EXORCISING GHOSTS by DAVE COUSINS
Published 1 Sep 2014
Dave Cousins' long-awaited biography, covering both his time in the Strawbs and his radio career. The first 500 early purchasers received a numbered advance copy before publication date with a unique specially designed "ex libris" bookplate, and their copy was signed by Dave. Those who ordered before 15 May 2014 had their name included in the book.
I've had the pleasure of reading it in draft and there is loads of material which no-one (including ME!) ever knew about. It's an absolute must for Strawbs fans everywhere.
"Exorcising Ghosts" is currently out of print. Copies of this and "Secrets, Stories and Songs" do pop up on Ebay from time to time. Best of luck ....
Press blurb
How did a working class boy from West London come to discover Sandy Denny and Rick Wakeman, work with iconic figures like David Bowie, Dickie Attenborough and Dame Vera Lynn, meet royalty, change the face of commercial radio, and be granted God's abundant blessings by The Pope?
'Exorcising Ghosts', written by Strawbs singer and songwriter, Dave Cousins, tells an extraordinary story from the revivalist folk scene of the 1960s, through chart-topping albums and singles, to stadium rock shows of the 1970s. Cousins spares no punches in the untold story of his discovery of Sandy Denny in a folk club in Earls Court and their time together in Denmark. He invited the unknown RickWakeman to join Strawbs, and within six months they moved from playing in folk clubs to headlining the Albert Hall.
The subsequent incarnation of Strawbs found pop stardom with the notorious hit, 'Part Of The Union', which ended in an acrimonious bloodbath in Los Angeles. Undeterred, Dave Cousins recast Strawbs as a prog-rock band, playing stadium shows across the USA and Canada.
In 1980, Dave Cousins turned down the chance to sign to Elton John's record label and entered his secret life, the nascent world of commercial radio. Like a roller coaster, Dave Cousins' life has had its ups and downs, but what a ride!
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