Nick Kent facts for kids
Nick Kent (born December 24, 1951) is a British writer and musician. He is well-known for his music articles, especially those he wrote for the NME magazine in the 1970s. He also wrote two popular books, The Dark Stuff (1994) and Apathy for the Devil (2010).
Contents
Early Life and Writing Beginnings
Nick Kent was born in 1951. His father used to be a sound engineer at the famous Abbey Road Studios. Nick started his writing career when he was 20 years old, in 1972. He was inspired by famous writers like Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson.
Nick showed a strong talent for writing during his college years. He was even encouraged to study English further after analyzing a complex book called Ulysses. However, he left university and soon became known as a music critic in London's exciting underground music scene.
Music Journalism Career
Nick Kent is considered one of the most important and influential music journalists in the UK during the 1970s. He wrote for major British music magazines like New Musical Express (NME) and later The Face. His articles mainly focused on the lives and music of rock-and-roll musicians. His writing style often explored the experiences of artists in the late 20th century.
Nick has written two books:
- The Dark Stuff: This book is a collection of his best music articles.
- Apathy for the Devil: A 1970s Memoir: This book tells the story of his own life and experiences during the 1970s. It was published in March 2010.
Music and Punk Rock Interactions
In the mid-1970s, Nick Kent played guitar with an early version of the famous band Sex Pistols. He also performed briefly with members of another early punk band called London SS, in a group named Subterraneans. Brian James, who later joined the Damned, once said that Nick was a "great guitarist" who played like Keith Richards.
Nick's relationship with the new punk rock scene was sometimes difficult. Because he was already a well-known music critic, some punk musicians saw him as part of the established music industry. There was an incident at the 100 Club where Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols had a confrontation with Nick. Nick has shared his side of this story in several books and in a 2000 documentary about the Sex Pistols. Despite this, Sid Vicious later said in an interview that Nick was "good fun."
Nick also had disagreements with the early punk band Adam and the Ants. This started after his review of the soundtrack for the film Jubilee. In response, the band's lead singer, Adam Ant, mentioned Nick in their song "Press Darlings." Also, the band's guitarist at the time, Matthew Ashman, had a playful incident with Nick involving strawberry jam outside a music venue in Camden.
Personal Life and Family
In 1974, Nick Kent started dating Chrissie Hynde, who later became the lead singer of the band the Pretenders. They lived together for a while.
Nick currently lives in Paris with his wife. He still writes articles occasionally for newspapers in Britain and France, including The Guardian. He is also the father of synthwave musician James Kent, who is known by his stage name Perturbator.
Books Written by Nick Kent
- The Dark Stuff: Selected Writings on Rock Music (First published in 1994; updated in 2002)
- Apathy for the Devil: A Seventies Memoir (Published in 2010)
See also
In Spanish: Nick Kent para niños
