Confessions of A Rock n’ Roll Namedropper is part-memoir/part history-book by Radio producer/personality/writer/journalist Laurie Kaye. Against the backdrop of the last interview she conducted with John Lennon before his tragic murder, it paints a thoroughly delightful (as well as factual) picture of Rock and Radio in the 1970s as well as the period and the people around it.
Laurie has every right to the label of Namedropper, because she was actually there – actually met the people in question and, in many cases, worked with them in her capacity of interviewer and observer.
A Cast of characters to be sure, but that’s what the 70s were all about. And Laurie Kaye depicts them with great accuracy – sometimes painfully but always true.
On its own it would be a delightful memoir, diving into the brain of a go-getter and all the adventures that ensued and in some cases had to surmount. But it’s ultimately poignant because the last roughly third of the book is devoted to the final interview with John Lennon and the terrible aftermath that followed. I admit it clouded my eyes a few times and for me, gave ample proof why it has been difficult to listen to anything by either John Lennon or the Beatles since December 1980. I’m sure I’m not only one who found getting through Peter Jackson’s stellar documentary an emotional experience.
The emotional part doesn’t diminish the fact that Laurie Kay has ultimately written a fun and engaging book, loaded with pithy observations of growing up in Los Angeles in the 1970s. Truths to tell, I lived three blocks away from Uni High in L.A. exactly during the time she was going there and her depictions are spot-on. I hate to use the well-worn phrase but it was a page-turner and makes for a fast read.
One of the things I actively campaign for via Past Daily are observations and words from the witnesses of events which became historic in nature. Those reflections are crucial because they give a true picture of events that are so often misconstrued, fabricated or downright ignored by others; people who weren’t there – people who make things up – people who heard rumors from other people and pass them on as fact. We’re getting too much of that right now. Misinformation has become all-permeating and it’s the word from the witnesses, the people who were actually there are so desperately needed right now.
Laurie Kaye has been around – she understands the imperative of getting the story and the facts out – her extensive radio background has made getting Confessions of A Rock n’ Roll Namedropper a must.
And just to give you an idea (if you aren’t already familiar) that Laurie has put her money where her mouth is, here is an interview she conducted with none other than George Martin during her tenure at RKO.
So what YOU can do dear reader, is fall by Amazon for the Audiobook or Laurie’s own website and grab a copy – makes for sensational summer reading.
Here is the interview:
And the author herself:
