BOOK OF SHAME | OFFICIAL ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT (EPK)

Origin:London, UK

Genres:Alternative Rock, Post-Punk, Art-Rock, Avant-Garde

Sounds Like:Talking Heads, Captain Beefheart, Portishead, The Velvet Underground, Bowie, Joy Division

Band Overview

Formed by accident in a London rehearsal studio and fueled by a mutual love for left-of-center musical pioneers, BOOK OF SHAME is a compelling sonic engine fronted by media pioneer Peter Boyd-Maclean and multi-instrumentalist renegade Gary Bridgewood.

The band bypasses standard industry formulas to deliver a high-concept collision of dusty analog tape loops, dirty disco basslines, and sudden bursts of acoustic instrumentation—from slicing mandolin to swelling violin strings. Backed by a powerhouse lineup of veteran session musicians and legendary producer Rico Conning(Wire, Depeche Mode, William Orbit), BOOK OF SHAME crafts cinematic, immersive alternative music for audiences who like their melodies with a bit of grit.

Press Quotes

"An indie-rock power-house... Book of Shame has crafted an incredibly unique piece of art that defies genre limitations to exist simply as music for its own sake."

— Stereo Stickman

"A mysterious group that channels the enigmatic and artistic natures of David Bowie and Talking Heads, and mixes it with an unapologetic fringe-punk sound."

— The Static Dive

Key Releases

1. "Hope and Glory" (Single)

A nearly 7-minute epic journey that entirely ignores standard radio rules. Moving unpredictably through a landscape of Hendrix-inspired guitar feedback, 70s stoner-rock jams, and 80s Bauhaus-style synth grooves, the track culminates in a heavy, chaotic, Joy Division-esque post-punk explosion.

• Focus Tracks:Immersive storytelling, industrial rock dynamics, extreme sonic contrast.

2. "Compatibility" (Single)

The band's debut, late-80s-ambient-disco-infused alt-rock track. Driven by greasy basslines, smashed live drums, a sharp folk-style mandolin arpeggio, and an intense, unexpected guitar solo.

• Focus Tracks:Post-punk hooks, socio-political urgency, rhythmic tension.

3. "Killing Pickle" (Single)

A driving, near-psychedelic indie anthem built on distorted power-chords and an infectious, full-throttle drum performance.

• Focus Tracks:High-energy live favorite, alternative dancefloor track.

4. "Hurt" (Single & Video)

A stark, beautifully bruised reinterpretation of a modern classic that trades acoustic minimalism for a slow-burning, cinematic underworld. Built on a midnight-dark, hypnotic electronic foundation, the track pulls the listener into an immersive soundscape where lo-fi drum machines collide with swelling ambient textures and fragile, soulful vocal gravity. The accompanying video, directed by Peter Boyd-Maclean, is a masterclass in sensory displacement—juxtaposing highly stylized color distortions of deep crimson and electric blue with lonely, neon-lit amusement park landscapes.

• Focus Elements: Ambient-electronic layers, sensory visual storytelling, dark-pop atmosphere.

Member Pedigree

• Peter Boyd-Maclean (Electric Guitar, Vocals, Visuals):Co-founder of the radical 1980s video art collective The Duvet Brothers. He pioneered the "Scratch Video" movement, creating legendary multi-screen installations and directing the iconic art video for New Order’s Blue Monday, which went on to be showcased in the Tate Galleries.

• Gary Bridgewood (Guitars, Basses, Synths, Mandolin, Violin): A versatile musical nomad who co-wrote the soundtrack for the film Strawberry Fields (backed by Paul Weller). Gary has recorded and toured with Balkan/Kezmer group Beskydy, dark-cabaret outfit The Real Tuesday Weld, and Michelle Stodart (The Magic Numbers).

• The Live Collective:Features the heavy-hitting rhythm of drummer Fergus Gerrand(Sting, Spice Girls) alongside the smoky, ethereal vocal textures of Jo Fosterand Claire Nicholson.

Media Assets & Downloads

• 👉 Download High-Res Promo Photos & Logos (Google Drive)

• 👉 Download Official Band Rider & Stage Plan (PDF)

• 👉 Read Full Extended Band Biography

Contact & Booking

• Booking & Live Enquiries:booking@bookofshame.co.uk

• Press, Radio, & PR:press@bookofshame.co.uk

• General Management:info@bookofshame.co.uk