To get a book reviewed, publishers send a copy to the Pattaya Mail office and hope that the mail room boy puts it on the top of the pile on the reviewer’s desk. Some enterprising authors actually post the review copy with a begging letter, hoping that moves their volume up the ladder. However, nobody has brought their book to my attention like David Hadfield has done.
While sitting in a bar, listening to the band (I could have said “orchestra”, but that would have been an exaggeration) playing many rock and roll numbers, this chap sitting next to me revealed that he was part of the music movement of the 60s and 70s and rattled off a few names such as Sir Cliff Richard and David Bowie through to being thrown out of his own studio by Manfred Mann. Would I be interested in reviewing his first volume?
After I said I would certainly look at it, he returned with a copy and by page 2 I was hooked. In addition to the ‘famous’ names already mentioned, he appeared in the support band for the Rolling Stones 1965 tour, was in the first pop band to play at the Playboy Club in London and rubbed shoulders professionally with hundreds of well-known musicians. However, as he so readily admits, he is in the ranks of the ‘Nearly Famous’, though he has left a legacy in the pop music world of the day.
Think of your favorite artists of those days – here’s some of mine – Del Shannon (Runaway), The Troggs (Wild Thing), Frank Ifield (I remember you), the Kinks (Lola – a song that has a very decided place in Pattaya), and another 100 more. David (Nearly Famous) Hadfield was there, right in the middle of it all. David details his life with a frankness and honesty which is so refreshing in autobiographies. After reading Biog’s written by phantom authors (after sitting down with a ‘famous’ muso and recording his view on his life), to get David’s warts and all makes this a book to keep you, the reader, interested.
He begins at school where he sits next to a boy named Harry Webb in the 5th form, then playing drums for the fledgling singer, who was later to transform himself into Cliff Richard. ‘Nearly Famous’ again!
He continued on as a drummer in a band which had David Jones singing and playing saxophone. David Jones became David Bowie (definitely ‘famous’) leaving David Hadfield once more ‘Nearly Famous’.
Some years later, David ‘Nearly Famous’ moved into the recording studio business and was to make his mark there, only to lose the lot later, all revealed in brutal honesty.
He even describes living in the 60s and 70s, and anyone older than 65 will see themselves there.
You won’t find this book in the book stores, but you can buy directly from the author, telephone 085 282 4302 (Bt. 1,300) or through Amazon GBP 25. If you’ve ever played an air guitar for Keith Richard you will enjoy this book. I am waiting for Volume 2, David.
