At the film premier of The Optimist of Nine Elms, a lovely little film starring Peter Sellers and produced by Ron Kass. That’s Ron on the left; his then wife, the lovely Joan Collins, looking glamorous in black velvet; and me, happy because my company did the music (by Lionel Bart and Don Crown) and it was great. Peter Sellers played an old busker and sang the theme song, “Mr Bass Drum Man,” which George Martin produced. CREDIT: Michael Putland. Used by permission of London Features International Ltd.
I took this snap of me and Bruce Springsteen around the pool of the Sunset Marquis motel when I was in Hollywood working with Phil Spector. It was a manic time—and then Springsteen breezed into town with his entourage. A few days later we flew to London, where Bruce opened to great acclaim at the Hammersmith Odeon. CREDIT: Tony Bramwell, from Badlands Collection, www.badlands.co.uk.
Me (center) with Demis Roussos and Vangelis (some cigar!) to celebrate the Oscar for Best Music for Chariots of Fire, 1981. We’re at Seacy, a restaurant in Knightsbridge, just behind Harrods. CREDIT: Tony Bramwell Archive
acknowledgments
With many, many thanks to all those people who pulled hard together to make this book happen. They include the excellent team at my US publisher Thomas Dunne Books and St. Martin’s Press: the publisher, Tom Dunne; the editor, John Parsley; the production editor, Mark Steven Long and all at Robson Books in London. Warmest thanks to Barbara Gratch Cohen for her wisdom. And the greatest appreciation to my literary agent, Jeff Kleinman, for efforts far beyond the call of duty. Without Don Short, who introduced me to my coauthor, Rosemary Kingsland, this book never would have happened. Finally, but not least, very many thanks to Neal Jefferies.
index
Abbey Road, 331, 333
Abbey Road studio, 188–190, 191
Abdul-Malik, Michael (Michael X), 341
Abracadabra (working title), 265
acid (LSD), 192, 199–200, 207, 210, 236, 273. See also drugs
“Act Naturally,” 125, 164
Ada Foster School for Drama (London), 104–105
Agutter, Jenny, 231
Alderton, John, 231, 382
Aldridge, Alan, 279
Alice in Wonderland (film), 231
“All Along the Watchtower,” 198
Allen, Elkan, 131, 132
“All Shook Up,” 127
“All You Need Is Love,” 194
Amen Corner (play), 152
American Bandstand (TV show), 357
American music, 36
American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP), 86
Andress, Ursula, 333
Animals, 103, 130, 134, 155, 196, 202
Anthony, Les, 177, 244
Aphrodite’s Child, 406
Appel, Allan, 393
Apple Boutique, 239–240, 260, 264, 277–278, 343
Apple Electronics, 238, 343
Apple Films, 227, 231, 232, 258, 360–361
Apple Music Publishing, 24, 206, 257, 282–283, 325
Apple Records, 235–236, 255, 258, 266, 269, 272, 274, 280–281, 283, 293, 297–299, 310, 311–312, 323, 325, 326–328, 333, 348, 360–361, 367
Apple Tailoring, 264
Appleton, Mike, 119
Archer, Jeffrey, 307–308
Arden, David, 399
Arden, Don, 155–156, 339, 382–384, 397–399
Arden, Sharon, 397–399
Ardmore and Beechwood (A & B), 86–87
Are You Experienced, 198
Arias, Olivia, 410
Around the Beatles (TV show), 113
Arquette, Roseanne, 354
“Asbury Park,” 393
Asher, Jane, 45, 103, 106–108, 118–119, 159, 199, 220, 232, 253, 255, 267, 277, 283, 357
Asher, Margaret, 107, 277
Asher, Peter, 107, 108, 139, 146, 175, 258–259, 272, 353, 357, 359
Asher, Richard, 106–107, 108, 175, 282
