PAULINE MURRAY – Life’s a Gamble: Penetration, The Invisible Girls and Other Stories

The talented and iconic Pauline Murray is best known for her splendid work with punk rockers Penetration in the latter half of the seventies and some truly interesting, original-sounding solo works in the eighties that exist somewhere between new wave, synth pop, post-punk, and electronic music. Life’s a Gamble, her recent autobiographical work, is a riveting account of Murray’s musical and artistic endeavors as well as a fascinating exploration of her own psyche and state of being, which is to say that the book is incredibly outspoken, forthright, and wonderfully confiding.

From growing up in a small mining town in County Durham to her becoming infatuated with music as a teenager and further on to her ventures into the punk rock scene and all its subsequent pitfalls, her tale is a moving and eye-opening one that is presented in a concise and poignant language. She guides us through the harrowing tours and hectic pace of everyday life in Penetration, the group’s milestones (and how they were often overshadowed by chaos and turmoil), the energetic gigs and sweaty rehearsals, the beauty of crafting a great tune, being ripped off by the industry, and losing touch with oneself. The countless setbacks, her sense of deep-seated angst and anxiety, and the overall unease stemming from the way in which things spiraled out of control both within and outside of Penetration obviously blighted her existence in many ways, but there were also moments illuminated by friendship and love. In its own profound way, Pauline’s written piece is about overcoming obstacles, of defying norms and conventions (female-fronted punk bands were hardly a dime a dozen in those days), and of attaining self-worth and balance in life. Our protagonist encountered crushing loneliness but always persevered and came out stronger in the end, and that is inspiring in and of itself.’milestones (and how they were often overshadowed by chaos and turmoil), the energetic gigs and sweaty rehearsals, the beauty of crafting a great tune, being ripped off by the industry, and losing touch with oneself.

The countless setbacks, her sense of deep-seated angst and anxiety, and the overall unease stemming from the way in which things spiraled out of control both within and outside of Penetration obviously blighted her existence in many ways, but there were also moments illuminated by friendship and love. In its own profound way, the Pauline’s written piece is about overcoming obstacles, of defying norms and conventions (female-fronted punk bands were hardly a dime a dozen in those days), and of attaining self-worth and balance in life. Our protagonist encountered crushing loneliness but always persevered and came out stronger in the end, and that makes for an engaging and inspiring narrative in and of itself.

Full of keen and fascinating observations regarding the music industry, life on the road, band dynamics, creative highs, indifferent audiences, British politics, and family relations, things certainly never turn stale here, and there is an entertaining unpredictability to the way in which her story unfolds across these 192 richly illustrated pages containing press cuttings, photos, and handwritten lyrics. There is a genuinely heartwarming quality to Life’s a Gamble and there is no reticence about her personal life, which forms the very core of its appeal and attraction. It is a serious piece of work but there is fun to be had here too, and it is a telling description of the British punk milieu in its heyday.