Powder

An everyday story of Rock 'N' Roll folk

Keva McLuskey craves success. Other bands are making it big. His worst enemy is on MTV.

And time is not on his side. Yet he's certain it's his destiny to be recognised among the great songwriters of our time. Without that approval, Keva can never confront his horrific past. That's why he formed The Grams.

Jamie Love wants to revel in his sexual dark side. He wants all the blowjobs, cocaine and groupies that Fame can bring. That's why he joined The Grams.

Their hapless manager, Wheezer, confesses that keeping the boys together is "like trying to cup water in your hands".

At 23, Guy deBurret is already a rehab survivor, a casualty of the soulless hedonism of the music business. The youngest son in a banking dynasty, he became the most successful talent scout in the music business before he was 20.

Rapidly disenchanted with the immorality of the business, he descended into a slough of low-rent whoring and drug-bingeing around King's Cross. But now he's been there, done that and all he wants is to find Ella, his favourite hooker, and take the pair of them away from all this ... the ethical way.

When he sees The Grams he feels fated to nurture them and protect them from the injustices of the international music business. That's why he formed a record label which prizes morality as highly as platinum discs. But, when he puts his principles into action and signs The Grams, it can only end in tears...

Powder is the most authentic novel about Rock and Roll ever. Outrageously funny, seething with coke-addled sex and paranoia, and yet capturing all the energy and excitement of a band breaking through.

Powder is also a frighteningly accurate low-down on the machinations of the music business, written by a man who - as manager of The Farm - has experienced them from the inside.

Kevin Sampson knows  the music business from the inside as the manager of the pop group, The Farm. His acclaimed first novel, Awaydays, is also available in Vintage.