Bless Me Father

‘Blazingly honest ... a confessional book — at times almost recklessly candid — but it’s also a profoundly sad family memoir that grapples with Rowland’s lifelong desire for approval from his Irish parents, especially his laceratingly critical father, a man who would frequently take his belt to his son’s legs.’

Victoria Segal, The Sunday Times

'remarkably candid, gripping ... the book is confessional, contrite to an extraordinary degree, and packed with granular detail'

Shaun Curran, The i Paper

'raw, startling, but ultimately triumphant book'

Fergal Kinney, The Observer

‘A picaresque story, and Rowland tells it with an impressive lack of self-pity... powerful and oddly persuasive. Even as he seems to despair of himself, you wind up rooting for Rowland. '

Alexis Petridis, the Guardian

‘The first half is so out there, if you didn’t know it was about a young man who went on to form a band and enjoy several Top 20 hits and a global No 1 with 'Come On Eileen' you’d think, wow, these are the formative years of a future jailbird. Or someone now dead ... It's unflinching, insightful and sometimes hilarious.’

Michael Odell, The Times

'Rowland has gone through the mill and produced a powerful account of his life… [he] has raised the game for autobiographies by musicians at a time when they are in danger of becoming a predictable late career exercise ... a thrilling tale … marvellous book about a life less ordinary.'

Eamon Sweeney, Irish Times

'There's never been a rock 'n' roll autobiography - or perhaps any autobiography - as searingly honest, twistedly dark and emotionally uplifting as this one. An instant classic and a must read from one of the most influential British artists of our time.'

Irvine Welsh