going to be colourful ... Clandestino is a great read ... As tales of unlikely global stars go, this is well worth your time. (Jim Carroll Irish Times 2013-05-11)

Excellent ... Clandestino is part travelogue, part-history, and a thumpingly good book. (Vanessa Baird New Internationalist 2013-06-01)

Thoroughly researched ... has plenty to say to the committed fan (Clive Bell The Wire 2013-06-01)

One of the many fine qualities of Culshaw's book - part biography, part personal chronicle of his time with Chao - is that he doesn't attempt to tidy the music or push the man into pigeonholes. His is a well-paced, balanced and warm account of the extraordinary life of an extraordinary artist ... Clandestino will make you dig out the albums and listen to them again with a richer understanding of the music. (Nicola Rayner Record Collector 2013-06-01)

Chao's led - and still leads - an extraordinary life ... A fascinating story and Culshaw tells it well (Andrzej Lukowski Metro 2013-06-06)