When I think of rock music from Wales then bands like Lone Star, Budgie and Kooga come to mind. Three personal long-time favourites from my, er, youth.
Bullet For My Valentine not a band I’m familiar with so when I was asked if I’d like a review copy of a biography of the band written by Ben Welch called Scream Aim Conquer I said “yes” seeing it as an opportunity to learn something new.
Whilst I have to admit that after checking out some of the band’s stuff it is not “my bag” that has not in any way taken away from my enjoyment of the book at all. I found it to be an interesting and compelling read throughout as BFMV went from scratching around South Wales to Enormodome-filling mega act.
A tight, engaging writing style from Welch make it an easy read. I like that. He tells the band’s story at a good pace in a concise way. From the early days when the boys got together from early friendship/college with the early incarnation as Jeff Killed John and their local success before evolving in to BFMV and heading off to London to seek their fortunes.
The struggles, the growing industry attention, the high profile support slots and tours with the likes of Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses et al and the blazing festival appearances which gradually took them to the top of the metal tree.
The slight career “wobble” is well charted too with the Axe Wound side project, the singer having (and eventually overcoming) serious voice-issues and going to Thailand to record the follow-up to the successful Fever album.
That follow-up wouldn’t be as enthusiastically received as their previous stuff though they overcame that and a key personnel change to hit back and become even bigger.
If you’re a Bullet For My Valentine fan then no doubt you’ll enjoy the book. If you’re not, like me, I do recommend Scream Aim Conquer as an entertaining read following a successful metal bad from founding obscurity to multi-million selling superstars.
Bullet For My Valentine: Scream, Aim, Conquer by Ben Welch is out now, published by Music Press Books – John Blake Publishing – in paperback and priced £7.99. http://www.johnblakebooks.com/