Alan Clayson
Alan Clayson is the author of over 30 books. These include biographies of Jacques Brel, Serge Gainsbourg and the Troggs, plus Death Discs, the subject of a programme he scripted and hosted on BBC Radio 2 – plus the bestsellers Backbeat, Beat Merchants and a history of the Yardbirds. A 2002 tome concerning classical composer Edgard Varèse led to Gail Zappa appointing Clayson to pen a life of her late husband. He has also contributed to such diverse journals as Rock ‘N’ Reel, The Guardian, Mojo, Sunday Times, Mediaeval World, Guitar & Bass, Vintage Rock, Hello!, Record Collector and, as a teenager, the notorious Schoolkids issue of Oz.
In the late 1970s, Clayson was spoken of in the same sentences as the likes of Tom Robinson, John Otway, Elvis Costello and Wreckless Eric. Indeed, Melody Maker decided he "occupies a premier position on rock's Lunatic Fringe" in the light of his impact and that of his accompanying Argonauts. "Alan Clayson and the Argonauts were one of rock's most glorious and enjoyable follies," averred Rock ‘N’ Reel, "and somewhere there is a parallel universe where they are bigger than the Beatles."
Clayson compositions have been covered by Dave Berry (in whose backing group Clayson played keyboards in the mid-'80s), Stairway and Jane Relf. He has worked too with The Portsmouth Sinfonia, Wreckless Eric, Dick Taylor, Jim McCarty and Screaming Lord Sutch among others.
26 articles
List of articles in the library by date
Retrospective by Alan Clayson, unpublished, 1998
Alan Clayson profiles the life and music of the great chansonnier ...
Heinz, John Leyton, Joe Meek, The Tornados: Geoff Goddard, 1939-2000
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 25 May 2000
Innovative songwriter in an era before the Beatles ...
Charles Trenet: BOUM!: The Life And Art Of Charles Trenet
Obituary by Alan Clayson, unpublished, February 2001
A MORE TIDY-minded author might portray Charles Trenet (1913-2001) as a French Noel Coward. A multi-faceted talent, he was best known for combining qualities of ...
Ashton, Gardner & Dyke: Tony Ashton, 1946-2000
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 19 July 2001
BORN OF A musical family in Blackburn, Ashton grew up in Blackpool. Before leaving school at 15, he was already a competent pianist and organist, ...
Speedy Keen, Thunderclap Newman: Speedy Keen, 1945-2002
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 6 July 2002
SPEEDY KEEN, who has died suddenly aged 56, was a mainstay of Thunderclap Newman, the pop outfit responsible for the anthemic 'Something In The Air', ...
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 12 November 2002
Singer best known for his 1967 version of the anti-nuclear song 'Morning Dew' ...
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 28 December 2002
Original lyricist and founding father of the English chanson. ...
Mickie Most, The Yardbirds: Mickie Most
Retrospective by Alan Clayson, unpublished, 2004
"The only gift I had as a producer was finding the right song. I felt I knew how it should be done and, after that, ...
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 1 October 2004
Blending country music with mainstream pop ...
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 6 December 2004
KEVIN COYNE was a singer-songwriter respected by his contemporaries but lacking their chart success. Nevertheless, largely through Radio One presenter John Peel's championing, he built ...
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 14 February 2005
BORN IRENE Amburgey, the second of three sisters, Martha Carson was a guitarist in a troupe, led by her father, that entertained at functions close ...
Freddie & The Dreamers: Freddie Garrity, 1936-2006
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 22 May 2006
Clowning pop star with a series of '60s hits – and a zany dance – to his name ...
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 11 July 2006
Former lead singer of Pink Floyd whose drug-induced breakdown and reclusive retirement created a musical legend ...
Bob Dylan, King Crimson: Ian Wallace, 1946-2007
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 27 April 2007
Drummer with King Crimson and Bob Dylan ...
James Brown, Bobby Byrd: Bobby Byrd, 1934-2007
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 9 October 2007
James Brown's right-hand man for 20 years ...
The Clash, Mikey Dread: Mikey Dread, 1954-2008
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 25 March 2008
A pioneering reggae artist and broadcaster, he worked with the Clash and UB40 ...
The Mothers Of Invention: Jimmy Carl Black, 1938-2008
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 4 November 2008
Drummer and sometimes lead vocalist who worked with Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart ...
The Barron Knights: Duke D'Mond, 1943-2009
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 28 April 2009
Singer whose group's top 10 hits brought parody to 1960s pop ...
Retrospective and Interview by Alan Clayson, Record Collector, Fall 2011
Alan Clayson investigates British artists of the 1960s whose early output included records issued only in Germany. ...
Screaming Lord Sutch Is Alive And Well And Living At Number Ten...
Retrospective by Alan Clayson, unpublished, June 2012
...10, PARKFIELD ROAD, South Harrow, that is – where the mere mortal christened David Edward Sutch had tumbled out of bed just prior to the ...
The Troggs: Reg Presley, 1941-2013
Obituary by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 6 February 2013
REG PRESLEY was the singer and principal songwriter of the Troggs, the group that put the Hampshire town of Andover on the pop map with ...
Blues Incorporated, Jack Bruce, Cream, West, Bruce & Laing: Jack Bruce, 1943-2014
Obituary by Alan Clayson, Joel McIver, The Observer, 26 October 2014
Composer and bassist who found early success with Cream and went on to perform as a soloist and with many other artists ...
Retrospective and Interview by Alan Clayson, unpublished, 2015
If known chiefly as a blues paladin, Mike Vernon plunged headfirst into many other – often unexpected – musical waters. Alan Clayson investigates. ...
Gary Glitter: Rock 'N' Roll Part 3? Gary Glitter's future
Comment by Alan Clayson, unpublished, 2017
IN 2015, 74-old Gary Glitter began a sixteen-year prison term for crimes that, seemingly, were beyond the prerogative of a rock star's outlaw chic. This ...
Memoir by Alan Clayson, unpublished, 2018
50 years later, Alan Clayson recalls a pivotal year of a '60s that was far from Swinging. ...
Charles Aznavour – 10 of the best
Guide by Alan Clayson, The Guardian, 2 October 2018
France's leading musical ambassador, who died on Monday, was admired by such disparate entertainers as Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello and sometime Sex Pistol Glen Matlock. ...
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