Venue:
Selby Town Hall, North Yorkshire
Date: 10/04/2015
So I’m guessing that most Afterworders have, like me, already read the book, so what did I get some this evening ? Well it was the chance to spend time in the company of our ever-genial host who had the audience eating out of his hand from the off. It was a bit of a gallop through his life, from the early days and the influence of his sisters and parents, to reminiscing about the challenges of buying vinyl and attending festivals in the 60s/70s to THAT band at University that featured a certain ex-Labour PM. There was lots of appreciative murmouring from the audience, a rekindling of memories and contributions from people who’d attended the same festivals and liked the same artists. Then we moved on to some of the rock star encounters, including meetings with Meatloaf, Jimmy Page and Roy Harper, Live Aid, Rihanna and of course, the notorious ‘ooops I’m naked’ Lady Gaga interview. Even though I knew what was coming it was entertaining to hear Mark talk through them, especially as he does some pretty good impersonations ! Ending with a Q&A elicited musings on the current state of music TV, radio and journalism and the 2nd biggest curmudgeon after Van Morrison (Lou Reed). An evening over all too soon !
The audience:
Mostly couples of a certain age who had experienced the times, the music and the music press that Mark talked about. Keen to share their memories (especially the guy who saw the Beatles at the Cavern playing lunch gigs) and ask questions
It made me think..
If you haven’t met him, Mark in person is just what you imagine him to be: genial, engaging, friendly and enthusiastic.
I bought Rock Stars … as an audio book narrated by Mark. He does a bloody good job too.
Yep, agree with all the above.
I was there with my brother and it was a top night out and a cracking little venue too.
Mark was just how you expected him to be and seemed genuinely interested in the people he met during the signing session after the show.
If he’s on near you, go and see him.
You won’t be disappointed!
Yes did the audio book thing too. First time I’ve done one. He was great , especially his mimicking.
If you only ever get one more audio book, it’s I, Partridge – as read by Alan Partridge.
It is a work of absolute genius .
Several “car crash” moments!
Since reading (and hearing) the Partridge autobiography I have been unable to read anyone else’s without hearing Alan Partridge’s voice in my head. Once you start reading autobiographies as the unwittingly humorous products of monstrously un-self-aware egos you see Partridge in everyone, from Mark Ellen to Andre Agassi.
Yup – loved that one too.