Fried & Justified: Hits, Myths, Break-Ups and Breakdowns in the Record Business 1978-98

(Paperback, Main)

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A Book of the Year, Uncut

'A wild rock 'n' roll fairground ride of the damned.' - Observer

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We arrived in a fleet of white stretch limos at a clearing in a wood near Woking. Here the K Foundation was exhibiting a million pounds in cash, while Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty circled the perimeter in two orange Saracen armoured vehicles, blasting out Abba's 'Money Money Money' . . .

Mick Houghton worked with some of the greatest, most influential and downright dysfunctional cult groups of the post-punk era and beyond - Ramones, Talking Heads, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Undertones, Felt and Sonic Youth among them.

But the three acts Mick is most closely identified with are Echo & the Bunnymen, Julian Cope, and the KLF. As confidant and co-conspirator, he navigated the minefield of rivalries and contrasting fortunes which make Fried & Justified such a candid, amusing and insightful picture of an exciting and inspirational period for music.

Reviews

'An entertaining memoir recalls twenty heady years at the centre of the British music business.' - Financial Times

'Excellent . . . Remind[s] us that the best pop culture often comes together thanks to accidental, passionate heroes, standing out against the crowd in the most brilliant way.' - Jude Rogers, New Statesman

Author Bio

Mick Houghton began his career writing about music before starting out in PR at WEA in 1978. Two years later he set up the independent Brassneck Publicity. He began writing again in 2001 for Mojo and later Uncut, and has since published two books, I've Always Kept A Unicorn: The Biography of Sandy Denny and Becoming Elektra: The True Story of Jac Holzman's Visionary Record Label, as well as being one of the Grammy-nominated compilers of Forever Changing: The Golden Age of Elektra Records, 1963-1973. He's also compiled and written extensive notes for countless reissues by such artists as Nico, Judee Sill, Richard Thompson, Marianne Faithful, Bob Dylan, Billy Fury, John Martyn, Donovan and Pentangle. Mick finally retired from PR work four years ago, and he'll only consider coming back if the Teardrop Explodes reform in their original lineup.