Top 5: Books that inspired songs
Books that have inspired songs, including Perfume, Ghost World, Pale Fire and Paradise Lost
When Oasis broke down en route to T in the Park, the AA offered Noel Gallagher space for two people in their van – he took Simon Mason, the 'Rock 'N' Roll Doctor', and left the rest of the band stranded on the hard shoulder. Bruvs before drugs, Noel.
To celebrate Mason's new memoir of being personal chemist to the biggest bands of the '90s, including his failed attempts to become a bona fide rockstar and even more failed attempts to kick heroin, enjoy these books that have inspired musicians:
Perfume by Patrick Süskind
This novel about a man with an amazing sense of smell but no smell of his own, who murders a young woman to capture her scent, inspired Nirvana's 'Scentless Apprentice'.
Ghost World by Daniel Clowes
As well as being made into a film, this not-particularly-cheerful graphic novel also inspired an Aimee Mann song with the same title.
The Stranger by Albert Camus
This existential French classic inspired another classic: The Cure's 1980 song, 'Killing an Arab'.
Paradise Lost by John Milton
The title of Nick Cave's murder ballad 'Red Right Hand' is a quote from this epic Biblical poem, written when Milton was blind, bitterly disappointed by the Restoration and briefly in danger of execution: 'Should intermitted vengeance arm again/ His red right hand to plague us?'
Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
Did you know that Charlotte Church's 'How Not To Be Surprised When You're a Ghost' was inspired by this novel by Russian writer, lepidopterist and chess composer Nabokov? Neither did we.
Too High, Too Far, Too Soon is out now from Mainstream Publishing.