Influential post-punk guitarist John McGeoch is the subject of a new biography, The Light Pours Out Of Me, which has been written by Rory Sullivan-Burke and is set to arrive via Omnibus Press on April 28.
McGeoch, who passed away in 2004, had a remarkable career that saw him serve stints with several of the most important acts of the UK post-punk era, including Magazine and Siouxsie And The Banshees, plus extensive runs with The Armoury Show and Public Image Ltd.
His recorded work included Magazine’s first three albums and Siouxsie And The Banshee’s acclaimed early-'80s records, including Kaleidoscope, Juju and A Kiss In The Dreamhouse, alongside stints as a gun-for-hire to the likes of Generation X and synth-pop band Visage.
Siouxsie Sioux once told The Independent that McGeoch was “easily, without a shadow of a doubt, the most creative guitarist the Banshees ever had”.
The Light Pours Out of Me reportedly tracks the innovative guitarist’s story from his beginnings in Scotland and early days learning Eric Clapton licks, through to his transformative time at art school in Manchester and his days with some of the finest bands of the fertile post-punk period.
Some huge names have since cited his influence on their development as guitarists, including the Edge, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien, Johnny Marr, John Frusciante and Dave Navarro. Many of those guitarists have contributed to the book, as have the likes of Keith Levene, Billy Idol and Peter Hook.
The biography also features artwork by Malcolm Garrett. The man behind artwork for Buzzcocks early singles (and, later, many other names) was McGeoch’s room mate at art school in Manchester and introduce him to Magazine frontman Howard Devoto. Garrett also contributes stories to the book, as do McGeoch’s family.
Alongside the standard edition of The Light Pours Out Of Me, there will be a limited-edition slipcase edition, featuring an autographed copy of the book (signed by contributors Johnny Marr, Paul Morley, Rory Sullivan-Burke, Emily McGeoch, Dave Formula and Malcolm Garrett) and a 7” of an unreleased live performance of The Light Pours Out of Me by Magazine (recorded at The Factory, Manchester in 1980).
The Light Pours Out Of Me is available to preorder now via Omnibus Press.
“I was playing with the Scorpions, and I broke a string and had a solo coming up. My brother and I swapped guitars really quickly”: Michael Schenker talks Vs, his early flirtations with offsets, and how he joined one of hard rock's biggest juggernauts
“In that last year of his life, I said to him one night, ‘Les, I don't know, but I swear, you're playing better than you were last year’”: Tommy Emmanuel recalls his final moments with guitar legend Les Paul
