On sale Nov 12th 2002 (UK) from all good bookshops. £7.95. ISBN: 0-7119-9434-X. Buy online Contact Geoff "Pithy and candid, this book is the rarely heard voice of rock history's engine room" Mojo
"The book is already the best-selling title in the store. ...sold three times as many copies as any other book, including Niall Quinn's autobiography" Ottakars "A fascinating new book." "This is a must read." The Informer "A terrific read" Newcastle Chronicle "Geoff remembers Joe's Cafe" Isle Of Man Courier "He promoted them all" Collective
In addition to being one of pathetically few promoters to engage the John Peel Roadshow and, despite everything, to re-engage it, Geoff was also responsible for promoting what I have no hesitation in describing as the best gig I ever attended…. For that magical night and for much else… Thanks, Geoff." John Peel
"This is a story of a world I am so familiar with. As I was reading the first transcript Geoff sent me, I could actually smell the Vaux beer and hear that eerie feedback from the WEM PA system as if it was just yesterday…. I hope you enjoy reading this piece of rock'n'roll history. Some people like to escape reality and dream their life away. I think Geoff Docherty turned his dreams into reality and it's a reality I will never forget. Read on…" Dave Stewart
Early life:
- The orphanage regime was spartan and life was tough. Every morning, breakfast was porridge, and one day I wasn't allowed any because I had lost the buckle on my regulation issue sandals.
- If nothing was happening in the house, he would beckon us outside and say, "C'mon son, let's see your style." Within minutes we were at it hammer and tongs in the backyard until exhaustion set in…. Rightly or wrongly, Dad wasn't too keen on punchbags. "They don't hit you back son."
The Promoter:
One day, I plucked up the courage and approached him with a proposal. "Why don't you let me hire the ballroom and I'll take the risk of putting the bands on?" I asked, half expecting to be refused or laughed at for my cheek. He stared at me with a pained look on his face, and thought for a few nerve -wracking moments. "If you're prepared to take the risk," he said, "then that's fine." His response was to change my life forever.
- ...the latest albums from the record companies arriving at my flat on a regular basis, the telephone constantly ringing, and I was being invited to many major record company functions... All this friendliness seemed a contradiction in terms because as a baby, nobody had wanted to take me in, and now, everyone was welcoming me with open arms.
Groups:
- Just a few short months later they played at Woodstock where they were to cement their lasting worldwide reputation. In Sunderland that night, they had already achieved immortality.... A few weeks earlier, Country Joe has posed the question, "What are we fighting for?" I could now answer him: it was for nights like this. The Who
- "Listen, if my Dad can go down the pit and work on his hands and knees in water for six hours, I can go into their office and have tea and biscuits for twenty minutes".... One cold morning, the telephone in my flat rang unexpectedly. "Do you still want Led Zeppelin?" asked Peter Grant calmly.... Led Zeppelin
- "Man, this is better than acid!" Country Joe (on Newcastle Brown Ale)
- The night proved to be a magnetic marriage of rock and theatre, brilliantly executed to Bowie's own original compositions... Afterwards, David shook me by the hand and thanked me for having the courage to book him. I was touched by this act of courteousness and appreciation. Even though the gig had lost money, it was of little consequence as anyone with a modicum of perception could sense that success was inevitable for someone so talented. David Bowie
- The group looked on in amazement as one of the young strippers edged her naked body towards young Rod. One of the biggest rock stars of the era was sitting right in front of her, and she wasn't about to miss her chance. The Faces
- I had the biggest draw in the country, but was in the unenviable position of being unable to get them into the gig. It was a monumental cock-up.. Jethro Tull
- "If you don't do this gig, I'll burn the studio down so they can't record anything at all!" The pair looked shocked at the seriousness of my threat…. To my surprise the two of them began conferring while hurriedly checking the group's diary. After a quick consultation they nodded and agreed to re-instate the date. Ten Years After
- Watching them that night was a wonderful experience and £70 for a group of this quality was an absolute steal. Such was their subsequent dramatic rise in popularity that I was soon having to pay them £1,500 a night… Overnight, Free had become our superstars, and in some strange way we felt they belonged to us. The rest of the country weren't to latch on to them for several months, and The Bay had leapt ahead of the rest on this one. Free
- Continuing on all fours, he made his laboured way to the door, scribbled out a cheque, and immediately swallowed a handful of substances.....
Slowly everything changed. His appetite steadily improved and he was calm as we sat and talked for hours about his past, his parents, his love of music, and how he got that incredible sustain on the guitar...
...as I walked over to the coffee machine, I heard a voice say, "Just keep him alive for one album a year." I was appalled and reeled back in shock, as alarm bells started to ring. Paul Kossof
Fights:
- Seizing my chance, I closed in and feinted with a left to the body, before quickly letting loose a solid right hook to his jaw which struck home with all the sweetness of a Valentine card from a loved one.
- ...a local villain, whose usual tools of trade were a long handled toffee hammer and a cut-throat razor, approached me in a town centre bar… "I'll be over this Friday for my cut - make sure you have it ready."… - "If you do come over, I have a nasty surprise waiting for you, and it's one that you won't like."
- Get the c**t down." one of them said, as I desperately tried to cover up, just as Dad had shown me at the boxing booths. … My one overriding thought was to stay on my feet, because I knew if I went down, they would surely kick me unconscious.....
- The huge imposing figure of Peter Grant arrived on the scene and towered over him. "Get that f**king dog out of here" he screamed…. I saw fear in the guard's eyes as he cowered behind the dog. "Come on" urged Peter. "You wanted the others outside, now try and put me out."
Groupies:
- I spot Debbie positioned stage right so the group can't miss her. If they do, she won't miss them.
- I still have two autographed photos of the group from that night. Keith (Moon) has written 'Cool gig man', which I think says everything. Maybe Debbie has one describing the 'second gig'….
- "Will I get in all right to see the group?" As her warm breath cascaded across my face, I sensed Debbie could be mine.. Suddenly, I noticed a smear of lipstick on her cup, and this set me wondering. Where else had traces of it been left on previous occasions?… "Of course I'll make sure you get in" I replied.
- Sex in Hamburg was as freely available as the bratwurst sausages sold next door to The Top Ten.
© 2002 Geoff Docherty - No reproduction without express permission. All rights reserved. Contact us
