Louder Than Words: Beyond the Backstage Pass by Joe Matera

Louder Than Words: Beyond the Backstage Pass by Joe Matera

Published by: Empire Publications – out now

“Wearing rose-tinted glasses in this industry, which highly values fantasy over reality, won’t do you any good. What will, though, is being true to yourself, and having a mindset focused on the realities of what a creative life in music fully entails.”  

Joe Matera stands as a luminary in the Australian music scene, not only for his musical prowess but also for his contributions to music journalism. Through extensive interviews with many of the industry’s heavyweights, he has encapsulated these encounters in two compelling reads: Backstage Pass: The Grit and the Glamour and the subsequent Louder Than Words: Beyond the Backstage Pass. His writing style is unpretentious and direct, mirroring his authentic character and the sincere modesty with which he approaches his work.

Joe Matera’s new book is a compelling exploration of the gritty industry, offering an intimate look at the lives of musicians, cleverly intertwined with Matera himself, who shares his journey and encounters with iconic figures like Janne Schaffer, Gerry Rafferty, and Bryan Adams. The book delves into the highs and lows of touring, and the impact of MTV on music, and provides a candid look at the industry’s evolution. Matera’s unique perspective as both an insider and a critic gives readers a rare glimpse into the world behind the music, making it a must-read for anyone fascinated by the art and its creators.

Opening with a chapter cleverly titled I Can Hear Music, Matera briefly covers his early years. More than that, it is a stellar description of how music chose him—such a cool touch. During this chapter, we get a brief glimpse into Matera’s aptitude as a talented musician and how this has enabled him in his journalism career—something that is picked apart in later chapters.

Matera candidly shares insights about his musical prowess, emphasising the profound connection he experiences during interviews, which is directly linked to his love for music. This underlying theme becomes abundantly clear when delving into Matera’s interview style, giving rise to a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere. Notably, Hugh Smith of Hoggboy expressed what seemed to be a relief when he came to understand his interviewer as a musician rather than a journalist, highlighting the authenticity and depth Matera’s background brings to the conversation; providing an artist perspective into the challenge to be critiqued by non-musicians. Connecting with this sentiment, I recognise the limitations of my non-musical background. Perhaps it is time to take up the guitar.

Moments like this lead to deeper contemplation, the impact of MTV equally fascinating. Matera, born in 1965, watched the effects of music videos on the industry through the exponential boom in popularity of MTV starting in the late 80s. Matera describes how musicians were now responsible for a cinematic experience too, and no longer was the audience free to link the music to their imagination. I found this concept particularly intriguing as the music videos for my generation were critical and a requirement to encompass the entire musical journey. Matera explains that for some musicians, this need could have been entirely destructive for what could have been a career on the rise – devastated by the lack of play on MTV.

This chapter invites readers to reflect on how the ever-changing platforms for music consumption can influence the industry, sometimes creating a volatile path for artists. It highlights the case of Billy Squier’s “Rock Me Tonite” music video, which he firmly believes marked the downfall of his career, pointing fingers at the music video industry for its impact. This thought-provoking viewpoint is extensively discussed, offering various angles and leaving it to the readers to form their own opinions.

Moving through the pages, Materia provides insight into what is described as a significant influence and inspiration in his musical trajectory in City to City. This chapter is very clever in its construction and memoir-esque approach, specifically the release of Gerry Rafferty’s 1978 Baker Street. Developing into the story of Rafferty himself and effortlessly back to Matera’s devotion to the artist, bringing the reader to a personal moment of Rafferty’s music impact on Joe and Liz Matera’s love story, such a beautiful touch, and again, very digestible to the reader, a simple yet effective way of conveying the power can have and the impact a song can make on our lives – a neat correlation. 

Many uniquely touching moments are captured in the pages of Louder Than Words: Beyond the Backstage Pass. What will stick with you is how humble Matera is, a complete lack of ego—depicted in what feels like a chapter of appreciation for Bryan Adams. Matera’s writing style is simple and genuine, communicating well to a large demographic. Although he has a deep connection to the music of his youth, it isn’t in a tone that puts one generation above another.

This story speaks about the realities of the music industry, the challenges and how quickly things can change. Closing with a short afterword, Matera offers, “nostalgia is a wonderful thing. One’s life comprises past experiences, which always shape who you are and what is possible in the future. As life progresses, things change, so one can’t stand still in the past.” 

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Buy the book here

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Words by VLR. More work by VLR on LTW can be found in her author profile.