I Was There: Dispatches from a Life in Rock and Roll with Alan Edwards

Schedule

Thu Apr 23 2026 at 07:00 pm to 08:30 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

80 Hill Rise | Richmond, EN

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Join us at Books on the Rise for an evening with legendary music PR man Alan Edwards to discuss his book 'I Was There'
About this Event

About I Was There:

Alan Edwards, the godfather of British music PR, has worked with some of the most legendary artists of our time, from David Bowie to the Spice Girls via the Rolling Stones, the Stranglers, Prince and Amy Winehouse.

In I Was There, he describes getting his break in the mid-'70s as a scruffy, stoned 20-year-old just back from the hippie trail; his encounter with London's thriving punk scene, which inspired him to set up his own PR company; broadening his horizons as his work with the likes of Blondie takes him to the US and beyond; and his move into the world of pop with the Spice Girls during the tabloid-crazed '90s.

At the centre of this story sits the defining relationship of Edwards' career: his close, thirty-year collaboration with David Bowie. He guides us through a series of vivid, funny, always insightful behind-the-scenes reports, whether he's playing a spontaneous game of football with Bob Marley, listening to Prince discuss the future of civilisation in a nightclub VIP area, or being used as a pawn in the power struggle between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Above all, we're treated to Edwards' fascinating observations about the brilliant artists he has worked with and what makes them tick, as he looks back on his role in the last five decades of music and culture.

About Alan Edwards:

Alan Edwards is the Founder of public relations giant The Outside Organisation which has represented an eclectic range of clients including the biggest music stars on the planet, corporations and brands, government, royalty, celebrities, charities, events, sports legends and clubs. Alan has been named the Number 1 Entertainment PR by industry bible PR Week for an unprecedented eight years in a row.

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Where is it happening?

80 Hill Rise, 80 Hill Rise, Richmond, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

GBP 9.99 to GBP 17.99

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