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Colin Hart’s book details
In July 1971 Colin Hart, a Geordie lad from South Shields, was on his first tour of America as a roadie for Matthew’s Southern Comfort. The group was part of a three-band bill with The Faces and Deep Purple. Following the tour he joined Deep Purple’s road crew. Ian Gillan just knew Colin had to join the Purple entourage after seeing him pour a pint of beer over Rod Stewart!
Colin devoted over thirty years of his life to these great rock musicians. This is his story and indeed theirs. A tale of excess in terms of greed, petulance, anger and devotion. It is counter balanced by extremes of pure talent, showmanship and, of course musicianship. He was the constant ‘man in the middle’ through all of the break ups, make-ups and revolving door line-up changes. Joining them at twenty-four years old and leaving thirty years later, he was there every step of their rock ‘n’ roll way. A story of two of the most innovative, often copied, rock bands; seen through the eyes, ears and emotions of their ‘mother hen’ (as Jon Lord described him). He was their minder, chauffeur, carer, provider, protector, father confessor & confidant. In truth he is the only one who can tell this tale of both bands as he was the only one there on the road throughout the life of, not one, but both gigantic bands.
Hart endured a roller coaster ride, working for Purple, during the band’s most successful period. He was there when the casino burnt down in Montreux, and witnessed Smoke On The Water being born; the legendary concerts in Japan; the break-up of the Gillan / Glover line-up; the auditions that saw David Coverdale join the band, and the California Jam performance in front of 400,000.
When Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple in early 1975 and formed Rainbow, Colin went with him and continued as Rainbow’s tour manager through the ever-revolving line-ups. He was invariably the man who had to break the news to many of the hopefuls that auditioned for the band: “We’ll get back to you” being the stock reply!
In 1984 when Blackmore disbanded Rainbow for the Deep Purple reunion, Colin naturally resumed his role with these rock giants as they embarked on a world tour that included the hugely successful 1985 US leg – the second biggest grossing US tour that year after Bruce Springsteen. A déjà vu situation occurred as Colin was in the middle of yet more band break-ups as first, Gillan departed, Turner joined, Gillan returned and Blackmore departed, while Steve Morse emerged to take the band into the new millennium, although for Colin his thirty years on the road with two of the biggest bands in rock history came to an end in 2001.
A Hart Life is written with life-long friend Dick Allix, former drummer with sixties band Vanity Fare. Hart tells the story of his life from humble beginnings in South Shields, to setting up home in California with Rainbow, and eventually settling in Florida, where he still lives today: Of touring the world several times over with two of Britain’s greatest bands Deep Purple and Rainbow; a story that also crosses paths with Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Def Leppard, The Scorpions and Iron Maiden to mention just a few! A truly fascinating insight into the world of rock ‘n’ roll from the other side of the stage.
A Hart Life
The life story of Deep Purple and Rainbow’s tour manager
Colin Hart with Dick Allix
Includes forewords by Deep Purple and Rainbow bassist Roger Glover & Colin’s nephew Paul Mann.
ISBN: 978-0-9557542-7-2 (Hardback) / 978-0-9557542-8-9 (Deluxe slipcase with bonus book)
Format: Hardback (234 x 156 mm)
Pages: 272 (including 16 photo pages, 15 b/w, 73 colour images)
Price: £19.95 (Hardback) / £35.00 (Deluxe edition)
Publication date: 3rd October 2011
Deluxe edition is limited to 300 copies. Includes a bonus book Hart’s Life 1971-2001: 80 pages of photos and memorabilia from Colin’s collection including tour itineraries, faxes and letters, unavailable elsewhere, plus a reproduction of Deep Purple’s 1974 Burn tour programme, all housed in a slipcase. N.B: This edition is not available to the trade and can only be ordered directly from Wymer.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Ordered it today.
Thanx for the post.
August 28th, 2011 at 21:17wow,here we go!!!Can’t wait to put my hands on it.
August 29th, 2011 at 02:50I’m not paying 20 quid for a book full of rent a quotes. Jesus, you buy ‘Classic Rock’ magazine and rather than music it’s all about someone snorting coke off some model or some drummer spewing up onstage, I love DP and I love music, I want to listen to music and read about musical talent rather than burn 20 quid reading some gossip, I’ll order this from the library or wait until it turns up at a car boot sale for 50p. I’ve got a family to feed and I’m not wasting food tokens on this crud.
