Devin Townsend - Overexposed + Underdeveloped Published by Rocket 88 Released 17th October 2024

Essentially what we have here is the visual companion to 2016’s autobiography “Only Half There” and in that context it works perfectly well, as you’d imagine there is lots of text to go with the photos which make the 224 pages very entertaining.

The book follows Devin’s life so far in chronological order, starting out with pictures and stories from his birth in 1972, there is a good chunk of nostalgia and who doesn’t love a trip down memory lane?

I particularly enjoyed reading about his fascination with The Dark Crystal amongst other films growing up, possibly sowing the seeds for him later creating the character Ziltoid.

The biggest shift came about by the time we get to 1987 where we see Dev with more than his fair share of hair as well as all the trappings of a teenage metalhead, by1988 he was really getting into guitar playing, I guess the rest is history but I found the opening chapters interesting as it filled in some of the gaps before what would be my own introduction to his work.

1993 heralded the release of Sex & Religion by Vai, Steve Vai’s band with Devin handling vocals, the stories I found intriguing, and the photos are most definitely of that point in time, an odd very candid one I might add! (You’ll See)

 This was when I first encountered Devin as Vai supported Aerosmith on the Get A Grip Tour in Europe, he made quite an impression on me, they actually made the headliners seem a little pedestrian for a while, imagine that! it’s a fascination that is now into its fourth decade so he is obviously doing something right.

The chapters continue with Strapping Young Lad, The Wildhearts, Ocean Machine and the many projects since, there are very few musicians quite as prolific in terms of recorded output, on the subject of recording, in chapter seven you’ll find more detail of him setting up his own studio in Vancouver, this allowed him to expand his knowledge of production which would go on to pay dividends as we well know.

The book culminates in 2023 and as I’m writing this in October of 2024 we have much to look forward to with the imminent release of “Powernerd” which has been getting very positive reviews by the way, also the fruition of his rock opera “The Moth” which will be performed in its entirety in Groningen/The Netherlands in March, he doesn’t do anything unless it’s done properly and in this case it’s much larger than life itself with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra in tow no less!

So, is a photo book worth investing in I hear you ask?

The answer to that would be a resounding yes.

Devin has always been very public with his professional life at least, you could say at times he’s possibly been guilty of oversharing but that probably comes from being such a people pleaser, that said this visual history of a career so far does a great job in blending both personal and professional and as a self-confessed fan I’ve enjoyed it immensely, the stories breathe life into the photos, it helps the owner/fan/enthusiast understand much better the ups and downs of a working musician, indeed, Devin is to be admired for his tenacity as well as his talent, the world needs more innovators like him.

 

Simon Furness For Rockfiend