Review by Vaughan Griggs
The Teacher – The
Tony Sheridan Story
by Alan Mann
In 2006, the author Alan Mann began researching and writing
a biography of Beatles associate Tony Sheridan, with his full co-operation.
However, in 2010 Tony abruptly withdrew his consent and
threatened legal action if the book was published. Therefore, this book is not
the full blown biography originally intended; instead it takes the form of
interviews conducted between Alan and Tony, with added comments from the author
throughout. It’s a slim volume (at 120 pages) but the question and answer
format works well allowing Tony Sheridan to tell his story in his own words.
The book is divided into themed chapters, including Tony’s
early years in skiffle bands in his home city of Norwich and his involvement in the 1950s rock
‘n’ roll scene. Of most interest to us of, course, is the early 1960s period in
Hamburg when
Tony befriended the Beatles and regularly appeared with them on stage. Famously,
in 1961, they also recorded several songs as Tony’s backing band (their first
recordings in a professional recording studio.) This section covers about a
third of the book, but the other chapters are also of great interest as Tony
led a very colourful life!
Tony Sheridan emerges from this excellent book as a fascinating,
enigmatic character, brutally honest at times, but with a self destructive
streak that hampered his career. He was, by all accounts, an impressive performer
on stage and one of the best guitarists around, but he was unwilling to
compromise to gain mainstream success. Consequently, his career never took off
in the way it should have. Hopefully, this book will bring Tony’s work to a
wider audience because as Alan Mann says,”There’s so much more to the man than
as a minor footnote in a Beatles article.” Perhaps this book will also create
enough interest for Tony’s full biography to be published one day.
and at the City Book Shop website: www.citybookshopnorwich.co.uk
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