- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Cassell Illustrated; 1 st Edition edition (2 Sep 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1844036006
- ISBN-13: 978-1844036004
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.2 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
351,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #80 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Radio > Biographies
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Product Description
Tony Blackburn is probably one of the most recognizable disc jockeys working in Britain today, and is always busy doing what he does best - playing music to listeners. With Radio One celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Tony feels the time is right to commemorate his own anniversary, and look back on the time he has spent in radio and the media. The days spent as a radio pirate, to becoming the number one DJ in the UK for the best part of a decade. The stars he befriended, the rivalries in radio he endured, the friendships made, and broken, all will be told in his candid style. Much as John Peel's book was a reflection of one style of DJing, so will this book be for Tony's unique brand of playing and enjoying music. Much derided by some comedians, but very much still going strong, and ever popular.
From the Publisher
The 30th September 1976 was a day in radio history as Radio 1 took to the airwaves. On that day, a young, ex-pirate radio DJ made his first step in a career that would make him a household name and that is still going strong today.
This is the long overdue autobiography of one of Britain's favourite radio DJ's.
Coinciding with the planned 40th anniversary celebrations of Radio 1.
Packed full of anecdotes and memories of the time he has spent in Radio, from the pirate days of Radio Caroline, through to Radio One, and independant radio.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Why is this book is being so heavily slated by other viewers? Perhaps they expected something different to what they actually read.
Lets start with what this book is NOT about.
It is NOT a tell all, dish the dirt about the music industry and the intimate lives of famous popstars.
It is NOT about how to advance within the music industry.
It is NOT a motivational book.
It is NOT about becoming an aspiring DJ.
It IS a personal account about the life of a man who was an eye witness to radical changes in the radio broadcasting industry over forty years as well as his life and the effect that being in the public eye can inadvertently have.
The book covers the exciting early years of pirate radio when would be disc jockeys exasperated by the unresponsiveness of the BBC to cater for the new demand for pop music, decided to broadcast to the nation from off shore ships, often at risk of being harassed by the Royal Navy. The importance of these early pioneers broadcasting popular music and the innovative use of "jingles" which we take today for granted by stations like Radio Caroline and Radio London( "Big L") blazed the trail for much of the format that Radio 1 not yet invented was soon to adopt in 1967.
Tony Blackburn was there broadcasting with the early pirates and now in the early years of the 21st century it shows something about the tenacity of a truly veteran broadcaster how well he has survived and continues to broadcast, when hundreds of his contemporaries have come and gone - all but forgotten. Re-energising his career after winning "Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here" says something about his unique ability to re-invent himself to and remain in the public eye as a whole
You may not like the man with his corney jokes beautifullly lampooned by the Smashey and Nicey format of Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, but Tony Blackburn has certainly secured his place in broadcasting as a household name, a popular entertainer, and undoubtedly helped to shape the face of British Radio as it is today.
It is not a heavy book, more like having a drink and a long chat with an old and life long friend. Read and enjoy - because I certainly did. :o)
Lets start with what this book is NOT about.
It is NOT a tell all, dish the dirt about the music industry and the intimate lives of famous popstars.
It is NOT about how to advance within the music industry.
It is NOT a motivational book.
It is NOT about becoming an aspiring DJ.
It IS a personal account about the life of a man who was an eye witness to radical changes in the radio broadcasting industry over forty years as well as his life and the effect that being in the public eye can inadvertently have.
The book covers the exciting early years of pirate radio when would be disc jockeys exasperated by the unresponsiveness of the BBC to cater for the new demand for pop music, decided to broadcast to the nation from off shore ships, often at risk of being harassed by the Royal Navy. The importance of these early pioneers broadcasting popular music and the innovative use of "jingles" which we take today for granted by stations like Radio Caroline and Radio London( "Big L") blazed the trail for much of the format that Radio 1 not yet invented was soon to adopt in 1967.
Tony Blackburn was there broadcasting with the early pirates and now in the early years of the 21st century it shows something about the tenacity of a truly veteran broadcaster how well he has survived and continues to broadcast, when hundreds of his contemporaries have come and gone - all but forgotten. Re-energising his career after winning "Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here" says something about his unique ability to re-invent himself to and remain in the public eye as a whole
You may not like the man with his corney jokes beautifullly lampooned by the Smashey and Nicey format of Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, but Tony Blackburn has certainly secured his place in broadcasting as a household name, a popular entertainer, and undoubtedly helped to shape the face of British Radio as it is today.
It is not a heavy book, more like having a drink and a long chat with an old and life long friend. Read and enjoy - because I certainly did. :o)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I love reading both biographies and autobiographies, so when I saw that Tony Blackburn had done his I couldn't resist buying it, as he was the only Radio 1 DJ I'd listen to.
Tony made his first radio appearance on 28th July 1964 on the pirate ship Radio Caroline South. Then he joined the BBC and became their first DJ on the new network, he was given his own breakfast show which finally ended in 1974, he then took over the morning show which he did for several years.
Here you'll learn all about the early days of radio and how the radio shows changed as the public demands grew.
