Richard Houghton – författare

Tell Everyone – A People's History of The Faces is a lavishly illustrated collection of memories of one of the most celebrated bands in British rock history. The Faces formed in 1969 when singer Rod Stewart and guitarist Ronnie Wood quit the Jeff Beck Group to team up with the remaining members of 60s chart toppers the Small Faces – Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones – whose own lead singer had left. Inheriting fans from their previous bands, the Faces went on to play over 500 concerts. At one point they were acclaimed the greatest live rock act in the world, ahead of the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Faces shows could be brilliant or shambolic, depending on just how much alcohol they had imbibed. Legendary BBC DJ John Peel, an early champion of the band, named a 1973 Faces gig at Sunderland Locarno his all-time favourite live concert. The Faces had three Top 10 UK singles and a number one album with Ooh-La-La. In 1971, Rod's single 'Maggie May' and album Every Picture Tells a Story topped the UK and US charts simultaneously, making him the first solo act to achieve this feat. It catapulted his career into an orbit that, along with Ronnie Wood joining the Rolling Stones, ultimately led to the Faces break up in 1975. Written and compiled by Richard Houghton, this book brings together over 500 previously unpublished accounts of live Faces concerts. Fully illustrated with over 150 fan images, this is a book that tells the Faces story as it's never been told before.

Jimi Hendrix - The Day I Was There is the story of the world's most flamboyant guitarist in the words of over 500 fans. With memories from his early career in the US through to his untimely death in September 1970, this is Jimi's story up close and personal. What emerges is a portrait of a man who could do things with the guitar that his peers had never even imagined, let alone thought possible, but who off stage was a kind and considerate soul. With tales of being dumped as support act to The Monkees, burning guitars and smashing amplifiers, but also talking to fans and sharing cigarettes and guitar playing tips, this is Jimi at Monterey, Woodstock and the Isle of Wight. This is Jimi is you've never read about him before.

The Rolling Stones I Was There provides a fan's-eye account of the greatest rock & roll band in the world. With more than 400 fans' friends and work colleagues accounts of their memories of seeing one of the greatest live acts ever the book is packed with fascinating anecdotes, stories, photographs and memorabilia that have never been published before. Featuring fans accounts of the the group from its first live shows in 1962 right through to the death of Brian Jones.

This book offers nearly 400 eyewitness accounts from fans who saw Pink Floyd live in concert as well as colleagues and friends who all witnessed the rise of one of the most successful groups ever. From their early shows with Syd Barrett at the UFO through to their global world tours with The Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall and beyond, this book features a wealth of fascinating stories and never before seen photographs making this a unique portrait of one of the most influential and successful groups of modern times.

This book provides a fan's-eye account of the Fab Four as they conquered the world. From their skiffl e days as The Quarrymen, their thrilling early gigs at the Cavern Club in Liverpool through to the Beatlemania of the Shea Stadium concerts in the USA. Share in the excitement of more than 400 fi rst-hand encounters with The Beatles: the teenagers, kids, twentysomethings, promoters and support bands who can all proudly say 'I was there!' Featuring fascinating anecdotes, stories, photographs and memorabilia that have never been published before.

This fanthology is the first ever authorised book about indie legends The Wedding Present. With an introduction and commentary from band founder and mainstay David Gedge, The Wedding Present: Sometimes These Words Don t Have To Be Said is a collection of over 400 fan memories interspersed with insights from collaborators from across the band s career. These include former band members Peter Solowka, Shaun Charman, Paul Dorrington, Terry De Castro, Simon Cleave, Graeme Ramsay and Patrick Alexander and the band s producers and engineers including Chris Allison, Steve Lyon, Steve Albini and Grammy Award-winning Andrew Scheps. From David Gedge s school days through to concerts in 2016, the book is packed with full colour images, including many from David s personal archive. It contains stories from a host of celebrity fans, including Gaz Coombes (Supergrass), Mark Burgess (The Chameleons), Martin Noble (British Sea Power), Emma Pollock (The Delgados), John Robb (The Membranes), William Potter (CUD), Rolo McGinty (The Woodentops), Ben Lambert (Carter USM), and bands who have performed at David s annual At The Edge Of The Sea festival.