Ashton, Gardner and Dyke, 283
Ashton, Tony, 283
Asian tour, 165–166
Aspinall, Neil, 15, 37, 42–43, 54, 57, 60, 68, 72, 73, 81, 89, 92, 109, 219, 225, 230, 255, 256, 260, 295, 308, 317, 326, 421
ATV (Associated Television Corporation), 85
ATV Publishing, 356–357
Azoff, Irving, 311
“Baby I Love You,” 345, 388, 389
“Baby I Need Your Loving,” 157
Badfinger, 368
“Bad to Me,” 146
Bailey, David, 117
Baldry, Long John, 40, 134
Baldwin, James, 152
“The Ballad of John and Yoko,” 318
“Band of Gold,” 333
banjo, 23, 378–379
Barbarella (film), 377
Barrett, Brian, 217
Barrett, Syd, 200
Barrow, Tony, 56, 58, 95
Barry, Chuck, 130
Barry, John, 231, 366, 368
Barselona, Frank, 358
Bart, Lionel, 136, 152, 153, 154
Bassey, Shirley, 365
BBC, record promotion, 115–116
Beach Boys, 253, 283, 322
Beat Brothers, 52, 53
beat groups, 19–20, 55
“Beatlemania,” term of, 111
Beatles. See also Harrison, George; Lennon, John; McCartney, Paul; Starr, Ringo (Richard Starkey)
American tours, 161–162, 166–167
Apple Records, 235–236
Asian tour, 165–166
Best, Pete, 73–74
business projects of, 235–241
Casbah Club, 73
Cavern Club, 49–51, 67
Christmas show (1963), 109–110
Decca audition, 57–58
disguise of, 99
drugs, 199–200
Ed Sullivan Show (TV show), 111–112
Epstein, Brian, 52–56, 88, 99, 233, 311, 355
fame, 80, 89–92, 100–101, 113, 159–160, 164, 212–213
finances of, 42, 71, 84, 95, 114, 116–117, 142, 154, 182, 183–185, 186–187, 213, 310, 311–312, 317, 367
friendship among, 330–331
implosion of, 310, 360
India, 249–254
Klein, Allen, 316–317
Litherland Town Hall concert (Liverpool, 1960), 1–6, 40–41
Litherland Town Hall concert (Liverpool, 1961), 51–52
London, 101
loyalty to, 355–356
Magical Mystery Tour (film), 226–227, 229–231
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, 215–216, 242
McCartney, Paul, 263
media, 102–103, 112–113
Mersey shuffles (ferry crossings), 67–68
name selection, 34–35
Ono, Yoko, 265, 302–307, 315, 318, 332
Paris, 110–111
politics, 301–302
recording sessions, 190–191, 193–195
rift among, 265–266, 303, 349, 355–356, 359–360
songwriting, 114
Spector, Phil, 344–348
summer tours, 81–83, 89
taxation, 233–235
theater tours (U.K.), 89–92
women and, 48, 51, 70–71, 90, 92, 103–105
work schedule of, 227–228
Yellow Submarine (film), 209, 231–232, 248
The Beatles & Company, 206
The Beatles (White Album), 254, 265, 266, 284, 292, 331
Beat Room (TV show), 104
Beck, Ronnie, 352–353
Beeching, Richard, 310
Bee Gees, 151, 181, 206, 220, 225, 325, 369
Beethoven, Ludwig van, 178
“Be My Baby,” 345
Bennet, Veronica “Ronnie,” 388
Bennett, Hywel, 153
Benson, Harry, 111
Benzedrine sniffing, 35
Berry, Chuck, 138, 156, 157
Berry, Dave, 156
Berry, Mike, 283
“Besame Mucho,” 58
Best, John, 73
Best, Mona, 4, 37–38, 45, 55, 60, 73, 74, 77
/>
Best, Pete, 3–4, 5, 19, 38, 40, 43, 46, 47, 48, 50, 54, 71–75, 80, 267
Best, Roag, 73
Best, Rory, 73
The Best of the Crystals, 373
The Best of the Ronettes, 373
Bienstock, Freddy, 371
Big Brother & the Holding Company, 209
Big Night Out, 112
The Big Sleep (Chandler), 388
Big Three, 73, 325
Bilk, Acker, 67, 68
Billboard charts, 114
Binder, Maurice, 366
Birchmore, Diana, 256
Birkin, Jane, 252
birth control, 96–97
The Bitch (film), 325
Black, Cilla (Cilla Marsden), 39–40, 48, 97, 109, 114, 118, 146, 150, 155, 180, 206, 215, 235, 344
Black, Don, 256, 368
“Blackbird,” 266, 270, 275, 279, 280, 292
