'Fabulist Icons' Book - Pyro Tour & Hysteria Sessions With Phils Guitar Tech
Oct 11, 2014 16:01:24 GMT -8
CindyJ, TurnToDust86, and 8 more like this
Post by Shawn on Oct 11, 2014 16:01:24 GMT -8
UPDATED NOVEMBER 2015
BOOK STATUS UPDATE
Hi everyone,
thanks for baring with us and apologies for my lack of communications.
The proofs finally arrived from the printers today (17-11-15) to which
we have given the green light. Between printing and binding and fitting
it in to their production schedule, we would expect to be shipping by
mid next week (25-11-15).
There is a great release from us as this goes to market and you'll see
why when you get your copy. The narrative and images are quite personal
and some of the images are scanned from prints, old-skool! so there is
a grainy-ness to some of the images. There is a nice triptychs of Phil
on some speakers and in one of them you can see 'Girl' written on the
side of the amp from his previous band.
There is a picture of Rick's Corvette there too, an image of which I couldn't
find anywhere on the web (in all fairness, I only did a 'man look').
So here it goes, Rock Brigade. Thank you for your time and your support.
The questions is "Do you really wanna do this now?!"
Howard
Producer/Publisher
My own experience over 50 years in music is that bands make it, and don’t make it, for a variety of reasons.
Def Leppard worked at the heavy rock circuit for several years and a couple of albums before fully breaking into the big time. Was this in the normal run of things: create a fan base, get spotted by a label, sell the first album to the fan base, write and record the second album, build to UK and US support slots… fingers still crossed?
Prior to making their world-breaking album ‘Pyromania’ and chart-busting single ‘Photograph’, Def Leppard had toured relentlessly in clubs and on support tours. Then, after many let-downs, they had sacked guitarist Pete Willis and taken on ex-glam band guitarist Phil Collen.
Was this a first sign of change? Yes, to a degree, but it came hand in hand with good fortune, as Def Leppard somehow caught the attention of record producer Mutt Lange. This, though they didn’t know it at that time, was the component most likely to bring them to the attention of a wider sphere of record-buying fans and listeners.
So what did Mutt do? In a famous bootleg tape of a Troggs’s recording session one of the band members suggested they get ‘a big shot producer to sprinkle some fairy dust on the bastard. Then it’ll sell’.
Mutt read between the lines of music. He knew that a melody could be as moving as a word, and more besides. So there’s Mutt in the picture, the record company is pumped, ‘Photograph’ takes off, and within a relatively short space of time Def Leppard tours the US first as support, and then headlines a world tour. So far so good.
Then comes the ticklish business of writing the next album, a process usually achieved within a year or so. Bands don’t want to be out of circulation for too long - besides needing to maintain a healthy ego, they also want to capitalise on their success so far.
We could say that Mutt’s production somehow endeared Def Leppard to their fans... the songs meant more than just heavy rock – there was something else… But did those fans ever think they would wait nearly four years for that next album?
Def Leppard were out of sight to the media and locked in a titanic fight against the worst of odds as they set about ‘Hysteria’. If ever personalities were tested to the limits, it was on the rack of bad timing, sadness, tragedy and a sense of being in suspended animation, relationships strained and lost; drifting from one country to another hoping the thread of the recordings would keep its strength; hoping the weave of friendships would take the strain.
So let’s say it: these were great people. Def Leppard produced some of rock music's most memorable anthems whilst they faced desperate odds, shoulder to shoulder, and could still find a laugh in what, to some, would have been a barren and hopeless landscape.
Yes, we all knew Mutt’s continued involvement would add to the momentum, and there were signs that Def Leppard fans would look at the odds of ‘Hysteria’ being a monster follow-up to ‘Pyromania’. The fact that it was more than a monster follow up is born-out by history.
I saw and felt every curve, swerve and swipe of bad fortune with Def Leppard, and had my own life turned upside down in the process. But, all these years on, the entire episode is as clear and emotive now as it was then. During the time it took to write ‘Fabulist Icons’ there were many occasions when I had to walk away from the computer, too upset to carry on. I’m pleased I did carry on though, as, to me, the band with whom I worked and played so hard over those years are truly deserving of the title ‘Fabulist Icons’.
Fabulist Icons is a book written by Mike Rogers, the band's technician from the Pyromania tour until the Monsters of Rock tour 1986. It's written from his perspective and includes many previously unseen photos of the band during those early years of writing and recording Hysteria. Mike was more than the band's technician though. When Rick came out of hospital after losing his arm, Mike was there. He was also confidante to the Terror Twins in their heyday, and looked after their model girlfriends Lorelei Shellist and Valerie Mazzonelli's poodle whilst in Paris. He also ferried Def Leppard master tapes to and from Mutt Lange at Battery Studios in North London.
