Blag, Steal & Borrow
By Gary Raymond
Published by
Percy Publishing
ISBN 9780993291661
Category Biography
Autumn 2016 (Sept - Nov)
Synopsis
This is a story of blagging, bragging, bullshit, bust-ups and betrayal. It is so outrageous that you'd think it was fiction but this is one man's real life story. Humorous, scandalous, poignant and with all guns blazing; the ultimate insider story of the music business which gives the reader an unrivalled insight into the truth behind managing unsigned bands... It is a peak into the looking glass of a world you will not believe exists. The world of the unsigned band; where it's dog eat dog and where just getting a bottle before a gig can seem like a luxury.
You have to be a certain type of person to even entertain the business in the first place and have the right character to match and manage the mischievous band....Koopa
Author's Biography
Gary Victor Raymond was born in 1960 in East London before the family upped sticks and moved to The Cockney Del Sol seaside town of Southend-On-Sea. The pie & mash loving son of a professional drummer and publican, he had a colourful upbringing that included living in a zoo, working in a dolphinarium, listening to glam rock and watching Bruce Lee movies - sadly having no hand-eye coordination meant that he was never able to follow in his father's footsteps and take to the stage. But it was when he started working in the music industry that he made his mark, taking 3 unsigned lads from Essex into the top 20, making music chart history, winning a gold disc and having them forever immortalised in The Guinness Book of Records. These days the father of four, having survived cancer surgery, prefers to sit in front of the television with a cup of tea cheering on his beloved Tottenham Hotspur or watching The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and any movie about East End gangsters, leaving behind him those days in the music industry. Gary has had a number of poems published and his thoughtful poem 'The Thrill of the Kill' was used in an anti-hunting campaign.
Reviews
Price £8.99
Reader Comments
Great read
This is my book of the year - very funny and very moving.
Great read.
Very good book my favourite I've read this year! Funny stories and andedotes! Good Luck.
Such a wonderful read and from a debut writer too. Well done.
Enjoyed every chapter of this book. Great read and very funny.
This is the real thing. I was there (although I didn't know Gary.) An enjoyable if gritty read. Go for it!
When you are not bigger than the system that is running the show.
Legends are those that are talked about....
Its like the rumours of taking over an alien planet
Its like walking into a pub in essex and them still not accepting card
Love this book
The best book I have read this year.
Loving it. Loving it. Loving it.
What a lovely treat this book is to read. Nostalgia aplenty and a real insight into a world few know too much about. Highly recommend.
This book is blooming brilliant.
Loved this book. So funny and well written.
Read this on holiday and got sun burned as I got so engrossed in this wonderful bio of a man who made music history.
Great to see someone getting the break through they thoroughly deserve. Well written biography which is no-holds barred.
..amazing insight ..very very funny ..worth twice the cover price :0)
Excellent book from start to finish. It is what it is and it says it all.
A true reflection of a rollercoaster ride in the music industry.
This is such an insight to the music industry. Well written and a damn good read.
Here is a story that deserves to be told, and read.
Reading Blag, Steal & Borrow is like spending time with a most interesting friend. Gary has a great mind, fresh attitude and is totally authentic, honest and very funny. This book is a breath of fresh air and the writer deserves the recognition.
An excellent book- outstanding for both his early years in Southend and music industry insights.
Great book written with real heart and soul.
An absolute super read.
If you love music insider stories then this books for you. Cracking read.
I have met the author, Gary, a couple of times and being a 'larger than life' character thought I would buy the book to read on holiday. Once the book arrived and I had a 'quick peep' I couldn't put it down - it was so funny! I now need a new book to read for my holiday!
Absolutely fantastic read
On behalf of Liz Doogan-Hobbs MBE
One of the best books I have read. Laughed out loud.
Loved this book.... kept me entertained....had some embarrassing lol moments :) highly recommended
Good book. Liked how he talks about parents and childhood. Growing up. Then what it's like doing all the things that fans don't see to try and make a band famous. Lots of ups and downs involved.
Good book. Interesting, funny and very insightful.
Well done Gary - hope you win mate.
Very insightful and hilarious journey in to the music industry. You have to appreciate Gary's excellent sense of humour which makes the book so enjoyable.
This is a really, really amazing book. Very interesting, very funny, I enjoyed the book a lot.
A fantastic, funny and though provoking book that I would urge you to read.
Brilliant book. Really well written. Laugh out loud moments. Highly recommended !!!!!
Thoroughly enjoyable read, makes you laugh, understand his life and where he came from and most all makes you think.
Thank you for making my holiday in Spain even better.
A very good read written in Gary's own words.
It has not all been plain sailing for Gary during his life and times in the music industry and the book goes through all the good and bad times. It is also bloody funny at times. You will never look at a cucumber the same way again.
Brilliant - I loved this book.
Brilliant book. Really well written. Laugh out loud moments. Highly recommended !
I pre ordered the book and got time to start reading it a couple of days ago. It played havoc with my sleep as I couldn't put it down. Brilliantly written and so many laugh out loud moments - not good in the early hours when everyone else is sleeping. Avoid reading at bedtime as you will keep the nieghbours awake with your laughter.
This was the funniest book ever. I read this book during a time that things were not going well in my life, but it cheered me up so much.
Gary never fails to impress me, can honestly say I have never LOL'D over a book until now, he's so honest which makes it an even better read.
Couldn't put the book down once I'd started it. Great insight into Gary's personal and professional career.
Made me laugh out loud at times.. Highly recommend.
Blag, Steal & Borrow blows the lid on the music industry and gives us an insight never shared before. This compelling story of the underdog making history deserves it's place on any music lovers bookshelf - buy it you won't be disappointed
Simply a must read book. A real life story of a real life blagger!!!!
I love this story of blogging the music industry which is told with real meaning by the author. A must must must read !!!
Great read, great book, great guy. Gary nailed the parts about our school in Southend and bought back memories good and bad.
Love this book, made me laugh out loud and feel sad.
One of the best debut books I have ever read. A real insight in to the music industry. A must read book just waiting to be a TV drama or movie.
Funny, frank and incisive, Gary's autobiography is not only an engaging and warm read, it is an honest and rounded insight into the music industry and is compulsory reading for anyone thinking of starting a career there.
My favourite book of 2016
A really enjoyable book that doesn't pull any punches about working in the music business during the early years of the noughties, but has plenty of laughs as well. Written by an author who lived the extraordinary nightmare and awoke to tell the tale and can pen a honest account in a friendly and affable style. Well worth a read!
Loved this book, absolute pleasure to read and be a part off!â¤ï¸
BIG UP GAZZA RAY
Brilliant book! Deserves to win
a real pleasure to read and an insight in to the world of music that I had no idea existed.
BLAG STEAL AND BORROW - Good fun and good read
Very well written and interesting book that gives a real insight into the music industry and all the highs and lows involved! Great read :)
Love this book so much I set up an account just to help promote it.