Robert Forster’s Danger in the Past

Here is an in-depth exploration of Robert Forster's debut solo album, Danger in the Past (1990), with parallel reflections on the artist's life in Berlin and the author's life in Dublin in the year of the album's release.

Dublin, Ireland. That World Cup summer of 1990. A 21-year-old poet listens entranced when his friend puts on an LP, The Go-Betweens: 1978-1990. As the city outside goes football crazy, the poet discovers his new favorite band, and learns that he'll never see them live: they have recently split up. On that same day, Robert Forster is celebrating his 33rd birthday in the midst of recording his solo album Danger in the Past at Hansa Studios, Berlin, with members of the Bad Seeds. An instant classic, the record restates Forster's credentials as a great singer-songwriter. For all that he remains a cult figure, the artist knows how good he is and hopes that the record-buying public will one day know it too.

This book introduces an enduring album to new listeners while offering the ultimate companion to fans who regard Danger in the Past as a true 'rock'n'roll friend.'