The book is152 pages full colour, 10" square. We will be going to print by end of October 2015.
Price is €35/$40/£26 +PP
This prices is based on the purchase of one book being sent by standard post in a "pizza box' style, cardboard casing when combined with the weight of the book will weight approx 1kg (2.2 pounds) from the country of origin, Ireland. There is a price for the book alone if you wish to make you own postal arrangements.
If you wish to order more than one, have it sent by express or registered post or have the booked signed by the author, Mike Rogers please let me know so that we can personalise your price. Please contact howard@fabulisticons.com
Please allow 5-7 working days for US, Canada and Australia and 2-3 working days for delivery to Ireland, EU and UK. We do our utmost to make sure that the product arrives to you in the best condition however, we cannot accept responsibility for the condition of goods in transit.
NEW HYSTERIA ERA PHOTO BOOK ON THE WAY
I heard about this a while ago...sounds great.
A New Hysteria Era Photo Book is on the way...The Book is currently being worked on with contributions from
Howard Hughes - production/publishing end of the book
Mike Rogers - Guitar Tech - Mike was with the band for their 174 date Pyro tour until he left after the Manheim concert.
Una Williams - Photographer
Details
- Covering the bands time in Dublin and Holland during the writing sessions for the Hysteria Album.
- Shots will be lifestyle shots with Narrative by Mike Rogers, their guitar tech. and Photographer Una Williams.
- The Book will have Full Page Images
- The Book will be 10.5 Inches Square
Howard told me the following
"I am honoured to be working on an image lead book covering the boys' time here in Dublin and in Holland during the writing of Hysteria. The shots are all lifestyle shots with a narrative by Mike Rogers, their guitar tech but he did sooo much more. Carried the tapes from Holland back to Mutts Battery studio in London, kept all their receipts for the accountant, took an inventory of all their gear for shipping and when Rick lost his arm, he moved him out of Rick's folks house and in with him where Rick had a bit more 'leeway'. It seems a bit unreal to me as I think of watching Animal on the TV all those years ago, meeting Joe one time at a design awards gig here in Dublin. Great shots of the band with Jim Steinman and Mutt Lange."
Release Date TBA.
more info as it becomes available…
BOOK STATUS UPDATE
Hi everyone,
thanks for baring with us and apologies for my lack of communications.
The proofs finally arrived from the printers today (17-11-15) to which
we have given the green light. Between printing and binding and fitting
it in to their production schedule, we would expect to be shipping by
mid next week (25-11-15).
There is a great release from us as this goes to market and you'll see
why when you get your copy. The narrative and images are quite personal
and some of the images are scanned from prints, old-skool! so there is
a grainy-ness to some of the images. There is a nice triptychs of Phil
on some speakers and in one of them you can see 'Girl' written on the
side of the amp from his previous band.
There is a picture of Rick's Corvette there too, an image of which I couldn't
find anywhere on the web (in all fairness, I only did a 'man look').
So here it goes, Rock Brigade. Thank you for your time and your support.
The questions is "Do you really wanna do this now?!"
Howard
Producer/Publisher
My own experience over 50 years in music is that bands make it, and don’t make it, for a variety of reasons.
Def Leppard worked at the heavy rock circuit for several years and a couple of albums before fully breaking into the big time. Was this in the normal run of things: create a fan base, get spotted by a label, sell the first album to the fan base, write and record the second album, build to UK and US support slots… fingers still crossed?
Prior to making their world-breaking album ‘Pyromania’ and chart-busting single ‘Photograph’, Def Leppard had toured relentlessly in clubs and on support tours. Then, after many let-downs, they had sacked guitarist Pete Willis and taken on ex-glam band guitarist Phil Collen.
Was this a first sign of change? Yes, to a degree, but it came hand in hand with good fortune, as Def Leppard somehow caught the attention of record producer Mutt Lange. This, though they didn’t know it at that time, was the component most likely to bring them to the attention of a wider sphere of record-buying fans and listeners.
So what did Mutt do? In a famous bootleg tape of a Troggs’s recording session one of the band members suggested they get ‘a big shot producer to sprinkle some fairy dust on the bastard. Then it’ll sell’.
