AMY WINEHOUSE: BEYOND BLACK
I was asked by Naomi Parry, Amy’s close friend and stylist, to produce an introduction for her book ‘Beyond Black’ – celebration and remembrance of Amy’s impact on music and pop culture at large.
The book features stories and anecdotes from a wide range of people connected to Amy, specially commissioned photography of memorabilia, styled and dressed themed sets incorporating Amy's clothing, possessions and lyrics, and previously unseen archival images. Interspersed throughout are personal reflections on Amy's life and work, provided by her friends, colleagues and fans. These include Ronnie Spector, Vivienne Westwood, Bryan Adams, Little Simz, Carl Barat, close friend Catriona Gourlay, Douglas Charles-Ridler (owner of the Hawley Arms), tattooist Henry Hate, goddaughter Dionne Broomfield and DJ Bioux. Each one has a personal story to share and together their anecdotes and reflections build into a complex picture of a much admired but troubled star.
My introduction puts these insights into context with an introduction that highlights the principal events and achievements in Amy's life and work, and the key characters that played a part in it.
‘Beyond Black’ is out now via Thames & Hudson.
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS LP
In 2017 Mondo decided to re-release the Josie and the Pussycats soundtrack on vinyl. After the film's producers Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan read an article I wrote about Josie and the Pussycats as the world's greatest fictional pop punk band, I was asked to put together the liner notes for the re-release. Features an introduction and an oral history compiled from interviews with Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan, Kay Hanley and Rachel Leigh-Cook.