The PR Strikes Back is a tell-all book by publicist extraordinaire Keith Altham - an ex-journalist and well-renowned spin doctor who hobnobbed with the cream of the British music industry for around three or four decades.
Old Keithy has many an anecdote to share with his reader, and he does this in the rather clever form of mock letters. He writes a letter to each celebrity he wants to talk about and 'relives' old times with them... sometimes blasting them for their rampant and out of control egos, sometimes expressing confusion at their eccentricity, and sometimes lamenting the way they were treated by a world that wasn't ready for them.
Altham isn't afraid to let us know what he really thinks... he attacks Mick Jagger (half in jest) and Rod Stewart (not so much in jest) in much detail, laying out the extent of their egos blow-by-blow for us to see in all their petty, small-minded glory. It's all done in good humour and Altham makes some very witty, tongue-in-cheek and astute observations of the crazy world of music showbiz. It's very entertaining.
He has some terribly nice things to say about Jimi Hendrix and Eddy Grant, and also talks about Sting (single-minded but straight-up), Eric Burdon (a real survivor), Van Morrison (wtf!), Joan Armatrading (he tried to hug her once but she 'dyked' off at him), Donovan, Phil Collins, Spandau Ballet, Status Quo and Leo Sayer, as well as a whole range of other one-hit wonders and forgotten artists that he had the 'pleasure' of working for. He has a very wry and amusing style of writing, especially when he talks about no-hit bands like Uriah Heap.
Anyway, it's all a good bunch of fun and it'd be great to see more insiders write up their anecdotes in this fashion. Good one Keith.
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