On a dreary December night in Kings Cross, London, historic rock  n roll haunt The Water Rats heaved with punkers of all ages and proclivities. The return of the great Johnny Moped on stage (one of the least expected but most rewarding surprises of this daft and dark era of Trumping Johnsons) may have been the main event, and the cause for much swilling of beer and grinding of expectant teeth...but there was a fabulous heritage punk rock treat before the amps started humming as Rock N Roll Book Club invited a pair of punk legends for a fiery, fitful, oft times filthy chinwag. This was RNR Book Club Xtra X Rated - Tony Buggerbear (in ill fitting In rubber pants) popping the questions in the fabulous direction of Jordan Mooney, the undisputed Queen Of The Ants, and SEX symbol supreme, and Tony Drayton whose 'Ripped and Torn: 1976 - 79 The Loudest Punk Fanzine in the UK' documents one of the first punk fanzines. Jordan's amazing memoir 'Defying Gravity', written with Cathi Unsworth, is a must read too, so this was two punk books for one with two fine authors to cogitate with. and if you haven't read it yet come along t onight and get a signed copy. 

 Images were flashed up on stage (so you'll have to use your imagination), hence in the image attached Liz Hurley looks down upon us all as we spill revelations and laughs whilst rummaging through the punk rock anecdote bin. Jordan and Tony D can pluck out stories all day long, some will make you laugh and some will make you scream; there's always one that will make you wish you had never been seen. Liz is in that memory barrel, for different reasons for both authors, as are a lot of other people...my, there are some tales here! You best listen in...

Jordan Mooney came along to the CBGBs of London Town on a sultry Midsummer's Night in 2019 and chatted intimately on stage to Tony Bugbear in front of an eager and appreciative and utterly punk rock audience. 'Defying Gravity: Jordan's Story' must surely be the tome all discerning admirers of punk icons have at their bedside this long hot Summer, alongside the handcuffs and the valise (whip within, natch). The Seditionaries and Sex Goddess is a wonderful conversationalist full of witty anecdotes from a time when a handful of brave people reinvented fashion, rock and roll and British Culture almost overnight. Jordan,  Queen of Sex, ultimate Queen of The Ants was forerunner in that remarkable milieu. . Punk's not dead, it's IMMORTAL! Viva Jordan...

Hey You! Don't Watch That! Watch This!! You know the rest... If you already listened to Side One, you'll know what's coming next.....yes it is Side Two squire, top work. The esteemed Mark 'Bedders' Bedford, bass ace with 40 years old London pop institution Madness, and Terry Edwards, all round musical talent, sax guru, author, and occasional Nutty Boy his good self, discussing that most fabulous of debut albums from 1979 'One Step Beyond' at The Union Club in Soho with Julie Hamill and Bugbear's RNR Book Club. So if you've done side 1 already no need to read on coz it's the same text as before innit, lazy bastids.... Following a great run of Rock 'N' Roll Book Club events at the uber iconic Dublin Castle in Camden Town, London, Bugbear and Julie Hamill brought their literary and musical collaboration to The Union in Soho, as part of The Union Sessions curated by Stan Mytkowski. An urbane and erudite evening of author interaction, Q and A and book signing ensued, and Mr Andy Coules captured it on some sort of recording medium, if not actual tape, in between making everybody sound sweet as a nut.  Thus our latest podbean is popped. Published author and expertly attuned interviewer Ms Hamill poses the questions and we ruminate over a British pop institution, the legends that are Madness. Ten years ago the 33 1/3rd book of 'One Step Beyond' was published by author Terry Edwards, the multi instrumentalist renaissance man (The Higsons, Gallon Drunk, Tony Visconti's Holy Holy,  Madness, PJ Harvey, Lydia Lunch, The Near Jazz Experience etc etc)  And impeccably enough as we hit publish on this podcast a near as dammit 40th anniversary edition of the album emerges as part of Record Store Day. Arriving fully formed despite half the band still being in their teens, it remains as exhilarating, inspiring and as much fun as when people first heard it nearly 40 years ago. Through extensive interviews with the band, as well as producers Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley, Terry Edwards tells the inside story of how Madness rose to be the most successful singles band of the 1980s in the UK charts. Terry answers the questions here alongside Mark 'Bedders' Bedford, bass maestro and sometime songwriter from yer actual Madness, and we had sooper dooper surprise input from Death Of Guitar Pop's Silky and Top Kat too. Did somebody say House Of Fun?

Following a great run of Rock 'N' Roll Book Club events at the uber iconic Dublin Castle in Camden Town, London, Bugbear and Julie Hamill brought their literary and musical collaboration to The Union in Soho, as part of The Union Sessions curated by Stan Mytkowski. An urbane and erudite evening of author interaction, Q and A and book signing ensued, and Mr Andy Coules captured it on some sort of recording medium, if not actual tape, in between making everybody sound sweet as a nut.  Thus our latest podbean is popped. Published author and expertly attuned interviewer Ms Hamill poses the questions and we ruminate over a British pop institution, the legends that are Madness. Ten years ago the 33 1/3rd book of 'One Step Beyond' was published by author Terry Edwards, the multi instrumentalist renaissance man (The Higsons, Gallon Drunk, Tony Visconti's Holy Holy,  Madness, PJ Harvey, Lydia Lunch, The Near Jazz Experience etc etc)  And impeccably enough as we hit publish on this podcast a near as dammit 40th anniversary edition of the album emerges as part of Record Store Day. Arriving fully formed despite half the band still being in their teens, it remains as exhilarating, inspiring and as much fun as when people first heard it nearly 40 years ago. Through extensive interviews with the band, as well as producers Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley, Terry Edwards tells the inside story of how Madness rose to be the most successful singles band of the 1980s in the UK charts. Terry answers the questions here alongside Mark 'Bedders' Bedford, bass maestro and sometime songwriter from yer actual Madness, and we had sooper dooper surprise input from Death Of Guitar Pop's Silky and Top Kat too. Did somebody say House Of Fun? If you enjoy Side One keep yer eyes and ears peeled and pimped for Side Two, coming soon...

