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Gang of Four Vocalist Jon King on His New Book, ‘To Hell With Poverty! A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four,’ in Conversation with Chris Frantz

Fri, April 18 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT

Jon King of Gang of Four, split image with his newest book, To Hell with Poverty!

Ticket + Book: $30

The Westport Library is thrilled to welcome Gang of Four vocalist and founding member Jon King to talk about his brand new memoir, To Hell with Poverty! A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four, live in the Trefz Forum. King will be in conversation with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chris Frantz, drummer for Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club.

Please Note: King will sign purchased copies of To Hell with Poverty! and one additional piece of memorabilia for ticket holders. Each $30 ticket includes a seat in the forum and a copy of To Hell with Poverty!

The book talk comes in advance of Gang of Four's special concert event Friday night, which will kick off the band's farewell tour. Click here to purchase tickets for the concert event.

To Hell with Poverty! is a poignant and dramatic memoir from King, the lead singer and songwriter of the legendary British underground band Gang of Four. It documents King’s story from a South London slum and impoverished working-class background to international success as core musician, lyricist, writer, and producer in the legendary post-punk/funk band Gang of Four.

The reader is taken on an episodic and kaleidoscopic journey full of adventures from childhood to the end of Gang of Four’s “golden period” in 1984. Thrown off the hit British TV show Top of the Pops; beaten by police at an anti-Nazi rally; being at the heart of the UK postpunk movement in the 1970s; fraternizing with Hells Angels and other “undesirables”; supported by bands like R.E.M. and playing with the likes of the Police and Talking Heads — King’s times with Gang of Four are rich with stories.

Gang of Four’s Entertainment! LP is consistently ranked as one of the greatest debut albums of all time and continues to inspire new generations of musicians today. The band has influenced numerous bands, from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and INXS, to 2024-era hip-hop giants Run the Jewels, whose hit song “The Ground Below” is built on samples from the Gang of Four’s song “Ether.” Gang of Four have been championed by the likes of Flea, Sofia Coppola, Massive Attack, Damien Hirst, Greil Marcus, and many more.

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Frantz is a musician, producer, songwriter, and founding member of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club. A frequent guest of the Library and the host of the Library series Chris Frantz Presents, he also hosts the radio show Chris Frantz the Talking Head on WPKN 89.5 FM in Bridgeport. His recent memoir, Remain In Love, chronicles his artistic and musical journey, from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to his time as the drummer for Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club.

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With your registration/ticket purchase, the bearer is entitled to one Complimentary Margarita, Paloma, or Aguafresca at Don Memo, Westport. Please show your registration upon arrival. Thank you.

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History of Music

Details

Date:
Fri, April 18
Time:
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
Event Categories:
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Venue

The Trefz Forum, The Westport Library
20 Jesup Road
Westport, CT 06880 United States
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