|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Keith Altham
A successful rock and roll scarred author, broadcaster, and New Musical Express features editor, Keith Altham interviewed the likes of The Beatles, The Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Rod Stewart, Tom Jones, Frank Zappa, The Small Faces, Cliff Richard, Dusty, Cilla, Scott Walker, Ray Davies, Jim Morrison and The Beach Boys on innumerable occasions. In the early 60s he wrote for the legendary fan magazine Fabulous from its inception. Subsequently he became Englands most successful independent rock press agent for three decades from the early 70s representing most of those he had previously interviewed. On radio Altham was a major contributor as news reader and interviewer for three years on BBC 2s "Scene and Heard" which was "the music paper of radio" during the 60s and early 70s, More recently he contributed to BBC Radio 2s programme on "The Changing Styles of Music Journalism" "Music Hype" and Virgin FMs "Tribute to Jimi Hendrix." Altham is also accountable for giving Hendrix the idea of setting fire to his guitar, and is recorded as being the last person to interview him before his death; for saddling Reg Presley of the Troggs with his surname and turning Slade into skinheads for publicity purpose in the early 70s. His first book The PR Strikes Back in the form of open letters to his famous clients over many years including The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, Sting, The Beach Boys, Status Quo, Phil Collins and The Who revealing his true feelings about them was printed by Blake Publishing and serialised in the Daily Mail in 2002. K.A. Publicity, which he founded in 1971, represented the cream of British rock music over two decades including for several years, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beach Boys, Police, Slade, Status Quo, The Animals, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, The Kinks, Scott Walker, Eddy Grant, Genesis, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, The Jam, The Stranglers, Marc Bolan, The Moody Blues, Steve Marriot, Carole King, Joan Armatrading, Elkie Brooks, and Manfred Mann. Altham retired his Press Agency and in 1993 BBC Radio 4 made Altham the subject of a tribute programme "The Godfather of Music PR" on which Sting, Roger Daltrey and Jagger testified to his skill. He made early appearances on Granadas TV series "My Generation" in the 90s "The Brit Girls" both in front of the camera and as a researcher. Other recent TV appearances include the Marc Bolan documentary "Dandy in the Underworld" for channel 4, a Mick Jagger feature for The Discovery Channel and a Jimi Hendrix profile for BBC I series "Reputations" plus two guest appearances for Noddy Holders Sky/Granada "Pop Quiz". His latest research and on screen contributions include "Pop Panic", "Fame Set and Match" about the Rolling Stones and their old flames, a tribute documentary on Cilla Black and another on "Marc Bolan's Missing Millions", three more on Ray Davies, "The Hendrix Conspiracy" and "Mick Jagger's Women". Altham is currently working on two books the first about his early life in the 60s, one provisionally titled When I was Fab, and a biography of a well-known superstar. List of articles in the library by artist Amen Corner: Amen Andy Is New Teen Idol America : AUDIO: America (1972) American Spring: Mrs Brian Wilson Animals, The : Animals: Sure, We're Really Animals! Animals, The : Eric Burdon & Scott Engel: Scott Smarts After Burdon's JBJ Slamming Animals, The : Eric Burdon, Animal Trainer Animals, The : Obituary: Chas Chandler Animals, The : The Animals: Animals Took Liberty