Street Level Superstar: A Year with Lawrence Q&A at Foyles with Will Hodgkinson and Lawrence, hosted by Jarvis Cocker

Last night we attended a thoroughly entertaining evening at Foyles bookstore in London in the company of Jarvis Cocker who was questioning author Will Hodgkinson about his superb new book "Street Level Superstar: A Year with Lawrence" (Nine Eight Books) along with the enigmatic subject himself, Lawrence, the frontman of Mozart Estate, previously of Go-Kart Mozart, Denim and Felt. Hodgkinson does not shy away from Lawrence's sometimes frustrating idiosyncrasies and in other less involved hands, the story might have veered into sneering or ridiculing the singer's often quite baffling habits. But, it's an affectionate look at someone who basically wants to live life and create art on his own terms. The story is told through the conversations and experiences with Will and Lawrence during a series of walks around various London neighbourhoods over the course of a year. From Lawrence's early childhood in Birmingham to his time in his bands Felt, Denim, Go-Kart Mozart and Mozart Estate right up to the unveiling of Corin Johnson's quite remarkable marble bust, "Street Level Superstar" redefines the music biography genre. From poverty, drug addiction, homelessness to occasional close calls with the elusive stardom he craves, Lawrence is dogged by terrible bad luck, missed opportunities and a tendency to shoot himself in the foot. But despite all the slings and arrows over the years, Lawrence still exudes a cheerfulness and sense of optimism that's evident at the sold-out event. With so much acclaim being lavished on Hodgkinson's book, it might well elevate Lawrence to the fame and fortune that he feels is long overdue, we can but hope! Here are some photos from the talk along with some of the Martin Green curated marble bust exhibition at the stunning Fitzrovia Chapel. I've also included a rare early photo taken by my Retro Man Blog colleague, the Rock photographer Paul Slattery, who also has a photo included in the book.

Felt - Copyright Paul Slattery