Ciao Ciao Bambino: A Magical Memoir
For over forty years, Michael Head has been creating inspirational music that is rooted in the streets of Liverpool. He formed Pale Fountains with his friend Chris McCaffrey in the early 1980s, and then after McCaffrey tragically died from a brain tumour, he went on to create Shack with his brother John. But during a career that has been beset with tragedy, addiction, loss and bad luck, Head has continued to create exceptional music - and in 2022 he had his biggest commercial success with The Red Elastic Band's Dear Scott.
This is Head's story. It is a story of growing up in Liverpool, of thwarted dreams, self-sabotage, chronic substance abuse, homelessness and brushes with death. It is also a story of an under-appreciated genius, of transcendental songs and the healing power of art and music and family and love.
This is the life-affirming story of Michael Head, told in his own poetic voice, a man who walked barefoot over broken glass for forty years before the world caught up with what the faithful already knew: this man is Britain's greatest songwriter.
Michael Head is a singer-songwriter from Liverpool. He founded the band Pale Fountains with his friend Chris McCaffrey in the 1980s and after the tragic death of McCaffrey went on to form Shack with his brother John, Pete Wilkinson and Iain Templeton. In the 1990s he befriended Arthur Lee and went on to support his band Love on their European tour.
Between signing with Noel Gallagher's label Sour Mash in 2006 and battling demons with addiction, Shack decided to take some time to focus on other things. After releasing nine studio albums with four different bands, Michael then went on to form The Red Elastic Band, and released their debut album Dear Scott, which reached number six in the UK album charts in 2022.