With Prison Song Animals, The : The Animals: Eric Burdon Meets New Lennon And Harrison Animals, The : The Animals: Hell-Raisers Of Pop Animals, The : The Animals: Question Time With....Eric Burdon Joan Baez : The Year That Folk Moved In Beach Boys, The : Beach Boys Pulled Out Of Doldrums Beach Boys, The : Beach Boys Sensational Visit Beach Boys, The : Dennis Wilson Beach Boys, The : The Beach Boys: With Love And Good Vibes part 1 Beach Boys, The : The Beach Boys: With Love And Good Vibes part 2 Beatles, The : AUDIO: Gypsy Dave with The Beatles in India (1981) Bee Gees, The : Was Robin The Key Figure In The Bee Gees Success? Cilla Black : Cilla Is Knocked Out By New Disc! Black Sabbath : AUDIO: Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi (1973) Black Sabbath: Nobody But The Public Digs Sabbath Black Sabbath: Sabbath Days Of Rest Blind Faith : Eric Clapton: Another Crossroad Marc Bolan : AUDIO: Marc Bolan, parts 1 & 2 (1975) Marc Bolan: Energy Is What It's All About Eric Burdon : Back On Stage... The Charlton Heston of Rock Byrds, The : The Byrds Eric Clapton: Another Crossroad Eric Clapton : Rolling Stones: The Greatest Show On Earth Dave Clark Five, The : The Dave Clark 5's Mike Smith Joe Cocker: John And Paul Send Their Thanks To Joe Joe Cocker: They Put Me In The Same Cell As A Bank Robber And A Murder Suspect Joe Cocker : The Joe Cocker Ritual Sacrifice Cream Are The Very End! Cream Cut Loose Curved Air : A Little Rift In Curved Air? Michael D'Abo Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich : Dave Dee's Happy To Make Instant Hits Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: Nine Hits In A Row Ray Davies: Deep Purple Deep Purple: "The Stones Are Out Of Date" Ian Deep Purple: Rock Is Where We're At Deep Purple: Victims Of Their Own Fame Deep Purple: Who Do Purple Think They Are? Donovan: 'I Put Myself Into My Music' Donovan: I'll Quit After Two More Years Donovan: Meditation Is Like A Miracle Cure Donovan: The Wind Rises And The Tide Goes Out Donovan : The Year That Folk Moved In Dr. John : Dr John: The Mind And Music Of A Delta Voodoo Rocker Bob Dylan : Dylan's Press Reception Bob Dylan : The Year That Folk Moved In Emerson Lake And Palmer : ELP Is On The Way... Emerson Lake And Palmer : ELP Plus Tull in Dirty Raincoats, and How Free May Drop the Name Emerson Lake And Palmer: Super-Group Of The Seventies! John Entwistle : Thunderfingers' Last Stand: Remembering John Entwistle Faces, The : Rod Stewart: Oo La La Adam Faith : The Chancer Marianne Faithfull: Marianne Never Does What A Pop Star Should Marianne Faithfull : Rolling Stones Starting To Mellow Family Family Are A MAN'S Band Family: Back Home Free : ELP Plus Tull in Dirty Raincoats, and How Free May Drop the Name Rory Gallagher: Fresh Taste For Rory Rory Gallagher: Full Blooded Gallagher Grand Funk Railroad: Grand Funk Or Bunk? Peter Green: Ronnie Scott's Club, London Groundhogs, The : The Groundhogs: The Hogs Kept Clean And Still Made It Hawkwind Jimi Hendrix : AUDIO: Jimi Hendrix (1970) Jimi Hendrix : Hendrix Admits Lamp Is A Bit Smoky Jimi Hendrix : James Taylor: On The Road With Sweet Baby James Jimi Hendrix Burns His Guitar For The First Time Jimi Hendrix: Jimi Brings Manager's New Club Roof Down! Jimi Hendrix : Question Time with Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix : The Angels Did Sing: Noel Redding 1945-2003 Jimi Hendrix : Walker Brothers/Cat Stevens/Engelbert Humperdinck/The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Finsbury Park Astoria Herd, The : After Big Split Herd Out Of Exile Herd, The : The Herd Take Over As Screamers' New Idols Hollies, The : Hollie Graham Nash Finds His