black bombers (Durohet, drug), 35. See also drugs
Black Dyke Mills Band, 272, 281
Black Jacks, 20
Blackjacks, 4, 40
Black Muslims, 341
Black Sabbath, 397, 399
Blade Runner, 408
Blake, Peter, 192
“Blinded by the Light,” 393
Blue Angel club (Liverpool), 43
Blue Jays, 384
blues, 130
Boast, Bob, 64
Bogarde, Dirk, 137
Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, 229
Born to Run, 391, 393
Bottom Line (New York club), 357, 358, 393
Boulez, Pierre, 52
Bowie, David, 282
Bowman, Roger, 417
Boyce, Tommy, 270
Boyd, Jenny, 239, 253, 262, 306
Boyd, Pattie, 105, 117–118, 123, 207, 212, 215, 226, 232, 239, 253, 410
Boy George, 405
Bragg, Melvin, 302
Bramwell (author’s mother), 11–15, 18, 84
Bramwell, Barry, 19
Bramwell, Lesley, 353
Bramwell, Simon, 410, 411
Brannigan, Laura, 411, 412
Branson, Richard, 293–294, 330, 403, 404
Brassed Off (film), 272
Brautigan, Richard, 298
break-dancing, 411
Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, 57, 59–60
Bricusse, Lesley, 153
Britain, class distinctions, 96–97
Broccoli, Albert “Cubby,” 361, 366, 368
Broonzy, Big Bill, 18
Brown, Joe, 15
Brown, Miquel, 411
Brown, Peter, 60, 202, 203, 205, 206, 216–217, 219–220, 313, 317, 325, 326
“Brown Sugar,” 274
Bruce, Lenny, 298, 346, 388–389
Bryce Hanmer (accounting firm), 233
Budgie (film), 219
Buffalo Springfield, 358
Bukowski, Charles, 298, 343
bullfighting, 180
Burdon, Eric, 103, 196, 217, 218, 269–270
Burnett, Al, 138
Burns, George, 326
Burroughs, William, 298, 343
Burton, Richard, 118, 137, 184
Bussell, Darcy, 264
“Busted,” 132
Butlin, Billy, 282
Butlin, Bobby, 282
“Butterfingers,” 136
The Butterfly Collector (film), 219
“Bye Bye Love,” 127
Byrds, 207, 210, 235, 270, 283, 358, 379
Byrne, Nicky, 140, 141
Cadwell, Alan, 28
Cage, John, 172, 244, 245
Cage, Nicholas, 354
Cahn, Sammy, 146, 280
Caine, Michael, 137, 361, 369
Caine, Shakira, 361
Calder, Tony, 95, 313
Caldwell, Alan, 45
Caldwell, Iris, 45
Caldwell, Vi, 45
Caleb (mystic), 239, 310
Callahan, James, 213
Campbell, Glen, 333–334
Candlestick Park concert (San Francisco, California), 167
Candy (film), 231, 235
“Can’t Buy Me Love,” 112
Canterbury Tales (Chaucer), 149
The Canterville Ghost (Wilde), 158–159
capitalism, 228
Capital Radio, 96
Capitol Records, 266, 269, 270, 333
Captain Pugwash (TV show), 336
Captain Sensible, 352
Carlin Music, 371
Carmichael, Hoagy, 17
Carmines, Al, 245–246
Carnegie Hall concert (New York City), 161
“Carolina Moon,” 17
“Carolina on My Mind,” 258
Carr, Roy, 392
car radios, 273–274
Carroll, Lewis, 228, 342
Carson, Jan, 230
Carson, Johnny, 235
Cartwright, Tony, 378
Casbah Club (Liverpool), 4, 5, 37–38, 43, 55, 73
Cassady, Neil, 297
Cass and the Cassanovas, 52
Cassidy, Eva, 417–419
Cats (musical), 326
Cavemen, 136
Cavern Club (Liverpool), 21, 49–51, 53–54, 56, 62, 67
caviar, 292
CBS Records, 383–384, 394–395
Chamberlin, Harry, 228
Chandler, Brian “Chas,” 155, 181, 196, 204
Chandler, Raymond, 388
Channel, Bruce “Hey Baby,” 124–125
Chapman, Roger, 352
Chariots of Fire, 406–407, 408
Charles, Ray, 130–132, 196
Chaucer, Geoffrey, 149
Checkmates, 15
“Chicago Calling,” 126
Chicago Transit Authority, 269
China, 406, 407
Chinnery, Derek, 274
Christie, Hal, 12
Christie, Jim, 12
Christie, Sonny, 12
Christmas Album, 373, 387
Christmas shows, 109–110, 299
Clapton, Eric, 105, 118, 130, 151, 195, 292, 306, 307, 339, 340, 343, 385, 386, 410
