LONDON: Dublin Castle

Wednesday 4th September, 2019

7:30pm

Event information

Julie Hamill and Bugbear are very pleased to welcome Lucy O’Brien to the The Dublin Castle. Writer and broadcaster Lucy O’Brien is the author of the award-winning She Bop: the definitive history of women in popular music. Currently she is a lecturer at London College of Music, University of West London. And tonight we explore Lucy O’Brien’s brilliant book Dusty, her new biography of Dusty Springfield.

Dusty was one of our greatest pop singers. From 60s hits like ‘I Only Want To Be With You’, ‘Son of a Preacher Man’ and ‘You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ to her 80s collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys and beyond, she was a musical pioneer and the very essence of authentic white soul.

A member of the US Rock and Roll and UK Music Halls of Fame, international polls have named Dusty among the best female pop artists of all time. Twenty years after her passing Dusty continues to fascinate and inspire. So Much Love, a feature film about her life, is currently in production, starring Gemma Arterton. This coincides with the completely revised and updated edition of Lucy O’Brien’s classic biography.

The book has new photographs, a new introduction, fresh material and over 45 original interviews with close friends and people who worked with her, including Sir Tom Jones, Lulu, legendary arranger Ivor Raymonde, and the late, great Atlantic Records trio, Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin, with whom she recorded her classic album Dusty In Memphis. The book fully explores her life and legacy, from a troubled Home Counties childhood to 60s mod queen and solo star, to her struggles with addiction and mental health issues, to her status as an influential LGBT heroine and enduring pop icon.

‘Provocative and deadly accurate’ Time Out. ‘Excellently researched and a bloody good read’ – Melody Maker. Book signings. Interviews and DJ Sets by Julie Hamill and Tony Bugbear.