Paper back of Original Rude Boy out in May, 2010

With loads of Specials tour stories from the sell out 2009 tour. 

New material on The Specials in Neville Staple biography

The paperback of Original Rude Boy is out in May and Neville Staple is promising a whole load of new material on the Specials tour - with photos never seen before from the UK, Japan and Australia.  Some behind the scenes gossip.  And a new intro from Amy Winehouse.

Amy Winehouse to write intro to paperback....

Rumours still circulating that Amy will write the intro to Neville's biography - Original Rude Boy.  And a lot of top gossip about the recent Specials tour.

Paperback of Original Rude Boy out soon

The paperback of Original Rude Boy will be published in the spring of 2010.  My mole tells me that there will be plenty of tales from the recent Specials tour while Jerry Dammers will be faded out earlier in the story. 

When the hardback came out in March 2009, it seemed that Dammers' row with the band might overshadow the tour.  The air was thick with talk of legal action and so on.  But with the huge success of the tour, it seems we can all now move on from that episode.

The front cover of the paperback will be white in contrast to the black cover of the hardback.  And rumour has it....Amy Winehouse will be writing a new intro. 

Neville at the Notting Hill book signing for Original Rude Boy

Notting Hill Waterstone's - books run out at signing

Neville signed so many books at the Notting Hill Waterstone's - they ran out.  I was there to see shop staff phoning the Piccadilly store to see if they could get some more copies sent over.  In the end, Neville got in a cab, went down to Piccadilly and signed some more copies there.  There was a huge turnout for a Nottingham signing with fans queueing round the block.  The original rude boy has never been so popular!

Notting Hill book signing this week - Wednesday 25th November

Neville Staple Original Rude Boy: From Borstal to the "Specials"- A Life in Crime and Music
WATERSTONE'S NOTTING HILL GATE Wednesday, 25 November 2009, 1:00PM - 2:00PM
Come and meet 2-tone legend and singer with the band, The Specials as he signs copies of his book, 'Original Rude Boy' at the store.
Further details: 0207 229 9444

Book signings bring in huge crowds

Neville has been doing book signings at HMV stores and Waterstone's stores the length and breadth of Britain.  Notting Hill gets the treatment this week.  The time for the signings was moved forward from 1pm as Nev's been gigging most nights with The Specials or his own band and getting up at the crack of dawn to get to a bookstore was wearing him out.  So he's shipped up at 3pm to write his name in fans' copies of 'Original Rude Boy' - which has, according to my mole, made a tidy profit in hardback.  Unusual in publishing these days. 

HMV book signings

If you haven't caught Nev at one of the current signings, catch him soon.


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Amy Winehouse to write Neville Staple intro???

Rumour mill grinding again.  This time - can there be any truth to the rumour that Amy Winehouse is going to write the intro to the paperback version of Neville's "Original Rude Boy" biography - due out in the spring of next year.  Keep your eyes and ears open for more on this little story......she did present him with an award at the Q magazine bash last month.

Look out for book signings during Specials tour...

The Original Rude Boy is likely to be at your local HMV or Waterstone's over the next few weeks - especially if the Specials are gigging nearby.  Check out your local store.  He's already been doing a few signings and queues have gone round the block.  Make sure you don't miss out on a chance to get your hardback copy signed.

Neville in The Sun today - with Amy Winehouse

Neville Staple has picked up a gong from Q magazine presented by Amy Winehouse who was sporting a fine pair of Q stickers in an appropriate place.  Rumour has it, he's recording with her in the near future.  And she may write the intro to the paperback version of his biography 'Original Rude Boy'. 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2702480/Special-of-the-day-for-Neville-Staples-after-winning-The-Q-Inspiration-Award.html

Interview in Primrose Hill Park

Neville Staple and Trevor Evans were interviewed in Primrose Hill Park, Coventry this weekend just gone about the big fight they had with local skinheads there back in the early 1970s. 

Book signings for Original Rude Boy

Get down to your local HMV on these dates!!!


