- Paperback: 264 pages
- Publisher: Omnibus Press (2 Nov 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 071199434X
- ISBN-13: 978-0711994348
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 304,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'A great read...Eagerly anticipated by all those who remember the heady days of 30 years ago, when Sunderland was a major destination on the rock map. They will not be disappointed. It is packed with behind-the-scenes tales of such legends as The Who, Led Zeppelin, Free, Rod Stewart, Elton John and David Bowie. But equally fascinating is Geoff's own story, which reads like a hard-hitting novel. In an extremely well constructed and well-written account, Geoff tells the poignant story of his often brutal childhood.' SUNDERLAND ECHO
Product Description
He promoted them all - The Who, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Yes, Free, Rod Stewart, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, The Nice and scores more. Sometimes they were on the way up, sometimes they were already big, sometimes they didn't show at all. Acts that didn't usually play in the north-east played for Geoff Doherty. This is his story, spiced with sex, drugs and violence. A miner's son, his upbringing was marked by hardship and countless street fights, but at the Bay Hotel in Sunderland, he brought self-belief and steely determination to getting the big stars to play on his patch. Docherty progressed from being doorman and bouncer to self-appointed promoter with a style all of his own and became arguably the biggest rock concert promoter in the north-east of England.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Docherty's story is a very interesting one. From an orphan to a bouncer to a full on rock promoter, you're taken with Geoff through every fight, every arguement and every success on his adventure through the North East rock scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. His personal style of writing, his modesty and his no bullsh*t way of telling some great stories make the pages fly quickly, and it becomes apparant that people like Geoff is what rock music is all (or should be) about.
Fans of the bands who were popular at the time will appreciate the various anecdotes, such as the amusing Country Joe/marijuana incident, and particularly touching are his memories of living with the late great Free guitarist Paul Kossoff. I also raised a smile when he discusses the phone call he received from a London based manager begging him to book a strapped for cash out of work singer/songrwiter called Elton John for £50. The book is peppered with tales like this - if nothing else it's interesting for this behind-the-scenes perspective.
But luckily it does delve a little deeper than that, and Geoff's mentality and attitude create a sense of satisfaction when he finally gets the band he wants through sheer determination and hard work - he promotes a good message.
The book revives what sounded like an exciting time to be alive (alas I wasn't born till years later), and I pretty much read it in one sitting.
One small criticism - the book somewhat glides over his later years in the business, namely the 80s and the early 90s, but I don't really think it was Geoff's intention to talk about his life in the music industry as a whole, more the part he played in contributing to it when it was breaking free of it's conventional mould.
Overall, and particularly for fans of rock music, highly reccomended.
Fans of the bands who were popular at the time will appreciate the various anecdotes, such as the amusing Country Joe/marijuana incident, and particularly touching are his memories of living with the late great Free guitarist Paul Kossoff. I also raised a smile when he discusses the phone call he received from a London based manager begging him to book a strapped for cash out of work singer/songrwiter called Elton John for £50. The book is peppered with tales like this - if nothing else it's interesting for this behind-the-scenes perspective.
But luckily it does delve a little deeper than that, and Geoff's mentality and attitude create a sense of satisfaction when he finally gets the band he wants through sheer determination and hard work - he promotes a good message.
The book revives what sounded like an exciting time to be alive (alas I wasn't born till years later), and I pretty much read it in one sitting.
One small criticism - the book somewhat glides over his later years in the business, namely the 80s and the early 90s, but I don't really think it was Geoff's intention to talk about his life in the music industry as a whole, more the part he played in contributing to it when it was breaking free of it's conventional mould.
Overall, and particularly for fans of rock music, highly reccomended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
this is a memory lane job if you went to locarnoe or the bay or the rink in sunderland in 70/80's have read it many times and bought this one as a gift for a friend who also went to those fab places
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
My good friend sent me this book when it was published and I have just put it down moments ago.
I am moved to write this review, not because I think that this book is great, although it is an easily read, entertaining story, but because I think that Geoff Docherty is one of the central characters which placed Sunderland near the head of the music revolution that occurred in the late 1960's and early 1970s.
For someone's first foray into the publishing field this is quite an achievement. Docherty writes about his exploits with a no holds barred approach, no pun intended. He does not mince his words although he refrains from identifying the villains of the piece be they police or hardcases. His matter of fact, self centred style have their faults but he has a good tale to tell and there are many residents of Sunderland and surrounding areas who have much to thank him for, including the present author.
The real importance of this book lies in placing the North East in the centre of the musical whirlwind which engulfed the western world in the 1960's and 1970's. The Liverpool Sound had given prominence to Mersey groups who had earned their claim to fame on the Beatles tailcoats. However, there was much in the local music industry in the North East which would not have been given prominence if it had not been for Docherty's ground breaking experience. There are many not mentioned in his book who got their start through his efforts, off the top of my head I can think of Eddie Jobson and the singer from Geordie who became the vocalist for AC/DC, Sting, Splinter to name only a few. Geoff's world led to a glorious heydey in the 1970s when the infamous yet extremely popular Hot Rats disco based in the Londonderry pub spread the word of progressive and Bay area sounds around. Docherty inspired many of us to be DJs, promoters and musicians because of out love for music and other, more earthly pleasures.
Geoff Docherty's dream enabled yound bands like Free to earn their place among the Pantheon of Great British Rock musicians. He established a backwater like Sunderland as a major centre for the new bands, outside of London. He gave us opportunities to see many many bands at the Bay Hotel, the Locarno, Sunderland Poly, the Rink, the Mayfair, Newcastle Poly, Newcastle University and in my own particular case, the ability to go to see bands like the Grateful Dead at Newcastle City Hall. He may not have promoted them all but if it was not for him they would never have been there at all.
Docherty evokes a spirit of adventure, of shared experience, of good and happy times, of the agony and the ecstasy of letting our spirits and imaginations free in an environment often hostile to the new and novel.
Rock at the Sharp End is a book which has merely started a process. Perhaps Geoff Docherty could find it in himself to write a book about the broader music scene in the Sunderland area during that time. Whatever he decides, this book by Geoff about Geoff, paints a picture which will be familiar to many people who lived in and around Sunderland at about the time he is writing of. I am sure that many memories will be jogged by this book and perhaps old friendships will be renewed and reaffirmed because of it.
Meet on the Ledge.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
spot on
Fantastic! Geoff was part of my teenage and I was at most of the gigs described. Just loved the book and relived my youth. Recommend to anyone who was in Sunderland at that time. Read more
Published 7 months ago by jay
blast from the past
Excellent book. I used to play with a band that Geoff used to book at the time. He was one of the few honest ones in those days and his book is a perfect insight into the music and... Read more
Published 12 months ago by john hedley
A Promoters Tale: Rock at the Sharp End
As someone from area and era, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, finding places and people that I connected with. Read more
Published 13 months ago by R. A. E. Scurr
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