I Was There provides a fan's-eye account of the English rock band The Who. With over 400 fans, friends and colleagues accounts of their memories of seeing, working with and knowing members of one of the greatest live acts ever, this book contains fascinating anecdotes, stories, photographs and memorabilia that have never been published before. From their early years as The High Numbers, playing venues in and around London to the full blown tours with the classic Who line-up of Daltrey, Townshend, Entwistle and Moon promoting their landmark albums such as Tommy, Quadrophenia, Live At Leeds, Who's Next and beyond.

Told in the first person, Pretending To See The Future is an oral history of OMD, mixing hundreds of fan anecdotes with memories from the band, their collaborators, other musicians and celebrity admirers garnered from 40 years of recording and performing.The book contains commentary from OMD founders Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, plus band members Martin Cooper, Malcolm Holmes and Stuart Kershaw, and is packed full of memorabilia and hundreds of photos. With many images in full colour and previously unseen pictures from the band's own archive, this is the OMD story as it's never been told before.Contributors include:Professor Brian CoxGary NumanPhil OakeyStephen MorrisJeremy VineSteve LamacqRichard BladeAdam ClaytonHoward JonesPeter SavilleKarl BartosJohn DowieVince Clarke

With a foreword written by Jam drummer Rick Buckler, this book tells the story of The Jam in the words of over 300 fans. With memories from the earliest shows at clubs and pubs around Woking and London, UK and North American tours through to their last ever gig in Brighton, England on 11th December 1982. Told by the perspective of fans, promoters, studio engineers, photographers and support acts the book includes personal photographs, memorabilia, anecdotes and stories that have never been published before.Formed in 1972 at Sheerwater Secondary School in Woking, the band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk and new wave. Between 1977 and 1982, there were five albums and 17 singles, including four number ones, and a journey, which encompassed no end of influences, styles, and textures.

The Smiths – The Day I Was There tells the story of The Smiths in the words of over 400 fans from Britain and the US. With memories from the earliest Smiths shows at UK clubs through to the last ever gig at London's Brixton Academy, you'll see a portrait of The Smiths from the perspective of fans, promoters and support acts with personal photographs, memorabilia, fascinating anecdotes and stories that have never been published before.Based on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr, The Smiths are one of the most important bands to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s.All four of their studio albums reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart, including Meat Is Murder which hit number one. They won a significant following and remain cult favourites. The band broke up in 1987 due to internal tensions and have turned down several offers to reunite.

Jimi Hendrix is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of music. Richard Houghton's fifth book in the I Was There series is a collection of over 400 eyewitness accounts of seeing him live. It's the story of Jimi's discovery by manager Chas Chandler in New York's Cafe Wha? and explosion onto the UK music scene in 1966 through to his untimely death in September 1970. With fans recalling memories of the earliest Experience shows at UK clubs and theatre shows and Jimi's appearances at the Monterey, Woodstock, Atlanta and Isle of Wight festivals, you'll see a portrait of Hendrix the live performer that's never been painted before - up close and loud. With personal photographs, memorabilia, fascinating anecdotes, and fan stories that have never been published before.

Agency leaders spend the majority of their time on three areas – their people, clients and new business. These are all important levers for consultancy growth. But too often, agency owners forget two more essential tools for growth: attention to the numbers, and investment in their leaders. The consultancy leadership role can seem like an endless stream of fires to put out. It can leave leaders feeling as if their team, or their clients, are running their business rather than themselves. That''s where this book comes in. Grow, Build, Sell, Live features practical and implementable advice and tools to address the day-to-day reality of running a successful agency. In addition to giving guidance on people, clients and new business, the book covers leadership and the numbers in detail to ensure leaders have the tools and knowledge to be in control. The content draws on proven approaches, helpful science and real-life examples to give practical recommendations to improve readers’ ability to achieve the controlled growth which is essential to agency success.  If you are thinking about starting your own agency; have started one and hit your first round of growing pains, or are a veteran looking for an exit, this book is for you. It will appeal to current and aspiring agency owners who want to understand and be conscious of their choices and take control of their agency.

Agency leaders spend the majority of their time on three areas – their people, clients and new business. These are all important levers for consultancy growth. But too often, agency owners forget two more essential tools for growth: attention to the numbers, and investment in their leaders. The consultancy leadership role can seem like an endless stream of fires to put out. It can leave leaders feeling as if their team, or their clients, are running their business rather than themselves. That''s where this book comes in. Grow, Build, Sell, Live features practical and implementable advice and tools to address the day-to-day reality of running a successful agency. In addition to giving guidance on people, clients and new business, the book covers leadership and the numbers in detail to ensure leaders have the tools and knowledge to be in control. The content draws on proven approaches, helpful science and real-life examples to give practical recommendations to improve readers’ ability to achieve the controlled growth which is essential to agency success.  If you are thinking about starting your own agency; have started one and hit your first round of growing pains, or are a veteran looking for an exit, this book is for you. It will appeal to current and aspiring agency owners who want to understand and be conscious of their choices and take control of their agency.

