Beatles Books

Stefan Granados - 'Those Were The Days'

My guest today is Stefan Granados - he joins me to discuss 'Those Were The Days 2.0', the fully updated version of his definitive chronicle of The Beatles' Apple organisation. 

Stefan dispels the myth that Apple was the great Beatle folly - it not only was home to hugely successful artists like James Taylor, Badfinger and Mary Hopkin, but it carefully cultivated The Beatles image, and is now a multi million dollar empire. 

This fantastic book is published by Cherry Red, and can be purchased at https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/those-were-the-days-2-0-the-beatles-apple-book/

 

 

'The Beatles Anthology' with John Mitchinson

I'm joined by publisher, writer and co host of the 'Backlisted' podcast John Mitchinson to discuss his involvement in that most all encompassing of Beatles books, 'The Beatles Anthology'.

John shares with us his experiences of working with Neil Aspinell, his views on the strengths and weaknesses of the book, and his fascinating opinions on other great and not so great Beatle Books of recent times.

John Lyons - 'Joy And Fear - The Beatles, Chicago and the 60's'

I'm joined for my latest episode by John F. Lyons. His book 'Joy and Fear' is a riveting look at the polarizing nature of the Beatles phenomenon, and how it transformed a generation, through the lens of a singular city in the centre of America.

Drawing on historical and contemporary accounts, Joy and Fear brings to life the frenzied excitement of Beatlemania in 1960s Chicago, while also illustrating the deep-seated hostility from the establishment toward the Beatles.

You can follow John on Twitter @JohnFLyons2

Steve Turner - 'Beatles 66'

I’m joined today by author and journalist Steve Turner to discuss his 2016 book ‘Beatles 66 The Revolutionary Year.’ 

 

The Beatles began 1966 as hysteria-inducing pop stars playing to audiences of screaming teenage fans and ended it as musical sages considered responsible for ushering in a new era. Steve’s book describes this transformative year by slowing down the action to investigate in detail the enormous changes that took place in the Beatles’ lives and work during 1966.

Kevin Barry - 'Beatlebone'

I'm joined for this mini episode by Kevin Barry - author of 'Beatlebone'. 

'Beatlebone' is set in 1978, where John Lennon has escaped New York City to try and find the island off the West Coast of Ireland he bought eleven years prior. 

I tend to shy away a bit from Beatle Fiction - but this is a quite brilliant novel, genuinely thrilling at every turn and Kevin perfectly captures the thoughts going round in John's head.

More information about this book and Kevin's other novels can be found at  https://canongate.co.uk/contributors/10834-kevin-barry/

 

Bob Gruen -'Right Place, Right Time'

I'm very lucky to be joined for this episode by renowned rock photographer Bob Gruen to discuss his thrilling and action packed memoir; 'Right Place, Right Time'.

Bob shares the fascinating story of his friendship with John and Yoko - from the early days on Bank Street to preparing a book to mark Yoko's 80th birthday.

Bob took some of the most recognizable pictures ever of John and Yoko and captured almost every key moment of their life in the US.

 

Examples of Bob's work and more information about his book can be found at http://www.bobgruen.com/

 

 

Patti Gallo-Stedman -'Diary of a Beatlemaniac'

I'm joined for this episode by writer and journalist and original Beatlemaniac Patti Gallo-Stedman to discuss her fascinating diary.

 

Compiled from her own diary and extensive scrapbooking - Patti's diary offers a real insight into real time Beatlemania, and tells us first hand what it was like to experience The Beatles story as it happened in real time.

 

More information about this book can be found at https://diaryofabeatlemaniac.com/

Chip Madinger - Lennonology

For this bonus, mini episode, I'm joined by Chip Madinger to discuss his fabulously detailed and rich diary of John Lennon's life, 'Lennonology'.

'Strange Days Indeed—A Scrapbook Of Madness' is a day-by-day account of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s artistic and personal partnership from 1968-1980 that will transport the reader back in time to accompany John and Yoko as their future unfolds.

Chip reveals his writing process, the challenges he faced when researching, and how he feels about this huge project now it's come to an end.

 

More information about the book, including sales links, can be found at https://lennonology.com/

 

Hunter Davies - 'The Beatles: The Authorised Biography' with Andy Miller

For this episode, I'm incredibly lucky to be joined by the writer Andy Miller to discuss Hunter Davies' 1968 authorised biography.

 

Still the only official Beatles biography ever published, Hunter's book is an essential read - he had unparalleled access not only to The Beatles but to family, friends and colleagues - some of whom would never be interviewed again. Andy and I look at how this book was created, why it still matters in 2021 and what it tells us about what readers wanted in 1968 and beyond.

Andy Miller is a reader, editor and author of books including 'The Year of Reading Dangerously' and the '33 1/3' volume on The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. He is also co host of Backlisted, a podcast that gives new life to old books.

Darryl Bullock - 'The Velvet Mafia'

I'm joined today by Darryl Bullock to discuss his new book 'The Velvet Mafia' an eye opening account of some of the most influential and powerful gay men of the 60's. 

We focus on Brian Epstein - one of the biggest influences on The Beatles, a man absolutely central to their story, but a man still misunderstood 50 years after his sad death.

 

Darryl's fascinating book can be purchased here : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Velvet-Mafia-Gay-Swinging-Sixties/dp/1787602311