Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

My Life in the Music Business

By: Miles A. Copeland III

Narrated by: Miles A. Copeland III

Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

My real story starts with a disaster, an unmitigated, pull-the-rug-from-under-you, clean-out-the-bank-account disaster. But had it not happened, The Police would never have risen to become the biggest rock band in the world; Jools Holland would not have ended up on TV; The Bangles, The Go-Go’s, R.E.M., and many other music stars might never have made it either. It’s strange how a fluke, a disaster, an unlikely event can lead to incredible results. But that is in essence what happened to me....

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back tells the extraordinary story of a maverick manager, promoter, label owner, and all-round legend of the music industry. It opens in the Middle East, where Miles grew up with his father, a CIA agent who was stationed in Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon. It then shifts to London in the late 60s and the beginnings of a career managing bands like Wishbone Ash and Curved Air - only for Miles’s life and work to be turned upside down by a disastrous European tour. 

From the ashes of near bankruptcy, Miles entered the world of punk, sharing a building with Malcolm McLaren and Sniffin’ Glue, before shifting gears again as manager of The Police, featuring his brother, Stewart, on drums. Then, after founding IRS Records, he launched the careers of some of the most potent musical acts of the new wave scene and beyond, from Squeeze and The Go-Go’s to The Bangles and R.E.M. 

The story comes full circle as Miles finds himself advising the Pentagon on how to win over hearts and minds in the Middle East and introducing Arabic music to the United States. ‘Never let the truth get in the way of a good story’, his father would tell him. In the end, though, the truth is what counts - and it’s all here.  

Designer: Paul Palmer-Edwards

©2021 Miles A. Copeland III (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

If you like Punk and New Wave you will like this book

I almost did not buy This book based on a review of someone who said that Miles Copeland was a Trump supporter. It is not true and actually Miles makes fun of trump on a couple of occasions in his book. The part about the role of Miles Copeland and IRS record in the late 70’s and 80’s music is fascinating. His views on Geopolotics a little less. The first part about his father is also very interesting and I encourage you to listen to his brother podcast “My father the spy” to know more. Finally his love for artists, Arab music and anything a little different is admirable.

Don't quit your day job

Miles should stick to writing the story and leave the narrating to someone who can pronounce simple words. It made sense, to learn at the end, that he's a Trump supporter and believes in "alternative facts". That makes me question the truth of the story.

Really fun if you like New Wave

I liked this book on a number of levels. 1st, I was a big fan of the music in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I could relate to both the stories and the bands. 2nd, while Miles narration isn’t perfect, the fact he narrated it gave it an authenticity it might not have had. Lastly, it was simply fun. Who doesn’t like the story of an underdog making it in the larger corporate world. As with many a listen, I was sad when it was over.

Miles lays out over 50 years of the music industry!

Miles Copeland is a Kingpin of the music business. Wishbone Ash, Police, Sting, Bangles, are just some of the artists he created. This guy is one of the most engaging, powerful, passionate public speakers I have heard and his lifetime of experience is extraordinary. I think you will enjoy listening to all of his escapades over the last 50 years in the different phases of the music industry and all of the Innovations that he created from scratch. He is not a musician and does not play an instrument, he’s a businessman that can think outside of the box. He calls the typical record label executives “rules followers“ which makes me smile because I know he means they are inside the box where nothing new happens. I highly recommend this book. Having it narrated by the author is the best way to deliver all these real life stories.

great memoir...but the narrator....

this was one of the most engaging, funny and wide ranging exposes of the post punk period...and onward... in music that I have ever read.

My only beef is that Miles should have been directed/produced better. It is ironic actually. The narration, at times, sounds like he doesn't even know what he wrote. Somebody should have been in his ear saying "maybe do that line again."

But other than that, fans of the Police, Squeeze, The Go Gos, and myriad other name brand bands will eat this up. A fantastic audiobook for the music lover.

We new the music, now for the stories behind it.

18 in ‘83, right smack dab in the middle of this New Wave era. Hearing the back story on all these bands that were circulating. I found it very cathartic and interesting. Miles had me sucked right in from start to finish.

Thinking Outside The Box & Winning!

As a band member & the chief booker this is gold.Met Stuart & forgot to let him how much I admired the Copeland brothers management style almost as much as The Police for their guerrilla marketing.So many bands think it's just about having a cool video or t-shirt which it is to a point & that there's no need to pound the pavement but on the contrary for me it's still about meeting the mgr. or owner in person to seal a deal,looking them in the eye,shaking their hand & getting their trust to give a band a shot with little or no risk to them.I only play bass in & book stripped down 3 piece groupss to keep overhead low & profitability high (to at least afford the best players).This book is an inspiration to this gig hustler out here in the wild west coast.Btw I'm on Spotify under Jack Peck "Compendium".Hey man,what can I say, I'm in marketing & promotion 😉!

always interesting to peek behind the curtain

compelling, intriguing and answers a great many questions. I've listened to many performer's books and now to hear from the management side really brings many subjects full circle. quite the interesting book.

If you’re in business or music, a must listen

I listened to this on the basis of a review by a noted radio presenter who has a good reputation as a book reviewer. He was right - this is a must listen to audio book. You think you might know the music business, but you don’t until you listen to this. Miles’s tone of presentation only adds to a wonderful and straight-told story. Magnificent!