Currently reading the bloomin’ excellent autobiography of Alan McGee, founder of Creation Records amongst many other claims to fame (and possible notoriety too). Even if your first reaction was ‘Do I know him?’ you will soon realise you do, thanks to his connections with very famous bands . Titled ‘Creation Stories: Riots, Raves and Running a Label’ , it’s a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me. And the hot news is that Alan, with Waterstones, Leeds, is ‘gigging’ at Leeds Cockpit next Sunday 24th Nov, and I’ve been asked to help out. I’m not sure what I’m actually expected to do but as long as it means keeping my clothes on then I’m honoured and v happy to be of assistance. Very pleased to see in the book that Alan was a an early fan of The Stranglers.  Good man.

This week I’ll be at West Yorkshire Playhouse for the premiere of Anthony Clavane‘s play Playing The Joker which stars Dicken Ashworth as Eddie Waring, a household name here in t’North at least in the 1970s, and for many a great and entertaining man.  And what a bloody great title!  Really looking forward to it, Eddie Waring’s story is intriguing to say the least, and Dicken Ashworth is always good.  I’m hoping to get Clavane on here at some stage… it might be sooner than he thinks if he dips in and actually buys any of my books, including the latest, Scandal FC in which he’s credited too! 😀

Hoping to be at Outlaws Yacht Club in Leeds on Thursday for the Chinwag event with Kris Needs.  Now I’d possibly never heard of Kris until I started working on my Stranglers chronicle Peaches (out next year on Soundcheck Books) … seems to me he is one of the less lauded writers of the 1970s when punk/new wave was slapping the UK about.  I’m looking forward to the gig, he’s still got the edge over most music writers by the looks of it.

And I’m off to see The Tommy Steele in Scrooge too!  It is by far one of my favourite ever stories.