Face! Honeybus Not A One Hit Wonder Mick Jagger : AUDIO: Mick Jagger (1973) Jethro Tull: God Is Alive and Starring On... Jethro Tull: Ian Anderson Is No Rock Hitler Jonathan King : Scott Walker: Scott Walker Hits Out Again Kinks, The : Kinks Don't Mind 'Formby Quartet' Tag Kinks, The : Kinks Go For Spider Sound Kinks, The : Ray Davies: Kinks, The : The One-up Kink: Raymond Douglas Davies Alexis Korner: Kornering The Market Led Zeppelin : Jimmy Page: NME's Festivals Fight Was Excellent, But Some Rock Critics Ego-trippers, Says Zep Man Led Zeppelin : Jimmy Page: Superstar Led Zeppelin : Jimmy Page: Zep Come To The People Led Zeppelin Are Not Prefabricated John Lennon : Rolling Stones: The Greatest Show On Earth Lindisfarne Tell All Lindisfarne: How Wee Wee Music Went Down The Drain Lindisfarne: Selling Newcastle Lovin' Spoonful, The : The Lovin' Spoonful: Nice, Abnormal Spoonful! Mamas and The Papas, The : The Mama and the Papas: The Morning after the Beatles' Night Before Mamas and The Papas, The : The Mamas and The Papas: Mamas And Papas Have A Feud On Their Hands Manfred Mann: NME Chart Proves Manfreds Wrong Steve Marriott McGuinness Flint : McGunness Flint: My Goodness, McGuinness! Scott McKenzie: I'm No Professional Flower Child Scott McKenzie : The Mamas and The Papas: Mamas And Papas Have A Feud On Their Hands Monkees, The : The Monkees: Monkee Davy Talks About The Beatles Monkees, The : The Monkees: Question Time With Monkee Davy Moody Blues, The : Moody Blues: Saints Or Sinners? Moody Blues, The : The Moody Blues Moody Blues, The : The Moody Blues: When Is A Single Not A Single? Moody Blues, The : The Moody Blues: Why Do People Get Moody About The Moodies? Keith Moon Keith Moon: Over The Moon Mott The Hoople: Mott An Enigma Mountain : Leslie West Move, The : The Move Don't Care About Top Billing Move, The : The Move: Graham Nash : Hollie Graham Nash Finds His Face! Nice, The : The Nice: Coalition Music Harry Nilsson: Come Out, Harry, The Time Is Right Andrew Loog Oldham : Rolling Stone Oldham: Talented, Insulting, Outrageous Osmonds, The : The Osmonds: They're Enough To Make You Scream... Peter and Gordon : Peter & Gordon Are Poles Apart Peter and Gordon : Peter & Gordon Kill Split Rumours Alan Price: That Lucky Old Price Suzi Quatro: A Nice Pair Pop's Top Noel Redding : The Angels Did Sing: Noel Redding 1945-2003 Cliff Richard: The Peter Pan of Pop Rolling Stones, The : AUDIO: Mick Jagger (1973) Rolling Stones, The : Rolling Stone Oldham: Talented, Insulting, Outrageous Rolling Stones, The : Rolling Stones Have Reached Peak At Home Rolling Stones, The : Rolling Stones Starting To Mellow Rolling Stones, The : Rolling Stones: Their Satanic Majesties Request Rolling Stones, The : Rolling Stones: Interviews with Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman Rolling Stones, The : Rolling Stones: The Greatest Show On Earth Rolling Stones, The : Rolling Stones: Year Of The Stones' New Heart Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones : Neurotic Bird Song Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones in Paris Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones: Jagger Scorns Critics Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones: Mick Will Be Ernie In New Film Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones: Our Fans Have Moved On With Us Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones: Stones On The Movie Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones: Stones Reveal Secrets Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones: The Banned Stones Cover Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones: This Is A Stone Age!! Rolling