On Some Faraway Beach

The Life and Times of Brian Eno

David Sheppard

For some a pretentious art-school type who produces 'instrumental doodles' or 'jazz that nobody asked for'; for others a lightning rod or touchstone for directions in popular music and culture over the last four decades. Whichever, what's certain is that Brian Eno's address book is a who's who of rock and pop of the last thirty years. A founder member of Roxy Music, he's worked with everyone from Talking Heads and U2 to Pavarotti and David Bowie and is often billed as the founding father of ambient music. A witty and unconventional thinker, ten years ago he had considerable success with A Year With Swollen Appendices, his diary of 1995. He continues to release his own records, frequently appears as a cultural commentator and produces records for the likes of David Bowie and U2. While presently he's too busy presenting the Turner prize, organising concerts for the Stop the War coalition or being a sonic alchemist for others to sit down and write his own autobiography, this book is being written with his co-operation and access to all those who've worked with him.