I’d recommend it. He comes across as someone who is both enormously talented and enormously dedicated. There is enough humility and self-examination in the book to make it genuinely moving in places. As with other old timers, his advice to any one new boils down to “if you’re good enough you’ll get your break.” The cost of his “extra-curricular” activities was very high for those around him, as he is the first to acknowledge.

Amazon link here

I am playing a solo gig down at the Studio this Saturday. It’s an afternoon start (15:30), which turns out to be quite prescient given the chances of getting a crowd on Rugby World Cup night!

Full address is 59b Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8RS. The actual venue is just off Denmark Hill, diagonally accross from Pizza Hut. Patrico is playing in support (http://www.myspace.com/patric0), and there will be a bar at the venue.

‘Doorjam’ is at the Stage Door pub near Waterloo. Good feeling – will definitely return! Simon Franklin created a real atmosphere when he was playing.