John ‘makes it’ a pop tale to remember
WHEN we last left John Barrow in 2007 he and his long time pal and musical partner, Gaz Birtles, were working on tracks for the album Toothpick Bridge by Leicester outfit “ist”, which was produced by ex-Beastie Boys producer Jay Burnett.
Since then this sax-playing music veteran who has described himself as an “almost has been” has been recording with the likes of the Fun Loving Criminals and Radio Riddler, whose album saw guest vocal spots from the likes of Sinead O’Connor, Suggs, Ali Campbell and Beverly Knight.
These episodes and much more have now all led to a new revised edition of John’s super book “How NOT to make it in the Pop World.” which was last published in 2007.
This reviewer first heard the sax-sounds of John and Gaz on an early 1980s night in the smoky atmosphere of “Tiff’s” nightclub, Coalville.
Peace of Mind, by Leicester band, The Swinging Laurels blew through the club like a sax-powered disco freight train passing through town. Quite brilliant and never forgotten.
At that time John and Laurels were on the cusp of pop fame, they were about to be seen on Top of the Pops backing Fun Boy Three on the hit Telephone Always Rings, did a session for John Peel and later that year record a stormer of a single with Boy George as guest vocalist.
And so what happened next....?
As the warm-hearted John says in his introduction: “I have strutted my stuff with two bands on Top of the Pops - there is no Lear jet in my driveway!
“During 30 years in the fairyland that is the pop world I can point to 80 releases.
“I have worked and recorded for many major and independent record labels, signed megabucks recording and publishing deals - associating with world name pop icons and producers ers.
“There is no Lamborghini in my driveway.”
John describes his book as a “sorry tale of his stroll through the labyrinth of dreams that is the pop industry.”.
But the tale itself and the telling of it is far from sorry - indeed it is warm, funny, and packed with great anecdotes, not just of John’s escapades with the heady pop world, but his early days starting out in the Transit van land that was home for many a band in the 1970s.
Satin suits, budgie smugglers, club nights, tour tales and times with some of the biggest pop stars of the 80s, abound in this super book.
John may not have “made it” in the pop world in one sense, but he has certainly “made it” a wonderful story to devour.
• How NOT to make it in the Pop World (diary of an almost has-been) is available through
Trafford Publishing at https://bit.ly/2UZe2W1
and also Amazon at https://amzn.to/3egKNFN