I have written my first novel. After 47 years on this earth and 25 years in music/media, I have written a novel called 'Thin Pale Foursome'.
It tells the story of a guy who used to be an A&R man but still hangs with his A&R friends. He's always dreamed of finding a star and, one day, he finds her; a talented, charismatic girl who he knows will make him rich, but who he also falls in love with. The story is about how he gets her signed and how he uses his contacts in record companies and media to hype a deal. If you're an unsigned artist or manager and you REALLY want to know how the music industry works, go to http://www.lulu.com/lindsaywesker, where you can sample the novel and, if you like it, buy a copy. Before I joined the music industry in 1981, I had aspirations to be a writer and an actor. I attended the Anna Scher Children’s Theatre (where I met Kathy Burke), The Mime Centre, and I was a member of the Royal Court Youth Theatre, where I had the privilege of being directed by Edward Bond in a Bond play. I also auditioned for numerous drama schools under a pseudonym; I wanted to get in without my father’s name, but I failed to get into any school. Guess I wasn’t good enough. My first play was called ‘What’s So Good?’ and featured me and four friends. I hired out my local hall, Jacksons Lane Community Centre, and staged three nights. It was not great. I wrote a play for the students of The Mountview Theatre School called ‘Afterhours’, about a bar full of characters that live most of their life in their local tavern; the kind of place where everybody knows your name! The year is 1978. It pre-dated ‘Cheers’ by four years! I wrote a strange two-part/two-hander called ‘Reclaimation’/’Tampon Tea’ about a married couple, both psychiatrists, who decide to treat each other. This ran for about two weeks at The Elephant Theatre in Elephant & Castle. A coach load of Japanese students arrived one day imagining it was one of my dad’s plays! In 1980, I wrote two episodes of ‘Angels’ (a series about nurses) for BBC TV and, in 1981, I wrote a radio play for Capital Radio called 'The Grey Cloud Show' starring Anthony Scher and my mate Brian Bovell. Another of the people I met at Anna Scher’s was the novelist Stephanie Calman who, at the time, was writing for Black Echoes newspaper. I will forever be indebted to her. When she decided to leave, she recommended me for her job. I worked at Black Echoes between 1981-83, initially as an in-house journalist, but I was later promoted to Deputy Editor in 1982. My duties included reviewing records, concerts and clubs, photographing and interviewing acts and DJs, and collating news. Basically, working 25 hours a day! While there, I contributed to ‘The Illustrated Encyclopaedia Of Black Music’, published by Salamander Books Ltd in 1982. In 1983, I got my first job in a record company, working as A&R Manager/ Dance Music Promotions Manager at WEA Records. My duties included project co-ordination, signing records/acts, co-ordination of club/radio promotion plus marketing of records/acts. I got the chance to work with Stan Campbell (singer on The Specials’ ‘Free Nelson Mandela’), and execs such as Rob Dickens, Paul Conroy, Max Hole, Phil Straight, John Hollingsworth, Moira Bellas, Barbara Charone and Bill Drummond. The best thing I did while I was there was licence a track called ‘Mysterious’ by Twilight 22. In 1984, I wrote three plays that were performed at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs by the Black Theatre Co-Operative: ‘Money To Live’, ‘Basin’ and ‘God’s Second In The Command’. In 1984, I was hired by A&M Records as an A&R Manager/Dance Music Promotions Manager. My duties included signing records/acts, project co-ordination, product management, creating radio edits, co-ordination of club/radio promotion, plus marketing of records/acts. The office contained such legendary execs as Brian Shepherd, Chris Briggs, Tony Burfield and David Rose. I signed Any Day Now, featuring ex-Direct Drive member Derek Green and David Hubbard, and we made some great music with producer Mark Berry. I also signed ex-Light Of The World member Nat Augustin, and we went to Philadelphia to work with producer Dexter Wansel, but it was a disappointing experience. I also signed Dorothy Galdez, and made a good record with her that was a club hit in Europe and America. She later changed her name to Baby D. I also created the radio edit of Atlantic Starr’s ‘Secret Lovers’, which reached No. 10 in the pop charts. In 1986, Methuen London Ltd published ‘Money To Live’. Later that year, I began DJ-ing on pirate radio station Kiss FM. In 1988, I joined the Kiss FM office. My work included raising money to fund the campaign for legalisation and writing the application form to apply for licence. In order to raise money, we created a magazine called free!, which I edited. It later became known as Touch. As Head Of Music at the