Rock Roadie: Backstage and Confidential with Hendrix, Elvis, the "Animals", Tina Turner, and an All-star Cast

by James "Tappy" Wright

Geordie 'Tappy' was there at the beginning when Eric Burdon and the boys formed the Animals and when they recorded their anthem 'House of the Rising Sun'. He was there at the end when they re-formed for a world tour in the early 80s. He was also there when unknown guitarist Jimi Hendrix played to a handful of punters in a smoky American club and next day recorded one of his biggest hits 'Hey Joe'. He regularly took Jimi and his band to the VD clinic as groupies gave them more than their bodies. Among many others, Tappy looked after superstar Tina Turner and her fiery husband Ike on their first ever tour of the UK. He has seen it all, done it all, been jailed, 'press ganged' into the US Army as a deserter, came close to joining the Monkees, was witness and victim to early racism in the music business and has seen drugs kill and destroy. He single-handedly defeated the Spanish Armada's attack on London, during a bad acid trip on LSD. And he knows the real reason Hendrix and his manager Chas Chandler parted company at the height of his fame. Funny, revealing, even frightening in parts, the author blows open the world of rock and roll in the 60s, 70s and 80s, including an explosive revelation about the death of a rock legend that will shock the music industry. Tappy's love of music and his ability to be in the right place at the right time have led to a fascinating from playing 2nd guitar with the Animals as they began to form, to working with rock legends from Tina Turner, Little Richard and The Who to Sammy Davies Jnr and Dusty Springfield. He now divides his time between Florida and his native Whitley Bay near Newcastle.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History

236 pages, Hardcover

First published June 25, 2009

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long term fan of rock and soul music and especially Jimi Hendrix I was eagerly looking forward to this book and was not disappointed.

The book is completely full of great little anecdotes and stories - some are a different view on well known rock events (like Hendrix burning his guitar at Montreux, where Tappy was the person who handed him the lighter fuel!), others are enthralling accounts of spending time with some of the greatest musical acts such as John Lennon, Elvis, The Animals, Tina Turner, Little Richard and of course Jimi Hendrix.

It's important to view this book in the correct light - as I've come across some reviews that appear to have missed the point. This is not supposed to be some sort of great literary work of art looking for a Nobel prize for literature. Rather, it's an honestly written first person account of fascinating experiences with some of the world's greatest ever music stars.

For those of us who are really huge Jimi Hendrix fans there's something special in this book. I don't want to spoil it but let's just say you'll find out the real reason Hendrix parted with his manager Chas Chandler - and you'll also find out the incredibly explosive truth about how and why he died!

So, look beyond the writing style and the gratuitous sex and drugs (there's a lot of that ) and instead see, laid bare, the amazing life and times of someone who really was there at the birth of rock 'n' roll, through the 60s and 70s and who recounts everything from accompanying Hendrix on his first flamboyant shopping trips in Carnaby Street, to catching him in bed with Brigitte Bardot!

One other unique aspect to this book is the insight to one of the most secretive characters in rock - (aside perhaps from Elvis's manager The Colonel) Michael Jeffery. Tappy recounts working with Jefferey's through many projects and bands and sheds light on one the shadiest characters in the music business.

There's a treasure trove of amazing stories in this book - so enjoy it!

[Marc Corn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start with this book? This book follows the life of a staring Roadie through height of the Rock 'N' Roll era. His life was filled with ups, downs, laughs and unfortunate endings. As you read through the book, you will be taken on a journey of the music industry, some parts will make you laugh, and other parts will leave you feeling concerned. I was certainly surprised by the real cause of Jimi Hendrix's death, but this seemed obvious as the closing chapters came along. I won't be giving any spoilers, if you would like to know purchase the book because it is a MUST READ!

[Aggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Parts of it had me cracking up over the shenanigans that The Animals pulled, and other times I got pissed off, especially when Wright discussed Ike and Tina Turner's relationship. God, Ike was an asshole!!!!! Very entertaining read. Oh, I love my Animals no matter how obnoxious they were!!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, though I mainly read it for the parts about Hendrix I found there were a lot of stories about other artists James Wright worked with as well, like Tina and Ike Turner, and mainly "The Animals" it seems he was there road manager for a long time. They also all come from around the area my dad does (James and the Animals I mean) so it was good to read about positive things coming from the North East of England too. He also had Brian Jones and John Lennon at his 21st Birthday party, which must be a great memory to be able to look back on in hindsight.
There were lots of funny moments where I genuinely laughed, and unexpected twists, he married a Polish princess and got stalked by the secret services for a time, and at one point was asked to work for them apparently though he refused (or so he says).
I always try to write critical book reviews which is really difficult with such an enjoyable book, but there was one thing that struck me about it. It really brings home the way women were treated by the music industry as sex objects in the 1960's(and how they were treated as property sometimes by their husbands, not by James, but at one point I was shocked by what one of the Animals did to and said about his wife). Though James tries to say he loved all the girls he slept with in their own way, he sure did sleep with a lot of girls! And was also responsible for picking the girls to be bought up to the bands rooms after gigs. There's one quite worrying anecdote about one of the animals (can't remember which one sorry) putting a girl under hypnosis and being unable to bring her out of the trance, so eventually they ended up waving a gun in her face to snap her out of it. I just hope she's OK now, but I have visions of a woman who has a nervous breakdown every time she hears "House Of The Rising Sun"...
He makes some formerly unstated revelations about Hendrix (no spoilers you'll have to read the book, but lets just say he could have done with keeping it in his pants more) and told me something I didn't know about Hendrix's Girlfriend Monika at the time of his death. There was lot of stuff about Michael Jeffery too, it's the only thing I've read so far that made me think of him as only human, where as before I just thought him as some kind of psycho. But there are also a lot of things he doesn't say, makes me wonder what else he knows sometimes...
well worth a read if you are a fan of musicians from this era I really enjoyed it, all I'd say is it's perhaps a book men would enjoy more than women, you really need to be a fan of this era, and understand it was different time before women's liberation to read it and enjoy it as a woman.

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

The life of a Roadie would contain all sorts of sexual encounters, BUT going off and somewhat bragging about the experiences gets shockingly tiring after a while.

I found the tales of certain band members humorous, and also very disgusting.

Plus, the author lies about Hendrix being murdered just so the book would sell more.

Don't bother reading unless you are just curious for something to waste your time.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read. It is interesting to hear about someone who was really present at some interesting events in rock history. I must say that alot of what he says should be taken with a grain of salt - especially involving Jimi's death. His vignettes are interesting if a little short.

[George Kanakaris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice reports about his time with Chuck Berry, Ike and Tina Turner and The Animals. However, his 'eyewitness accounts' about Jimi Hendrix are very questionable. The 'murder' of Hendrix? The tour of the Band Of Gypsies in the USA ?The 'confession' of Michael Jeffrey ?

[C'lestial · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been interested in the behind the scene tales of rock stars and some of the famous. This was written by a roadie who was originally with Eric Burdon and Animals when they first started up and other stories including Ike & Tina Turner until after the death of Jimi Hendrix. Burdon & especially Hendrix, both musicians who were my favorites made this a great read...
I really enjoyed the book and laughed my ass off over some of the antics that went on. It was a really good read portraying the funny incidences to the more serious and shocking parts, and could only have only been written by somebody who was there.
I had already heard about the supposedly real reason Hendrix died, so this book was no surprise to me, only added more detail. I'm sure there were many things he knew that wasn't discussed in this book.
The book was written on his own terms and some of it might not be fitting for somebody who gets grossed out easily or for the morals or lack of them sometimes with rock stars,lol..but this was life and I enjoyed the book!
Times were different in the 60's..no worry of AIDS or many of the laws we have now.Women were treated much differently back then which was at the start of Women's Liberation, so it could be upsetting to those who see how women were pretty well disrespected back then; not only by society but by some of the artists.
All in all, I really enjoyed the book..hadn't laughed so much in a long time.
Would love to read more of his adventures if he ever writes another book.

[Peggy]

This book was super entertaining, especially if you like rock biographies. Tappy Wright worked as the road manager for the Animals (one of the best rock bands of all time, IMO) as well as working with Jimi Hendrix and Ike and Tina Turner. Very entertaining stories to tell! I highly recommend it!

[Steve Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best, most interesting, insightful book I have read. No story is left untold, even some most people would keep to themselves. Tappy tells of exploits while being a roadie for some of the biggest names in music back in the days when music was good.

[Adrian Wilding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight to life on the road with top artists of the swinging 60's!! The piece about the death of Jimi Hendrix was astounding!!