Chiswick-based music journalist in conversation with Torin Douglas

Top music journalist Mark Ellen, whose new book Rock Stars Stole My Life! is attracting rave reviews, will be speaking to a home crowd on Monday June 9th as part of a nationwide publicity tour.

Mark, who played alongside Tony Blair in his Oxford college band Ugly Rumours and went on to present Old Grey Whistle Test and Live Aid (to an estimated audience of 4 billion), has lived with his family in Chiswick for 30 years.

Promoting his book, he’s already been on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, the Simon Mayo and Janice Long shows on Radio 2 and a dozen other radio programmes, as well as speaking at the Hay Festival and 17 other literary festivals. On Friday night, he was interviewed by Jools Holland on BBC Two alongside Hank Marvin.

On June 9th, he’ll be talking to fellow Chiswick writer and broadcaster Torin Douglas – and answering questions from the audience - as part of the Bedford Park Festival at St Michael & All Angels Parish Hall. Copies of the book will be on sale by Waterstones and he’ll be signing them afterwards.

Mark, who also edited Smash Hits, Q, Mojo and The Word, interviewed most of the rock legends of the past 40 years, and his book has great anecdotes about Bob Dylan, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Bob Geldof, Bono, Neil Tennant and many more.

Among many great reviews, Danny Baker wrote: "Hang onto the shirt-tails of this book and it leads you right the way through - breathlessly. It's terrific!" Harpers Bazaar said "It's coffee-spraying funny. Boy, will you enjoy the ride!"

Other authors at the Bedford Park Festival include Sunday Times columnist Bryan Appleyard, whose novel ‘Bedford Park’ is published in paperback this week and will be signing copies as part of Green Days weekend on Saturday June 7th, and Louis de Bernieres, the author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, who will reading poems from his book Imagining Alexandria at the poetry evening.

Full details of all Festival events can be found at www.bedfordparkfestival.org where tickets can be booked online.

May 31, 2014