August 29th, 2011 at 18:10Everybody who has been close to Purple or Rainbow knows Collin. A great man (in many ways) and to me it was sad, when he was no longer on tour or in the studio with Purple or Ritchie. He was a member of these bands as I see it. I was lucky to work together with him as a part of ET Concerts in the “good old days” and just as a friend of Purple/Rainbow
I hope to meet him again one day, and I’m looking forward to the book.
I wish you all the very best Collin.
To David Sanderson: give the book a chance 🙂
August 29th, 2011 at 19:43It is a bit expensive but hopefully an enjoying book to read.
Maybe it will give us some more answers.
I m afraid that it will not be as it could be because of his loyalties with nowadays DP.
Btw, a reproduction of MK 3 BURN tour programme is something I like : )
I wanted to order the Anniversary Tour shirts wayback but failed to do so.
Anybody?
Please?
Mark
August 29th, 2011 at 21:00What is it about these ‘Gentlemen’ from the North West???
1st Graham Wright with his book on Black Sabbath & now Colin!
If writen well, these ‘From the inside’ accounts often put things into context, allowing us to deepen our understanding of why things unfolded as they did.
Looking forward to reading this one!
Is there any mention of a certain Electrically operated Rainbow being ‘Ah-hem’ ‘Accidentally’ dumped at sea?
Read on!!!
August 30th, 2011 at 00:07Second hand stories and quotes – Im not convinced this would be worth it. Although some on here seem to thrive on quotes and gossip.
Wait a few weeks and pick it up in the ‘bargain basement’ sales.
August 30th, 2011 at 07:58Appearantly this post arose after the announcement on RAINBOW FANCLAN.
It’s been quite silent over there so I do not always visit them regularly anymore.
Weird that I forgot Colin’s book already has been in print in Japan in 2008 as ” Between a rock and a hard place”.
I suppose the ltd. ed. of the last edition has more to offer?
August 30th, 2011 at 11:07Re; comment 3: Someone who has got out of the wrong side of the bed by the sounds of it! How on earth someone can make a judgement on the content of a book before it is published is beyond me! If you don’t want to part with £20 that is one thing but to condemn something without any knowledge of it is utterly astounding.
Brings to my mind Neil Peart’s lyrics in Witch Hunt: “Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand. Ignorance and prejuduce, and fear walk hand in hand”.
Have a nice day.
August 30th, 2011 at 12:50Hey #3. That’s right sparky. Save that money so you can run out and get that new 38 Special album. As for me, I can’t wait to read it.
August 31st, 2011 at 00:13Second hand comments? Gossip? Colin Hart worked with and managed Deep Purple + Rainbow for over 30 years…he aint some hanger on who crossed paths every now and then with the group. Roger Glover from Deep Purple told me a couple of months ago that he has written the forward for the book . Personally I am looking forward to reading it. Of course it’s one man’s perspective but, as a long time Rainbow and DP fan I think it will be interesting nonetheless…..
August 31st, 2011 at 16:26@Eddie6string – North West, Colin Hart, are you sure?
August 31st, 2011 at 17:17@ 9 Well said Jerry… “quick to judge”
August 31st, 2011 at 17:49Wouldn’t worry, Jerry. Best ignored. The internet makes it possible for people to say all sorts of ignorant and hurtful things that they’d never have to guts to say in person.
August 31st, 2011 at 20:16I have paid mine and don´t think £ 35 is much for such luxury edition of memories of a man working with the band for so long time. It will be a wonderful Christmas gift for me. Thank you for the info.
August 31st, 2011 at 21:26Gossip? Oh dear….
September 1st, 2011 at 09:15@ 14 Well said Paul Mann…I will be buying this in the hope that we can get a real perspective on the ambience surrounding this great band back in their halcyon days. Warts and all please Colin…Nothing would be more fascinating!!
September 1st, 2011 at 09:32@7 Your opinion, and hopefully yours alone!!!
September 1st, 2011 at 13:43Ordered already. of course, the deluxe edition !
