Pop Scars cover art

Pop Scars

A memoir on fame, addiction and the dark side of 90s pop

Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Pop Scars

By: Anthony Kavanagh
Narrated by: Anthony Kavanagh
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £31.99

Buy Now for £31.99

About this listen

The shocking, tell-all memoir from '90s popstar and heart-throb formerly known as Kavana

Born in Manchester in 1977, Anthony Kavanagh's rise to fame was stratospheric, scoring a record deal at the age of just eighteen and winning the much-coveted Smash Hits Male Artist of the Year Award in 1997, all the while achieving top ten hits, appearing on countless magazine covers, performing on Top of the Pops and gigging alongside the Spice Girls. The stuff that dreams are made of.

But Anthony - or Kavana as he came to be known - was also trying to keep his sexuality a secret while navigating his way through an industry where image was everything; where his success depended on him having to be exactly who he wasn't.

What followed was a dark and dangerous spiral into addiction, an illness that would insidiously follow and baffle him for years to come. Pop Scars is a story told with fearless honesty that's at times as funny as it is heartbreaking, chronicling the highs, the lows, the self-destruction and the chaos of hitting rock bottom and then finding out that rock bottom has a basement.

Thirty years on, Anthony is ready to tell his jaw-dropping story. Pop Scars is a book about teenage stardom, fame, addiction, grief and - ultimately - survival and sobriety.

©2025 Anthony Kavanagh (P)2025 Bonnier Books UK
Entertainment & Celebrities Mental Health Music Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Funny Heartfelt Memoir Emotionally Gripping Feel-Good Thought-Provoking Witty
All stars
Most relevant
What a fascinating life Kavana has had, full of huge ups and downs. He doesn’t shy away from talking about the difficult things he went through or mistakes he made. I found it nostalgic too as I was a teenager in the 90s.

He comes across as relatable and kind, and I’m rooting for him in his sobriety and whatever comes next in his career.

I wish he’d do a Pop Scars podcast and interview other pop icons so they could compare their experiences in the industry.

Honest and funny

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

As a nursing student who's hoping to work in addictions, the story of trauma, adversity and return to form was excellent. Sincerely hope Anthony has every success in future both personally and professionally.

Raw, honest, and a cautionary tale

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Really heartfelt story which was made better by being read by the author himself!

I remember kav being a teen in the 90s but i knew nothing of his struggles so sad to hear what hes battled through and how it lead to his addictions and heart ache

Def worth a listen and his lovely northern tones made it a really easy listen sometimes i turn books off as i cant deal with the voice!

I hope this book continues to thrive and bring recognition to the struggles Anthony faced, i also hope he continues to heal and finds peace and happiness

Easy to listen to loved it being read by anthony himself

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Really enjoyed listening to this book.Anthony was very honest and open about his life during his pop career and after.

Open and Honest account

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

An honest account of the highs and lows. Very funny at times and made better by being read by the author

Really enjoyed this!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews