Beat Merchants: The Origins, History, Impact and Rock Legacy of the 1960's British Pop Groups

by Alan Clayson

A true "insider" of the beat scene and author of the book that spawned the major motion picture Backbeat, Alan Clayson has created a comprehensive account of the origins, history, impact, and legacy of the 1960s British pop groups. Digging deep into this fascinating period, Clayson examines the sudden emergence of beat bands, their effects on music over the last three decades, and the reasons behind their widespread resonance both within and outside of the music scene. Informative as this book is, Clayson has also succeeded in showing us a "backstage" view inaccessible to most, and presents it in a way that will hold your attention page after page.

Genres: Music

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1995

About the author

Alan Clayson (Dover, England, 1951) is of a late 1970s vintage of composer-entertainers that also embraces the likes of Wreckless Eric, Tom Robinson, Elvis Costello and John Otway. While he is still making regular concert appearances, he has become better known as an author of around thirty books - mostly musical biography. These include the best-sellers "Backbeat" (subject of a major film), The Yardbirds and The Beatles book box.

He has written for journals as diverse as The Guardian, Record Collector, Ink, Mojo, Mediaeval World, Folk Roots, Guitar, Hello!, Drummer, The Times, The Independent, Ugly Things and, as a 'teenager, the notorious Schoolkids 0z. He has also been engaged to perform and lecture on both sides of the Atlantic - as well as broadcast on national TV and radio.

From 1975 to 1985, he led the legendary Clayson and the Argonauts - who reformed in 2005, ostensibly to launch Sunset On A Legend, a long-awaited double-CD retrospective - and was thrust to 'a premier position on rock's Lunatic Fringe' (Melody Maker).

As shown by the existence of a US fan club - dating from an 1992 soiree in Chicago - Alan Clayson's following grows still as well as demand for his talents as a record producer, and the number of versions of his compositions by such diverse acts as Dave Berry (in whose backing group, he played keyboards in the mid-1980s), New Age Outfit, Stairway - and Joy Tobing, winner of the Indonesian version of Pop Idol. He has worked too with The Portsmouth Sinfonia, Wreckless Eric, Twinkle, The Yardbirds, The Pretty Things, Mark Astronaut and the late Screaming Lord Sutch among many others. While his stage act defies succinct description, he has been labelled a 'chansonnier' in recent years for performances and record releases that may stand collectively as Alan Clayson's artistic apotheosis were it not for a promise of surprises yet to come.

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fascinating culture and time in music done in a very boring and useless book. Clayton is one of the worst writers for rock n' roll. One gets the feeling he's paid by the word, and usually that word is not that interesting.

His Gainsbourg biography was also a poor book. There are better books out on British Rock n' Roll culture.