Nicki Chapman and Simon Raymonde

09/04/24 • 64 min

TV and Radio presenter, and former record company executive, Nicki Chapman goes head to head in a war of the words with producer, musician and label owner, Simon Raymonde.

On this episode of Book Off we delve into two music memoirs, covering two very sides of the music industry and history, but that both have a lot in common.

Simon was one third of the band Cocteau Twins between 1983 and 1997, and owns and runs the Bella Union label. As well as having his own successful music career as a musician and a producer, he has signed and worked with artists such as Fleet Foxes, Dirty Three, Midlake, Mercury Rev, John Grant, BC Camplight, Laura Viers and Flaming Lips.

In this very honest and open conversation, he talks about the tumour on his brain which has effected his hearing, the influence of his father (Ivor Raymonde) on his career without knowing it, the break up of Cocteau Twins and how his label is still going strong more than 25 years later.

Nicki worked at MCA and RCA records in the 90s in the promotions department, before going out on her own. Over her career, she has worked with many artists including Phil Collins, David Bowie, Kylie, M People, Annie Lennonx, Prince, Take That, Amy Winehouse, Billie Piper, Spice Girls and Liza Minelli.

Nicki's book is swimming in 90s nostalgia (music, fashion, tabloids). She too shares her own personal account of having a brain tumour, which inspired her to want to write the book, as well as lots of stories from her time in the music industry.

They also give us some brilliant book recommendations!

The Book Off

'Sculpting In Time' by Andrei Tarkovsky

'Shardlake' by C.J. Samson

We hope you enjoy this episode - and the latest series!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV and Radio presenter, and former record company executive, Nicki Chapman goes head to head in a war of the words with producer, musician and label owner, Simon Raymonde.

On this episode of Book Off we delve into two music memoirs, covering two very sides of the music industry and history, but that both have a lot in common.

They also give us some brilliant book recommendations!

The Book Off

'Sculpting In Time' by Andrei Tarkovsky

'Shardlake' by C.J. Samson

We hope you enjoy this episode - and the latest series!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Susie Dent and Louise Minchin (flawed characters and tricky scenes)

Susie Dent and Louise Minchin join Joe Haddow this week for a war of the words.

Both guests have had incredible careers in TV (Susie recently celebrated 30 years of being on Countdown and Louise spent 20 years on BBC Breakfast's red sofa) and both have written non-fiction before, but have now turned their hand to novels.

Susie say's her book, Guilty By Definition, is more of a linguistic mystery than a murder mystery, whilst Louise's book, Isolation Island, is a page-turning thriller.

They discuss their love of Agatha Christie, why they both gravitated towards the crime genre and how hard they found the shift from writing non-fiction to fiction.

As well as giving us some brilliant book recommendations, they also discuss their love of...cemeteries. YEP!

THE BOOK OFF

'Red Love' by Maxim Leo

'Rebecca' by Daphne Du Maurier

We hope you enjoy this episode - and the whole of the new series! Please like, comment and follow so you never miss an episode (and so we can help spread the word!)

More on our guests:

Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster on language. She recently celebrated 30 years as co-presenter and resident word expert on ‘Countdown’ - and regularly appears on the show’s comedy sister ‘8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown’. She is the author of several non-fiction books, and her debut novel is ‘Guilty By Definition’

Louise Minchin spent twenty-years on BBC Breakfast’s red sofa, as well as being the main news anchor on the BBC News Channel. Over her career, she has appeared in a number of reality shows, including I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Time Crashers and Celebrity Masterchef – as well as presenting on BBC Radio 5 Live too. She is the author of two books of non-fiction, and her debut novel is ‘Isolation Island’

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Elif Shafak and Evie Wyld

On this episode of Book Off, Joe welcomes Elif Shafak and Evie Wyld to the studio.

These two fabulous writers talk about their latest novels ("There Are Rivers In The Sky" and "The Echoes") as well as giving us some brilliant reading recommendations.

Evie lived in a haunted house, so we explore that and her fascination with ghosts - which are a central theme in her new book. She also discusses the importance of humour to lighten situations, whether that be in life or between the pages of a book.

Elif and Joe share their love of water. She talks about the power of water and how a single drop is the thread that runs through her new novel - and indeed through centuries and centuries.

They also chat about the importance of aural storytelling, of keeping traditions alive and ensuring that people's stories are heard all over the world.

THE BOOK OFF

'Poetry Unbound' by Padraig O'Tuama

'Giving Up The Ghost' by Hilary Mantel

We hope you enjoy the chat, and if you feel so inclined, do please leave us a rating and/or a review to let us know!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.