Nick Kent facts for kids
Nick Kent (born 24 December 1951) is a British rock critic and musician. He is famous for his writing in the music magazine NME during the 1970s. He also wrote two well-known books: The Dark Stuff (1994) and Apathy for the Devil (2010).
Contents
Early Life and Start in Writing
Nick Kent was born on December 24, 1951. His father used to be a sound engineer at Abbey Road Studios, a famous recording studio. Nick started his writing career when he was 21 years old, in 1972. He was inspired by famous writers like Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson.
Even in college, Nick showed great writing talent. After studying James Joyce's book Ulysses, he was encouraged to study English further. However, he left two universities. He then began to make a name for himself as a music critic in London's underground music scene.
Career as a Music Journalist
Nick Kent is seen as one of the most important and influential music journalists in the UK during the 1970s. He wrote for the British music magazine New Musical Express (NME). Later in his career, he also wrote for The Face.
Kent's writing mostly focuses on the lives and music of rock-and-roll musicians. His articles often explore what it was like to be an artist in the late 20th century. He has written two books:
- The Dark Stuff: This book is a collection of his best journalism.
- Apathy for the Devil: A 1970s Memoir: This book tells his own story about his life and experiences in the 1970s. It was published in March 2010.
Music and the Punk Scene
In the mid-1970s, Nick Kent played guitar with an early version of the band Sex Pistols. He also performed briefly with members of the early punk band London SS. Brian James, who later joined The Damned, said that Nick was a great guitarist. He mentioned that Nick played like Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones.
Nick Kent's relationship with the punk rock scene was sometimes difficult. As a well-known music critic, he was seen as part of the music industry. He had some disagreements with members of the punk band Sex Pistols. Despite these challenges, Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols once said that Kent was "good fun."
Kent also had tensions with the early punk band Adam and the Ants. These disagreements led to Adam Ant mentioning Nick Kent in their song "Press Darlings."
Personal Life
Nick Kent currently lives in Paris, France, with his wife. He sometimes writes articles for British and French newspapers, including The Guardian. He is the father of synthwave musician James Kent, who is known by his stage name Perturbator.
Books
- The Dark Stuff: Selected Writings on Rock Music – with a foreword by Iggy Pop (1st edition: 1994, Penguin Books; updated 2nd edition: 2002, Da Capo Press)
- Apathy for the Devil: A Seventies Memoir (2010, Da Capo Press)
See also
In Spanish: Nick Kent para niños
