Cook's Tours

Tales of a Tour Manager

Malcolm Cook

Throughout his 44 years in the entertainment industry, Malcolm Cook met and worked with some of the biggest names in show business – Eden Kane, Cilla Black, Billy Fury, Tom Jones, Gene Pitney, Del Shannon, Gerry & The Pacemakers, P.J. Proby, the Kinks, Glen Campbell, Roger Whittaker, Rudolf Nureyev, Alvin Stardust, Bad Manners, Canned Heat, the Ronettes, Kris Kristofferson, Tammy Wynette... the list goes on and on. In this humorous, fast-paced biographical account, Cook lifts the lid on what it takes to keep a show on the road and artists and audiences happy. It’s all here: transport problems, unscrupulous promoters, run-ins with East German police, hassles with the Mafia, tea with the Duke of Norfolk, the wind-ups, the laughter, the heartbreak and the tears. Along the way, the author also includes vignettes of some of the prime movers and shakers of British showbiz including Brian Epstein, Arthur Howes, Hal Carter and Michael Levy to round off this unique insight into what really goes on behind the scenes.

REVIEWS

"The author is someone I have known since my teen years, and he has had a long and successful career shepherding flocks of rock-and-roll performers, singers, musicians and ballet dancers through the ordeals of touring, here in the UK and overseas. Hearing that he had a book coming out, I knew that I would have to buy it, of course — but, equally of course, I knew that you buy your friends' books out of a desire to encourage and support them, but frankly it sometimes turns out to be a waste of money. In this case, I could not have been more wrong! Malcolm Cook has created a really 'good read' that kept me turning the pages, sometimes laughing aloud at the antics of the artistes and the reactions of various Jacks-in-Office — always good for a chuckle, that lot! It certainly brought back a lot of memories for me... It's the inside story, and it's a damn well told one. Thanks, Mal!"  Chris Hughes' blog

"A no punches pulled account of a lifetime spent travelling with some of the great artists of our time and a book that will ‘entertain’ you from start to finish... For me it’s a magic read that I found impossible to put down especially when the chapter on Kris Kristofferson appeared... it seems Malcolm kindly left out my biggest ‘gaff’ in an interview with a legend. Well done that man!! Worth every penny of its £18.99 price tag."  euVue

"A fascinating journey from the early '60s into the New Millennium... A thoroughly enjoyable read."  The Beat

"Seeing life on the road from the viewpoint of a manager gives it a different angle and a story that's rarely told, and Malcolm is well aware that it is his clients that readers are likely to be most interested in. This enthralling read is decorated with many photos and has separate indexes for names, song titles and fims/shows... Two of the chapters I found most absorbing were about Shane Fenton and Alvin Stardust, in particular Bernard Jewry's transition from Shane to Alvin and his dedicated work ethic. Best of all though are the tales surrounding Malcolm's time with David Garrick which took him to Berlin and then beyond into East Germany."  Pipeline

"A showbiz tale worthy of the description 'un-put-downable'! Not the usual banal biography drafted by a 'ghost writer' but a brilliant recollection of personal stories from the past 44 years, written by a man who has done it and seen it all in the crazy world of showbusiness... It is a joy to read." Encore

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Published: 30 September 2011

ISBN: 978-0-9562679-4-8

Format: Paperback

Edition: First

Extent: 324 pages

Dimensions: 234 x 156 mm

RRP: £21.99

Our price: £19.99 + p&p

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