Rock & Roll Book Club is delighted to welcome Undertones bassist Mickey Bradley to The Red Lion in Leytonstone for a conversation with James Brown (Loaded, GQ). Mickey will be in conversation in support of his new book Teenage Kicks: My Life As An Undertone on Omnibus Press. Audience Q&A, book signing & music afterwards.
Michael Bradley joined his school friend's group in Derry, Northern Ireland in the summer of 1974. They had two guitars and no singer. Four years later the Undertones recorded 'Teenage Kicks', John Peel's favourite record, and became one of the most fondly remembered UK bands of the post punk era. Sticking to their punk rock principles, they signed terrible deals, made great records and had a wonderful time. They broke up in 1983 when they realised there was no pot of gold at the end of the rock and roll rainbow.
His story is a bitter-sweet, heart-warming and occasionally droll tale of unlikely success, petty feuding and playful mischief during five years of growing up in the music industry. Wiser but not much richer, Michael became a bicycle courier in Soho after the Undertones split. "Sixty miles a day, fresh air, no responsibilities," he writes. "Sometimes I think it was the best job I ever had. It wasn't, of course."
Our regular venue the Walthamstow Trades Hall is extremely busy between now & Christmas so we are hosting events at some other wonderful venues within the area - this event will take place at The Red Lion in Leytonstone (located 1 minute from Leytonstone under ground station (central line), Leytonstone High Road rail station is also close by & the area is served by buses 66, 145, 257, 339, W13, W14, W15, W16, W19.