Agency leaders spend the majority of their time on three areas – their people, clients and new business. These are all important levers for consultancy growth. But too often, agency owners forget two more essential tools for growth: attention to the numbers, and investment in their leaders. The consultancy leadership role can seem like an endless stream of fires to put out. It can leave leaders feeling as if their team, or their clients, are running their business rather than themselves. That's where this book comes in. Grow, Build, Sell, Live features practical and implementable advice and tools to address the day-to-day reality of running a successful agency. In addition to giving guidance on people, clients and new business, the book covers leadership and the numbers in detail to ensure leaders have the tools and knowledge to be in control. The content draws on proven approaches, helpful science and real-life examples to give practical recommendations to improve readers’ ability to achieve the controlled growth which is essential to agency success.  If you are thinking about starting your own agency; have started one and hit your first round of growing pains, or are a veteran looking for an exit, this book is for you. It will appeal to current and aspiring agency owners who want to understand and be conscious of their choices and take control of their agency.

An oral history of the Faces, the 1970s rock legends whose line up featured Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, told in the words of over 500 fans.

An oral history of Fairport Convention in the words of over 300 fans

In the UK in the 1970s, there was no bigger band than Slade. With six number 1 singles (three straight in at number 1) and 17 consecutive top 20 hits, Slade were the most successful British group of the 1970s measured on singles sales. But Slade were also a phenommon live. Vocalist & guitarist Noddy Holder, guitarist Dave Hill, bassist & violinist Jim Lea and drummer Don Powell had been playing together since 1966 (initially as The N' Betweens and then Ambrose Slade) and seasoned performers by the time of their breakthrough hit in 1971. Slade's live concerts were something to behold, and this book captures them in performance in the words of over 300 fans. The journey goes from the boot-stomping skinhead days of 'Get Down and Get With It', through the chart-topping glam rock era of 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now' and 'Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me', and onto their ultimately unsuccessful mid-'70s attempt to break America before the chicken-in-a-basket doldrums of their career and the original line-up called it quits in 1992. These stories will make you laugh, cry and be transported back to the early 1970s, when Slade were all over the radio, the TV and the news. This is Slade loud and raucous, with Nod's distinctive vocals, Dave's crazy stage outfits and Jim's virtuoso guitar and violin playing, all held together by Don's solid drumming. With forewords from Seventies Glam Rockers Suzi Quatro and The Sweet's Andy Scott, and packed with contributions from a host of celebrity admirers including John Coughlan (Status Quo), Rick Buckler (The Jam), Gered Mankowitz, Damian O'Neill (Undertones/That Petrol Emotion), Andy Kershaw, Ray Laidlaw (Lindisfarne), Mick Talbot (Style Council/Dexy's Midnight Runners), Jim Bob (Carter USM), Dave Hemingway (Housemartins/Beautiful South), Roddy Byers (The Specials), Mathew Priest (Dodgy), JC Carroll (The Members), Gary Crowley, Carl Hunter (The Farm), Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff), Nik Kershaw, Bob Young (Status Quo) and Dave Wakeling (The English Beat), this is a Slade book unlike any other. If you grew up in the 1970s, you will have heard a Slade song on the radio every few minutes. And if you walk into a UK shopping centre or supermarket any time from mid-November onwards, you'll be sure to hear the Slade song that is now as much a part of Christmas as Santa Claus…

Over 300 fans, friends and collaborators nominate songs written by David Gedge, lead singer and front man with 'semi-legendary' Leeds Indie band The Wedding Present

When Rush concluded their R40 tour in 2015, the many fans of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart knew extensive touring was off the agenda. Drummer Neil had indicated his distaste for being on the road. But for almost five years fans hoped for a one-off reunion gig or a festival appearance. With Neil's untimely death in January 2020 at the age of 67, those dreams of a return to live performance were shattered. Across more than 40 years, the power trio that had sold 40 million albums worldwide and played in excess of 2,400 shows around the world were no more. Until 2026, when childhood friends Geddy (singer, bassist & keyboards) & guitarist Alex announced the Fifty Something tour. With previously unseen photos and fan memorabilia, this book brings together over 500 eye witness accounts of Rush live from 1974 to 2015, allowing the reader to recapture the experience of seeing the greatest ever power trio live in action with The Professor behind the drum kit.

