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Hardcover, 8.5 x 11 inches, 72 pages, 30 four-color plates

ISBN 978-1-59005-570-0

“One of indie rock’s most fascinating figures” — The Guardian

Laugh from the Back is a collection of lyrics and images curated by American singer-songwriter Kristin Hersh, solo artist and founding member of the rock bands Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave. The volume features 29 photographs and 27 lyrics from Hersh’s prolific career.

The inimitable Kristin Hersh is a musician’s musician, a songwriter’s songwriter, and an innovator’s innovator. The Queen of Grunge’s first band, Throwing Muses, began recording and playing out when they were just 14 years old and they’re still going strong. 2020’s critically acclaimed Sun Racket was hailed as a “perfect record”.

Hersh’s refusal to participate in a corporate industry saw her leave a Warner Brothers recording contract at the top of her success in order to become listener-supported. “Music is humanist and so are we”, as she puts it. Wildly prolific, she has released more than 20 albums.

She’s also a celebrated author. Rolling Stone named her first book, Rat Girl, one of the ten best rock memoirs of all time. NPR said of her second book, Don’t Suck, Don’t Die (Giving Up Vic Chestnutt) “Not only one of the best books of the year, but one of the most beautiful rock memoirs ever written.” Her third, the game-changing Seeing Sideways, pushes the envelope of creative non-fiction while telling the story of raising her four sons on a tour bus.

Many of the rich and humorous images presented in Laugh from the Back reference nature and the outdoors, belying the artist’s often pained and always highly personal lyrics.

Laugh from the Back is printed in a first edition of 1,000 hand-numbered copies.

“Kristin Hersh is a musical genius.” — Huffington Post
”A fearless rock innovator.” — New York Times

A special edition of 250 copies, numbered and signed by the artist and presented in a custom slipcase, is also available.

A deluxe edition of 50 copies, which also includes a signed and numbered original photograph, is also available.