“I don't think anyone should write their autobiography until after they're dead.” Samuel Goldwyn

I know it may not mean much, but that's the beauty of  the blogs you can use here.

Years back, any thoughts or frustrations like this may have needed a full-page redress printed in a music magazine. As you of course would know. And even then there was no garantee the intended viewer would have seen it that 'week' and the message could be lost. It would have cost money too, money you shouldn't in principle even have to spend.

But now I feel anyone who has bought this book already, will surely somehow [as long as they have a computer] know of your Myspace too ..because by virtue of buying it at all, they're probably admire you enough already to have wanted to check out your page?

So with luck, I think any purchaser's will get to know your thoughts clearly just through the blog. It's there for ever, that's pretty useful. Even in a year.... Shilpa will still be 'classist' on Jan 18th 2007 ;)

Legally though, there must be something you can do if you wanted to, there must be? I know it's the principle that may bother you more, but you may have a small claims here at least!? But it's one of those things you weigh up yourself, but I know I'd hate it. It's fraud basically when it's without permission. False advertising... and they will rather give you a cut and let it go than fight a point they know they can't prove.

I know people who have let things like this go because they know there's only 24 hours in a day. They want to be creative to there next project, not bogged down in legal things which stiffle them practically. Ok, I see I've gone waaay off track, because I understand that's not what the blog was about.

I just wanted to say by writting blog statements like this, I trust the purchases will get to know about the book they bought in time, if not today, then tommorrow... and that I hope will be, a comfort to know. And I'll tell 'em for ya! ;)

Keep Creavity

Peace, Gio

Well I have read the book and lets be fair, Richard White who wrote it, is (as far as I know) the only person to do so yet. So lets not criticise him for it.

I also spoke to Richard on a few occasions and he is clearly a fan.

And he was kind enough to give me a mention in the book so he has been put in my will!!

I suggest people read it before having a go though.

And as my old Mucker John says up there, perhaps one day we will find out why Paul Gormans "official" book got pulled at the last minute...

As you were!

Hi Crannie:).. I wasn't trying to have a geniune pop at anyone [especially not the geniune writer that's for sure] and that's why I put the wink afterwards afterwards. So it didn't look serious. I see some people on here actually know the people involved so things I see will seem more personal to them. I don't so it's was just about the anominity of the poster at the time they posted and they having just Tom and no photo at the time :).. it was too tempting not to say something. No offence to anyone, the guy who wrote it, Hugz and especially you Crannie.

Peace, and as we were :)

Ps:hasn't anyone one taken that bottle off you yet mate? ;)

I've read the book and reviewed it. It's a good book and it makes no claims that Kevin Rowland is involved. If people don't read the book properly and form an inaccurate opinion of who is involved then that's their problem not the author's.

As Crannie points out Richard White is a fan. A big-hearted, good guy fan who tried to tell the story as best he could. As far as I can see any criticism of him is mean spirited. His book is a labour of love and anyone who sees fit to criticise a labour of love needs to look deep into their own hearts to examine their motives.

He interviewed all of those who said yes and made it as credible as possible in the circumstances. Because some people said no to him he made a painstaking trawl of the music press and included a number of historical quotes to fill in the gaps. This is a weakness and I pointed it out in my review but Richard White is no fool; he knows how good his book is. I'm sure he will be as pleased as the next fan when his effort is bettered. There is no doubt it would have been a better book had more people said yes.

The facts of the matter are -

There are no other Dexys books. Official or otherwise. Time passes and nothing is completed. Only Richard White got up off his arse and did something about it. His effort is an honest one and honesty is always credible.

Never read a book not from the horses mouth ! everyones a fan but in music # the music does the talking not a book let the music talk as Kevin and Dexys intended it to do !!

