I Don't Take Requests

by Tony Marnoch, Michael Hennegan

** CONTAINS NEW MATERIAL ** THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTELLER & WINNER OF THE ATTITUDE BOOK AWARD

'Refreshing, inspiring and candid.' ATTITUDE

'I love this man so much. He was, and always will be, my knight in shining Westwood.' DAVINA MCCALL

'This is a story that should never have been told' KATE MOSS

'The perfect beach read' THE SUNDAY TIMES

'If you want to change your life but can't.. I strongly advise you read this book' TRACEY EMIN

As one of club culture's most notorious - and best loved - figures, Tony is a complete force of nature.
Here he tells the most extraordinary stories of depravity and hedonism, of week-long benders and extreme self-destruction - and of recovery, redemption, friendship and the joy of a good tune.
___________________________________________________________________________

'Anyone can get a party started, but no one keeps it going like Fat Tony, the energy never dips and
what a life he's lived.. He's a tosser but we still love him.' ELTON JOHN & DAVID FURNISH

___________________________________________________________________________

Harrowing, honest and funny, this is the candid and outrageous memoir of a life of extremes. It's a story of getting it all and losing it all. Addiction, recovery, and starting again. Drawing a vivid portrait of Britain's street culture from the 1980s to the noughties, DJ Fat Tony describes his childhood on a London estate where he honed his petty criminality, was abused by an older man and became best friends with Boy George. He spent his teenage years parading the Kings Road in his latest (mostly stolen) clobber, worked as a receptionist at a brothel, hung out with Leigh Bowery and Andy Warhol, and created his drag persona, before becoming DJ to the stars (including Prince and Madonna) and spiralling into a life-threatening drug addiction.

This is a story of loss and redemption and living to tell all the tales in glorious, funny and often heart-breaking detail, from one of social media's best-loved meme-thieves and the world-renowned DJ.

___________________________________________________________________________

'There is nobody in London, let alone the world who has lived a more extraordinary life... his journey from villain to real life hero is one of the most beautiful examples of humanity I have ever witnessed. I wouldn't be without this c*nt.' KELLY OSBOURNE

'Hearing Tony's story is brutal and shocking. He is nothing short of a miracle and his willingness to be of service to others seeking sobriety is testament to how far he has come from the days of pulling his own teeth out.' MARC JACOBS

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Memoir

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2022

Reviews

[Madison Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ - flew through this, wow what a life!!

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started and finished in a day, this is a page turning memoir from legendary DJ Fat Tony. Heart breaking, horrifying, funny, life affirming, terrible, each page brings something new and finds you completely amazed that Tony is still alive.

Whilst making this story funny and a survivor story, Tony pulls no punches here. He is very clear about the price of the hedonism and the destruction he wreaked, not just for himself but around him. The layer of glamour gets more transparent with every chapter you read until you find him a ruined man having to find sobriety and build his life piece by piece from the rubble.

The fact that he does this is testament to his incredible spirit and his work, taking his recovery message to others and paying back what was given to him, is wonderful to see. It is also nice to see that the scrappy, bitchy queen you fell in love with at the beginning is still there in recovery, just kinder and more vulnerable.

[Elizabeth Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely brilliant autobiography/memoir. Read it in two days. At the start I was a bit like oh here we go, glorifying the good old days of drugs and hedonism. Those stories were incredible and so evocative of a time. However, it progresses and Tony touches on issues that are difficult and not ‘fun’, his HIV diagnosis, the sexual abuse he suffered, the false sex offence accusation and of course, when he hit rock bottom before entering rehab. He reflects on his life, the people that he hurt and those that he helped and helped him. He turned his life around, back on track but it wasn’t easy and he makes clear, each day is a day of recovery and constant work. It was so good to hear all of this from a recovering addict, it helped me enormously understand the disease of addiction a bit more. Not only great read but many things learnt.

