-- Reviews by the Famous and well Known
This book is for all generations, and all walks of life – a great read!
Charles Bronson, Famous Prisoner & Author
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Yet another good book by this talented author, a ruthless mixture of the film 'The Wanderers & The Warriors'. Yet this book gives a detailed description of the gang warfare on the streets of London. Brilliantly written, extreme violence, of teenage gangs and their lives in the 1970’s/1980’s. Excellent book, well recommended!
Lindsay Frayne, Author of 'The Frayne Bros'
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Warrior Kings takes the seventies teenager on a journey of nostalgia and violence through to the late 1980’s.
All teenagers, of all eras, strive to find their true identity and style, some look for a new, or outrageous styles, others look to past styles, some go on to mix many different styles.
Once the individuals identity has been found, the next quest is to seek and find those of the same genre.
Noel ‘Razor’ Smith, gives an inside account of his chosen style, the ‘Teddy Boy’ changing to that of ‘Rock a Billy’, he gives a fascinating account of the gang culture within the South London scene of the 1970’s and 1980’s.
When gangs had formed, it became inevitable for many; that violence was to follow, regardless of what ever their chosen style.
Noel ‘Razor’ Smith gives an in depth account on taking his gang to become one of the main players within the area of South London.
Their execution of brutality, became so precise and co-ordinated, it was inevitable their viciousness was to give them supreme position and respect as one of the top gangs of South London. His truthfulness' and candid account shows that the violence didn't always go in Noel ‘Razor’ Smith favour. Also, an excellent description on his knowledge of music from the 1950’s era. A great book, a great read!
Leighton Frayne, Author of 'The Frayne Bros'
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Having grown up in South London myself in the late seventies and early eighties the brilliantly graphic way that Razor has captured the mood on the street at that time is unique to someone who has actually lived through it. It is similar to a soldier who has experienced combat no one can possibly describe the smells, taste, sounds, fear and excitement unless they were actually there. Once you read this fantastic account of life in one of the countries hardest areas you will realize that Razor was not only there he was to become one of the legends of that violent era. Once again Razor has produced a literary masterpiece on a best seller level. He is a legend not only on the streets of South London but in our prisons. He is an inspiration to young men caught up in an often unfair and unjust system what Razor has achieved from the confines of his prison cell with all its restrictions is nothing short of amazing. Razor Smith is a true gentleman a self taught literary genius and a true warrior.
Jim Dawkins, Author of 'The Loose Screw' and 'The British Crime and Prison Quiz Book'
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There is no doubt whatsoever that Apex Publishing Ltd is steadily becoming the best publisher's for these type of books in the country. These books are gritty and real, they are not heavily edited and diluted until the substance has dissolved. I'm lucky to have a great friend in 'Razor'. He has an A-level in law,an honours diploma in journalism and earned countless koestler awards. He has written for The Independent, Guardian, Punch, Inside Time, various magazines, The New Statesman and the new law journal. His epic, his mind blowing 482 page 2004 autobiography 'A few Kind Words... and a loaded gun' was a huge turning point in true crime memoirs by real villains, he had raised the bar and the 'Look at my bling and I will kill you and ting'' were suddenly left drowning in a sea of their own overkill and downright lies!
My great friends name is Noel 'Razor' Smith, or just 'Razor'. I have to admit, that 'Razor' is one of, if not the most gifted writers of all of us who have given it a go so far. 'Razors' work is not for those who think 40,000 bare knuckle fights unbeaten is real. His work is urban, concrete,blokes pissing in the road, tramps throwing up, men smashing bottles over each others heads then forgetting who or why they hit them the next day, dirty needles in alleyways and coshes in hands, where a bike chain wasn't used for a cycle in the park, crushing despair and depressing hopelessness and the life raft of humour and sense of belonging that being in a gang gave you, 'Being a SOMEBODY'. that's 'Razor's' South London and it's the honesty in this book that's disturbing, the plot, NOT the special effects!
WARRIOR KINGS tells of 'Razors' time as a modern day rockabilly strongly influenced from the era of the Notting Hill riots of the 1950's and just as violent.But this was the 1970's and you could never run out of enemy's. The Mods & Rockers were back, Soul Boys, Rude Boys, Skinheads, Smoothies & Punks ... Such glorious choice! Every other person was an enemy and turf was clearly marked. They all wore different uniforms for I.D., just like the American kids do now with colours and the savage violence was no tamer.But what makes young people so desperate, such low self esteem that being wanted for your violent capabilities was the only thing that gave you self worth.. WHY? It's all in these pages. My pal is still living it, he currently resides in Grendon Underwood Jail. Yet another major talent locked behind bars, a convicted armed robber. 'Razor' is one of those cons that could now do so much more as a free man than he can being left to rot. I hope that 'Razor' will one day be able to show his great talent as a free man just like Jimmy Boyle & Hugh Collins of yesteryear. And once you have read 'WARRIOR KINGS' whatever your pr conceived ideas, I can assure you, you will be forced to admit that our 'Razor' definitely has MAJOR TALENT! And 'Razor' my great friend... YOU KNOW IT YOU OLD RASCAL!
Tel Currie, Famous Boxing Promoter & Author of 'Heroes and Villains'
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-- Newspaper and Website Reviews
A stunning, graphic tale of life in the gang sub-culture of London during the 1970s. Not since the novel The Warriors by Sol Yurik has anyone so accurately captured the dark, brooding aura of street fighting on paper. The difference is that this account is true.
Noel “Razor” Smith portrays the internecine rivalry between the myriad youth gangs that took to the streets of London, and does so brilliantly. For contemporary music buffs the book will also serve as a riveting account of the rise and fall (and sometimes rise again) of rock and roll, rockabilly and other popular genres. Warrior Kings does not make for pleasant reading if you don’t have a strong stomach, but I’ll guarantee you this; you won’t be able to put it down till you’ve got to the last, nerve-jangling page.
Mike Hallowell, The Shields Gazette
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WARRIOR KINGS
Inside Time: The National Monthly Newspaper for Prisoners
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There cannot be many people who have Razor's colourful background and literary skills to paint the picture so well. His trademark writing style of brutal frankness in the page by page record of the life of a south London gang leader is both refreshing and enlightening. No glorification of the gang culture he grew up in just an honest account of the way it was and his thoughts at the time.
John D Roberts, Inside Time: The National Monthly Newspaper for Prisoners (Operations Director)
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Warrior Kings is the gripping story of a young man's bid to carve out his own identity among a working-class peer group cut adrift from the mores of mainstream society.
Beginning in the sweltering 1976 summer and ending with the Brixton riots, Noel Smith keeps the reader hooked as he blazes a bloody trail through lawless streets of South London. At the same time the book serves as a unique and chilling record. It is an account of the life and times of a little known sub-culture: the savage 1970s Teddy Boy gangsters.
Rick Lyons, Daily Star Sunday (Crime Correspondent)
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Milkcow Vintage Magazine
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The Brit (Madeira Newspaper)
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Hackney Gazette
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Hackney Gazette
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Lincolnshire Free Press
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WARRIOR KINGS
Inside Time: The National Monthly Newspaper for Prisoners
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The Guardian
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-- Readers Comments
An intriguing autobigraphical biopsy of gang warfare and melees between subcultures and various violent clubs in the London area between 1976 and 1982. An enlightening and somewhat intiguing read.
Paul Watson
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