Limited Edition of One

How to Succeed in the Music Industry Without Being Part of the Mainstream

By: Steven Wilson, Mick Wall

Narrated by: Steven Wilson, Mick Wall

Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

The more I thought about it, the more I realised my career has been unusual. How did I manage to do everything wrong but still end up on the front cover of magazines, headlining world tours and achieving Top Five albums? How did I attract such obsessive and fanatical fans, many of whom take everything I do or say very personally, which is simultaneously flattering but can also be tremendously frustrating? Even this I somehow cultivated without somehow meaning to. My accidental career.

Limited Edition of One is unlike any other music book you will ever have hear.

Part the long-awaited memoir of Steven Wilson, whose celebrated band Porcupine Tree began as teenage fiction before unintentionally evolving into a reality that encompassed Grammy-nominated records and sold-out shows around the world, before he set out for an even more successful solo career.

Part the story of a 21st-century artist who achieved chart-topping mainstream success without ever becoming part of the mainstream. From Abba to Stockhausen, via a collection of conversations and thought pieces on the art of listening, the rules of collaboration, lists of lists, personal stories, professional adventurism (including food, film, TV, modern art), old school rock stardom, how to negotiate an obsessive fanbase and survive on social media and dream-fever storytelling.

©2022 Steven Wilson and Mick Wall (P)2022 Hachette Audio UK

Love Letter to a Timeless Career

Of course, he'd never give it that title, but that is what I've come away with (Audible version read by Mr. Wilson himself).

I find that much of which he writes he has already discussed in the countless interviews over the decades, but this is a much more intimate and personal affair. There is some deftness to how he assembles his narrative that is very...Steven Wilson--which makes it an even more impressive accomplishment. I especially enjoyed some of the behind the scenes moments and sausage-making approach to writing music (and remixing). Especially endearing were his stories of family and the world that informs his life and music.

The bits with Mick Wall were informal and even somewhat meta--thoigh altogether enjoyable.

I love this

If you love porcupine tree and Steven Wilson you will enjoy this. Especially chapter 25!
Read by Steven himself.

Well worth the time

Excellent read. The Harmony Codex - a story is brilliant. A wizard, a true star. Highly recommended.

Steven Wilson knows his audience

The book is great specially if you live Steven’s Work. If your familiar with him, you are going to fall in to a chamber of thoughts by him
Great book and a great look inside his mind

Enjoyable and Memorable

I wasn't expecting anything world changing insights, yet happily pleased with this book. Everyone can teach me something I don't know, and the authors proved that to be true in this delightful book.

Unconventional

Steven sets out to subvert the traditional rock autobiography stereotypes and succeeds, in much the same way he has done musically throughout his career. Relatable, sincere and compelling - I very much enjoyed getting to know the inner thoughts of an artist I've followed for many years.

The inner workings of a creative genius

What a joy to listen to the inner workings of a creative mind , who like his career and diversity of output , doesn’t just submit the typical “rock bio”. Wilson is complex and is always excited about the next project. That is no different with the writing of this auto bio.

Refreshing correlations …

I discovered Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson around 2011.

In 2011 I was 52 years old - about the same age as Steven Wilson is now. In 2013 I attended a Steven Wilson concert at the Fine Line in Minneapolis and it happened to be my first concert in quite a few years. Now 63 years old I am one year into my own musical path and have released soon to be four albums/instrumentals available just about everywhere. What I found most interesting about the book is The journey from teenage years to now and how everything evolved at an accessible pace or timeline. For some reason I hate the word journey. In any event at my age now with one year into it - I find need to live vicariously in someway beyond short lived non-glory that I have with my own music and this book was something like that. Notice I didn’t leave any mention of my pretend band?

A must-listen. Wilson kept my attention easily.

Absorbing and surprising, I am so glad to have listened to this book! I'll listen to it again for sure.

Fun, irreverent insight

SW fans will appreciate this look at his influences and personal history. Nice to hear his own words in his own voice.