My grateful thanks to:
My wife Carolyn, to whom this book is dedicated, for her constant encouragement and endless practical support.
My literary agent, Clare Alexander of Aitken Alexander, who came up with the idea of a music memoir.
Doug Young, who did so much for me and for many other authors at Transworld.
Larry Finlay, Patsy Irwin and all the wonderful people at Transworld.
Caroline North McIlvanney, still the finest editor in the business.
My sister, Linda Edwards, who always helps to jog my memory on aspects of our shared childhood.
My Liverpudlian friend Billy Hayes, who gave me some valuable information about Beatles songs.
My media agent, Andrew Wilson of Cloud9 management, who first set these chapters of my life to music for a public event.
Kall Kwik printers in Hull, for all their assistance with the photographs.