ROB FORD Q&A
Q&A TRANSCRIPT SEPTEMBER 2021
Q5: Thank You & Goodnight has a great eye-catching cover, I love the little detail of the tattoo’s spelt wrong what is thinking behind them? anyone …
RF: Inspired by seeing a business card for someone called Bryan Mayden. This greatly amused me, and a mate and I spent a drunken night childishly thinking of others – Dwight Snake/Stan Halen…OK I’ll stop now…
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Q6: Think a great review about Thank You & Goodnight said it was a mix of very good movies, Spinal Tap & High Fidelity can you see it being made into a movie and what type of cameo would you want?
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RF: Would love that. Is James Corden as Eppie and Ian McShane as Len too much to ask?
Q7: What do you like most about the writing process?
RF: A great way to escape day to day stuff and express yourself, and hopefully the pleasure of giving people an enjoyable read.
Q8: Flipside to previous question what do you hate the most about the writing process?
RF: Commas, apostrophes and editing.
Q9: What would you have done if you hadn't been a writer or connected to music in your chosen profession?
RF: I spent many, many, years in transport logistics and dreamt of having the opportunity to write. So, this is fulfilling an ambition in many ways.
Q10: Have you ever suffered from writer’s block?
RF: I can’t think of anything to say…
Q11: Some quickfire questions - Who is your favourite band or solo star?
RF: Iron Maiden/Bruce Springsteen
To mark the release of his book Thank You & Goodnight author Rob Ford fielded questions for the launch. Here is a transcript of the Q&A:
GET YOUR COPY HERE
Q1: Thank You & Goodnight is your debut novel how long has it been in the writing?
RF: I first started working on it in 2003. So, it’s taken even longer to come out than Guns n Roses Chinese Democracy
Q2: Without too many spoilers what can readers expect from
RF: A comic romp on clutching defeat from the jaws of victory. We aimed for the stars but tripped in the gutter. We wanted to be the biggest band in the world… we weren’t even the biggest band in Ipswich.
Q3: What inspired you to write this book?
RF: A lifetime spent watching and working with bands and the sights and sounds I’ve seen along the way.
Q4: There are some amazing stories in the book, are they all fictional or some based on personal experiences?
RF: 70% fact 30% fiction – Funnily enough when people have commented on the book, it’s the true stuff that they think is made up!!
Q12: Rock or Pop?
RF: ROOOOOCK
Q13: What was the first album you ever bought?
RF: After I wore out my copy of Around the world with Sooty… I bought Boomtown Rats – A tonic for the troops with my own pocket money!
Q14: What’s your favourite album of all time?
RF: Marillion – Misplaced Childhood
Q15: Top three gigs ever been to?
RF: Bruce Springsteen – Met Life Stadium NJ, U2 – Cardiff Arms Park, Rolling Stones – London O2
Q16: CD or vinyl?
RF: CD
Q17: Who is your favourite writer?
RF: Rolling Stones’ David Fricke.
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Q18: Favourite Book?
RF: Scully – Alan Bleasdale.
Q19: What's your favourite film?
RF: Goodfellas or Field of Dreams.
Q20: What's your favourite fruit?
RF: Sunny Delight.
Q21: Favourite ice cream?
RF: Pistachio.
Q22: E-book or paperback?
RF: Paperback.
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Q23: Theatre shows or films?
RF: All three please.
Q24: Sweet or Savoury
RF: Both please.
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Q25: Chips or rice?
RF: Both please
Q26: Coffee or tea?
RF: Coffee…My biggest vice!
Q27: Spring or Autumn?
RF: As long as its crisp and cold
Q28: Summer or winter?
RF: Winter…. I need to move to Scandinavia!
Q29: What’s your go to track for karaoke?
RF: Alive and Kicking Simple Minds. Neither of which I'd be if Jim Kerr heard me singing it!
Q30: Do you hate these types of questions? Lol
RF: Please make the bad man stop!
Q31: When is it set? And how has the music biz and touring changed from then to now? Mid to late 90’s –
RF: A different world. You toured often at a loss to promote an album. Then in 21st century until covid you only made money from a tour… Now nobody makes much from records, even less from streams and as for shows… who knows.
Q32: As a music promoter, like a lot in the arts and performance, I bet you’ve found this whole covid/lockdown thing very hard how has it been?
RF: Horrible… its ground to a halt people’s passions and stopped many livelihoods. Sadly, it also looks a long road back.
Q33: How have you found the whole being published experience?
RF: It’s been great to finally have someone believe in your work and have faith in what you’ve written.
Q34: You were happy with the cover design and had lot of input?
RF: It’s gratifying to be able to collaborate and work together with people who have best interests in the book. I know many don’t get that opportunity.
Q35: Your books sold well up to now were you a little shocked how successful it would be?
RF: I’m genuinely pleasantly surprised. Very grateful to all who’ve bought it and hope those and many more will get a laugh from it.
Q36: Do you think there is an “a typical reader” for Thank You & goodnight? Or is it open to anyone that wants a good laugh and bit of escapism?
RF: I hope the comedy and story in it is enough to appeal to anyone, but it would be great if music fans took to it. I’d love it to become a tour bus read.
Q37: You’ve got some great larger than life characters in the book is there more books planned, that difficult “second album” or do you think you will write a series?
RF: I’d love to do more. I have ideas to take on the characters but into other parts of there world. The ideas are already sketched for an office-based story and one of obsessive football fan, and of course the band have to make a comeback!!
Q38: What advice would you give to anyone that is considering writing a book or movie script?
RF: Do it…. And if you need an example of not giving up and getting published eventually then I hope I can provide some inspiration. From 1st word to publishing deal was 16 years!!
Q39: Why do bands always pretend to go off stage to do encores?
RF: Change the singers nappy!
Illustrations by ATL
