From the street to the page
Duncan McCowan is the author of The Big Busk. He performed with The King Biscuits on the streets of Covent Garden and London's West End during the 1980s, the world that inspired his novel.
The book draws on the music, humour, rivalries and friendships of that life. Its musicians make their living a crowd at a time, with bottlers working the audience and every good pitch worth defending.
Duncan is also a songwriter. His original music forms part of The King Biscuits' recorded legacy, including the album Going Indoors. He now lives in Cyprus.
The King Biscuits
Listen to Going Indoors on YouTube ↗
The band is more than background to the novel. Its street performances, blues and banter give the story its rhythm, and connect the fictional Biscuits to the musicians who inspired them.
