Social Living

My attention has been drawn to a website I didn't previously know, called livingsocial.com, which seems to be a site for readers to talk about books. Anyway, there are some very kind reviews of my book Crisis? What Crisis?, so I thought I ought to mention these splendid people and give them every encouragement.

The Prisoner (slight return)

Stories about a remake of the 1960s TV series The Prisoner have been circulating for almost as long as I can remember, so one learned some time ago to take them with a pinch of salt. But now that they've released a trailer, I guess we can now genuinely refer to the forthcoming movie.

So I turned, as one does, to i-Flicks.net, home of Ivan Radford, a critic who's always worth reading, to see what he has to say, and he sounds a note of sensible caution: 'It's actually looking quite awesome. Although it could still turn out absolutely terrible - these things usually do.' He's probably right.

Of course, those of us with a fondness for Portmeirion, where the original series was filmed, are going to regret the change of location, because the real star of the piece was the Village itself. But no doubt the film will generate yet more interest in the place.

Beyond Biba

Five years back - seems like longer - ACC published a book by me about the Biba shops in west London in the 1960s and '70s. It went very well (still available in paperback), and somehow Biba never quite goes away, even though it's nearly 35 years since the last of the original stores closed.

So, just to round up a couple of bits: Le Figaro in France has a piece on the subject; some friends have written a musical about Biba (tracks available for download); and tomorrow I'm going to the V&A where there's a screening of a documentary titled Beyond Biba, which apparently tells the story of what the founder, Barbara Hulanicki, did after the shop closed.

The Light Programme

The first episode of Stand Down, Margaret was a fine piece of radio - a beautifully edited collage of interviews, music and archive tape. The second and final episode is on Radio Two this evening, at the later time of 11 pm.

Stand Down Please...

More on Stand Down, Margaret - the Radio 2 series starting tonight and continuing next week - here's an article by presenter Jeremy Vine.

Stand Down, Margaret

What should be a fine two-part series about political pop music in the 1980s starts on Radio 2 on Tuesday 16 June at 10.30 pm. Titled Stand Down, Margaret, produced by Kate Willgress and hosted by Jeremy Vine, the only thing likely to spoil it is hearing me pontificating about the period.

The Book Depository

The excellent people at The Book Depository have been kind enough to put online an interview with me about my book Crisis? What Crisis? I think it's quite fun, covering everything from David Cameron to the Wombles.

My thanks to Mark Thwaite for his enthusiasm and encouragement.

Fallen Svengalis

I’ve been so immersed in the past this month, frantically writing away on a new book, that I completely failed to notice the death of Tam Paton, the former manager of the Bay City Rollers.

Now, I know few people had good words to say about Tam – particularly those musicians who he managed – but I always had a bit of a soft spot for him. He was a very visible media presence when I was young, and a couple of years back I spoke with him for the book Cult Rock Posters 1972-1982, that I did with Roger Crimlis.

What impressed me most was his commitment to keeping total control over the image of his charges: ‘I had to control it,’ he said, ‘because I was aware that all I had was an image.’ So he would destroy all the discarded negatives from a photo session to ensure that only approved shots could be published. And, he said, he monitored everything: ‘I used to keep in control of the fan club at the same time. We used to ask who their favourite Roller was, and when I found any member of the Rollers was falling behind big-style, I would then concentrate on them, getting them press, photographing them, trying to push them ahead.’

He was never given as much credit as he deserved for his ability to manipulate the media.

It all ended in scandal, of course. And in the courts.

Which reminds me that I met Jonathan King this week. Another fascinating man from the neglected side of rock and roll history – the missing link between Larry Parnes and Malcolm McLaren.

He’s written and filmed a rock opera about the trumped-up charges he faced and the outrageously long sentence he received, a copy of which he was kind enough to give me. Titled Vile Pervert, it’s available for viewing on his website and it has some good stuff in there, including the wonderful Johnny Reggae, as well as new songs – There’s Nothing Wrong with Buggering Boys is a particular gem.

Beyond a Joke

In case you’re sorting out your viewing for the bank holiday weekend, may I direct you to Beyond A Joke, on ITV3 at 9pm, Monday 4 May. It’s the first of a five-part series about sitcoms in the 1970s and 1980s and, amongst all the proper people who should be there talking about the subject, there’s also some contributions from me, making asinine comments.

Recession - The Queen Speaks

I’ve been immersing myself recently in the 1980s for a book I’m working on. Which means that, while I’m a little out of touch with the details of the current recession, I am at least up to speed on the two Thatcherite recessions.

And in Gyles Brandreth’s excellent volume of diaries, Breaking the Code, there’s a fine passage where he’s trying to make small talk with the Queen in 1990. He mentions the recession, and she replies:

‘We do seem to get them every few years – and none of my governments seems to know what to do about them.’

Plus ça change...

An Historical Dinner

I went last night to the Jolly St Ermine’s Hotel as the guest of the Historical Association Dining Group, who are a splendid and very welcoming collection of people. As the name of the group suggests, we had dinner, and then I gave a short talk on the 1970s, which I enjoyed greatly, regardless of anyone else. Not the kind of thing I’ve ever really done before, so I was grateful to have the opportunity.

My thanks to Edward Towne and Peter Titley in particular, who invited me and were so hospitable, and to those who bought a copy of Crisis? What Crisis? afterwards.

Paperback Crisis

The paperback edition of my book Crisis? What Crisis? has just arrived, and I think it looks splendid: a better cover than the hardback, and yours for only £8.99, published by Aurum Press.


I'm particularly grateful to Sam Harrison for putting this together and for his enthusiasm.

Also, while I’ve been away for a few days, The Guardian has published the Harry Hammond obituary I wrote. My thanks to Diana Gower.