Author Biography...
Barry Cain grew up in North London attending Owen's School in Islington. He worked on Record Mirror and others music mags before dabling in PR (for Blondie amongst others). But he was quickly drawn back into music publishing and launched the cult-classic magazines Flexipop and X-Rated as well as a string of poster mags and finally PS (Popshop) which he sold to Robert Maxwell. He now works as a writer and publisher and still lives in North London with his wife and family.
Music
Sex Pistols, The Stranglers, The Clash, The Damned, The Ramones, The Vibrators, The Tubes, The Jam, Blondie, X-Ray Specs, Buzzcocks, The Boys, Sham 69, The Drones, XTC, Genration X, The Heartbreakers, Alternative TV, Ian Dury, Radiators From Space
Television
For more information on '77 Sulphate Strip please email michelle.thorn@ovolobooks.co.uk...'77 Sulphate Strip can be purchased online at http://www.budgetbooksdirect.co.uk/product/189/77-sulphate-strip
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Books
'77 Sulphate Strip - By Barry Cain
Reviews....
"entertaining look back at the momentous events of 1977....The story is effectively brought up to date with a series of contemporary interviews, including a notably spiky encounter with John Lydon" Uncut Magazine, July 2007
A feature length interview with John appears in the new book 77 Sulphate Strip by former Record Mirror journalist Barry Cain. Barry takes a look back at the musical events of 1977; and brings the story up to date with a new interview conducted in LA last year. Barry first interviewed John when the Sex Pistols signed to EMI and went onto cover various Pistols live shows through 1977; along with the US tour of 1978. Be warned. The book doesn't solely concentrate on the Sex Pistols but as you well know Mr Rotten is no member of the "punk pack". There is the Sex Pistols and there is the rest... And there is Mr Rotten and there is the rest... JohnLydon.Com heartily recommends you check out 77 Sulphate Strip. We guarantee you'll find a truly unique 30+ page interview with Mr Rotten. A heady mix of cantankerous mischief and content. Laced with revelations you won't read elsewhere. "57 varieties of talk soup" to quote the man himself, Johnlydon.com, Sept, 2007
"This book made me laugh and cry for my own errors and follies as well as my own small triumphs and, above all, for the fact that I was right back in '77 and still am."
Phil Chevron, www.pogues.com
"Punk rock book of the year...Now older and battle scarred by life [Barry Cain] sets out to rediscover the greatest year of his life: '77...Mission accomplished"
Phil Singleton, www.sex-pistols.net
"A book this good doesn't belong soley to the punk crowd...its spine is all about UK youth culture...It's about living hard and living fast. Dresing up and getting down"
Paul Mckenzie, Touch Magazine
About me: ’77 Sulphate Strip – By Barry Cain
An eyewitness account of the year that changed everything…
“An eye witness account of 1977 by one of the only journalists allowed full access to the bands. This is the true story of how it felt and what really happened then…
… and how John Lyndon, Hugh Cornwell & Rat Scabies feel now about what they said and did back then.”
“ JOHNNY ROTTEN sits on the floor, back up against the wall, as I walk into EMI’s press office. The Sex Pistols have just signed to the label and I don’t know what to expect, except that it won’t be The Rubettes. I had seen genuine fear in the face of another reporter also waiting to interview the band.
I like Johnny’s smile. It’s genuine. There’s a flash of honesty about him. We were both raised in the Desolation Row that was sixties’ Islington so he knows my life and I know his, and that gets the biographical shit out of the way. His vitriol is meticulous but strangely melodious, something I’ve never encountered before. His vocabulary is extensive – music to the ears of someone who had sexed up his interview technique on transatlantic phone interviews with big US soul acts from some Midwest town who talked a lot about God.
I always take shorthand notes and I’m fast but have to hang on to Johnny’s coat-tails as he whistles down the wind because I don’t want to lose a single precious word. He has ‘star’ written right through him, like a stick of Brighton punk rock. His words are sexy and sassy, strong and genuine, untutored, nourishing. I must catch every one, every aching syllable. I feel liberated and lubricated at the same time, like a tunnel ride in a water park.”
That encounter changed my life and led to a year like no other as bands like The Sex Pistols, Jam, Clash, Damned and Stranglers ate it up and spat it out.
And, the day after the first Pistols interview, a three minute encounter between the band and Bill Grundy at Thames TV changed everything else, forever…
Hey Ho Barry - why not come on over the the Planet Mondo Blog - where I've managed to bag an exclusive Undertones interview with Damien O'Neill himself - what mad him pick up a guita and and play? Any guilty pleasures? how did he hear about punk
Hey Barry - have you heard The Wolfmen's mighty new album? What a winner. Fancy reading an exclusive track by track guide from Marco and Chris - well just click here - for part one and here - for part two
They were together long enough to make an impact, and planted their seeds for this beautiful period of creativity. So that others would benefit from the raw energy going forward.
Vocalist Riff Regan reflects on 1977; click banner
The Blessed single from 1979 long out of print and VERY RARE w/ Billy 'Stark' Stone-Howie Pyro-Walter Lure and Brad Barnett is now yours and avail @www. myspace. com/theblessed2008
Hiya BARRY and ta 4 beinga fwend - and Gweat Bwitish gweetings from Essexington-On-Heat, which is really qwite stuffy this eve.
Action Men fitted with the eagle-eye device may detect a new song uploaded for your delectation (recorded this very lunchtime) which is called Wind Of Change. One hopes it goes down well with one's MySpace co-eds! TTFN doods,
Good night last night at Filthy's book reading and meeting up again. Shame it was sooo rammed we couldn't get in to hear you onstage - but I found a tiny slit in the side window so we could spy through to see the stage. You looked like you were having a great time! Good crowd.
