Jumpin' In The Fire [Illustrated] [Paperback]

A rollicking read --Jake Riviera

Sean Tyla has always had a reputation for being, to put it mildly, plain speaking. In his autobiography he brings this attitude to his writing in a book that tell the story of the life of a musician trying to make a living in the 1970s. The story starts with his entry into the business in 1970 as a jobbing songwriter for Lionel Bart, through to the formation of ace pub rockers Ducks Deluxe and onto The Tyla Gang. Tyla himself made the cover of Le Monde, who dubbed him Le nouveau Christ and received a gold disc in Germany. In a sense the book is about what might have been. Show Tyla a golden opportunity and he will blow it! This is the man who turned down an offer to join Motorhead, passed on producing the Sex Pistols and signed for Stiff Records rather than Warner Bros. This is partly what makes the story so fascinating. There are plenty of books about 1970s excess - of chauffeur-driven limos, soulless stadiums and endless supplies of cocaine. For Tyla it was mainly unreliable tour vans, smoky pubs and amphetamine sulphate, plus occasional glimpses of the promised land to keep him going. Given his lifestyle back then, it is amazing that he is still alive to promote this book. In fact, he has reformed both the Tyla Gang and Ducks Deluxe and is embarking on tours in 2010 and 2011 that would daunt a man half his age. The glowing foreword from Will Birch will only enhance the appeal of a story that deserves to be read. Comes complete with 8 pages of black and white photos.

`Rock'n'roll is a potent poison for which there is no antidote. I would travel to the four corners of the earth on my journey through music and I would take my mind and body to the outer limits. Right now, though, I was on my way to Durham with Ducks Deluxe...and we only had seven quid between us' - Sean Tyla from Jumpin' in the Fire.

`A rollicking read' - Jake Riviera.

Sean Tyla epitomises the rock'n'roll lifestyle. Not for him the world of chauffeur-driven limos, soulless stadium rock and corporate hotels, but the life of the working musician scratching a living from doing what he loves - making music.

Tours supporting Canadian rock giants Rush, being robbed at gunpoint by East German Polizei, making the front page of Le Monde after a stunning French festival performance, tramping Soho's streets in last week's Y-fronts in search of a deal - Tyla's been there, done that and written a book about it.

The story chronicles Tyla's career from his entry to the music business as a jobbing songwriter for Lionel Bart in 1970, his time in ace rockers Ducks Deluxe through to the Tyla Gang and his eventual breakthrough as a solo star - until the label pulled the plug in 1980

Tyla was at the heart of the exciting mid-Seventies punk era and recounts tales of alcohol and drug-fuelled adventures with long-time friend Nick Lowe as well as escapades with Keith Moon who, almost inevitably, showed him how to throw a TV from a hotel window.

He also tells how he turned down the opportunity to join Motörhead, declined to produce the Sex Pistols and signed for Stiff Records instead of Warner Brothers. Show this man a golden opportunity and he'll pass on it!

This is rock'n'roll writing at its very best in an autobiography written by a man who has seen it all and just about lived to tell the tale. Read his story and experience all the exhilarating highs and often soul-destroying lows of a life in music.

Sean Tyla formed the phenomenon that was Ducks Deluxe in 1972, then the Tyla Gang in 1976. The single Styrofoam was only the second records released on Stiff. Sean and the Gang signed with California-based label Beserkley Records in 1977, releasing two albums. In 1979 he signed a $250,000 five-album deal with Polydor International and had his first Top Ten single in Germany He formed The Force in 1981 with Welsh rock legend Deke Leonard, but quit the music scene in 1985 becoming a sports car salesman, pig farmer and professional cricket coach (coaching at the cricket centre of Major Ronald Ferguson; the two becoming firm friends). You can t keep an old rocker down and he released the aptly titled Back in the Saddle in 2008 to rave reviews; his first album since 1983. Sean has also reformed both Ducks Deluxe and The Tyla Gang, who will be touring in Scandinavia and Europe throughout 2010/1. They will be appearing at a town near you; you have been warned. Seventies bad boy of rock Sean Tyla is back!

I knew this long, thin, skinny guy with the mod haircut
and oversize ears but I couldn't remember from where.
This long, thin, skinny guy with the mod haircut and
oversize ears was sitting on a chintzy sofa in the main
living room at the Brinsley Schwarz band residence in
Northwood, an affluent Middlesex suburb. I had been invited
along on an excursion from Headley to visit Help Yourself's
Downhome Productions stablemates for the day. I didn't
know anyone from the Northwood mob and had found my
way into the lounge where the long, thin, skinny guy with themod haircut and oversize ears was sat quietly reading a book. He looked up briefly and smiled when I had entered the room but went straight back to the book. I sat down and
picked up a copy of the New Musical Express and started to
flick through the pages. It was as if we were both waiting to be interviewed for a job. Moments passed, and the long, thin,skinny guy with the mod haircut and oversize ears hadn't looked up again. I was now positive I knew him.
`I don't want to appear rude but haven't we met?' I asked,
rather nervously for fear I may be intruding.
`I thought that when you walked in but I can't think
where.'
`Neither can I. I'm Sean Tyla, by the way, I'm with the
Helps,' I said getting up and offering my hand.
`Oh, okay, I'm Nick Lowe,' said the mystery man, offering
a hand, `I'm a Brinsley.'
`Nick Lowe?' I said, the penny beginning to drop, memory cells were now in overdrive. `Let me try one out of
left field here.'
`Okay,' Nick replied, a curious smile breaking across
his face.
`Rob Tarsnane?'
`Good God!' my companion exclaimed. `Rob Tarsnane!
The Four Just Men! You and your brother - what's his name?'
`Garry.'
`Yes, Garry! That's it - bloody Rheindahlen - we were the
Four Just Men! Well, blow me!'
At eleven years old, Nick was three years younger than
me. My brother Garry was not quite thirteen and Rob
Tarsnane was a year older than me. The Four Just Men
consisted of me, on a NAAFI-grade nylon-strung guitar and
vocals, Rob with a stunning Framus 12-string beauty, Garry
on harmonica and a dodgy Prussian military snare drum
from the Great War and Nick had a banjo which
unfortunately only possessed three strings.