Not only has Tony done radio but he was one of the presenters on the BBC1 pop show called "Top of the Pops", he started in the late 1960's and continued to present this through the 1970's. Thankfully we still see him on television from time to time, his next big success was on ITV's "I'm a celebrity get me outta here", which he didn't expect to win, but he did. :-)
Tony's very open about his life, all the ups and downs as well as the effects of being in the public eye. I know not every one likes him, but that's down to the individual choice.
I found the book to be very interesting, enjoyable and a compulsive read. It's one I can definaetly recommend and to me it was worth every penny. :-)
Tony made his first radio appearance on 28th July 1964 on the pirate ship Radio Caroline South. Then he joined the BBC and became their first DJ on the new network, he was given his own breakfast show which finally ended in 1974, he then took over the morning show which he did for several years.
Here you'll learn all about the early days of radio and how the radio shows changed as the public demands grew.
Not only has Tony done radio but he was one of the presenters on the BBC1 pop show called "Top of the Pops", he started in the late 1960's and continued to present this through the 1970's. Thankfully we still see him on television from time to time, his next big success was on ITV's "I'm a celebrity get me outta here", which he didn't expect to win, but he did. :-)
Tony's very open about his life, all the ups and downs as well as the effects of being in the public eye. I know not every one likes him, but that's down to the individual choice.
I found the book to be very interesting, enjoyable and a compulsive read. It's one I can definaetly recommend and to me it was worth every penny. :-)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Well this book has truly got hammered by the other readers but I have to stick up for it. Tony Blackburn loved what he did & still does. He cared about the music he liked even if it was Diana Ross B sides rather than Emmerson Lake & Palmer. But the main point about Tony Blackburn is that he doesn't take himself too seriously (well at least over the last 20 years he hasn't).Of course its easy to say he shouldn't poke fun at John Peel but to be fair I think I recall Peel prodding back- and as they came from opposite ends of the spectrum surely there is no real malice there
Its difficult to be 'form captain' on the Radio One breakfast show & I think that all of the occupiers of that post have been guilty of self importance in the end ( I have only ever complained to the BBC once & that was because a breakfast DJ took the piss out of Kate Bush on air. That would be Kate Bush the National Treasure. My complaint worked. Within 2 weeks the DJ was off the show!)
I bought this book in a bargain bin sale (there were quite a few copies to choose from) but I loved it maybe because I accepted it for what it is. Light weight froth. No deep thoughts but an interesting reminder of 30 years of superficial entertainment read fast
Now is that Tony Blackburn ad for MacDonalds (him as the taxi radio operator) on You Tube?
Its difficult to be 'form captain' on the Radio One breakfast show & I think that all of the occupiers of that post have been guilty of self importance in the end ( I have only ever complained to the BBC once & that was because a breakfast DJ took the piss out of Kate Bush on air. That would be Kate Bush the National Treasure. My complaint worked. Within 2 weeks the DJ was off the show!)
I bought this book in a bargain bin sale (there were quite a few copies to choose from) but I loved it maybe because I accepted it for what it is. Light weight froth. No deep thoughts but an interesting reminder of 30 years of superficial entertainment read fast
Now is that Tony Blackburn ad for MacDonalds (him as the taxi radio operator) on You Tube?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
History, but not as we know it!
Being a bit of a 60's 'anorak' i bought this book in the hope it may be packed with interesting anecdotes on my heroes of that era. Read more
Published 4 months ago by A. Murphy
Snoretastic in places, good in others
Being a huge fan of Mr Blackburn's 'Pick of the Pops' on Radio 2 which is broadcast on Saturday afternoon I felt as though I wanted to know more about the man behind the corny one... Read more
Published 8 months ago by SilentSinger
Entertaining - for all the wrong reasons!
This book is a fascinating read albeit for all the wrong reasons. It has clearly been ghost written by someone who knows nothing about Tony Blackburn and has had little or no... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Dee-en
master of delusion
Tony seems to think he's important. He isn't.This is a truly banal effort and while it's each to his own as far as musical tastes are concerned, his trite dismissal of anything... Read more
Published on 13 May 2009 by scoreboard end veteran
poptastic my ***
Who can forget or forgive the destruction of the pirates to form....Radio 1! TB was the personification of "corn", with his unfunny jokes and playlist pap.... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2008 by Nathaniel Whiskyboat
An exercise in self pity
I thought the early chapters about pirate radio stations Radio Caroline and Radio London were very entertaining and enlightening and raised my previously low expectations for the... Read more
Published on 21 April 2008 by Bantam Dave
Tony Blackburn - an education for me.
For reasons that will always remain a mystery, Tony Blackburn is either loved or loathed; the reviews here illustrate this very point with a multitude of negativity. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2007 by C. Raeburn
Magnificent
This is a well written and thoroughly enjoyable book. It covers Tony Blackburn's entire radio career as well as his family life and he is candid about the many mistakes he has... Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2007 by P. Bailey
Unbearable
Why did I buy this book ?.Possibly because I thought it would be a fascinating insight in the the often secretive world of the disc jockey. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2007 by Mr. Paul M. Sheehan
oh dear should have jumped overboard
Where did you go wrong Tony?
You have had the same training as John Peel, Kenny Everitt Johnnie Walker etc. Read more
You have had the same training as John Peel, Kenny Everitt Johnnie Walker etc. Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2007 by R. Ingle
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