POW! Tony Fletcher in conversation

The evening will take the form of an 'In Conversation' with best selling author Tony Fletcher led by James McNair (Mojo), and will include readings from his upcoming new book 'POW!' When UK Punk Went Pop - 1980-84', and stories around his work and writing. *Tony will have books for sale on the evening*

Further information on Tony Fletcher:

Before authoring eleven books, including best selling biographies of Who drummer Keith Moon, R.E.M. and the Smiths, Tony Fletcher was a teenaged music magazine publisher in his native England. But, with a degree of industry that sounds absolutely exhausting, he also ran a record label, interviewed rock stars, led a band, promoted concerts, worked as an on-air TV interviewer — and still found time for romance. Fletcher chronicled the early days of his life and career in Boy About Town (2013) but had enough extraordinary experiences left over for this colorful and engaging memoir. 1980–’84 was an explosive time in British rock, as the disruptive energy of bands like the Clash and 
Sex Pistols gave way to more sophisticated and chart-friendly genres and bands. Fletcher was on the front lines, running a record label with the Jam’s Paul Weller, attending all the important concerts and meeting the top acts, many of whom became MTV regulars: Madness, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Wham!, Echo & the Bunnymen, Killing Joke, Adam and the Ants, the Smiths and more. Then there’s the time he interviewed Paul McCartney... This is a coming-of-age story, the tale of a naïve young man in a cultural whirlwind who learns some hard lessons about business, journalism, love and sex – all the while trying to get his own band a record deal.

Praise for POW!

“POW! is quite an extraordinary achievement, at the very least for showing that Tony’s memories 
are as detailed and full as if these things happened just last week. Most auto-biographies skim 
over the bad bits with a wry eye, a “whoops” with a grin, but Tony has no such tone. His gods are 
as slammed as they are revered, by showing both their humanity and their human-ness, their own 
faults and problems.” Hugo Burnham, Gang of Four

"Fletcher's POW! is one of those brilliant memoirs that reveals the stories behind all those pieces 
that many of us remember from his precocious journalism in Jamming! and The Face, etc, as well 
as the inside skinny on running a record label with Paul Weller. It’s a fascinating insider account 
of the British music business in that wonderful early ’80s era.” Pat Gilbert, author of Passion Is a 
Fashion: The Real Story of the Clash


Praise for Tony Fletcher's previous other books


Dear Boy: The Life of Keith Moon/Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend
“Top flight airport reading… a resounding success.” New Musical Express
“Explosive and entertaining.” Vanity Fair
“A great rock biography…an admirable piece of research, and a damn entertaining read.” 
Austin Chronicle
“Moon manages to capture, and often hilariously, the lunatic antics that earned Moon his 
nickname yet never fails to take him seriously as an artist.” Entertainment Weekly
“The definitive word on one of the century's most colorful entertainers. Highly 
recommended.” Library Journal


In the Midnight Hour: The Life & Soul of Wilson Pickett
"Fletcher's vibrant book brings Pickett and his music to glorious life." Publishers Weekly
“A captivating account of the wild, pugnacious and swaggering soul singer Wilson 
Pickett.” The Sunday Times
“Beautifully written, especially when describing the classic songs, and vividly underpinned 
by civil rights developments…” Record Collector


A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of the Smiths
"[A] meticulous biography. This exhaustive, well-researched account brings fresh detail 
and thought to the party." The Sunday Times
“The story itself is riveting, and Fletcher tells it lucidly and fairly.” The Irish Times
“Reveals new details and brings new depths to the story of Morrissey, Marr, Rourke, Joyce 
and the birth of the band." Mojo


All Hopped Up and Ready to Go: Music from the Streets of New York, 1927-77
“It will be hard for any writer to trump this magnificent achievement.” Record Collector
“Fletcher's narrative hurtles along like a high-speed cab ride down Broadway.” Mojo
“Fletcher tells the story well.... His gift is enthusiasm.” The New York Times Book Review

- +44 (0)191 257 8218
- General enquiries contact number

- Located at main entrance
- Ticket pickup with valid ID
- Recommended to arrive 30 minutes before event start
- Advance reservation required for will call tickets

- Street parking available nearby
- Limited on-site parking for venue
- Public car parks within walking distance
- Recommended to use local public transportation

- Wheelchair accessible spaces
- Ground floor entry points
- Designated areas for mobility-impaired guests
- Advance notice recommended for special accommodations

- No outside food or drinks
- Appropriate attire required
- No smoking inside venue
- Photography may be restricted during performances

- Age restrictions vary by event
- Children under 14 must be accompanied by adult
- Some events may be 18+ only
- Family-friendly shows typically specified in event details