Frank cover art

Frank

The True Story that Inspired the Movie

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Frank

By: Jon Ronson
Narrated by: Jon Ronson
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About this listen

In the late 1980s Jon Ronson was the keyboard player in the Frank Sidebottom Oh Blimey Big Band. Frank wore a big fake head. Nobody outside his inner circle knew his true identity. This became the subject of feverish speculation during his zenith years. Together, they rode relatively high. Then it all went wrong.

Twenty-five years later and Jon has co-written a movie, Frank, inspired by his time in this great and bizarre band. Frank is set for release in 2014, starring Michael Fassbender, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Domhnall Gleeson and directed by Lenny Abrahamson.

Frank: The True Story that Inspired the Movie is a memoir of funny, sad times and a tribute to outsider artists too wonderfully strange to ever make it in the mainstream. It tells the true story behind the fictionalized movie.

Jon Ronson is an award-winning writer and documentary maker. He is the author of four best sellers, Them: Adventures with Extremists, The Men Who Stare at Goats, The Psychopath Test and Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries, and two collections, Out of the Ordinary: True Tales of Everyday Craziness and What I Do: More True Tales of Everyday Craziness. He lives in London and New York City.

©2014 Jon Ronson (P)2014 Audible Ltd Entertainment & Celebrities Music Celebrity Witty Feel-Good Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

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Most relevant  
Listening to Jon Ronson tell a story is like being lucky enough to sit next to the most charismatic guest at a wedding. Don't kid yourself that this is a one trick pony. In a very short time he covers a wide range of anecdotal stories about the outsiders of the music scene. Some are funny, some are sad and some are simply astonishing. I can't wait to see the film.
I defy anybody listening to this not to want to investigate further into The Shaggs.

The the really interesting part of the 80s

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A short but entertaining insight into the enigma of Frank Sidebottom. Having been a bit of a fan in my teenage years I found it interesting to hear a little more about the man behind the mask. Jon Ronson delivers it his hallmark style which adds to enjoyment

Short but sweet

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Really great short story. Typically entertaining! Goes beyond Frank’s story into fringe bands/musicians in a fascinating, informative and educational way.

Fantastic short but sweet

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Where does Frank rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Short book, but entertaining and interesting - possibly like the legendary Frank Sidebottom - a love or hate thing.

Transit van trip down the backstreets of music

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I never 'got' the whole Frank Sidebottom thing when it was happening. I'd only shortly moved to the UK and I don't think I had the 'history' here to appreciate it. I did however find this story very Interesting. Mark has a great way of expressing himself and telling a story which comes across as very low key, but he really gets the point across of what he's trying to say. Well worth a listen and have added others of his books to my wishlist.

Funny and Interesting

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Attracted by the cover and the author, Jon Ronson, who also narrates, I enjoyed this short ramble through memories of a time when he was the keyboard player for a. 'plincky plonk' cover band of more successful recordings, fronted by a man who hid behind a large take head. A strange little tale of another odd character from Ronson's life, apparently written to accompany the release of a film of the same name which he'd co-written.
Before reading this short account, I had neither heard of Frank (real name Chris), his group or the film but it did revive my own memories of the time, now nearly forty years ago. Quite interesting and worth reading

"Harnessing infinity."

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Best £1.83 you'll spend today unless you've obtained the sticky back plastic (and the other components needed) to build your very own flux capacitor and have successfully opened a time traveling vortex A-road to 1983.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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My only complaint is that it wasn’t long enough! It was excellent! Classic Ronson doing his usual witty, funny and honest journalism!

Excellent

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Jon Ronson at his warm, funny & insightful best. If you don't know about the marvel that was Frank Sidebottom you're in for a treat.

What's not to love?

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In reality, this is more of an extended newspaper article to promote the film. I've even heard some of the exact same audio on podcasts such as This American Life. That said, it is worth the £2 I paid for it. Jon Ronson is an acquired taste in voice, but I'm a big fan of his voice so enjoyed the performance thoroughly.

An extended newspaper article.

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