I think it’s safe to
say that absolutely everyone in the music business, from the megastars and their managers to the
roadies who carry their amps on stage, from the CEOs of record companies to
messenger boys delivering promo CDs, from DJs and the editors of music mags
down to humble bloggers like me, were fans first and music biz professionals
second – at least they were when I was in the thick of it. Nevertheless, if it
wasn’t for the genuine fans, the ones who didn’t find their way into the
business, there wouldn’t have been a music business in the first place – no one
would have gone to the Cavern to see The Beatles or the Goldhawk to see The Who
and no one would have cheered Florence and the Machine at this year’s
Glastonbury or bought whichever album tops the charts right now.
I was therefore pleased to be asked this
week to become involved with a BBC series called The People’s History of Pop which is due to air in 2016, and hopes
to tell the story of British popular music from the point of view of the fans –
as opposed to talking heads like the stars themselves, DJs and music writers.
“We’re really keen
to get memories of real music fans,” wrote Rebecca Stewart from the team producing
the series. “This is a chance to tell the story of
British music from the real fans’ point of view.
Leaving aside for a moment the
contradiction that I’ve been a professional music writer now since 1968 and
dabbled in the business in all sorts of ways, I was happy to agree and promptly
sent them a scan of my postcard from John Lennon, together with a note
explaining how I came to receive it.
Of course the real reason why Rebecca
e-mailed me was to get me to use my FB page and Just Backdated blog to
encourage others to send in their memories and memorabilia so that it might be
used on the programme and, again, I’m happy to do so. This looks like a
promising project and the link below tells you all about it, while the second
link leads to material that has already been sent in – loads of it from fans.
I still am a fan, of
course, and always will be, otherwise I wouldn’t have so many songs on my iPod
that I listen to all the time and occasionally write about. Some of the
happiest, most heart-warming moments of my life have been when I’ve been
surrounded by genuine fans of rock musicians, most especially The Who, all of
them wanting me to share my close-encounter experiences which I am always happy
to do. Also, 30-odd years at Omnibus Press has taught me that fans – the really
dedicated ones that is – almost always know more about an act than the act itself,
let one those that toil on their behalf.
Both the links above explain how to get
involved.
They contacted me as well. I don't know how much room they'll have for The Who in just 4 episodes to cover the gigantic world of British pop music. I think what might be a better idea is a television series set in London. Think of it: The Crays, Mary Quant, the Liverpool invasion, Beatlemania, Mods vs. Rockers, shady managers hanging people out windows, etc. It would be one incredible show.
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