“I was born in Colchester and lived in the same house in Oaklands Avenue the whole time. I went to Lexden County Primary School and the Colchester Royal Grammar School, and I had many inspirational teachers at school. My Essex roots and performing in bands were the inspiration for my first book, ‘Lost in Music’. I wouldn’t have written this book without growing up in Essex with all the people I knew and played music with – people who worked very hard to create their own music scene. I spent some time trying to become a musician, and when that didn’t work out, I went into journalism. My first gig as a journalist was with the Essex County Standard. I went to the paper’s office and asked the editor, Peter Hills, if I could write a pop column for him. I was very surprised when he said yes. Writing about music seemed to me the next best thing to being an actual musician. I think growing up in Essex can make you quite independently minded, yet also very loyal to the tribe. It can also help you not take yourself too seriously. I will always be very fond of St Mary’s Arts Centre in Colchester, where I played in a couple of bands and watched a lot more.”
