Damaged Goods Books

An informal yet insightful guide to some of the capital’s lost drinking dens, plus tips on where you can still get a great pint today!

Following from London’s Lost Music Venues Vol 1 & 2, author Paul Talling turns his attention to the capital’s lost drinking dens. If you enjoyed his previous books, you’ll enjoy this one too. Read about The Ruskin Arms in Manor Park where the Small Faces used to rehearse; The Star in Croydon where Jimi Hendrix, Captain Beefheart, Cream, and Fleetwood Mac all played; and Putney’s White Lion who hosted  punk and new wave bands including X-Ray Spex, Tubeway Army, Crass, Monochrome Set and The UK Subs. In addition to the many music-related anecdotes Paul broadens this book out into an alternative, sticky-carpeted history of London, viewed from the bar of some of its most iconic (and now sadly gone) drinking dens.

A well-stocked jukebox, bar snacks, and pints of Whitbread, Fuller’s, Truman’s or Courage on tap. Nothing quite matches the atmosphere of a London pub. But since 2004, one in five pubs across Greater London have closed. This book pays tribute to many of the great public drinking places we’ve lost, while also celebrating some pubs that have returned from the dead.

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Praise for Pauls other books:

‘The book is a belter. What we call in my house a Velvet Underground – a great Loo Read’ Paul Ross – BBC London

‘Talling has managed to show another side to the capital, one of abandoned buildings that somehow retain a sense of beauty.’ Metro

‘Excellent . . . As much as it is an inadvertent vision of how London might look after a catastrophe, DERELICT LONDON is valuable as a document of the one going on right in front of us.’ New Statesman

A truly unique biography that documents in detail the early live career of an iconic band as never before. Including every UK gig between Feb ’81 and June ’84 – some fifty plus nights – Dec Hickey witnessed New Order’s first formative steps on from the demise of Joy Division.

Forewords by Peter Hook and Stephen Morris

Introductions by Moby and Paul Morley

Moby – Up until about 10 minutes ago I thought that the depths of my Joy Division/New Order obsession were untouched/unmatched. Then I looked through this book. Ah boy, I’m beaten. And in awe…  

Paul Morley – Tiny extract from his Introduction to the book

‘I can very much understand someone having an obsession with New Order… It was inevitable that a fan, a loyal, attentive follower, of such a group on such a meticulous label releasing records packaged with such scrupulous suggestive care would themselves be particularly obsessive… The fan(atic) symbolises the idea that without obsession, life is nothing… For the fan, New Order are an ideal object of desire, the perfect pop group – in the form of a perfect puzzle, an actual sign of fluid intelligence – to obsess over, to collect, analyse, interpret, treasure, and ultimately possess.’

John Kennedy – X-posure/Radio x – The epic book… one amazing tome… a cultural history and an essential addition to any New Order fan’s life… a much-treasured item.

Rough Trade, London – Lavish and stunning book

Johnny Moped – The man, the band, the punk myth, the none-hit-wonder, the absent singer, the comeback (and back, and back again) king. Five decades of heroic eccentricity, elusive musicality and accidentally saving The Electric Light Orchestra.

This story has it all and so much more. Featuring brand new interviews with Dave Berk, Slimy Toad, Xerxes and Johnny himself, plus exclusive insights from Captain Sensible, Marco Pirroni and a litany of old school expert fans and perturbed modern Moped riders, this is the only book you will ever need to read about one of the all-time great misunderstood and frequently mislaid rock ‘n’ roll troopers.

Formed in Croydon in May 1974, the band were a proto-punk band, initially calling themselves Johnny Moped and the 5 Arrogant Superstars before reverting to just Johnny Moped by January 1975. They became one of the pioneering punk bands that played at London’s legendary Roxy Club.

Their track ‘Hard Lovin’ Man’ appeared on the hit various artists album Live at the Roxy WC2 (1977). The band went on to sign with Chiswick Records and released three singles and one album, Cycledelic, before splitting up. A low-key reunion album (The Search For Xerxes) came out in 1991. Sixteen years after its release Cycledelic was listed as one of the best fifty punk albums of all-time by The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Popular Music.

A documentary about the band, Basically, Johnny Moped, produced by Fred Burns, premiered in September 2013. The film further cemented the band’s legendary status. ‘It’s currently available to watch in the UK via Netflix.

In 2016 the revitalised band released a new album It’s A Real Cool Baby’ on Damaged Goods Records, with a fourth studio album ‘Lurrigate Your Mind ‘following in 2019. With interest in the band at an all-time high, the time is now right for their story to be told.

The second volume of the photographic guide to the iconic lost live music venues of London, as they are today. featuring over 140 more lost venues, focussing on the larger halls and theatres of London’s musical heyday.

Did you dance the night away at the Hammersmith Palais? Queue outside the Rainbow theatre to see The Jam or The Osmonds? Or jive along to rock ‘n’ roll legends at the Cellar Club in Kingston?

Then this is another book is for you!

Paul Talling, author of ‘London’s Lost Music Venues 1’ returns his attention to the lost music venues of London. This time round he focusses on the larger, theatre sized venues as well as a few smaller venues not included in the first volume plus some more recent losses. This book takes a look at some of the iconic venues of the last 60 years with images, flyers and modern-day photos of what they are now. Venues include Hammersmith Palais, The Rainbow, The Astoria, The Borderline, The Lyceum and many more. Featuring photos, adverts & tickets, this book is a reminder of a less homogenised London, taking you back to the city’s halcyon days of Rock N Roll, Jazz, Blues, Rolk, Rock, Punk, Indie and more.

A photographic guide to the iconic lost live music venues of London, as they are today

Did you get tinnitus from too many gigs at The Bull and Gate?
Spent your youth propping up the bar at The Marquee Club?
Or witness early gigs by rock legends on Eel Pie Island?

Then this book is for you!

Paul Talling takes a look at some of London’s much-missed music venues from the post-war period to the present day.

Featuring photos, adverts & tickets, this book is a portal to a less homogenised London, taking you back to the city’s halcyon days of jazz, blues, folk, rock, punk, indie and more.

You can now pre-order this from any local book shop or record shop or online via Waterstones, Gaunt Books, Foyles, Book Depository, Amazon and all other good sources worldwide.

https://www.londonslostmusicvenues.com/

This was Damaged Goods Books first release from 1993 and features the poetry of Mr Wild Billy Childish.

At this point over 30 collections of poetry had already been published all over the world.

In this box set you got three 7″ singles, a 64 page book and a postcard all in a lovely presentation box.

This release was limited to 1000 copies which are long since sold out.

More information https://damagedgoods.co.uk/discography/trembling-of-life/

http://www.discogs.com/Billy-Childish-Trembling-Of-Life/release/2772962