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.

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. 

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.

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

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. 

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

Update on Neville's arrest

The Coventry Evening Telegraph ran a piece today - http://tinyurl.com/ng5yn6 By all accounts, Neville wasn't too bothered with the press coverage though my Fleet Street mole tells me that The Times pulled a piece that was going to be in their "People" column. I don't know why. Meanwhile in Montego Bay, Neville is waiting to be let out of the country - Saturday is the predicated departure day - and he's missed a couple of Neville Staple Band gigs as a result of this episode. Next week, the great man will be treading the boards at the 100 Club on Oxford Street with The Specials. A kind of pre-Glastonbury warm up act. I'm told you can't get tickets for love or money and don't even think of a guest list.

Neville Staple arrested in Jamaica

Proving that he's still seen as one big rude boy - Neville Staple was arrested this week at Montego Bay airport. He phoned friends to say that he was strip searched and then taken to a local hospital to be X-rayed. Cops found nothing on him and no charges pressed. But he's stuck in Jamaica till Saturday this week. As a result, he's missed two Neville Staple Band gigs. The great man is reportedly furious at the way he's been treated.

Neville Staple in the Metro

In case you missed Neville Staple featured in London's Metro newspaper - click or copy the link and read: http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?Rude_Boy_Neville_still_in_with_the_ladies&in_article_id=628418&in_page_id=11

Nev was also featured in a great article in the Daily Star written by Oi music expert Garry Bushell - all about Nev's ongoing womanizing. Very funny and I understand Mr Staple found it amusing.