Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

My Life in the Music Business

By: Miles A. Copeland III

Narrated by: Miles A. Copeland III

My real story starts with a disaster, an unmitigated, pull-the-rug-from-under-you, clean-out-the-bank-account disaster. But had it not happened, The Police would never have risen to become the biggest rock band in the world; Jools Holland would not have ended up on TV; The Bangles, The Go-Go’s, R.E.M., and many other music stars might never have made it either. It’s strange how a fluke, a disaster, an unlikely event can lead to incredible results. But that is in essence what happened to me....

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back tells the extraordinary story of a maverick manager, promoter, label owner, and all-round legend of the music industry. It opens in the Middle East, where Miles grew up with his father, a CIA agent who was stationed in Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon. It then shifts to London in the late 60s and the beginnings of a career managing bands like Wishbone Ash and Curved Air - only for Miles’s life and work to be turned upside down by a disastrous European tour.

From the ashes of near bankruptcy, Miles entered the world of punk, sharing a building with Malcolm McLaren and Sniffin’ Glue, before shifting gears again as manager of The Police, featuring his brother, Stewart, on drums. Then, after founding IRS Records, he launched the careers of some of the most potent musical acts of the new wave scene and beyond, from Squeeze and The Go-Go’s to The Bangles and R.E.M.

The story comes full circle as Miles finds himself advising the Pentagon on how to win over hearts and minds in the Middle East and introducing Arabic music to the United States. ‘Never let the truth get in the way of a good story’, his father would tell him. In the end, though, the truth is what counts - and it’s all here.

Designer: Paul Palmer-Edwards

©2021 Miles A. Copeland III (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

Really fun if you like New Wave

I liked this book on a number of levels. 1st, I was a big fan of the music in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I could relate to both the stories and the bands. 2nd, while Miles narration isn’t perfect, the fact he narrated it gave it an authenticity it might not have had. Lastly, it was simply fun. Who doesn’t like the story of an underdog making it in the larger corporate world. As with many a listen, I was sad when it was over.

Miles lays out over 50 years of the music industry!

Miles Copeland is a Kingpin of the music business. Wishbone Ash, Police, Sting, Bangles, are just some of the artists he created. This guy is one of the most engaging, powerful, passionate public speakers I have heard and his lifetime of experience is extraordinary. I think you will enjoy listening to all of his escapades over the last 50 years in the different phases of the music industry and all of the Innovations that he created from scratch. He is not a musician and does not play an instrument, he’s a businessman that can think outside of the box. He calls the typical record label executives “rules followers“ which makes me smile because I know he means they are inside the box where nothing new happens. I highly recommend this book. Having it narrated by the author is the best way to deliver all these real life stories.

Thinking Outside The Box & Winning!

As a band member & the chief booker this is gold.Met Stuart & forgot to let him how much I admired the Copeland brothers management style almost as much as The Police for their guerrilla marketing.So many bands think it's just about having a cool video or t-shirt which it is to a point & that there's no need to pound the pavement but on the contrary for me it's still about meeting the mgr. or owner in person to seal a deal,looking them in the eye,shaking their hand & getting their trust to give a band a shot with little or no risk to them.I only play bass in & book stripped down 3 piece groupss to keep overhead low & profitability high (to at least afford the best players).This book is an inspiration to this gig hustler out here in the wild west coast.Btw I'm on Spotify under Jack Peck "Compendium".Hey man,what can I say, I'm in marketing & promotion 😉!

great memoir...but the narrator....

this was one of the most engaging, funny and wide ranging exposes of the post punk period...and onward... in music that I have ever read.

My only beef is that Miles should have been directed/produced better. It is ironic actually. The narration, at times, sounds like he doesn't even know what he wrote. Somebody should have been in his ear saying "maybe do that line again."

But other than that, fans of the Police, Squeeze, The Go Gos, and myriad other name brand bands will eat this up. A fantastic audiobook for the music lover.

Read it, don't listen to it

Terrific story but I almost couldn't get through due to it being, without a doubt, the most horribly produced audiobook I've ever listened too (and there isn't a close second). It's as if Miles Copeland said "ok, I'll do it but I'm only going to go through it once and if it stinks, too bad". Well guess what...it stinks...badly. His constant mispronouncing of his own written word and names is disrespectful to the listener. Mark Knopp??ler WayLAWN?? Jennings. Really? Also, the numerous excerpts clearly added after the fact are so obvious and so different in sound quality that it's constantly disconcerting. There's more but that's enough. Download the book and read it. It's a terrific story but if you listen to it, it'll drive you nuts and really diminishes the value of an interesting book.

Like Stewart...great stories, great storyteller

I didn't know about Stewart's brothers, Miles or Ian, but I saw the Copeland name with Stewart on the cover and thought, "Why not?". Turned out to be an unexpected treasure trove, and I'm glad to have heard it from Miles, himself.

If you like Punk and New Wave you will like this book

I almost did not buy This book based on a review of someone who said that Miles Copeland was a Trump supporter. It is not true and actually Miles makes fun of trump on a couple of occasions in his book. The part about the role of Miles Copeland and IRS record in the late 70’s and 80’s music is fascinating. His views on Geopolotics a little less. The first part about his father is also very interesting and I encourage you to listen to his brother podcast “My father the spy” to know more. Finally his love for artists, Arab music and anything a little different is admirable.

Great book

Great book thanks for the music and the legacy//! You are an inspiration!!! Your truly. Dan

Such an interesting life

Thoroughly enjoyable look at a pioneer of the music industry. Great stories about a lot of famous people.

always interesting to peek behind the curtain

compelling, intriguing and answers a great many questions. I've listened to many performer's books and now to hear from the management side really brings many subjects full circle. quite the interesting book.