Monday 2 November - 1.00pm - signing only


hmv Scarborough - 109 Westborough, Scarborough, YO11 1LD - tel: 01723

379 986



Wednesday 4 November - 1.00pm - signing only

hmv Blackpool - Unit 1, Tower Shopping Centre, Bank Hey Street,

Blackpool, FY1 4RZ - tel: 01253 291393



Saturday 7 November - 1.00pm - signing only

hmv Thanet - Unit 9A, The Fort, Westwood Cross, Margate Road,

Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 2BF - tel: 01843 609 790



Monday 9 November - 1.00pm - signing only

hmv Wolverhampton - 8 The Gallery, Mander Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 3NJ

- tel: 01902 429 978



Thursday 12 November - 1.00pm - signing only

hmv Edinburgh Princess St. - 129/130 Princes Street, Edinburgh,

Scotland, EH2 4AH - tel: 0131 225 7008



Thursday 19 November - 1.00pm - signing only

hmv Brighton Churchill - 48-50, Churchill Square Shopping Centre,

Brighton, BN1 2RG - tel: 01273 749919

Coventry skinhead reunion

Down at the London Road social club, a load of former skinheads from the 1970s got together this weekend just gone.  They included a lot of blokes Neville knew back in the day like Bri Falconer and Nasty Norman - both mentioned in his biography 'Original Rude Boy'.  Back in the early 70s, Neville and his mates ambushed some of these skinheads in a huge fight that's referred to in ska lore as the 'Battle of Primrose Hill Park'.  Unfortunately, Falconer was stabbed and badly injured.  But these days, strange to say, they're all best of buddies - rude boys and boot boys.  Though Nev and his rude boy friends were not at the reunion.  However, one famous black face from Coventry in the 70s was there - none other than Dancing Danny.  The man who was DJ at the Locarno before Pete Waterman took over the turntables.  A good time was had by all we here.

Skinheads of the world unite!

We hear that some of the Coventry skinheads mentioned in Neville's biography are meeting up this month for a reunion.  The 1970s skins include blokes like Nasty Norman, Bri Faulkner and Hatchet who are mentioned in 'Original Rude Boy'.  Although Nev and his gang had some nasty fights with them - most notably in Primrose Hill Park in 1972 where one of the skins got stabbed badly - they are now all good mates.  Seems time can be a healer after all.

Calling all Japanese publishers....!

We hear that Neville is dying to get his book translated in to Japanese and on the bookshelves in Tokyo and Osaka.  He's got quite a fan base in Japan where his Special Beat combo has toured over and over again.  They're very keen on ska in Japan.  The Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra has something like 600,000 views for its songs on YouTube.  And when they dress the part of rude boys and rude girls, they really go for it.  Even some of the old Jamaican ska bands tour in Japan, guaranteed a good audience.  It's not just a kitschy thing - they really know their ska over there.  So, here's hoping that 'Original Rude Boy' gets translated and flogged in the land of the rising sun.

Little bit of trouble at Luton gig...

Neville Staple, Pauline Black and The Beat were playing in Luton last Saturday at an open air gig which was very well attended.  But things got a big out of hand when security guards started throwing members of the audience around like they were rag dolls.  Staple stood with the audience and using his mike urged the security guards to calm down.  It did look for a while like a good old fashioned ruck - 80s style - was about to break out.  But the whole thing calmed down.  Still, there's a lot of youth unrest out there at the moment - is this a sign of things to come?  Our mole tells us that Coventry boxer Errol Christie was in the audience - he's about to bring out his biography hot on the heels of Neville's "Original Rude Boy".  Let's how that reads.  There may be some overlap as the guys hung around in some of the same places though Christie is a decade younger. 

£1.5m going in to Neville Staple movie - breaking news

My spies tell me that the planned Neville Staple movie has a £1.5m backer and production will start in a few months - probably early 2010.  Anybody who has details - drop us a line.  The rights to the movie have been held by EMU Films and the screenwriter is Tony McMahon.  More than that - we know nothing.  All gossip gratefully received.

Neville makes waves down under in NZ

Neville has done some TV and press interviews around his new biography in New Zealand.  But I understand the great man has his sights fixed on Japan where he'd like his book to be translated, sooner rather than later.  Anyway - here's a review from NZ:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102002829286