Stones, The : The Rolling Stones: World-wide Stones Santana: Caravanserai (CBS) Seals and Crofts: Faith The Music Seekers, The : The Year That Folk Moved In Sandie Shaw Sandie Shaw: Her Anatomical Assets Silkie, The : The Year That Folk Moved In Carly Simon Quits The Family Commune Paul Simon: Now They All Want Paul Simon Songs! Simon & Garfunkel : Film Graduation For Simon, Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel : Paul Simon: Now They All Want Paul Simon Songs! Slade Slade in the USA Small Faces, The : Small Faces Thought Sunday Too Much Of A Joke Small Faces, The : Small Faces: We're Getting Better Ideas Small Faces, The : Steve Marriott: I'm A Raver, Not A Singer Small Faces, The : The Small Faces: Ogdens Nut Gone Flake Small Faces, The : The Small Faces: Travel is A Nightmare Sonny & Cher Sonny & Cher Get Even Sonny & Cher : Sonny and Cher: We're In Love, That's The Secret Of Success Spencer Davis Group : Feuding Spencer Davis Group Spencer Davis Group : Spencer Davis: He's Deep, Very Deep Dusty Springfield: Dusty Hits Back Dusty Springfield : The Real Dusty Springfield Cat Stevens: The Honest Way For It To Happen Rod Stewart: Oo La La James Taylor James Taylor: On The Road With Sweet Baby James Ten Years After : Alvin Lee Tir Na Nog Pete Townshend Traffic's British Stage Debut Was Well Worth Waiting For Traffic's Dave Mason Pop Face Of 1967 Traffic: Traffic Without Dave Traffic: Uncontrollable Traffic T. Rex : AUDIO: Marc Bolan, parts 1 & 2 (1975) T. Rex : Marc Bolan T. Rex : Marc Bolan T. Rex : Marc Bolan: "I'm Writing As If I'm Not Going To Be Around Much Longer" T. Rex : Marc Bolan: Energy Is What It's All About T. Rex : Marc Bolan: I Am The Cosmic Dancer Troggs, The : The Troggs: Trogg-Maker Reveals Secrets Troggs, The : Troggs Caged In Berlin Zoo! Troggs, The : Troggs: Trogg-Men Ridicule Song Ban Van Der Graaf Generator: The Generator Are Staying Very Content On The Continent Scott Walker : Eric Burdon & Scott Engel: Scott Smarts After Burdon's JBJ Slamming Scott Walker: Scott His Own Worst Enemy Scott Walker : The Walker Brothers: Why The Walker Brothers Split Up Walker Brothers, The : Eric Burdon & Scott Engel: Scott Smarts After Burdon's JBJ Slamming Walker Brothers, The : Scott Walker: Scott Walker Hits Out Again Walker Brothers, The : The Scott Walker Interview Walker Brothers, The : The Walker Brothers Walker Brothers, The : The Walker Brothers: Why The Walker Brothers Split Up Walker Brothers, The : Walker Brothers/Cat Stevens/Engelbert Humperdinck/The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Finsbury Park Astoria Walker Brothers, The : We're Sure Glad We Came Here, Say Walker Brothers War: The Battle Against 'Unlove' Jimmy Webb Writes For The Lonely Who, The : Keith Moon Who, The : Keith Moon: Pitch And Bowl For A Pig! Who, The : Pete Townshend Who, The : Rolling Stones: The Greatest Show On Earth Who, The : The Who: Who Ready To Hit You With New Ideas Who, The : Thunderfingers' Last Stand: Remembering John Entwistle Who, The : With Who And 'Birds At Paris Allez-Oop! Dennis Wilson Yardbirds, The : The Yardbirds and the Cereal Killer Yardbirds, The : The Yardbirds: Why I Left Yardbirds, The : With Who And 'Birds At Paris Allez-Oop! Yardbirds, The : Yardbirds Question Time Yardbirds, The : Yardbirds Split! Frank Zappa: Rude, Pompous...And Frank Frank Zappa: Zappa On Rock, Porn And Blues Back to LIBRARY |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Library
|
Subscribe | Day Pass | Free on RBP | Audio
|
Contact
|
Writers
| Writers' Blogs | Content Services
Magazine Archive | About Us | Press Room | Your Account | Home |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||