Mutt read between the lines of music. He knew that a melody could be as moving as a word, and more besides. So there’s Mutt in the picture, the record company is pumped, ‘Photograph’ takes off, and within a relatively short space of time Def Leppard tours the US first as support, and then headlines a world tour. So far so good.
Then comes the ticklish business of writing the next album, a process usually achieved within a year or so. Bands don’t want to be out of circulation for too long - besides needing to maintain a healthy ego, they also want to capitalise on their success so far.
We could say that Mutt’s production somehow endeared Def Leppard to their fans... the songs meant more than just heavy rock – there was something else… But did those fans ever think they would wait nearly four years for that next album?
Def Leppard were out of sight to the media and locked in a titanic fight against the worst of odds as they set about ‘Hysteria’. If ever personalities were tested to the limits, it was on the rack of bad timing, sadness, tragedy and a sense of being in suspended animation, relationships strained and lost; drifting from one country to another hoping the thread of the recordings would keep its strength; hoping the weave of friendships would take the strain.
So let’s say it: these were great people. Def Leppard produced some of rock music's most memorable anthems whilst they faced desperate odds, shoulder to shoulder, and could still find a laugh in what, to some, would have been a barren and hopeless landscape.
Yes, we all knew Mutt’s continued involvement would add to the momentum, and there were signs that Def Leppard fans would look at the odds of ‘Hysteria’ being a monster follow-up to ‘Pyromania’. The fact that it was more than a monster follow up is born-out by history.
I saw and felt every curve, swerve and swipe of bad fortune with Def Leppard, and had my own life turned upside down in the process. But, all these years on, the entire episode is as clear and emotive now as it was then. During the time it took to write ‘Fabulist Icons’ there were many occasions when I had to walk away from the computer, too upset to carry on. I’m pleased I did carry on though, as, to me, the band with whom I worked and played so hard over those years are truly deserving of the title ‘Fabulist Icons’.
Fabulist Icons is a book written by Mike Rogers, the band's technician from the Pyromania tour until the Monsters of Rock tour 1986. It's written from his perspective and includes many previously unseen photos of the band during those early years of writing and recording Hysteria. Mike was more than the band's technician though. When Rick came out of hospital after losing his arm, Mike was there. He was also confidante to the Terror Twins in their heyday, and looked after their model girlfriends Lorelei Shellist and Valerie Mazzonelli's poodle whilst in Paris. He also ferried Def Leppard master tapes to and from Mutt Lange at Battery Studios in North London.
The book is152 pages full colour, 10" square. We will be going to print by end of October 2015.
Price is €35/$40/£26 +PP
This prices is based on the purchase of one book being sent by standard post in a "pizza box' style, cardboard casing when combined with the weight of the book will weight approx 1kg (2.2 pounds) from the country of origin, Ireland. There is a price for the book alone if you wish to make you own postal arrangements.
If you wish to order more than one, have it sent by express or registered post or have the booked signed by the author, Mike Rogers please let me know so that we can personalise your price. Please contact howard@fabulisticons.com
Please allow 5-7 working days for US, Canada and Australia and 2-3 working days for delivery to Ireland, EU and UK. We do our utmost to make sure that the product arrives to you in the best condition however, we cannot accept responsibility for the condition of goods in transit.
NEW HYSTERIA ERA PHOTO BOOK ON THE WAY
I heard about this a while ago...sounds great.
A New Hysteria Era Photo Book is on the way...The Book is currently being worked on with contributions from
Howard Hughes - production/publishing end of the book
Mike Rogers - Guitar Tech - Mike was with the band for their 174 date Pyro tour until he left after the Manheim concert.
Una Williams - Photographer
Details
- Covering the bands time in Dublin and Holland during the writing sessions for the Hysteria Album.
- Shots will be lifestyle shots with Narrative by Mike Rogers, their guitar tech. and Photographer Una Williams.
- The Book will have Full Page Images
- The Book will be 10.5 Inches Square
Howard told me the following
"I am honoured to be working on an image lead book covering the boys' time here in Dublin and in Holland during the writing of Hysteria. The shots are all lifestyle shots with a narrative by Mike Rogers, their guitar tech but he did sooo much more. Carried the tapes from Holland back to Mutts Battery studio in London, kept all their receipts for the accountant, took an inventory of all their gear for shipping and when Rick lost his arm, he moved him out of Rick's folks house and in with him where Rick had a bit more 'leeway'. It seems a bit unreal to me as I think of watching Animal on the TV all those years ago, meeting Joe one time at a design awards gig here in Dublin. Great shots of the band with Jim Steinman and Mutt Lange."
Release Date TBA.
more info as it becomes available…