Nina Antonia

Portrait of Nina Antonia by CJ

Nina Antonia (born Nina Antonia Benjamin 1960 in Liverpool) is an English music journalist, author and former singer. She has written articles and books about Peter Doherty, Johnny Thunders, the New York Dolls, The Only Ones and a memoir of glam star Brett Smiley entitled 'The Prettiest Star'.^[1] She has also contributed to Classic Rock, Mojo & Uncut, as well penning liner notes for a variety of artists including Lou Reed, Nico, The Stooges, Vince Taylor, Link Wray and Wanda Jackson.

She was previously a member of the band The Mogodons with her then husband Christopher "Kris" Guidio, under the name Nina Guidio.^[2]

An in-depth critique of Nina's work by Jay Clifton was featured in 'Nude' magazine in their Summer 2009 edition,in which Clifton commented 'The special value of Nina's oeuvre lies not so much in her subjects, but in her personal commitment to both the documentation of them and a search for the truth about both their character and their cultural significance. Like the best writers, she begins from personal fascinations. But with a balance of personal feelings and objective contemplation, combined with a fluid literary style, she writes books that resonate beyond the parameters of the surface material.'

A selection of her work can be found on Rock's Back Pages.

Nina appeared in the Sundance nominated documentary 'Arthur Kane – New York Doll' alongside Mick Jones, Chrissie Hynde and Iggy Pop. She also participated in the 2014 documentary 'Looking For Johnny'. Made by Danny Garcia, 'Looking for Johnny' is a poignant yet celebratory look at the life and times of Johnny Thunders as told by his friends and co-musicians.

Nina's first book Johnny Thunders...In Cold Blood (Jungle Records, 1987) which has been in print for over 25 years, was hailed by the New Musical Express as 'Gorgeously Sordid' and awarded four stars. In 2012, the book was optioned along with Antonia's life story to a Hollywood production company. On 30/10/2013, Hollywood Reporter announced the attachment of director Alexander Soskin to the project, but he is no longer associated with it though the film is still on track. A de luxe Italian translation of the Thunders book appeared in late 2015 from Pipeline Books.

In March 2015, Antonia's classic 'The One and Only: Peter Perrett, Homme Fatale' was re-published by Thin Man Press. The new, expanded edition was hailed as 'a ravishing read'^[3] and 'an engrossing account'.^[4] Reviewer Gus Ironside, writing in Louder than War' suggested that Nina Antonia merits a far higher media profile but has been 'excluded from the "Boys' Club" of mainstream rock journalism'.^[5] Antonia appeared in conversation with Perrett at the Albert Hall to coincide with the new edition.

In July 2014, Thin Man Press published 'From Albion to Shangri-La' by Peter Doherty, edited by Antonia who transcribed the content from Doherty's hand-written journals. The book attained instant notoriety because among the pages of the journals was an entry by Peaches Geldof which read: 'I solemnly promise not to die'. On another page, the name 'Peaches' and a mobile phone number was found, written in blood squirted from a syringe - whether by Peaches Geldof or Doherty himself has not been established. Every national newspaper in the UK covered the story because the young daughter of Sir Bob Geldof had only died of a heroin overdose a few weeks prior to the book's release.^[6] Doherty penned the preface to the book in which he remarked, 'Seen Nina write, she riots'. International Times celebrated Antonia's contribution in a review: 'Nina Antonia, Peter Doherty's understanding editor and literary soulmate...aids and abets his literary rebellion'. Antonia is now writing on non-musical subjects and contributed a story, South-West 13, to the Egaeus Press anthology Soliloquy for Pan in 2015. The first printing sold out almost immediately.

Selected works

• Johnny Thunders...In Cold Blood (Cherry Red Books, 1987)
• The One and Only: Peter Perrett, Homme Fatale (SAF Publishing, 1996)
• The New York Dolls – Too Much Too Soon (Omnibus Press, 2005)
• The Prettiest Star: Whatever Happened to Brett Smiley (SAF Publishing, 2006)
• From Albion to Shangri-La (Transcribed and edited by Antonia) by Peter Doherty (Thin Man Press, 2014)
• The One & Only: Peter Perrett, Homme Fatale by Nina Antonia (Thin Man Press 2015)

References

External links

• Rock's Back Pages: Writers, Nina Antonia
• Hollywood Reporter announcement for IN COLD BLOOD
• Albion to Shangri-La
• Louder Than War interview, August 2014