September 2nd, 2011 at 01:00Maybe I should take my last comment back as I must admit, back in early 1970 when I heard In Rock was to appear I decided before it was released that it would be crud and that I would wait until I could find one in a car boot sale for 50p. Haven’t found a copy yet so still haven’t heard it, but I’m sure my initial feeling was still right!
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:01This should be a great read, since this will be inside information. A must have!
September 3rd, 2011 at 07:16DP InRock is the S##t!
September 10th, 2011 at 11:02Today I got a cancellation reply concerning the Colin Hart book.
Strange, because I had a friend doing this order(?????)
Maybe something got “registered” earlier on when I tried myself?
The Wymer site is not very practical.
In the past e mails did not get a reply and nobody took the phone, while Dear Jerry is consciouys enough to post here.
The story continues?
September 12th, 2011 at 22:56Would just like to say that we get several emails from people questioning why their order has been cancelled but invariably forget that they made one or more earlier attempts which were left pending in the shopping cart. These pending orders are automatically cancelled after two weeks but it’s worth just checking the order number against the confirmed completed order as you will then see it pertains to a different order number.
As far as I am aware all email queries on Colin’s book have been dealt with. You would also be amazed at how many people input their own email address incorrectly when ordering, and therefore do not receive the automated reply.
Needless to say I cannot deal with your query directly as you have posted under a pseudonym but if you email through the site again I will deal with your concerns. Please when doing so also give more details about the parts of the site that you do not feel are practical as it will help us to improve it.
September 16th, 2011 at 13:55– I´d like to say, that I ordered the deluxe edition at Wymer.
And I must say, that it went even smoother than Amazon.
Thumbs up, looking forward to the book.
September 17th, 2011 at 15:34Henrik, thanks for that. Most of our customers don’t have a problem with ordering.
September 19th, 2011 at 11:43anybody know when this ships? jerry, you out there…. i emailed you.?…
October 5th, 2011 at 23:32Apologies to Scott for not replying sooner and to everyone else who has pre-ordered Colin’s book. There has been a slight delay with production, which has been beyond our control. The books are however, being delivered tomorrow, although the delay has partly been because of the slipcases for the deluxe version, which are still in the manufacturing stage.
For anyone who has pre-ordered the standard edition, these will start shipping this week, but it looks as if the slipcases are regrettably still about 3 weeks away but rest assured as soon as they are in stock we will be shipping the deluxe versions. I thank everyone in advance for their patience. As I said the manufacturing stage as taken longer than originally thought and is beyond our control, but we hope you all enjoy Colin’s book very soon.
October 9th, 2011 at 14:45http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqkJqZed12c&feature=channel_video_title
October 16th, 2011 at 20:01let’s see it!
Anybody knows where in Florida is Colin living now? I’d love to have my special edition signed by him! 🙂
October 20th, 2011 at 03:56@ #30
October 20th, 2011 at 18:12Hi Max,
How about a review? Is it any good? Still waiting for my copy…
Colin is a personal friend of mine, and as he was writing the book I had the chance to read the beginning chapters. I can tell you if your a Deep Purple or Rainbow fan its worth the money. I can’t wait to read the rest, even though I have heard countless stories from him over the years. Colin is living in Central Florida, I will give him a call and ask him if he can address any requests for signing the book.
October 23rd, 2011 at 01:17Scott,
November 23rd, 2011 at 03:43I have not received my copy yet but it would be worth the wait if I could have it signed by Colin. Purple Haze, I’d really appreciate it if you could make it happen when the books finally arrive. 🙂
Why is this book so hard to get? Amazon US doesnt have it, AmazonUK doesn’t have it.
December 31st, 2011 at 00:25@34 Jeff, get it from Jerry at Wymer (more black than purple store):
http://www.wymeruk.co.uk/Store/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=1361
BTW, anyone get the Tony Ashton book ‘Zermattitis’ yet?
January 2nd, 2012 at 17:55@35 Yeah, I got my Ashton book in the same package as my Hart book just before xmas. Haven’t read it yet though.
January 3rd, 2012 at 20:20Colin was also our (Elf’s) road manager/baby sitter on all of our tours with DP. Great times and a super friend and gentleman.
April 12th, 2012 at 02:16colin,or shall i say mother hope all is well and can’t wait to read your book anyone who wants a good story,if colin doesn’t know any,nobody does…lov ya and miss those days cooky
August 20th, 2012 at 22:49