The new book that revisits the messy magic of the UK ’00s indie scene: “If you weren’t out, you felt like you were missing out”
Janine Warren’s new book revisits the UK indie music scene of 2000 to 2010, describing a period shaped by energetic live music, club nights and close-knit local scenes. Drawing on interviews with musicians and industry figures, she aims to capture what the era felt like before smartphones made it easy to record and share everything.
Warren says The Strokes’ first gig at London’s Barfly in February 2001 signalled a shift away from the milder post-Britpop music then gaining attention. The book, *The World Was a Mess But His Hair Was Perfect*, includes a foreword by Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos and previously unseen photographs by Andy Willsher; Warren also reflects on the scene’s hedonism, ideals and whether a similar movement could happen again.
- Janine Warren’s book looks back at UK indie from 2000 to 2010.
- The Strokes’ 2001 Barfly gig marked a turning point for Warren.
- The book combines interviews, a foreword and unseen photography.
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In the 2000s, British indie music grew through local bands, small venues and club nights, as well as national attention. The scene was varied and informal, with live performances and nights out playing a large part in how people discovered music.
The Strokes, an American band, became an early influence after playing London’s Barfly in 2001. UK bands including Franz Ferdinand were part of the wider wave of guitar music that followed, while musicians, venues and music industry figures helped shape how it spread. Before smartphones were common, much of the scene’s activity was experienced in person and documented less widely.
The period is remembered both for its creative energy and its hedonistic nightlife. Looking back at it can help explain how music scenes form around shared places and experiences, and how technology has changed the way people take part in them.