Keith Moon Stole My Lipstick: The Swinging '60s, the Glam '70s and Me

by Judith Wills

A star-struck, naïve 17-year-old country bumpkin leaves home catches a coach to a near-mythical land—London and the Swinging ’60s. Days later, mascara running, itching in her prickly suit, stammering from shyness, she turns up for a job interview with the UK’s first ever pop magazine, Fab. On the strength of a letter she had invented, she is miraculously hired and soon finds herself living her dream as a music journalist. Judith Wills reveals her remarkable story in which she sang with Freddie Mercury, smoked Jim Morrison’s joint, had a strange encounter with David Bowie, babysat Kate Beckinsale, accompanied Billy Fury to a christening, went hiking with Mr. Spock, starred at the Albert Hall with Tom Jones, lunched with George Best, graced the red carpet with Peter Sellers, got chased by Andy Williams, had the Book of Mormon read to her by an Osmond, and met just about anyone who was anyone in the day, including Keith Moon—who stole her lipstick. After eight years of pop fan heaven and hell, Judith Wills returned to the country where she became Britain’s bestselling diet, food, and health writer.    

Genres: Music, Memoir

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 19, 2008

Reviews

[Slaa!!! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. OKAY. First, the positive. I did really enjoy this book overall. It was a good, easy read. I found her relatable and endearing, with all of the talk of her issues with insecurity, shyness, anxiety, fear, etc. It was one of those, "well if she can do it, maybe I can, too" situations, when you saw how successful she was in her dream job at FAB magazine. It was also nice to see how she was able to overcome these issues as the years went on. In general, I liked her and her story very much. I was going to give her 4 stars instead of 3, but then the annoyances took over.

SO NOW THE NEGATIVE. First of all, for someone who has made her living as a writer, there sure were a lot of typos in this book. It was like Typo City. And my main complaint is that she seems rather... critical of people's looks. I don't know if it's because since she is writing about meetings/interviews that happened 30+ years ago, what she remembers most clearly are her impressions of these people, much of which would involve their appearance. But it seemed like she had far too many negative things to say regarding people's looks. Which I resent. I mean, when you interview a BEATLE (Paul McCartney) and your only comment is on his "declining looks" and there is no mention of it being a meaningful, special experience... I have a problem with this. I can sort of excuse her comments about Linda's hairy legs, unattractive haircut, lack of makeup, etc, because, I mean... okay. But who knew Paul was no longer good-looking in the early 70s???? You learn something new every day! And then there was the comment about Marc Bolan being overweight when she interviewed him. Now, I am not in denial - I know he put on a few pounds in his later years. But calling him OVERWEIGHT may be a bit unnecessary. Maybe I'm wrong, seeing as how I am no doctor, but his weight always seemed to me to be more or less in the healthy range. And then there's the comment she made about Olive Osmond being EXTREMELY OVERWEIGHT. Having next to no knowledge of the Osmonds, I googled this woman, and MY GOD. Unless the pictures I found are very much misleading... the word "extreme" is, pardon me, EXTREME. Seeing as how she appeared generally normal sized and not 5000 pounds. Overweight, sure. EXTREMELY OVERWEIGHT? Must we? By the end of the book, I discovered that the author has had much success with diet books so I guess that explains that.

Now. With all of this, I was still going to give her 4 stars. Until I got to her "where are they now" section at the end. Where she DID NOT EVEN GET KEITH MOON'S CAUSE OF DEATH RIGHT. HOW HARD IS IT. TO FIND THIS INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE WHAT YOU HAVE IS CORRECT BEFORE PUBLISHING IT IN YOUR MEMOIRS. YOU NAME YOUR BOOK AFTER THIS PERSON TO HELP IT SELL SINCE THE REST OF YOUR STORIES ARE QUITE FRANKLY MORE OR LESS NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTING, AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE DECENCY TO GET THE INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH RIGHT. HOW HARD IS THIS. 3 stars.

[Whistler's Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an insider's look at London's Swinging Sixties from a vulnerable young woman with a streak of toughness.

I have never been a huge music fan and many of the "famous" names in this book meant nothing to me. Instead, I was caught up in the fascinating story of a young girl who came of age in the late sixties, as I did. I was also deeply impressed with the strength, intelligence, and resilience that helped this woman survive a situation which caused many others to crash and burn.

The transition from a sad, neglected child living in a fantasy world fueled by fan mags to actually working with the people she had fantasized about must have been a heady experience. Any reasonably attractive young woman draws attention from older men and it's flattering and exciting. If the older man is a world famous actor or singer, I imagine the temptation must be many times greater.

She wasn't living the life of a Sunday School teacher, but she did her job professionally and didn't succumb to the drug abuse that ruined so many loves then. (And before and since, for that matter.) Where did a kid who pretty much raised herself get the strength and common sense to avoid the worst of the pitfalls? A mystery of life.

Aside from that, it's just a great read. Everyone loves an insider story about the rich and famous and this one is told with intelligence and humor. I enjoyed it.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just coming off reading Pete Townsend's Who I Am I was looking for a book that would fill in some of the gossip Pete left out. This was not to be. In fact Ms. Wells and I have the complete opposite idea of what the late 60's early 70's were about. Plus she didn't seem to really enjoy her job very much although she says how much fun she had, her descriptions make it sound like she was miserable.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book An easy read,plenty of name dropping along the journey through her life.there was a couple of times when you where pulled up sharp by the harsh realities of life.the main part of the book his her being let into the inner sanctum of the Osmonds.i think that to meet any stars musical,tv or movies could find yourself finding they are human with the complexities that go with life but more magnified because they are under scrutiny of the people such as the author.

[Gioia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read. At times a bit boring but it was ok

[Paul Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent book about a girl growing up in the world of magazines, PR and pop music through the 60s and 70s. Plenty of name dropping and no excessive titillation. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Johanna Ggg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really fun book.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent enough read about a pop culture writer( and by one too being factual) within a teen magazine taking on the sixties and seventies.
Being a eighties kid and fan of the glam rock era I found the seventies thing the most interesting bit...I don't think this book maybe had a international appeal in some ways as I think a lot of the stars are domestic ..however as I knew who they where I enjoyed this.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fortunately remember most of the times and bands mentioned here. Fascinating to read about what sounded like a great job and life.

Likeable and an easy read, she got to meet Jim and Jimi very very cool!

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I liked this book. Judy had my ideal job and her book made me feel nostalgic for an era that was way before my time. She also grew up in my local area so I recognised a lot of the places from her childhood.

[Michele Brooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a seventies child, this book brought back so many memories of listening to music on the radio with my dad ( my mum wouldn't let us have a stereo). I absolutely loved it, particularly the way the author drops names in such an unassuming, casual way.

[Tim Julian · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read and mildly entertaining though her perceptions don't go much beyond "he seemed a bit full of himself" or indeed "he once borrowed my lipstick".