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Benjamin Myers (born January 1976) is an English writer and journalist.
Early life
Myers grew up in
Belmont, County Durham
Belmont is a suburb forming the north-eastern parts of the city of Durham, England. Belmont Parish covers four old coal mining villages of Belmont, Carrville, Broomside and Gilesgate Moor, which have been joined together by industrial and subur ...
, and was a pupil at the estate's local
comprehensive school
A comprehensive school typically describes a secondary school for pupils aged approximately 11–18, that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude, in contrast to a selective school system where admission is res ...
where he become interested in reading and skateboarding.
Myers attended his first concert in Durham in March 1990, when he was fourteen. Headlined by
Steadfast, it led to him forming the
punk rock band Sour Face the next year. The band quickly became involved in the Durham
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...
scene, alongside Steadfast, False Face and XdisciplineX. Despite being one of the few bands in the scene that was not
straight edge
Straight edge (sometimes abbreviated sXe or signified by XXX or X) is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs, in reaction to the excesses of punk subculture. For some, thi ...
, Sour Face became the mascots of the scene, with their third performance seeing them open for
NOFX
NOFX () is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. Vocalist/bassist Fat Mike, guitarist Eric Melvin and drummer Erik Sandin are original founding and longest-serving members of the band, who have appeared on every ...
.
Voorhees' first performance was opening for Sour Face in September 1991.
As a teenager Myers began writing for British weekly ''
Melody Maker
''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...
''. In 1997 he became their staff writer while residing in the
Oval Mansions
Oval Mansions are eight separate blocks of tenement housing in Kennington, south London. The blocks stand between the Oval cricket ground and the Oval Gasholders. After being occupied by one hundred squatters from 1983 until 2000 (notable resi ...
squat for several years. In 2011 he published an article, about his brief time as an intern at ''
News of the World
The ''News of the World'' was a weekly national Tabloid journalism#Red tops, red top Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published every Sunday in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the world's highest-selling En ...
''. He has spoken about failing English Literature at A-level and being rejected by "more than a hundred" universities before being accepted by the
University of Bedfordshire
The University of Bedfordshire is a public research university with campuses in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, England. The University has roots from 1882, however, it gained university status in 1993 as the University of Luton. The Universi ...
(formerly Luton University).
Work
Journalism
As a journalist, Myers has written about literature, music and the arts for a number of publications including ''
New Statesman
The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members ...
'', ''
Mojo
Mojo may refer to:
* Mojo (African-American culture), a magical charm bag used in voodoo
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* MOJO HD, an American television network
* ''Mojo'' (play), by Jez Butterworth, made into a 1997 film
* ' ...
'', ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'', ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'', ''
The Spectator
''The Spectator'' is a weekly British magazine on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving weekly magazine in the world.
It is owned by Frederick Barclay, who also owns ''The ...
'', ''
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
'', ''
New Scientist
''New Scientist'' is a magazine covering all aspects of science and technology. Based in London, it publishes weekly English-language editions in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. An editorially separate organisation publishe ...
'', ''
Alternative Press
Alternative press may refer to:
Individual publications
* ''Alternative Press'' (magazine), an American music magazine
Alternative journalism
* Alternative media
** Alternative media (U.S. political left)
** Alternative media (U.S. political ri ...
'', ''
Kerrang!
''Kerrang!'' is a British weekly magazine devoted to rock, punk and heavy metal music, currently published by Wasted Talent (the same company that owns electronic music publication ''Mixmag''). It was first published on 6 June 1981 as a one- ...
'', ''
Plan B
Plan B typically refers to a contingency plan, a plan devised for an outcome other than in the expected plan.
Plan B may also refer to:
* Plan B, a brand name of levonorgestrel, an emergency contraception drug
Film and television
* Plan B En ...
'', ''
Arena
An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...
'', ''
Bizarre'', ''
The Quietus
''The Quietus'' is a British online music and pop culture magazine founded by John Doran and Luke Turner. The site is an editorially independent publication led by Doran with a group of freelance journalists and critics.
Content
''The Quiet ...
'', ''
Vice
A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tra ...
'', ''
Shortlist
A short list or shortlist is a list of candidates for a job, prize, award, political position, etc., that has been reduced from a longer list of candidates (sometimes via intermediate lists known as "long lists"). The length of short lists varie ...
'', ''
Caught by the River'', ''
Metal Hammer
''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions available in numerous other countries. ''Metal Hammer'' features news, reviews and long-form ...
