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Gridlock Spumes and the Case with No Name book by David Muriel and Bruce Veness

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photos supplied by David Muriel

Book… A spine-tingling adventure, not for the faint hearted. Zany wordplay abounds in this crazy caper featuring ace detective Gridlock Spumes and his cross-dressing sidekick, Doctor Phuckwytte Prunestone. The story begins with the bosomy Lady Bulimia Puke tearfully revealing all, as she recounts the blackmail demands she has been subjected to, since her sojourn in a French ‘Sanatorium’. But all is not as it seems, as a series of disguised villains lead our gallant duo a merry dance across the Channel and back again. This dastardly two-step culminates in a discovery that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of British society, along with Doctor Prunestone’s best ball gown.

About the authors… Born in 1943, Bruce Veness and David Muriel spent their childhood in Hastings, meeting at the art school there. They then pursued different careers, Mr Muriel studying Graphic Design and Mr Veness Fine Art. Having worked in industry, both gained further experience in education, teaching in their respective subjects. Now retired, Mr Muriel lives in Kent and Mr Veness in France with his wife, Jill. Having an abiding interest in comedy, Mr Muriel has written a contemporary play, while Mr Veness, having a similar creative flair for the theatre, now designs, acts, and directs with his actress wife in their own theatre company.

 

The Clot That Almost Killed Me book by John Kingdon

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John Kingdon… Dear all, I am pleased to inform you that my book, “The Clot That Almost Killed Me,” can be purchased from Amazon, from today. Please join me on my very difficult journey.  With my one eye, which I lost the sight of during a stroke last year, my one good finger on one hand, I managed to write this account of being a stroke survivor. I thank all who have given me their precious time to help me to achieve this. A simple story, spoken in a very straightforward way, but with an extremely big measage to survivors; dont give up, fight on whatever you succumb too, there is always another way.  25% of all of my royalyies are pledged to The Stroke Association. Bless you all, Thank you for your support, John

Colin Norton… Here’s wishing John every success with his new book!!

Andy Qunta… All the best to you John.

 

I’m Nearly Famous – The Tales Of A Likely Lad – Tony Rivers Autobiography book

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The man Cliff Richard called – “The Miracle Man of Harmonies”

Tony says… A large section of the book is focused on the crazy Cliff Richard era. We worked not only with Cliff, but many other artists from Elton and George Michael on Live Aid to making hits including a number One with Shaky, plus studio time with Pink Floyd, Year Of The Cat album with Al Stewart, Lulu, Linda Ronstadt, INXS, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, recorded two albums with The Shadows, another with Gerard Kenny, others were with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra, Barbara Dixon, Sheena Easton (in Caribou Ranch Studio), toured the World several times, made the US top ten with Devil Woman, oh and I sang The Likely Lads TV Theme (and for a lad from Shildon, Co. Durham that’s great).

The book can be ordered from…

https://www.tonyriversbook.com/i-m-nearly-famous

Robert Searle… Have this book Alan,a great read and very interesting. Tony has had a great musical career.

Catherine Ireland… Will get this

John Lydon – I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right – White Rock Theatre Hastings Thur 24th September 2020

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Lydon will talk about how he sees life, along with his unique and extraordinary career, and take audience questions during a pyrotechnic, one-off tour. More information and tickets…

https://whiterocktheatre.org.uk/Online/tickets-john-lydon-hastings-2020

 

A Pier Without Peer by Steve Peak – book launch 17th Dec 2016

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This fully illustrated coffee table book – written by well-known local historian, Steve Peak – chronicles the dramatic history of Hastings Pier from its construction in 1872 to the present day. The book also features a history of St Leonards Pier. Meet Steve Peak and special guests and have your copy signed by the author on Saturday 17th December 2016 from 10.30am-2.00pm. Taking place in the Birch Room in The Deck Building on Hastings Pier.

Speeches from 11am: Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP (Home Secretary), Simon Opie (previous Hastings Pier Charity CEO), and Councillor Judy Rogers (Mayor of Hastings). Nick King from Peter Owen Publishers will be Master of Ceremonies. Taking place in the Birch Room (next to the Hastings Pier Shop) in The Deck building on Hastings Pier. Books will be available in the Hastings Pier Shop from Saturday 17th December. Prices: Hardback edition (includes a list of Hastings Pier Community Shareholders) – £25, or £20 for shareholders. Paperback edition – £14.99

Alan Esdaile… Finally released after months of delays and should be quite a bit about bands who played the pier. Perhaps Andre can tell us more.

Peter Fairless… No spoilers, though!

Andre Martin… Read Chapter 12.

Alan Esdaile… Well that’s my Christmas present to myself sorted…

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Andre Martin… From todays Hastings Observer – boy did we have RSI after signing over 500 copies last weekend. Great Day, Great Book, but even greater Memories.

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Alan Esdaile… Great Read.

1971 – Rock’s Golden Year by David Hepworth – what do you think?