[Brett Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

'To laugh and to love, because really that's all I've ever wanted. To be loved'

If I could give this autobiography 10 stars I would. Probably the best I have ever read. What a life this man has had. From the depths of severe addiction, sexual trauma and broken relationships to the brighter days, truly inspirational

Devoured this book in less than 24 hours. Highly recommend. I want to be his friend (lol)

[Mary McKee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more of a 7/10. Very interesting life and uplifting at the end, but a bit repetitive in parts and the timelines are quite jumbled making it a bit hard to keep up at times. Overall, a great message though and feels very authentic.

[Lindsay B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories he told at times were unbelievable! It's actually amazing that he is still around to tell them. A very honest and raw read, it's isane what people can go through and still live to tell the story.

[Darren Crook · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable, entertaining, occasionally bleak, funny, educational and honest insight in to Fat Tony’s life and a scene I had no prior knowledge of.. wish I could forget it and read again! 5/5

[Lisa Clift · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an astonishing story, so far removed from my own world that I am agape at the stories, the drugs, the gay culture, and some of it sounds like an absolute blast. The casual cruelty, bitchiness and malicious hate is quite unpleasant and it irks me when it is presented as something clever and funny. However, Tony is unflinching when he does face his demons and presents all his faults in gruesome detail. He has had an incredible life, knew everyone, fucked them or got high with them, and seemed to have either no fear or all the fear which he disguised with drugs. He seemed to be having the best time until he wasn't. I admire his honesty and his commitment to sobriety, and to knowing himself so well. Fantastic read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I read a review that said this was worth the effort, and now I understand. The first 40-50% is hard going, I am (clearly) not cool enough to be familiar with a lot of the people and places and events named and I almost gave up as I read the first half. Glad I persevered. Tony’s story of getting clean, and getting his life back together is an inspiration. But more than that is the man’s complete honesty with who he was and what he did. To tell the truth about others is one thing, to be able to be honest about and to yourself is a gift. And I agree, never look your age.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started the booking thinking what a vile and repulsive man Tony was. He didn’t seem to express any regret and often seemed to enjoy telling us what a c**t he was to people. Making your way through the book, you realise in the final third that this was all the addiction. Tony’s story is at times harrowing, detailing his abuse and subsequent addiction.

His story of overcoming his addiction is somewhat inspiring, how he was able to turn his life back around and regain a successful career after f*cking it up the first time.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, if poorly written, I imagine audiobook would be better. Great peek into London clubland from the late 80s through the early 2000s with all its attendant lasciviousness and the addiction that always seems to follow. Loved the gossipy insights but could have stood a lot more…holding out for a Tank story that never came (unsurprisingly). It was also a little short on the music. Mentions of Andy Warhol and Judith Chalmers within a few pages of each other made me laugh out loud and epitomises the very British essence (and humour) of Tony’s descent and recovery.

[Lynsey Pollard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, once I got into the pace of it. Tony shouldn’t be alive. He paints an amazing, glamorous, vicious, debauched, hedonistic picture of the party scene of the eighties and nineties. Love the celeb stories and the outrageous antics but am so glad it ended with his recovery story. The glamour wore thin, his past needed to be dealt with and he handles it with amazing strength, clarity and honesty. I think this book will be lifesaving as his incredible charity and advocacy work.

[Jess Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of what the human body and spirit can endure. An ode to Drugs. Sex. Fame. Drag. Music. Fashion. London. Clubs. Hedonism. HIV. Abuse. Addiction. Loss. Recovery. Redemption. Relationships. Success. And not giving a fuck. Fabulous. Finished in two sittings. Tony narrating it himself on Audible was the cherry on top.

[Don McKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful recovery story

I met Tony in the crazy 80's in London. He's got my name wrong in the story but the rest rings true!
God bless him for surviving and coming out on top!
Meeting Mrs Marnock at Tony' s birthday was a highlight of my time in London😉 He tells a brutally honest story.

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a surprisingly good memoir, from a very funny character. Genuine and touching at times, the book gives an account of his life from childhood to present day. It’s titillatingly full of 90s and noughties gossip which could get him into all sorts of bother, but you never doubt the veracity of it. I didn’t really know who fat Tony was when I picked this up, shame on me. I certainly do now!

[Estee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did nothing but listen to my Audible book today! I couldn’t pull myself away and listened to the whole book in one sitting.

