A Pure Drop

It was Bono who said that “Jeff Buckley was a pure drop in an ocean of noise.” During his 30 years, Jeff Scott Buckley lived many lives: suburban loner, music school misfit, and rock and roll gypsy. His real life was only revealed after his tragic death 10 years ago, when he was found in the Mississippi river just hours before he was due to start rehearsals for the follow-up album to Grace., In this startling new bio, Jeff Buckley's friends, peers, enemies, lovers, collaborators, and others all speak of the Jeff Buckley they knew – or, in some cases, thought they knew. The contents of his many personal letters are revealed for the first time. His struggle with writer's block is explored, as are his battles with the concept of stardom, his desire for escape, and his attempts to deal with the unavoidable legacy of his equally gifted father, Tim Buckley. Even 10 years after his death, Buckley is still influential – Radiohead and Coldplay readily confess to the debt they owe him.

Jeff Apter is the author of the Jeff Buckley biography A Pure Drop: The Life of Jeff Buckley, as well many other books, including Tragedy: The Sad Ballad of the Gibb Brothers. He lives in Australia.