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http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/1971-ultimate-year-rock-music-7689797

1971 Never A Dull Moment rock’s golden years book. David Hepworth who was involved with Smash Hits, Q, Mojo, The Word and others, believes 1971 was the ultimate year for rock music.  1971 was great for music but very difficult to pinpoint a certain year. For me it is probably 1967  with the golden years being from mid sixties to early seventies. What does everyone think?

Gary Kinch… Stating the obvious here:The state of the arts needs to be viewed in context with the wider social/political/economic environment. A renaissance doesn’t happen randomly. This is why most (not all thankfully) modern music is so shallow…….
………not sure about pinpointing 71, sounds too definite and dogmatic. Certainly around then though imo.

Phil Little… 1971

 

You Had To Be There! – The Rolling Stones live 1962-69 by Richard Houghton. With memories of Hasting Pier gigs. Now available.

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The Rolling Stones Live In The Sixties

A new book about the career of the Rolling Stones, out 1st October 2015, gives a front row perspective on the group’s early live shows and includes memories of their performances in Hastings. Amongst the shows remembered in You Had To Be There: The Rolling Stones Live 1962 – 69 are concerts which took place in Hastings on 18th January, 11th April and 1st August 1964.

The book, written by Richard Houghton and published by Gottahavebooks, contains over 500 eyewitness accounts of the band’s very first performances, beginning with pubs and clubs in and around London and culminating in their 1969 Hyde Park show.  It also contains previously unreleased photos of the band. Included in the book are the memories of –

Maurice Viney, ‘The boys on the stage were very young but their music was excellent. The main point I remember was that a very nice young lady removed her pants and threw them at mick in the centre of the stage.’

Andre Palfrey-Martin,  ‘It was branded the second Battle of Hastings – the mods and rockers were just about to kick off.’

The publication of You Had To Be There:  The Rolling Stones Live 1962 – 69 coincides with the recent announcement of a major Rolling Stones exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London next year.  The group have been performing live for more than 50 years and interest in the group’s early days is stronger than ever. Richard Houghton said: “I got the idea for the book last year when I went to see the Rolling Stones perform in Stockholm.  Mick Jagger was about to turn 71 and it occurred to me that many of the people who saw the Stones when they were starting out would be of a similar vintage.  Fifty years ago they were teenagers and I thought it would be good to capture those memories of the early Stones shows before they fade.” Richard Houghton said: “This book is not just about the Rolling Stones.  It’s also a window on the past, a look at what it was like to grow up in 1960s Britain.  Teenagers hadn’t really been invented until the Rolling Stones came along and they played a part in opening many people’s eyes to what was possible.  The Stones helped to make the Sixties swing.” Richard, who lives in Manchester, said: “I’ve been lucky enough to capture some great anecdotes of people who saw the Stones on their journey to stardom.  They started out as a group of rhythm and blues aficionados sometimes playing to a handful of people in a pub and became the greatest rock’n’roll band in the world.”

Richard did not see the Rolling Stones live in the 1960s himself, although his mum did take him to see The Beatles.  He was four years old, and the Fab Four are the subject of his next book.

You Had To Be There: The Beatles

Richard said:  “I’d love to hear the memories of anyone who saw The Beatles in the 1960s, because they set the entertainment world alight when they came along and there will be lots of people out there who heard them or saw them and just thought “wow”.”  You can share your Beatle memories with Richard on thebeatlesinthe60s@gmail.com

You Had To Be There:  The Rolling Stones Live 1962 – 69 can be ordered from:

http://gottahavebooks.co.uk/stones/ and http://www.amazon.co.uk

Or email sales@gottahavebooks.co.uk

Tony Court-holmes… nice boys never get anywhere

Andre Martin… Go to page 151

 

 

Ginger Baker chat by Mick Curtis

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Mick Curtis…. About 30 years ago my wife Vanda was an air stewardess with British Caledonian. Ginger Baker was travelling in First Class to Buenos Aires, Vanda worked in First Class, and asked him to sign a menu card. He asked what her name was. “Vanda”. To he wrote “To Banda, love Ginger Baker”. She said “My name is spelled with a V”. So he changed it to “Banva”. I’ll find the evidence today and post a picture on here. He was apparently very proud of his new snakeskin boots that had been hand-made for him in LA. Enjoyed a drink or 30, she seems to remember.

Mick O’Dowd… Sounds about right.

Richard J Porter… LOL, good old Ginger, a friend of ours, still playing and with his son sometimes

Geoff Peckham…. My Ginger Baker story: I once worked with this lovely prudish Oxbridge educated teacher called Annie. On noticing a picture of GB in a magazine I was reading Annie told me she’d met him. Intrigued, I asked how. She said at a May Ball at Cambridge where Cream were playing, she was in the Ladies’ washing her hands. Suddenly, the door burst open and a red-haired man dashed in and threw up in the basin next to her. When she was told he was Ginger Baker, Annie still wasn’t impressed!

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