Steve Ignorant with Matthew Worley - "The Story Continues" Book Review

 Steve Ignorant with Matthew Worley - "The Story Continues" Book Review by Rob H.

"The Story Continues" is, as the title suggests, the second autobiography from vocalist Steve Ignorant following on from the excellent "The Rest Is Propaganda" which if you haven't yet read I'd very much recommend.

Whereas the first volume covered Steve's childhood through to co-founding C.R.A.S.S., their demise, his time with Conflict (which caused a temporary rift between him and Colin Jerwood which has since been mended) and beyond, the second volume starts in 2010 when Steve was on his C.R.A.S.S. themed "The Last Supper" Tour.

A large part of the book talks about the formation of the band Slice of Life following the conclusion of that tour and Steve's desire to strip everything down and do a spoken word acoustic thing that still had the power to inspire in the way that punk had. Over the ten year or so period that the book covers not only do we get Slice of Life but his work with Irish punk band Paranoid Visions, being a  Lifeboat Crew volunteer, his own mental health, discord within the former members of C.R.A.S.S. and more.

The book isn't the longest and the writing style makes it very readable, more like you're having a chat with Steve over a pint and that's probably how things worked with Steve chatting to Matthew Worley who then formed it into a manuscript. Either way Steve, as you'd expect, comes across as an incredibly down to earth likeable person who has his own struggles and self doubts and questions now he has turned 60 how much longer he can continue touring, although as I write this I'm pleased to say that Slice of Life will play the 100 Club in London in a few days time and that further Steve Ignorant Band performing C.R.A.S.S. songs dates have been announced throughout this year.

The book concludes with a record of tour dates supported by a variety of flyers and a discography of the period covered in the book. There are also a host of photos throughout which are nice to see as they are mostly glimpses into times and places and people rather than being endless on stage shots.

The final line of the book is "The one thing I do know is...This is not The End." and that is very good to hear as you feel that Steve still has a lot to say and to do and Slice of Life certainly deserve wider recognition and dare I say a new album! 

"The Story Continues" is available from Steve's website priced at £10 https://www.steveignorant.com/product/the-story-continues-by-steve-ignorant-with-matthew-worley/