One book I'm getting a real kick out of at the moment is former Rolling Stones manager, Andrew Loog Oldham's second instalment of his life story, '2Stoned'. I literally can't put the bloody thing down! Now here's a man who's led a life and seemingly can remember most of it! I thought the old adage was "if you can remember the 60s, then you weren't there" So thank god he can!! Music bug | "Oldham's line "would you let your daughter go out with a Rolling Stone?" perfectly placed them opposite the more wholesome image of the Beatles..." | | Lord Crowley on former Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham |
I absolutely loved the first book 'Stoned'. It painted a wonderful, vivid picture of London/ Soho in the late 50s and 60s and showed the young Loog first getting the music bug and his many adventures in teen life. '2Stoned' picks up where the first left off with the Stones visiting America for the first time - and then it's chocks away and anecdotes a go-go about sex, drugs and rock n roll with contributions from a cast list that literally sparkles. Lending their memories and observations to Oldham's hip scribblings are everyone from Marianne Faithful (his former charge) to Pete Townshend to author Nik Cohn - and that's just for starters. Provocateur The Loog's place in rock n roll folklore was guaranteed as soon as he took on the management of the Bad Boys of rock. It was he, remember, who locked Mick and Keith in a room and TOLD them to write.  | | Thank God someone can remember the 60s is what I say! |
An agent provocateur par excellance, his gift for publicity was legendary and his line "would you let your daughter go out with a Rolling Stone?" perfectly placed them opposite the more wholesome image of the Beatles. As Malcolm McClaren and Alan McGee have said in the past, without Andrew Loog Oldham and his influence the pop landscape would surely have been a much drabber place. This is a perceptive account of when British pop ruled the world and old London Town was swinging like no other. It really is a great read!!
2Stoned by Andrew Loog Oldham is published by Secker & Warburg | 
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