Robert Forster's Danger in the Past
Here is an in-depth exploration of Robert Forster's debut solo album, Danger in the Past (1990).
Dublin, Ireland. That World Cup summer of 1990. A 21-year-old poet listens entranced when his friend puts on an LP, The Go-Betweens: 1978–1990. As the city outside goes football crazy, the poet discovers his new favorite band and learns that he’ll never see them live: they have recently split up. Meanwhile in Berlin, Robert Forster has just celebrated his 33rd birthday in the midst of recording his solo album Danger in the Past at Hansa Studios with members of the Bad Seeds. An instant classic, the record restates Forster’s credentials as a great singer-songwriter. For all that he remains a cult figure, the artist knows how good he is and hopes that the record-buying public will one day know it too.
This book introduces an enduring album to new listeners while offering the ultimate companion to fans who regard Danger in the Past as a true rock’n’roll friend.
Patrick Chapman has authored 16 books since 1991. His tenth poetry collection The Following Year (2024) was shortlisted for the 2025 Farmgate Café National Poetry Award. Other writing includes audio dramas for Doctor Who (Big Finish) and Dan Dare (BBC Radio 4Xtra), a short film and television for children. He lives in Dublin, Ireland.