An oral history of the band Pink Floyd in the words of over 500 fans

It's Time The Tale Were Told - A People's History of The Smiths is the story of one of the UK's most influential indie bands in the words of over 500 fans. From memories of their earliest club shows through to the last ever gig at London's Brixton Academy, this is a portrait of The Smiths as painted by the fans. With personal photographs, memorabilia, anecdotes and first-hand accounts of more than 100 gigs, readers will get a front row view of the indie music legends. Based on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr, The Smiths' 1985 album Meat Is Murder topped the UK album charts and their other three studio albums reached No 2. The band broke up in 1987 and have resisted invitations to reunite.

In 1985 Scottish rockers Simple Minds topped the Billboard100 with ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’, performing the song at Live Aidin Philadelphia the same year. In 1989 they reached No 1 in the UK with thesingle ‘Belfast Child’. With ten Top 10 UK albums, including four charttoppers, the band have sold over 60 million records over a glittering 40-yearcareer. Heart of the Crowd is an official oral history of Simple Minds.With an introduction by lead singer and founder Jim Kerr, the book mixes fananecdotes with stories from band members and other collaborators.There are more than 800 memories, from the band’sformative years in the 1970s through to concerts in 2020. The stories combinewith previously unseen fan photographs of the band in performance and examplesof collectable memorabilia to make a fascinating and enjoyable read.Simple Minds remain one of the biggest concertattractions in the world.

Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love is a people's history of the biggest band in the world in rock, telling their story in the words of over 750 fans and more than 250 photos over 400 pages. Formed in 1968 by Yardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page, who recruited singer Robert Plant, drummer John 'Bonzo' Bonham and John Paul Jones to the cause, this is the Zeppelin story as recounted by concert goers, fans, roadies and others who encountered the band on the road.Led Zeppelin toured North America relentlessly in the early part of the seventies, sometimes putting on shows that fans recall as the best gig they ever saw. With memories from Robert Plant's earliest appearances as a performer in 1965, including all the British, European and North American tours plus a trip Down Under in 1972, through to Knebworth in 1979, the final Over Europe tour of 1980 and the 2007 reunion show at London's O2 Arena, where 20 million fans applied for fewer than 20,000 tickets, this book charts Zep's career in all its glory and infamy.This is a fresh take on the career of the band that has sold over 300 million albums worldwide and thrilled tens of thousands of concert-goers throughout the 1970s. Been a long time...

Billy Bragg - APeople's Historyis an authorised oral history of the British singer-songwriter and political activist in thewords of people who have been moved by his music. Containing over 400 fanmemories of seeing Billy in concert, on a demonstration or on TV, BillyBragg - A People's History is the story of the Bard of Barking as it'snever been told before. Whether singing aboutlove in 'A New England', domestic violence in 'Levi Stubbs Tears' or political activismin 'There is Power in a Union', Billy Bragg has been inspiring fans through hismusic and sparking political debate with his opinions for more than 40 years. With memorabilia fromBilly's personal archive and contributions from the man himself, Billy Bragg- A People's History will span Billy's career in music, from his days withthe punk-inspired Riff Raff through to the present day. The book will includeanecdotes of seeing Billy in concert or encountering him as an activist, aswell as Billy's reflections on his long career.

Iain Matthews –A People’s History is an oral history of one of Britain’s leadingsinger-songwriters. One of the founding members of folk-rock pioneers FairportConvention, Iain left the band in 1969 to further a career in music that nowspans almost 60 years. He created thechart-topping act Matthews Southern Comfort in 1970, who had a number onesingle with a cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’, and in the 50-plus yearssince is widely acknowledged as one of the torchbearers responsible forbringing American folk and country music to British audiences.

With a foreword by Jam drummer Rick Buckler, The Jam - The Day I Was There tells the story of The Jam in the words of over 400 fans. With memories from the earliest shows at clubs and pubs around Woking and London, and then their UK and American tours before their last ever gig in Brighton on 11 December 1982.Told from the perspective of fans, promoters, studio engineers, photographers and support acts, the book includes personal photographs, memorabilia, anecdotes and stories that have never been published before.Between 1977 and their split in 1982, The Jam released six albums and 18 singles, including four UK numbers 1s. They were the biggest band in Britain.