Flesh guitar

Flesh Guitar was published in 1998 by Overlook Press, representing a notable entry in the late-career bibliography of British novelist Geoff Nicholson. Known for his keen interest in pop culture, music history, and the obsessive nature of fandom, Nicholson crafted this narrative to explore the intersections between human anatomy and the instruments that define musical identity. The novel emerges from a broader literary movement of the 1990s that sought to deconstruct the myths of rock and roll, moving beyond mere biography to engage with the surreal and often fetishistic relationships musicians develop with their tools.

The conceptual design of the work focuses on the intersection of the macabre and the melodic, reflecting Nicholson’s signature blend of dark humor and cultural commentary. By centering the story on the titular object, Nicholson challenges the reader to consider the organic versus the synthetic in artistic creation. Upon its release, the novel was received as a quintessentially postmodern piece, praised by critics for its intellectual agility and the author's ability to maintain a sharp, observational tone while delving into highly unconventional subject matter.