I love that.
I was late with James Ellroy - American Tabloid late.
David Peace had written GB84 before I read 1974,
Murder Ballads was the first Nick Cave album I bought
I have pretty much everything by all of them now.
Haven't read any George Pelecanos, maybe that'll be my summer reading.

I think George Pelecanos is the only author that I've read all of their books. @smithylad - read them all in order. The Nick Stefanos trilogy and then the DC Quartet. I'm jealous that these are all ahead of you for the first time.

The Turnaround it's called. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

First time I'd read anything by him. Was it recommended in the mag? I've not read anything of his since but I picked up a 3 in 1 cheapo from Asda last month called The Derek Strange Trilogy. Right As Rain/Hell To Pay/Soul Circus. I'm keeping it for the holidays....I think it cost £3!

Bigsteveie -you are in for a treat mate.
Smithylad -i'd recommend- "The Sweet Forever" and "Hard Revolution"
but the masterpiece(imo) is "The Night Gardener".

General concurrence, Pelecanos is always brilliant. Shame the Devil was the first of his I read as well.
I know a recent podcast gave air to the view that characters' musical tastes often seem self-indulgently shoehorned in by authors for no apparent reason, but I really enjoy the references to lots of cool stuff in Pelecanos' books.
Smithylad, you obviously have a lot of quality reading to be getting on with but you could also check out another Wire writer, Richard Price's novels, including Clockers and Samaritan. It's all good.
On undiscovered stuff, watching series one of the Sopranos at the minute. Had seen the show on and off over the last few years, but have missed enough episodes that it feels like I'm watching it for the first time, and loving it.

love Pelecanos and have read them all ´cept for the Big Blowdown.
and Yes!, The Night Gardener is his best. Currently trawling through Peter Robinson´s series and from the other side of the pond have recently discovered James Lee Burke. Good job Im doing nothing this summer

I felt the same way when I discovered David Lodge, and years ago, Tom Sharpe.

...started a long, enjoyable voyage with the characters of Patrick O'Brian.

I'm always behind. Got into Nirvana in 1994 just as Kurt Cobain decided to end it all. Stone Roses whilst at Uni, just as they were on their 5 year hiatus. Only got into Sopranos AFTER the series ended, (now on end of Season 5), similar with The Wire, started to watch it as season 5 started. Just got into House, (now on S5).

I was relatively quick getting onto Flight of the Conchords, but still a year behind its first transmission. I think buying Oasis' first album in autumn 1994 was about the only time I got into a band or anything culturally significant at about the time it took off!

The first Beatles studio album I bought was around three months ago. Sorry, shameful.

Also, the first issue of Melody Maker I ever bought was... er, the last one.