'', ''
The Morning Star'', ''
Classic Rock
Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, primar ...
'', ''
3:AM Magazine'', ''
Mineshaft'' and ''
Time Out''.
Books
Myers' books span literary fiction, nature/landscape writing, crime, historical fiction and poetry. He has been translated into eight languages. He has published several poetry collections and written a number of music biographies which have been widely translated. He is a founding member of the
Brutalists
Brutalism is a literary movement formed in 2006 by three writers from the north of England (Tony O'Neill, Adelle Stripe and Ben Myers).
The Brutalists are affiliated with the Offbeat generation, a loose association of like-minded writers wo ...
, a literary collective including authors
Adelle Stripe
Adelle Stripe (born 1976) is an English writer and journalist.
Work
Stripe's writing is rooted in the non-fiction novel form and explores working-class culture, untold histories of Northern England, popular music, and small-town life.
''Bla ...
and
Tony O'Neill
Tony O'Neill (born 1978, Blackburn, Lancashire) is an English writer based in New York. A one-time musician with Kenickie (1997–98), Marc Almond (1997–98), The Brian Jonestown Massacre (1999) and Kelli Ali (2001–04), O'Neill is also the a ...
. His second novel, ''
Richard: A Novel'' (2010) was a fictionalized account of the life of musician
Richey Edwards
Richard James Edwards (born 22 December 1967 – disappeared 1 February 1995), also known as Richey James or Richey Manic, was a Welsh musician who was the lyricist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. He w ...
. It was published by
Picador
A ''picador'' (; pl. ''picadores'') is one of the pair of horse-mounted bullfighters in a Spanish-style bullfight that jab the bull with a lance. They perform in the ''tercio de varas'', which is the first of the three stages in a stylized bullf ...
in October 2010, and polarised critical opinion.
''Pig Iron'' (2012) was set in the traveller/gypsy community of the north-east of England and was the first to be published under his full name Benjamin Myers. It won the inaugural
Gordon Burn Prize
Gordon Burn (16 January 1948 – 17 July 2009) was an English writer born in Newcastle upon Tyne and the author of four novels and several works of non-fiction.
Background
Burn's novels deal with issues of modern fame and faded celebrity as l ...
and was longlisted for
3:AM Magazine.com's 'Novels of the Year' and runner-up in ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
s 'Not The Booker Prize', in the same year.
Myers' novel ''The Gallows Pole'' (2017), based on the true story of the
Cragg Vale Coiners
The Cragg Vale Coiners, sometimes the Yorkshire Coiners, were a band of counterfeiters in England, based in Cragg Vale, near Hebden Bridge, West Riding of Yorkshire. They produced fake gold coins in the late 18th century to supplement small i ...
, received a
Roger Deakin
Roger Stuart Deakin (11 February 1943 – 19 August 2006) was an English writer, documentary-maker and environmentalist. He was a co-founder and trustee of Common Ground, the arts, culture and environment organisation. ''Waterlog'', the ...
Award and won the 2018
for historical fiction. As part of the prize, both author and book title appeared as the official Royal Mail franking stamp for a week on an estimated 60 million pieces of mail. It was released by Third Man Books, part of
Third Man Records
Third Man Records is an eclectic, vinyl-focused independent record label founded and owned by Jack White, Ben Blackwell and Ben Swank. The company operates out of three locations—Nashville, Tennessee, Detroit, Michigan, and Soho, London—with ...
in the US and Canada. In 2021 the BBC announced an adaptation of the novel by director
Shane Meadows
Shane Meadows (born 26 December 1972) is an English director, screenwriter and actor, known for his work in independent film, most notably the cult film ''This Is England'' (2006) and its three sequels (2010–2015).
Meadows' other films inc ...
. The show will be produced by
Element Pictures
Element Pictures is an Irish film studio, cinema and television production company , whose previously adapted ''
Normal People
''Normal People'' is a 2018 novel by the Irish author Sally Rooney. ''Normal People'' is Rooney's second novel, published after '' Conversations with Friends'' (2017). It was first published by Faber & Faber on 30 August 2018. The book became a ...
'', ''
Dublin Murders
''Dublin Murders'' is a crime drama television series created by Sarah Phelps. It is based on the ''Dublin Murder Squad'' books by Tana French, commissioned by the BBC for BBC One and Starz, with RTÉ later joining the project. The first series ...
'', and ''
The Favourite
''The Favourite'' is a 2018 period black comedy film co-produced and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, from a screenplay by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara. Set in early 18th century Great Britain, the film's plot examines the relationship betw ...
''. His novel The Offing (2019) featured on
Radio 4's Book At Bedtime, was a
Radio 2 Book Club choice and chosen as a book of the year in
The Times
''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...
. The audio book was narrated by actor
Ralph Ineson
Ralph Michael Ineson (; born 15 December 1969) is an English actor and narrator. Known for his deep, rumbling, Yorkshire-accented voice, his most notable roles include William in ''The Witch'', Dagmer Cleftjaw in '' Game of Thrones'', Amycus Ca ...
.
In late 2018 it was reported he had signed to
Bloomsbury Publishing
Bloomsbury Publishing plc is a British worldwide publishing house of fiction and non-fiction. It is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index. Bloomsbury's head office is located in Bloomsbury, an area of the London Borough of Camden. It has a U ...
.
The deal was satirised in the 'Books & Bookmen' column in
Private Eye
''Private Eye'' is a British fortnightly satire, satirical and current affairs (news format), current affairs news magazine, founded in 1961. It is published in London and has been edited by Ian Hislop since 1986. The publication is widely r ...
.
Honors
In 2014 Myers won the Society of Author's
Tom-Gallon Trust Award
The ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award is an annual award of £1,000 for a short story, financed by a bequest made by Nellie Tom-Gallon in memory of her brother, playwright and novelist Tom Gallon (1866–1914). The story should be traditional, not experi ...
for his short story, 'The Folk Song Singer'. He was runner-up in the same prize in 2018 for his story 'A Thousand Acres Of English Soil'. His poem 'The Path To Pendle Hill' was selected by ''
New Statesman
The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members ...
'' as one of its Poems Of The Year 2015 and work from the same collection were read by Myers on BBC1 programme ''
Countryfile
''Countryfile'' is a British television programme which airs weekly on BBC One and reports on rural, agricultural, and environmental issues in the United Kingdom.
The programme is currently presented by John Craven, Adam Henson, Matt Baker, T ...
''.
His novel ''Beastings'' (2014) won the
Portico Prize For Literature and th
Northern Writers' Award It was also longlisted for the
Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize
The Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize is a literary award for eight British writers of outstanding works of fiction, who each receive £5,000.York St John University
, mottoeng = They may have life and have it more abundantly
, established =
, type = Public
, administrative_staff = 618
, chancellor = Reeta Chakrabarti
, vice_chancellor = Professor Karen Bryan
, student ...
.
Bibliography
Fiction
Novels
*''The Book of Fuck'' (
Wrecking Ball Press
Wrecking Ball Press is an independent poetry & prose publishing company, based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Wrecking Ball Press was established and is edited by Shane Rhodes; it was born in the back of a café.
Wrecking Ball Pres ...
, 2004)
*''
Richard: A Novel'' (Picador, 2010)
*''Pig Iron'' (Bluemoose, 2012. Bloomsbury, 2019)
*''Beastings'' (Bluemoose, 2014. Bloomsbury, 2019)
*''The Gallows Pole'' (Bluemoose, 2017. Bloomsbury, 2019)
*''The Offing'' (Bloomsbury, 2019)
*''The Perfect Golden Circle'' (Bloomsbury, 2022)
Short Stories
*''Male Tears'' (Bloomsbury, 2021)
Crime fiction
*''Turning Blue'' (Moth/Mayfly, 2016. Bloomsbury, 2022)
*''These Darkening Days'' (Moth/Mayfly, 2017. Bloomsbury, 2022)
Short fiction
*''The Whip Hand'' (Tangerine Press, 2018). Short story (Signed/limited edition handsewn chapbook)
*''Snorri & Frosti'' (Galley Beggar Press / 3:AM Press, 2013). Novella (limited edition paperback and Ebook)
Non-fiction
*''American Heretics: Rebel Voices In Music'' (Codex, 2002)
*''Under The Rock'' (Elliott & Thompson, 2018)
Poetry
*''I, Axl: An American Dream'' (online only, 2008–2009)
*''Spam: Email Inspired Poems'' (Blackheath, 2008)
*''Nowhere Fast'' (co-written with Tony O'Neill and Adelle Stripe (Captains Of Industry, 2008)
*''The Raven of Jórvíkshire'' (Tangerine Press, 2017)
*''Heathcliff Adrift'' (New Writing North, 2014. Reissued 2018)
*''The Offing: Poems by Romy Landau'' (Bloomsbury/Tangerine Press, 2019)
Music biography / essays
*''
John Lydon
John Joseph Lydon (; born 31 January 1956), also known by his former stage name Johnny Rotten, is an English singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the late-1970s punk band the Sex Pistols, which lasted from 1975 until 1978, and aga ...
