Nick Kent
Encyclopedia
Nick Kent is a British
rock critic and musician
.
, Charles Shaar Murray
and Danny Baker
, Nick Kent is seen as one of the most important and influential UK music journalists of the 1970s. He wrote for the British music publication New Musical Express, moving to The Face
later in his career. Kent is the author of two books: The Dark Stuff, a collection of his journalism and Apathy for the Devil: A 1970's Memoir which is an autobiographical account of his life and experiences in the 1970's published in March 2010. Kent's writing covers the lives and music of, predominantly, rock and roll musicians. His prose is laced with images of self-destruction and compassion, exploring the reality of being an artist in the late twentieth century.
He is a musician (guitar), and rehearsed with a group of musicians then using the name London SS
, some of whom would go on to form early British punk bands such as The Damned and The Clash
. He also played guitar with an early incarnation of the Sex Pistols
. Kent's relationship with the punk scene was strained, particularly by one episode in which future Sex Pistol Sid Vicious
and entourage member Jah Wobble
(later bassist with Public Image Ltd) attacked Kent, then already a well-known music critic and ostensibly a symbol of the music industry, at an early gig at the 100 Club
. Kent relates the incident in Johnny Rogan's book on rock management, Starmakers & Svengalis; in The Filth and the Fury
, director Julien Temple
's 2000 documentary of the Sex Pistols; in The Dark Stuff; in Jon Savage
's book England's Dreaming; and in Apathy for the Devil.
Kent also had bad relations with the early punk incarnation of Adam & the Ants, starting with his NME review of the soundtrack album to Derek Jarman
's film Jubilee in which Kent labelled Adam Ant
a Nazi sympathiser on account of the featured song "Deutscher Girls". In retaliation, Adam sarcastically name-checked Kent in the song "Press Darlings" (which later appeared on the B-Side of the Ants' no.2 hit single "Kings Of The Wild Frontier" and on the US edition of the hit album of the same name
) claiming that "If passion ends in fashion, then Nick Kent is the best dressed man in town..." In addition, then Ants guitarist Matthew Ashman
assaulted and humiliated Kent with a potful of strawberry jam
in the queue outside Camden
's Music Machine venue one evening.
with his wife, and contributes articles occasionally to the British and French press, in particular The Guardian
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock critic and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
Career
Along with writers including Paul MorleyPaul Morley
Paul Morley is an English journalist, who wrote for the New Musical Express from 1977 to 1983, during one of its most successful periods, and has since written for a wide range of publications...
, Charles Shaar Murray
Charles Shaar Murray
Charles Shaar Murray is an English music journalist. His first experience in journalism came 1970 when he was asked to contribute to the satirical magazine Oz...
and Danny Baker
Danny Baker
Danny Baker is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Since the late 1970s, he has worked for a wide range of publications and broadcasters including NME, LWT, the BBC, and Talk Radio....
, Nick Kent is seen as one of the most important and influential UK music journalists of the 1970s. He wrote for the British music publication New Musical Express, moving to The Face
The Face (magazine)
The Face was a British music, fashion and culture monthly magazine started in May 1980 by Nick Logan.-1980s:Logan had previously created the teen pop magazine Smash Hits, and had been an editor at the New Musical Express in the 1970s before launching The Face in 1980.The magazine was influential in...
later in his career. Kent is the author of two books: The Dark Stuff, a collection of his journalism and Apathy for the Devil: A 1970's Memoir which is an autobiographical account of his life and experiences in the 1970's published in March 2010. Kent's writing covers the lives and music of, predominantly, rock and roll musicians. His prose is laced with images of self-destruction and compassion, exploring the reality of being an artist in the late twentieth century.
He is a musician (guitar), and rehearsed with a group of musicians then using the name London SS
London SS
London SS were an early British punk rock group founded in March 1975 by guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Tony James.The band spent most of their short history auditioning potential members. Besides Jones and James, however, guitarist Brian James was the only other semi-permanent member...
, some of whom would go on to form early British punk bands such as The Damned and The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
. He also played guitar with an early incarnation of the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
. Kent's relationship with the punk scene was strained, particularly by one episode in which future Sex Pistol Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
and entourage member Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble is an English bass guitarist, singer, poet and composer. He became known to a wider audience as the original bass player in Public Image Ltd in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but left the band after two albums...
(later bassist with Public Image Ltd) attacked Kent, then already a well-known music critic and ostensibly a symbol of the music industry, at an early gig at the 100 Club
100 Club
The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....
. Kent relates the incident in Johnny Rogan's book on rock management, Starmakers & Svengalis; in The Filth and the Fury
The Filth and the Fury
The Filth and the Fury is a 2000 rockumentary film about the Sex Pistols directed by Julien Temple.-About the film:The Filth and the Fury is the second movie Julien Temple made about The Sex Pistols. His first effort was The Great Rock and Roll Swindle, which was released in British cinemas on 15...
, director Julien Temple
Julien Temple
Julien Temple is an English film, documentary and music video director. He began his career with short films featuring the Sex Pistols, and has continued with various off-beat projects, including The Great Rock And Roll Swindle, Absolute Beginners and a documentary film about Glastonbury.-Temple...
's 2000 documentary of the Sex Pistols; in The Dark Stuff; in Jon Savage
Jon Savage
Jon Savage , real name Jonathon Sage, is a Cambridge-educated writer, broadcaster and music journalist, best known for his award winning history of the Sex Pistols and punk music, England's Dreaming, published in 1991.-Career:...
's book England's Dreaming; and in Apathy for the Devil.
Kent also had bad relations with the early punk incarnation of Adam & the Ants, starting with his NME review of the soundtrack album to Derek Jarman
Derek Jarman
Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.-Life:...
's film Jubilee in which Kent labelled Adam Ant
Adam Ant
Adam Ant is an English musician who gained popularity as the lead singer of New Wave/post-punk group Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist, scoring ten UK top ten hits between 1980 and 1983, including three No.1s...
a Nazi sympathiser on account of the featured song "Deutscher Girls". In retaliation, Adam sarcastically name-checked Kent in the song "Press Darlings" (which later appeared on the B-Side of the Ants' no.2 hit single "Kings Of The Wild Frontier" and on the US edition of the hit album of the same name
Kings of the Wild Frontier
Kings of the Wild Frontier is a New Wave album by Adam and the Ants, released in 1980 . This album introduced the new Burundi drum sound. After having his previous backing band wooed away by producer Malcolm McLaren, who used them to form Bow Wow Wow, Adam Ant recorded Kings of the Wild Frontier...
) claiming that "If passion ends in fashion, then Nick Kent is the best dressed man in town..." In addition, then Ants guitarist Matthew Ashman
Matthew Ashman
Matthew James Ashman was an English guitarist with Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow. He died of diabetes-related complications in 1995, aged 35.-Career:...
assaulted and humiliated Kent with a potful of strawberry jam
Strawberry jam
Strawberry Jam may refer to:*A flavor of Jam*Strawberry Jam , a 2007 album by Animal Collective...
in the queue outside Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
's Music Machine venue one evening.
Personal life
Kent currently lives in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
with his wife, and contributes articles occasionally to the British and French press, in particular The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
.