legal Kiss 100 FM, by first job was to stage the launch day concert in Highbury Fields, which featured LL Cool J, Ten City, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Aswad, The Chimes, Loose Ends, Caron Wheeler, Diana Brown & Barrie K. Sharpe, The Pasadenas and Beats International. My day-to-day duties as Head Of Music included creating a daytime music policy, creating a library, and appointing and managing a librarian (Alex Jones-Donnelly, formerly Editor Of Music Policy at Radio One). I also turned one of our production staff into a broadcaster (former Radio One presenter Sarah HB), and one of my interns is now a successful TV presenter (June Sarpong). I was also a broadcaster on Kiss FM in various time slots. During 1994, I broadcasted five days a week, Monday-Friday 04:00-07:00. (04:00-06:00 was 100% talk and phone-in.) During this time, I also created The International Dance Awards, a charity awards ceremony and concert for Kiss, Disco Mix Club and The Dance Aid Trust. The first IDA took place on January 19, 1994 at Labatt's Apollo and featured Dina Carroll, M People, The Prodigy, Gabrielle, Ce Ce Peniston, Apache Indian, Juliet Roberts, The Shamen + D:Ream. In 1992, Music Box/Granada Television wanted a contemporary replacement for ‘The Hitman And Her’, so I created a TV programme for them called 'B.P.M.' I almost got the chance to present it, but my mate Dave Dorrell got the gig. In 1993, I compiled the No. 1 compilation 'The Sound Of Kiss 100 FM' for Polygram TV. In 1995, I was Principal Co-ordinator of The 2nd International Dance Awards (sponsored by Levi’s). The event took place on January 22 and featured Eternal, Aswad, Michelle Gayle, C + C Music Factory, Sounds Of Blackness, Juliet Roberts, Carleen Anderson + Reel 2 Real. Later that year, I compiled 'Club Classics 95' Volumes One and Two for Connoisseur Collection. I also compiled 'Classic 80's Groove Mastercuts Volume 2' for Beechwood Music. In the same year, I presented shows on Jazz FM 102.2 (now known as Smooth FM), including deputising for Greg Edwards on his legendary ‘Soul Spectrum’ show. Later that year, I became A&R and Project Manager for Japanese label Avex UK. My duties included A&R/product management & marketing of existing roster, new compilation concepts, artist/corporate press, radio/club promotions and signing new acts. I signed Elisha La Verne, but was prevented from being her A&R man (but that’s another story!) I also project-managed a three-piece girl group called TSD, featuring ex-Steps member Claire Richards. I also licensed a wicked album by a Swedish rap act called Goldmine. In 1995, I worked for GWR, Mentorn Films and Choice FM on a licence application for 'Yorkshire' ILR station. It failed. In 1996, I worked for Mentorn Films and Choice FM on a licence application for 'East Of England' and 'Solent' ILR stations. They both failed. No wonder local radio is so dull! Between 1996 and 1997, I presented the weekly 'GLR Soul Show' on BBC Greater London Radio (GLR 94.9). At the same time, I interviewed artists for BBC World Service, and also conceived, compiled and wrote sleeve notes for 'Every Shade Of Groove' for Debutante/Polygram Records. In 1997, I became Senior Marketing Manager at Australian label Mushroom Records, working with Korda Marshall, Karen Christie and all the gang! I was specifically employed to be completely responsible for one particular artist. My duties included all aspects of A&R, marketing, supervision of all aspects of promotion and PR, supervision of photographs and videos, plus supervision of live band and live appearances. Later that year, I became Senior Marketing Manager at Sarm Management/ZTT Records. I was employed by Sarm Management to manage record producers, mixers, engineers, and editors. I was also employed by ZTT Records to fulfil A&R and marketing duties. Another disappointing experience. On May 17, 1999, I joined MTV Networks Europe. I was initially employed by MTV to create R&B and hip hop TV station MTV Base but, as time has passed, I have acquired more responsibilities. Having been asked to create a TV station for 10-15 year-old girls, I created MTV Hits. Since then, I have created MTV Dance. In recent months, I have helped to launch MTV Flux, and I sit on the playlist committee that decides all 10 MTVNE playlists. I physically programme both MTV Base and MTV Flux 24 hours of every day. I also create shows, strands and theme weeks/weekends. DO NOT ASK TO BE MY 'FRIEND' IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG AND HAVE THE DECENCY TO READ AND COMMENT ON IT. Here is an LBC Radio interview that I did with Adrian Allen (copy and paste on to your browser): http://www.esnips.com/doc/388c278d-dbef-4577-9676-d5377209b4 38/LBC-Interview This is me reading the first three pages of my novel (copy and paste on to your browser): http://www.esnips.com/doc/e9efafb4-f2ba-4a16-b90c-02fa7110af a7/First-Draft