Showbusiness - The Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Nobody

''Mark Radcliffe: the world of rock salutes you'' Melody Maker

Mark Radcliffe recalls his less-than-glittering rock career in a succession of bands which all ended in ignominy and frustration.

''Lancashire''s answer to Nick Hornby. If Mark Radcliffe ever gets bored with DJing, there''s a highly promising career as a writer waiting for him.'' Mirror

Combining his trademark humour with an acute eye for the ridiculous, Mark admits his part in bands like The Berlin Airlift (hastily named during a history lesson), the life-changing punk revolution in Bob Sleigh and The Crestas and even a flirtation with thirty-something pub rock.

''Hilarious. One of the funniest books I''ve read all year.'' U Magazine

Interwoven with the musical disasters is the appealing rites-of-passage story of a middle-class grammar school boy who finally leaves Bolton for university. Splattered with memorable episodes and Viz-like characters, Showbusiness retraces the steps that should have led Mark to headlining Wembley Arena, but which took him to Radio 1 instead.