One Train Later: A memoir Paperback – 5 July 2007

This book by Andy Summers is quite simply an amazing and engrossing book. I honestly couldn't put it down, taking it everywhere with me just in case I could grab a few minutes to read some more. It is a long time since any book I have bought or borrowed has had me hooked to that degree.This account by Andy has all the details of a gripping account of rock and roll life and is far from a `then I did this, then I did that' style of book, which many memoirs and autobiographies can have. The construction is clever with the story flicking between a `past future' moment before the legendary Police Shea Stadium gig, and events leading up to that in 'real time' in terms of the tales being told. As with all memoirs certain parts are of course to be taken with a pinch of salt, but I can see why this was the Mojo magazine book of the year. There is the story of Andy selling a certain Mr Clapton a guitar which is claimed to have partially formed Eric's legendary technique and sound. Tales of early loves lost and later found again after the madness of the police years, the digs and rooms rented and the experiences within, it is all there.Even as a lifelong fan of the police, I had never appreciated just how long Andy had been a hard working musician with such legends as Zoot Money, The Animals, Neil Sedaka and countless other tours and gigs before making it big (and boy did he!) in the late 70's\early 80's with the Police. Having now read this book I appreciate the police's musical output to an even greater degree. It inspired me to dig out all my old vinyl and CD's and given them a fresh airing with fresh ears. Some of Andy's comments on the albums the Police made also match my own thoughts. Regatta de Blanc remains my favourite too.Thanks for the memories Andy, your music was amazing, and the book will take some beating too.

I always knew Andy Summmers had had a bit of a history before joining The Police but I never knew it was so long and fascinating. From being a perenial nearly man of rock, he alighted from the same train as Stewart Copeland and the rest ........In 'Book 1' he describes his early jazz and psychedelic period including encounters with Clapton, Hendrix (relegating him to playing bass) and Burdon. Some of his andectotes are so incredible, you have to wonder how much license he's employed but the stories are great and the vision of a teenage Summers chasing Hank Marvin down the street had me in fits. 'Book 2' looks at his career to 1983 with The Police and documents the decadent excesses that cost him his marriage.In telling the tales about his guitars, including his iconic 'telestratocaster', he gives a great insight to his influences, his techniques and his choice of 'weapon'.As well as a guitar player, Summers displays his skills here as a good writer whose style compares well with many a good fantasy / fiction author. This was a can't put down book for me. Massively recommended for guitarists, Police fans, romantics and anyone who likes a good tale told well.

Although not a huge fan of The Police,as a guitarist myself I'd always liked some of the sounds Andy Summers could get from the instrument that differed from the usual rock/pop cliches.Also,as someone born in 1942,his apprenticeship started at the dawn of the rock/pop era so he is also a real voice of experience.On the whole,it's a decent read.What I like about Summers is that the entire motivation for his career is simply a love of music rather than money/fame/women(these would arrive eventually)and when you read his descriptions of the crappy venues,filthy digs and occasionally hand-to-mouth existence,I for one wouldn't begrudge him the odd groupie or 3!Here is someone who has paid his dues several times over and kept going when many wouldn't.The book is written with refreshing honesty and a fair bit of humour..his description of a post Police gig in Slovenia in the early 90's is both funny and disturbing in equal measure(ditch that agent mate!).The one thing that lets it down for me is the absence of any decent photographs.As Andy was/is an enthusiastic lensman,I assumed that there would be plenty of pics from down the years but all we get is the odd fuzzy black and white print scattered sparcely through the book which is a shame.Just one last observation..at the point where his marriage breaks up amidst the sex/drugs/rock n'roll cliches,it's worth mentioning that Andy Summers was touching 40 years old..not exactly a spring chicken!But the phrase 'old enogth to know better' doesn't often apply to the music biz.If someone is chucking chemicals into themselves and screwing around at that age then they don't deserve a missus so his words of woe over his divorce ring hollow to these ears..the fact she took him back is maybe a last pay-off for all those fart filled nights travelling in a crappy van to those awful gigs!Feel lucky Andy...

This book is an absolute treat , if you love music ,guitars i highly reccomend this book for those reasons alone but it gets better the book is written with such passion you will enjoy reading it even if you have never even heard of andy summers , somehow the iconic author manages to pull off one of the best musical memoirs ever written its laced with nostalgic childhood memories and rich in musical history , it really is a fascinating journey documenting the life and career of a passionate man ,without the usual pontificating typical of many biographies , you actually learn something its very informative ,emotional and there is no shortage of humour , i simply couldn,t put the book down , i enjoyed it from cover to cover .*****