: The Sex Pistols, Pil and Anti-Celebrity'' (IMP 2005)
*''
Green Day
Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, together with bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt. For most of the band's career, they have been a powe ...
: American Idiots and the New Punk Explosion'' (IMP / Disinformation, 2005)
*''
System of a Down
System of a Down (also known as SoaD or simply System) is an Armenian-American heavy metal band formed in Glendale, California, in 1994. Since 1997, the band has consisted of Serj Tankian (lead vocals, keyboards); Daron Malakian (guitar, voc ...
: Right Here in Hollywood'' (IMP / Disinformation, 2006)
*''
Muse
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...
: Inside the Muscle Museum'' (IMP 2004 and 2007)
*''
The Clash
The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the and new wave movements that emerged in the wa ...
: Rock Retrospectives (2007, with ''
Ray Lowry
Ray Lowry (28 August 1944 – 14 October 2008) was an English cartoonist, illustrator and satirist, possessing a highly distinctive style and wit. He contributed to ''The Guardian'', ''Private Eye'', ''Punch'', ''Tatler'' and '' NME'', among ma ...
'')
Awards
* 2013 Northern Writers' Award winner for ''Beastings''
* 2013
Gordon Burn Prize
Gordon Burn (16 January 1948 – 17 July 2009) was an English writer born in Newcastle upon Tyne and the author of four novels and several works of non-fiction.
Background
Burn's novels deal with issues of modern fame and faded celebrity as l ...
winner for ''Pig Iron''
* 2014
Tom-Gallon Trust Award
The ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award is an annual award of £1,000 for a short story, financed by a bequest made by Nellie Tom-Gallon in memory of her brother, playwright and novelist Tom Gallon (1866–1914). The story should be traditional, not experi ...
winner for ''The Folk Song Singer''
* 2015
Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize
The Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize is a literary award for eight British writers of outstanding works of fiction, who each receive £5,000.Roger Deakin
Roger Stuart Deakin (11 February 1943 – 19 August 2006) was an English writer, documentary-maker and environmentalist. He was a co-founder and trustee of Common Ground, the arts, culture and environment organisation. ''Waterlog'', the ...
Award winner for ''The Gallows Pole''
* 2017
Republic of Consciousness Prize
The Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses is an annual British literary prize founded by the author Neil Griffiths. It rewards fiction published by UK and Irish small presses, defined as those with fewer than five full-time employees ...
longlist for ''The Gallows Pole''
* 2018
Tom-Gallon Trust Award
The ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award is an annual award of £1,000 for a short story, financed by a bequest made by Nellie Tom-Gallon in memory of her brother, playwright and novelist Tom Gallon (1866–1914). The story should be traditional, not experi ...
(runner-up) for ''A Thousands Acres Of English Soil''
* 2018
winner for ''The Gallows Pole''
* 2019 Prix Polars Pourpres Découverte for ''Turning Blue'' (published in France as ''Dégradation'')
* 2020 The Portico Prize For Literature shortlisted for ''Under The Rock''
* 2020 Lieblingsbuch der Unabhängigen (Independent Booksellers' Award in Germany) winner for ''The Offing''
Personal life
Myers lives in the
Calder Valley Calder is a Scottish name and may refer to:
People
*Calder (surname)
* Calder baronets, two baronetcies created for people with the surname Calder
*Alexander Calder (1898-1976), the American sculptor known for his mobiles, son of Alexander Stirli ...
with his wife, the author
Adelle Stripe
Adelle Stripe (born 1976) is an English writer and journalist.
Work
Stripe's writing is rooted in the non-fiction novel form and explores working-class culture, untold histories of Northern England, popular music, and small-town life.
''Bla ...
.
References
External links
Myers' websiteBen Myers' Guardian articles and profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Myers, Ben
English writers
1976 births
Living people
Melody Maker writers
Mojo (magazine) people
Walter Scott Prize winners
Alumni of the University of Bedfordshire
People from Durham, England