Bryan Morrison Memoirs - Have a Cigar

[Keith Jordan]

Bryan Morrison, the chap who signed Pink Floyd, who sadly passed away in 2008, will have his memoirs released next month which should be very interesting indeed. Stay tuned for more info.

From the published....

I just wanted to share with you details of an exciting new title we are publishing next month, this is, Have a Cigar!, the candid and outspoken memoir of British music mogul Bryan Morrison.

Bryan managed and signed many infamous British groups from the 60s through to the 90s – including Pink Floyd, The Pretty Things, Wham!/George Michael, T.Rex/Marc Bolan, and The Jam/Paul Weller. He was also agent of choice for more underground groups, such as The Deviants and the Pink Fairies.

Sadly, Bryan died in 2008 following a polo accident, and his memoir has only recently come to light. It’s a fantastic insight into the culture of the British pop and rock music scene of the 1960s, including untold stories of everything from Syd Barrett’s early days with Pink Floyd to meetings with the Krays; from working with George Michael to dealings with the Bee Gees – along with unseen personal photographs.

[twcc]

Indeed, this one looks interesting and should hit the streets on 19 September -

When the music impresario Bryan Morrison died aged 66 in 2008, after two years in a coma following a polo accident, he left behind his unpublished memoir, Have a Cigar!. As a music publisher, manager and agent, Morrison had represented The Pretty Things, Pink Floyd, T. Rex, The Jam, Wham! and many others. He was also the founder and owner of the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.

In this candid and outspoken book, Morrison reveals the true stories behind why Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd once bit his finger to the bone, the Pretty Things were banned for life from New Zealand, and he became involved with the Kray Twins. He also tells how The Jam kissed goodbye to success in the USA, he received death threats when Robin Gibb left the Bee Gees, and signing a publishing deal with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley as Wham!

Spanning the golden age of British rock n roll from the 60s to the 80s, this is the extraordinary story of a cigar-chomping, East End entrepreneur, with a passion for art and design, fashion, music and polo.

About the Author -

Bryan Morrison studied art and design at St Martin's and the Central School of Art in the early 1960s before leaving to manage R&B group the Pretty Things. Within five years, the Bryan Morrison Agency grew to be one of the leading pop music agents in London, booking clubs, concerts and tours.
Morrison also became the manager of Pink Floyd and through his publishing company he would later represent Marc Bolan of T. Rex, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, Paul Weller of the Jam, George Michael and many others.

Morrison took up polo and joined the Guards Polo Club, where he first met, and later worked with, the Duchess of York's father, Major Ronald Ferguson.

In 1985 he opened the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club and is credited with making polo into a fashionable sport.

In 2006 Bryan Morrison suffered a serious polo accident which left him in a coma. He died in 2008.

[Keith Jordan]

I am looking forward to reading this book. Should have some good stories in there.

[henno]

Looking forward too.

A little late for me to do a holiday reading, but It will go onto my wish last after.

Its retailing at £20, but available for 16 in some places on amazon.

[drafsack]

better make some room on the bookshelf

[A Syd Casualty]

Is the book out yet?

Syd bit his finger once I believe.

[twcc]

Is the book out yet?

Yep, it was published in September ...

[A Syd Casualty]

Got the audio book version on Audible.

It's a good read.