A Promoters Tale : Rock at the Sharp End

by Geoff Docherty

He promoted them all - The Who, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Yes, Free, Rod Stewart, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, The Nice and scores more. Sometimes they were on the way up, sometimes they were already big, sometimes they didn't show at all. Acts that didn't usually play in the north-east played for Geoff Doherty. This is his story, spiced with sex, drugs and violence. A miner's son, his upbringing was marked by hardship and countless street fights, but at the Bay Hotel in Sunderland, he brought self-belief and steely determination to getting the big stars to play on his patch. Docherty progressed from being doorman and bouncer to self-appointed promoter with a style all of his own and became arguably the biggest rock concert promoter in the north-east of England.

Paperback

First published November 2, 2002

Reviews

[Emily Pugh · Rating 2 out of 5]

i respect what he achieved in his career but the whole industry back then reeked of misogyny 🤢

[Kirsty (alkalinekiwi) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cancelled library book from one of the book sales I have frequented over the years. Bought because I was interested in reading about another aspect of the music industry.
I enjoyed Geoff's tales of bringing rock to the people, standing up against power-hungry bouncers and the little known bands that would turn out to be huge.

Reading this made me want to see more live music.

[John Holliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read, I was there for a good part of the action so In some ways Im biased. But it is also a well written and intersting book about a fascinating period in musical history