Clark, Dave, 154, 231
Clark, Dick, 132–133, 357
Clarke, Allan, 119, 393
class distinctions, Britain, 96–97
Clayderman, Richard, 397
Cleave, Maureen, 166–167
Cliff Richard and the Shadows, 59, 65, 66
clothing
Apple Tailoring, 264
Beatles, 54, 56, 70, 74, 102, 156, 240, 241, 336
Hendrix, Jimi, 198
Liverpool, 51
pre-Beatles, 33–34
Clout, 405
cocaine, 400. See also drugs
Cochran, Eddie, 3, 15, 18, 27, 32, 38, 47
Cogan, Alma, 110, 137–139, 150, 174
Cogan, Fay, 137, 138
Cogan, Sandra, 137, 138
Cohen, Leonard, 371, 373, 382, 411–412, 414
Coleman, Ray, 391
Coleman, Sid, 64–65, 87
Collins, Jackie, 324–325
Collins, Joan, 324–325, 361, 381
Collins, Pauline, 382
Collins, Phil, 421
“Come on Everybody,” 38
Connery, Sean, 231, 368, 369, 370
Connolly, Billy, 352
Connolly, Ray, 270
Connors, Carol, 391
Conscience, Johnny, 52
Cook, Peter, 137
Cooke, Chris, 153
Cooke, Sam, 316
Cooper, Alice, 119, 325
Cooper, Michael, 192
Cooper, Tommy, 97–98, 349
Corey, Al, 269
Corman, Roger, 252
Cosby, Bill, 289
Cotton, Bill, Jr., 259
“Country Line Special,” 126
Country Meets Folk (radio program), 259
country music, 124–127, 314–315
Cousins, Dave, 259
Cousins, Les, 152
Cowan, Norman, 217
Coward, Noel, 137, 138
Cox, Kyoko, 244, 246, 316, 332, 341, 367
Cox, Maureen “Mitch,” 75–76, 103, 109, 118, 252–253, 264, 280–281, 303, 323, 382, 409–410
Cox, Tony, 171, 201, 243, 244–247, 315–316, 332, 341, 367
Crawford, Michael, 232
Cream, 157, 158, 181, 198
Creamcheese, Suzy, 200
Cregan, Jim, 283
Crew Cuts, 121
Crickets, 19, 32, 120, 122
Crittle, John, 264
Crosby, Bing, 10, 18
Crosby, David, 358
Crosby, Stills, and Nash, 369, 379
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, 358
The Cruel Sea (film), 131
Crystals, 373
Culture Club, 405
“Cumberland Gap,” 4, 19
“Da Doo Ron Ron,” 345
Daily Express (newspaper), 220, 375
Daily Mail (newspaper), 375
Daily Mirror (newspaper), 102, 295
Daily Sketch (newspaper), 102
Daily Telegraph (newspaper), 172
Dakotas, 90, 131
Daltry, Roger, 402–403
Damned, 352
Daniels, Maurice, 2
Darin, Bobby, 15, 314, 378–379
Datebook (magazine), 167
Dave Berry and the Cruisers, 156
Dave Clark Five, 154
Davies, Cyril, 126
Davies, Rod, 24
Davis, Bette, 377–378
Davis, Billie, 90, 103
Davis, John, 231
Davis, Sammy, Jr., 137, 268, 372
Davis, Spencer, 230
Day, Doris, 10, 283
“A Day in the Life” (film), 5
“A Day in the Life” (song), 193–194, 266
“The Day That the Rains Came Down,” 384
“Day Tripper,” 127, 160
Dean, James, 395
“Dear Prudence,” 293
“Death Cab for Cutie,” 230, 319
death rumors, Paul McCartney, 319–321
Decca Records, 56–60, 63, 71, 88, 146
Deep Purple, 289, 325
Dekker, Thomas, 330
Delaney, Paddy, 49, 51
Delaney and Bonnie, 306, 335
Delfont, Bernard, 85
Dempster, Nigel, 375
Denver, John, 384
De Paul, Lynsey, 382, 397–399
de Villeneauve, Justin, 283
DiLello, Richard, 292, 330
DiMucci, Dion, 391, 392
Dion, Celine, 418
Dion and the Belmonts, 391, 392
Dirty Dancing (film), 412, 413
Dirty Dancing 2 (film), 413
Disc (magazine), 52, 153
disguises, Beatles, 99
A Doll’s House (working title), 265
Domino, Fats, 130
Donegan, Lonnie, 4, 19, 27
Donovan, 5, 133, 152, 200, 206, 235, 253, 282
“Don’t Let Me Down,” 309
“Don’t Pass Me By,” 266
“Don’t You Rock Me Daddy-O,” 4
Doors, 257–258
Doran, Terry, 282, 325, 339
Dorsey, Tommy, 10
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