“Finally, Will has written his masterpiece. I’m glad I could be of service.” - Lawrence“This book will make you laugh and cry - Lawrence is a monument to the power of Pop. The best and the worst of it. Essential reading.” - Jarvis Cocker“In a music world awash with fakes, straights and careerists on the make, Lawrence is that rare creature - an artist committed to realising his vision no matter how many humiliations and bad rolls of the dice he’s had to endure. Lawrence is the one true poet of austerity Britain and Will Hodgkinson’s wonderful book captures the essence and strangeness of the man.” - Bobby Gillespie“Street-Level Superstar has the same sense of discipline and whim as Andy Warhol’s From A to B and Back Again, with a hint of the entirely personal philosophy of Huysman’s A Rebours. A fantastic, singular book.” - Mat Osman“There’s success and there’s failure but Lawrence’s destiny was to be something uniquely in-between. A fascinating tale beautifully told.” - Brett Anderson

Will Hodgkinson is author of the music books Guitar Man, Song Man, The Ballad of Britain and In Perfect Harmony. He is a regular contributor to the Guardian, Mojo and Vogue and presented the Sky Arts television series Songbook. Since 2010, he has been chief rock and pop critic for The Times.