A blinding powerhouse of spine jangling guitars and thumping bass that leaves you twitching like shot of electro convulsive therapy”

Music News

Book of Shame

JAZZ-INFUSED, PARTLY INDUSTRIAL ROCK EXPLOSION OF ENERGY AND COLOUR. THERE’S AS MUCH POWER IN THE INSTRUMENTATION AS THERE IS IN ANY OF THE LYRICS OR VOCAL INFLECTIONS

Brought together and inspired by a love of Captain Beefheart, Talking Heads, Bowie and Velvet Underground, BOOK OF SHAME is a new sound machine fronted by Peter Boyd-Maclean and Gary Bridgewood – music pioneers and musical renegades. 


The duoʼs debut album is loaded with slicing mando, greasy bass, smashed drums, jagged guitar solos and Peteʼs urgent, catchy vocals. 
Written, performed and produced by Gary and Pete, the album expresses emotions which are very much a reflection of our times, with a nod in the direction of the alt-rock moments of Talking Heads.

Stimulated by our love of late 80ʼs ambient, disco and funk, combined with a gung-ho approach of some new wave bands like Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division 

Gary and Pete started BOOK OF SHAME by accident, sharing a deep musical heritage and bond led to a meeting in a rehearsal studio, secret recordings, hours of editing and stitching melodic lines and rhythms led to the path of rediscovery, something of what they grew up with; reel to reel tape loops running across Garyʼs bedroom, dirty disco bass, noisy lo-fi drum machines, in your face live rock drums, jagged guitar melodies and elevating, inspired soulful songs of the 80ʼs, produced by Rico Conning (The Lines, Wire, Depeche Mode, William Orbit) the duo bring into existence a compelling collision of sonic textures channelling their enigmatic and artistic natures; a mysterious quality.

Press Photos

Book of Shame
Book of Shame
Book of Shame

Sample Track

Sample Video

A dauntingly destructive ride through the emotional turmoil of break up - RnR Magazine 

What are you gonna do when you’re on the back slice of life wondering where the fuck your dreams have all gone? - Dangerous Minds 

Music that bleeds authenticity - Tuned Loud 

gritty, punk, lyrically catchy and distinctive - Divide and Conquer 

This is art – it means something more than the music, and it takes a little longer to present a composition that genuinely connects and has an impact - Stereo Stickman 

hugely engaging and original alternative rock - The Faulkner Review 

"Damned" is just damned good - Indie Spoonfull 

morphs into some sort of long lost, David Bowie produced, Stooges tune. Those are all good things - Static Dive

"Damned" has great lyrics, a strong hook, soulful vocals and a lot of nuance and expression making this song an exciting listen - Please Pass The Indie 

A percussive stoner-rock jam that morphs into some sort of long lost, David Bowie produced, Stooges tune - Static Dive

Book of Shame is a mysterious group that channels the enigmatic and artistic natures of musicians like David Bowie and Talking Heads, and mixes it with an unapologetic fringe-punk sound reminiscent of The Velvet Underground. Their most recent release, Compatibility, is like an unforgettable LSD trip through time and space, that’s as lucid as it is alluringly ambiguous - Stereo Stickman 

Back with the second single & and an amazing new video I give you once more.... - PHACEMAG 

Book of Shame's 'Compatibility' is Expansive, Ethereal, Experimental Rock - Rock the pigeon 

British outfit channel the spirit AM-era Arctic Monkeys for this blusy, indie-rock thumper - Mystic Sons  

Borrowing inspiration from the likes of New Order, the song blends both the 80s sensibility with a modern twist into perfection - Vents Magazine 

A blinding powerhouse of spine jangling guitars and thumping bass that leaves you twitching like shot of electro convulsive therapy  - Vents Magazine 

Killing Pickle. A blinding powerhouse of spine jangling guitars and thumping bass that leaves you twitching like shot of electro convulsive therapy  - Music-News 

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