Barefaced lies and boogie-woogie boasts

the long version

The marvelously witty memoir by Britain's most popular pianist and bandleader. From playing on bomb sites as a boy in South East London, to skiving off school and then rocketing to international success with Squeeze, the first twenty years of Jools Holland's life were eventful, chaotic and colorful. Then came The Tube, the seminal live music program of the eighties. Along with fellow icon, Paula Yates, Holland's provocative and irreverent style of presenting broke the mold of music shows on British television. It was an exhilarating and exciting time. He made further shows in America and England, and in 1992, began broadcasting Later with Jools Holland, one of the BBC's most successful music shows of all time, which has given countless television debuts to now world-famous bands. From playing pubs in the East End docks as a teenage greaser, to leading his rhythm and blues orchestra and selling millions of records in this century, it is his passion for music that has made Jools Holland into a doyen of the music scene and which suffuses the pages of this delightful autobiography. Packed with hilarious anecdotes and unusual memories, this memoir provides a wonderful insight into the debonair gentleman and national institution that is Jools Holland.--Adapted from dust jacket.