Toppermost - Music site with a difference

Clip of the Week

We are sad to announce that Dave Stephens, a significant contributor to this website, passed away on 17th July this year after a short illness. Over a period of eight years, Dave wrote 152 posts for Toppermost, including 32 co-written with Cal Taylor. Dave had an encyclopaedic knowledge of 50s and 60s rock, rockabilly, blues, country but it didn’t stop there – witness his posts on Mighty Baby, Fifty Foot Hose, Cotton Mather for example. Dave Stephens, who also wrote two eBooks on rock music (see his bio), was also a family man and proud grandparent who divided his time between Berkhamsted and Newquay. He will be sorely missed. Dave was a top man, sports fan, serial tweeter and gifted writer and we were privileged to be a platform for some of his work. You’ll find an alphabetical list of his Toppermosts here.

This Week’s Book Choice

Justin Currie’s Parkinson’s diagnosis came as a massive shock to me. I no longer have to imagine how big a shock it was to Justin as he has written this book, “The Tremolo Diaries: Life On The Road And Other Diseases” (New Modern).

We are introduced early to The Ghastly Affliction and learn of the diagnosis. Also, to Gavin, a shaky right hand who along with Justin is the main character in this unlikely buddy story. His appearances are unwelcome, unannounced and unrelenting. Part one as Del Amitri trek across the US as support to Barenaked Ladies from enormodome to enormodome is essentially a tour guide. Part two takes us to Europe as support to Simple Minds. Through more recognisable towns and cities Justin still manages to draw a smile or a tear, a guffaw or a pang of pain and frustration. I haven’t travelled much, hardly at all. I now want to start. As a travel guide the book gets 5 stars. We learn that touring with a band is mind-numbingly dull, repetitive and bleak except for the time spent on stage. Unless of course you’re fighting an errant and unpredictable right hand. So, as well as regaling us with tales of locals, mega stores, museums (lots of museums), art galleries (lots of art galleries), eateries (lots of eateries) and the gigs, we learn of the impact of Parkinson’s disease on a person who happens to be a successful (yes you are Justin, despite your protestations) professional musician.

Justin Currie has always written about the shit side of life, love and loss with brutal honesty in his songs. This book, this diary, this opus, this confessional, this therapy session, whatever it is, takes it to another level. Writing this honest, and this exposing, doesn’t come along often.

Dave Ross

For a longer appraisal of The Tremolo Diaries visit Dave’s website.

Read all our previous book reviews here.