Failure is Always An Option

‘The Beta Band’s Steve Mason’s honest, often hilarious account of his life in the band. He writes candidly about mental health but there is a lot of daft boys stuff also going on. The result is very entertaining’ * A Best Pop Music Book of 2026 - The Herald *
‘Brilliantly entertaining and honest 8⁄10’ * The Mirror *
‘The book is pretty marvellous. It’s a fabulous autobiography.’ – Irvine Welsh
‘Full of beautiful, mad stories.’ – Huw Stephens * BBC Radio 6 *
‘Beta Band head honcho Steve Mason’s reflections on a wild musical life make for a heartwarming, honest and entertaining read.’ – Steve Morgan * Louder than War *
‘Hugely enjoyable journey into the crazy world of the Beta Band frontman and singer songwriter. Failure Is Always An Option succeeds in being painfully honest, hilarious and frankly uplifting 4⁄5’ * Record Collector *
‘Candid, darkly funny and often unsettling memoir that charts the rise, fall and aftermath of the Beta Band. Less a conventional rock autobiography and more a psychological self-portrait. This introspective lens gives the narrative emotional weight, elevating it beyond the usual tales of excess and ego’ * God is in the TV *
’(A) sobering memoir. Mason reveals how poor mental health fuelled the band’s bridge-burning tendencies. His book is clear on the costs that can come with refusing to play nicely 4⁄5’ * Mojo *
‘Candid…vivid…there’s much to find fascinating here 4⁄5’ * Classic Pop *

Steve Mason is a critically acclaimed songwriter and musician and one of the founding members of the Beta Band.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.