My only thoughts on this subject are not personal or defensive ,quite the oposite in fact ,when i recall the amount of wonderful music i discovered purely from reading magazines and books ,this would include the likes of Ennio Morricone in a Smiths interview and Marvin Gaye in a Jam article ,these are just two examples of my curiousity being aroused before id heard any music ,the point im making is that anybody who reads this book or even browses through it could also have their curiosity aroused ,this can not be a bad thing  no sir ,like the song says Kevin ,"millions never will",but he was talking about something competely different ,but if one person reads this book then buys a record on the strength of that ,then you are a lucky man ,but im sure you already know that ,now please hurry up and get that record out.     Love and Respect  RW

But it isn't 'nuff said' at all. Mr Gorman's post is argument at best and argument by its very nature requires a reply. The introduction to Richard White's book in no way infers Kevin Rowland has given his approval to the work. The quote is in italics and dated 1993. Richard's introduction, dated 2005, quite clearly states Kevin Rowland has not contributed. The words are in black on a white page and only inches from the quote. Anybody who argues anything other than actual content of the introduction has either not read the book or wants to discredit it for reasons I cannot fathom...:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I'm sorry others have taken my reference to Richard White's arse as derogatory but I meant no offence or hostility. I meant only to illustrate a truth. His effort has been the only one that has produced. I and many others are acutely aware that others have made efforts to write a book but so far there is no end result. How many times have Dexys fans been told to be patient? I'm 47 this year and you know what?... This is a mortal life. Still no book.

To say that Richard White is 'egregious and unprofessional' (only another way of calling him an arse) is actually derogatory, hostile and personal. Richard White is no demon author. He tells no lies. There is no titillating rubbish in the book. A stab in the dark but I bet he's made little or no money. He's just a fan who had a go and beat everyone else to the bookshelf. At best he infers (not actually says) 'go on then, if you're hard enough do better than that,' but nobody has yet.

better frame this one Eddie. But agree totally with your post.

I am assuming many of the people above never read biographys which as their title would suggest are not written by the "subject" Heaven help us if anyone were to publish a Biog of Jesus Christ, chances are it would make an interesting read. Trouble is not many of those involved would have much input!

But as I always say, hey ho!!

Eddie

A well articulated reply. I too found it strange that Richard White was accused of giving the impression that Kevin Rowland had cooperated with the book. This is certainly not my impression from reading the book in 2005 and re-reading the sleeve and introduction yesterday. In fact, he states very clearly on page 3 that Kevin - and the other main players - did not take part. Although I've posted my own criticisms of the book, I've also stated that Richard White should be applauded for his effort in putting the book together. One thing I would say though is that at times Richard is a little careless with quotes from interviews and I think this is where the issue of inference arsies on page 1. To the less-than-obsessive fan that quote could give the impression that the author has interviewed Kevin for the book, when 'we' know it's lifted from a pop magazine interview.

Best wishes

Phil

Interesting Blog, to say the least. There’s a comedy sketch programme called (I believe) ‘TittyBangBang’ ; one of the sketches is of a maid, in a stately type home, whom, whilst visitors pass by, does outlandish things to be noticed whilst at the same time says  “oh no, no, don’t look at me please, I’m shy”.

The reason I mention it, is because this Blog brings that sketch to mind. On one hand you are saying that you have no interest in the book, wouldn’t read it, don’t want to read it, would become upset by the mention of the book, don’t even want people to write about the book on here. Yet on the other hand you are that uninterested and upset by the thought of the book, that you publish a Blog on it knowing that it will be commented on and written about. I just find this strange, as I’ve always thought that one of the reasons behind weblogs was to invoke a response about the subject at hand.

Obviously it would be nice to read a book written by your good self, but in the absence of such a book we are left with Richard Whites’ offering; a guy who is not just a fan, but a fan who put is time, work, effort, and sweat where is mouth is, got of his backside and produce the goods. That’s something you haven’t done, maybe you should think about that before you criticise his efforts.

My comments are not made to annoy you, or anyone else for that matter; they are just my ‘opinion’ and thoughts, which will no doubt be deleted. It just pisses me off that people who don’t or wont, criticise those that do and will.

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