A Book of the Year, Uncut
**** 'A wild rock 'n' roll fairground ride of the damned.'
Observer
** *** **
A candid frontline account of an illustrious gonzo career as an
independent music publicist during the post-punk heyday of the 80s and
90s, featuring an introduction by Bill Drummond and new cover artwork by
Jimmy Cauty.
We arrived in a fleet of white stretch limos at a clearing in a wood
near Woking. Here the K Foundation was exhibiting a million pounds in
cash, while Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty circled the perimeter in
two orange Saracen armoured vehicles, blasting out Abba's 'Money Money
Money' . . .
Mick Houghton worked with some of the greatest, most influential and
downright dysfunctional cult groups of the post-punk era and beyond -
Ramones, Talking Heads, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Undertones, Felt
and Sonic Youth among them.
But the three acts Mick is most closely identified with are Echo & the
Bunnymen, Julian Cope, and the KLF. As confidant and co-conspirator, he
navigated the minefield of rivalries and contrasting fortunes which make
Fried & Justified such a candid, amusing and insightful picture of an
exciting and inspirational period for music.