The night New York Dolls legend Sylvain Sylvain performed for Bugbear on a hot and balmy Summer's night. Seems like just yesterday , or a million years ago, but what a wonderful evening it was...if only we could relive it. Well we can, coz our interview with Syl recorded live on the night in the Dublin Castle is included right here, stolen guitars n all. Discover the secrets behind Bo Diddley's 'Pills', how Johnny Rotten could have been forgotten, what Syl thinks of Kiss, where Bowie got his '70s style, and not to mention who gave Syl the best kiss ever, and we ain't even talking French kissing in the USA are we Debs, well blow me....so good they named him twice.

'Derek Philpott' talks to Julie Hamill about his/their book Dear Mr Popstar. Humorous letters to pop stars about their songs with genuine witty replies from The Stars. For nearly 10 years, the father and son comprising ‘Team Philpott’ have been on a quite bonkers crusade, writing good old-fashioned letters to pop and rock stars , either picking up on genuine ambiguities within their lyrics or often deliberately misunderstanding them for comedic effect.

The artists quite unexpectedly started to reply, writing back in just as witty and articulate a fashion, politely pointing out exactly where the original letter went wrong...or right.

‘Dear Mr. Popstar’’ features 100 of the best letters and responses from famous and legendary names spanning the whole pop and rock spectrum, all relishing their involvement and revealing their own, in many cases, hitherto unknown humorous sides within what could well be the most interactive dialogue compiled between music stars and their audience ever undertaken. 

On a balmy Camden Town evening in October 2018 (this is part 1 in a RNR Book Club series with Part 2 being that featuring Elvis Costello bass legend Bruce Thomas) Team Philpott  hooked up with us for a seriously entertaining Q and A also featuring contributions from such stellar correspondents as Rupert Hine, Will Birch, Owen Paul and The Ruts. Hear it and weep with joy. Write On Baby.

The Dublin Castle Rock and Roll Book Club is the book club for real rock and roll romantics, and this is our podcast. The CBGBs of London (The Dublin Castle, infamous North London pub and venue natch) is our launch pad, and the power of The Word and The Chord in sweet union is our mission. In Episode 3 we welcome Sylvain Sylvain for an EXCLUSIVE interview ahead of the launch this week of his much anticipated memoir 'There's No Bones In Ice Cream'. Sylvain's book is a touching and honest account of his time with the New York Dolls and the remarkable life he led on the way to creating one of THE most influentual and essential rock and roll bands ever to stagger down The Bowery on stack heels. No Dolls, no punk, simple as that. Seminal. Julie Hamill, Andy Dukey Duke and Tony Bugbear Gleed salute that beautiful trash littered narrative with Sylvain and give you news and views of forthcoming RNR Book Club events featuring The Damned, Amy Winehouse, David Bowie and The Smiths. Inspired by brass wizard Terry Edwards, they even find time to salute the sass and sex of the saxophone. Much fun. Get The Horn right here.

Welcome to Episode The Second of the Rock N Roll Book Club Podcast.

Eminently informative, a little bit educational and assuredly entertaining, this shit is positively Reithian.  Julie, Tony & Andy deliriously disseminate forthcoming events at The Rock N Roll Book Club, with forthright discussion around the topics of Punk Rock (Growing Up With Punk by Nicky Weller, Barry Cain, Russell Reader and Den Davis) and  Madness, the unswervingly nutty North London ska pop phenomenon (One Step Beyond 33 1/3rd  by Terry Edwards). This podcast makes for an ace audio aperitif for the actual Book Club happenings in the corporeal, foot on monitor real rock and roll world. The RNR Book Club is a monthly destination event in London at the Mojotastic Dublin Castle Pub in Camden. If they haven't played there they probably don't exist. See press for details.

AUTHOR DISCUSSION, Q&A, EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PLAYS & MORE! LIVE AT THE DUBLIN CASTLE, CAMDEN. HOSTED BY JULIE HAMILL AND TONY GLEED. FIRST WEDS OF EVERY MONTH AND MORE!

Welcome to our first episode of the Rock N Roll Book Club.

In this exciting and decidedly silly introductory outing - Julie, Tony & Andy discuss the glories of what Rock N Roll Book Club is all about. In addition to being a podcast, we're also a monthly destination event in London at the world famous Dublin Castle Pub in Camden. 

AUTHOR DISCUSSION, Q&A, EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PLAYS & MORE! LIVE AT THE DUBLIN CASTLE, CAMDEN. HOSTED BY JULIE HAMILL. FIRST WEDS OF EVERY MONTH!