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Martyn Hanson’s eagerly-awaited authorised biography takes you on the roller-coaster ride that is the life of Jon Hiseman - one of Britain’s top drummers. It's a personal journey through one of the most intriguing and fascinating periods in rock and pop history, telling in detail the triumphs and disappointments that make up a life spent at the centre of the British music industry as it reached dizzying heights... until the advent of new technology brought it back to earth with a bump!
There are stories of The New Jazz Orchestra, John Mayall, Graham Bond, Georgie Fame, Colosseum, Tempest, Colosseum II, The United Jazz & Rock Ensemble Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia and more.
But it's not just a story of a life in music; it is a tale of individualism, survival, friendships and rivalry, romance, brutal reality and occasional insanity. Above all, it's the story of a man who describes himself as 'a cautious optimist' and who considers his greatest achievement his enduring love affair with saxophonist and composer Barbara Thompson.
The author had access to Jon and Barbara’s extensive archive and after interviewing most of the protagonists, spent 10 months writing the first draft. Over a period of the next fifteen months, Jon and Martin ‘pinged’ four further drafts back and forth between them by email, with Jon adding many comments and insider stories that the original interviews hadn’t uncovered.
Colin Richardson undertook the onerous task of editing the final draft. His many years as an agent and manager in the music business began with The New Jazz Orchestra and continued throughout the ’60s and ’70s acting, in one capacity or another, for many of the participants in this book.
As a drummer, Hiseman knows the musical meaning of the phrase ‘timing is everything’ only too well, but to understand his life one must add ‘in the right place at the right time’ - Britain in the early 1960s.
The UK music scene was starting to establish its own identity after decades of American influence. These changes happened right across the musical spectrum; but after reaching their climax in the early 1970s, they were all but over by the end of that decade.
It was truly a fantastic era while it lasted and the musicians you will meet in this book formed an amazing melting pot of talent - including a certain drummer by the name of Jon Hiseman - who had by his side for most of his musical career the very special musician and his lifetime companion Barbara Thompson, who certainly deserves an honourable place in the list of great British musical mavericks.
Reading about his remarkable experiences while on the road ‘playing the bands’ unquestionably establishes Hiseman’s importance as an essential piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is European music.
Softback; approx 450pp, 100 illustrations.
Customer Reviews
 Brilliant As someone who enjoyed the music scene in the sixties and seventies this book brought back many memories. It is a great read, I couldn't put it down. I hope there will be some info on dates for 2012 soon. I would love to see the superb Jon Hiseman and brilliant Barbara Thomson again. Dick Schrader - Monmouthshire
Great Read Now I know everything about the band, really well laid out, enjoyed every page, thanks to Jon & Martyn. WE NEED SOME CONCERTS IN THE UK Thomas Mackay - Scotland Delighted Surprised and delighted with the speedy delivery. Half way through redaing the book as I write this feedback! Thank You! Mr Fox - Excellent a really great book Ian - UK
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