When I was young, I loved reading adventure novels, yet I never would have thought back then that I'd end up writing one, not to mention being the main protagonist.
When I turned 16, I saw David Bowie During the tour where he first presented Ziggy Stardust, there were barely a few hundred spectators present. At some moment, David perched atop Mick Ronson’s shoulders as the guitarist strolled through the modest gathering. It was beyond my imagination at that time that I would someday not just encounter Bowie but also end up working for him for almost four decades.
The subsequent week the powerful Who arrived in town, and through some unexpected turn of events, I found myself entangled with them throughout the remainder of my career. Fate had been sealed, and rock and roll beckoned loudly and clearly.
I believe the concept of writing a book started to solidify when I was aboard. Rolling Stones In 1982, I embarked on a tour across Europe as a public relations specialist tasked with managing all media-related activities throughout the continent. My role involved direct communication with both the band and various television networks, radio stations, and print journalists from numerous publications.
Despite this, considerable time was spent traveling via trains, boats, and airplanes during the band’s tours; meanwhile, I found myself with ample free moments, so I began jotting down ideas.
Occasionally, the entries had an absurd quality, potentially featuring dental check-ups, a surprise appearance by Motörhead, and encounters with Marvin Gaye at a theater.
Years afterward, Prince commented that our handwriting resembled each other’s since we both penned things in hieroglyphics. Occasionally, the records would be bizarre and could encompass scheduling an appointment with a dentist, receiving a visit from Motörhead, and arranging a meetup with Marvin Gaye at a theater. I assumed these jottings would prove beneficial someday.
When I began working with David Bowie In the early 1980s, when I joined him for a tour of Australia, I began writing seriously. It gradually became clear to me that I was observing significant cultural events, which might be of interest to people in the future.
The book is rather varied, and one puzzle was how to begin it.
We chose to start with my remarkable final encounter with David Bowie followed by the ensuing memorial luncheon attended by numerous individuals such as producer Tony Visconti and Sir Bob Geldof. This created a vivid and nostalgic opening, serving as a poignant reminder for me that I had witnessed these events firsthand.
Alan Edwards is a PR specialist and writer. I Was Present: Reports from a Lifetime in Rock and Roll
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