Brilliant. Funny. Sad. Reminiscent of the 80s. The clubbing scene. The gay clubbing scene. Drugs. Aids. A-Star Celebs. Ibiza. Rehab. Survivor.

Loved it. Such an absorbing book.

[Aimee Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always found dj fat Tony hilarious, and reading his autobiography was a no brainer. Tony takes us through his hedonistic lifestyle including crazy partying, heavy drug taking and nights out with famous celebrities. I found the book incredibly raw and refreshingly honest.

[loucumailbeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving about addiction and also one of the funniest audio books I have ever listened too !

[Georgina Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book read in a while. Read it on flight to Mexico. Brilliant book.

[Donna M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic personal account, really thought provoking with added humour. What an amazing journey DJ Fat Tony has had!

[Mrs Ann M Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

So honest and truly wonderful

[Becca Cullum-Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring story but also a harrowing one. If you’ve ever experienced the realities of addiction (whether it’s yourself or through a loved one) I really recommend this book!

[Lianne Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a scientific miracle that this man is alive but thank god he is so he could write this book! I read it in one day on a bus travelling across Eastern Europe. It made a painful journey pleasant :)

[Ellie Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the saddest and most real and inspirational books I’ve ever read

[James Pronger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read definitely recommend

[Annalisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and entertaining read of the club scene of 80’s/90’s and early 00’s and unbelievable account of his drug abuse. He’s a walking miracle!

[Louise Bath · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Given the triumphant ending of Fat Tony's story, I feel a bit guilty about not giving this book the full complement of stars. But it's *so* completely removed from my own life and experience that it's hard to assess the process sufficiently. I don't know half the people and places he mentions, so I don't know how impressed I should be. And boy, does Tony name-drop! Your ears will be ringing from all the clangs. Plus, reading the book is like having someone constantly shouting in your face - but then, in fairness, that's indicative of Tony's positive, "No fucks given!" personality.

Tony's life is one of extremes and is often brutal and shocking. However, he relates it all with some fondness for his younger self in Battersea and his petty criminality; but at the same time, emphasising his regret for the heartache and other side-effects it brought to his beloved Mum. He also describes the sickening sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of the man who ran the film club at a local arts centre youth group. So many of Tony's experiences are truly horrifying, but there isn't a shred of self-pity. It's the same when he describes the depths of his drug addiction in almost forensic detail. It's stark, but his unflinching depiction of the disintegration of his mind and body is a sobering lesson, as well as being the perfect cautionary tale for anyone tempted to try drugs and thinks they "can handle it."

It's to Marnoch's credit that his honesty made this reader root for him - there isn't an iota of "Poor Me" in these pages. Instead, he looks back on his life and series of extraordinary jobs workingbwith extraordinary people and the awful downs of his life as one massive learning experience: regretting nothing of the darker side because it's made him what he is today. Some reviewers have expressed distaste that Marnoch shows no remorse for his ill-treatment of people in his past. I, however, don't think that's entirely true. Some of it happened when he was under the influence of drugs, and some of it was due to youthful stupidity. Marnoch claims to have learned from what he did but adds that for him, what's done is done, and can't be changed: however, he does accept that what he did was often inexcusable and unforgivable.

The section of this autobiography dealing with Tony's addiction is a tough read, with its delineation of its mental and physical effects. It is also enlightening, and there's no glorification of drug-taking in any way. The story of his battle to get clean is amazing, and it's easy to cheer him on. He doesn't shy away from the tremendous difficulties he faced, but ultimately, he defeats his demons; he's now been clean for over 15 years, and does as much work as he can for drug charities.

Candid, outrageous, and the story of a life lived to its limits, this force of nature tells "the most extraordinary stories of depravity and hedonism, of week-long benders and extreme self-destruction, and of recovery, redemption, friendship, and the joy of a great time."

[Andrew Vaughan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting life story, just though the way it was written fell a bit flat. Got a bit sick of all the name dropping too.

Still had some good insights on addiction and mental health, and I thought the ending was nice.

[Heidi Compton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn’t really like him as a person that much so didn’t massively care about his stories - found the listing of club nights etc bit boring after a while - readable but didn’t give me much