Black Vinyl, White Powder (2001) by Simon Napier-Bell

 Book Review

Black Vinyl, White Powder (2001)

by Simon Napier-Bell

  Simon Napier-Bell has one of those "only in England" biographies that starts with him leaving Public School in the 60's to be a tour manager for pre-Beatles English skiffle bands, living in London as the Beatles emerged, managing the Yardbirds and Marc Bolan and then going on to manage the band Japan before managing Wham! Along the way he saw A LOT, which inspired him to write this book, which is a history of the UK music scene with an emphasis on, yes, THE DRUGS.

  What drugs?  Mostly speed and cocaine with some coverage of heroin, hash, LSD and E.  Readers familiar with the events depicted- basically the music industry from the early 1960's through the 1980's from the perspective of a music industry professional who lived in London (Except for that full year he spent abroad for "tax purposes" lol);  but the anecdotal style, interspersed with well sourced quotes from various music magazines and general press interviews, is breezily readable.   I'm not sure I learned anything reading Black Vinyl, White Powder but for those generally interested in the history of pop music in the 20th century it makes for a good addition to the book shelf.   The index is hilarious.