Signed copies are available NOW via Bandcamp
Alan Tyler is the singer of The Rockingbirds, the chaotic, swashbuckling country-rockers who galloped
haphazardly into the 90s Camden indie scene, got signed, appeared on Top Of The Pops, went head to head
with Nirvana at Reading ‘92, and produced, eventually, four albums of unsurpassed Americana.
Things said about How To Never Have A Hit “Absolutely tore through it. Brilliantly written.” – Pete Astor
Gigs 2025
Bandcamp | Tapado | William Blake's Songs Of Innocence | YouTube | Buy Alan Tyler CDs | Press | contact Alan |Exciting times. Crazy Times. FAMOUS TIMES!
Also available at all gigs including book launch events at Rock'n'roll Rescue Rock'n'roll Rescue (Friday 21 Feb) and Come Down & Meet the Folks (Sunday 23 Feb) - see below for all gig details
Available from other booksellers from 24 February, 2025 including our preferred outlet The Great British Book Shop, from
Waterstones, Foyles, Amazon, Browns etc.. Kindle edition from Amazon
£10.99 | pp247 |
ISBN: 978-1-0685345-2-2
From DIY/punk beginnings, in 1980 Tyler arrived at the experimentalists’ haven of the London Musicians
Collective and was soon playing swingy pop at Bernie Rhodes' Club Left, sharing the agitpop aspirations of
Scritti Politti and other Rough Trade acts before being there at the dawn of Creation Records. At various times
he’s been a choirboy, a fanzine writer, a Young Socialist, a tap dancer, a polytechnic philosopher, a cycle
dispatch rider, a news-monitoring video pirate, an ill-suited civil servant, and a Deptford Creek dwelling river
poet. Long after his Heavenly Recordings heyday, Tyler remains a stalwart of London’s roots music scene: a
critically recognised singer-songwriter who has never had a single hit.
Buckle up for a ride from the suburbs to the city, and from the city to the country. From the lowest dives to the
tallest buildings and, finally, to pride of place in your local bookshop's self-sabotage section...
Foreword by John Niven
“This is so moving!! I loved it... One way or another this will be a beautiful thing in the world.” Sukie Smith
“It’s very funny and [a] literally revelatory story of his life and times with the Rockingbirds, before and since. You’re going to love it.” Sean Read
“Alan Tyler proves just as good a story-teller over book length as song length.” – Andrew Mueller
“A funny, moving and above all unique memoir from the most talented musician you only think you’ve heard of. It’s a great book.” – David Quantick
“It is absolutely bloody marvellous.” – John Mitchinson
Friday 21 February, 2025 - Book launch at Rock’n’Roll Rescue
96 Parkway, Camden NW1 7AN (7-8.30pm)
Readings, a few songs, chat, book signings, and maybe a couple in the Spread Eagle afterwards…
Sunday 23 February, 2025 - The Alan Tyler “How To Never Have A Hit Show” at Come Down & Meet The Folks
The Betsey Trotwood, 56 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3BL
Alan and friends play two sets of music from the book (Rockingbirds, Famous Times, Lost Sons, solo stuff and some swingy pop numbers from the 80s) interspersed with readings and a bit of tap dancing!
Friday 28 February, 2025 - John Niven talks to Alan Tyler about “How To Never Have A Hit” at Real Magic Books
Real Magic Books, 2 Kings Head Parade, High St, Wendover, HP22 6DX
6.30 for 7pm Tickets £6/£4
Monday 3 March, 2025 - John Niven talks to Alan Tyler about “How To Never Have A Hit” at The Social
The Social, 5 Little Portland St, London W1W 7JD
7pm Tickets £6.75
Wednesday 30 April, 2025 - The Alan Tyler “How To Never Have A Hit Show” at What's Cookin'
Harvey Road, London E11 3DB
Saturday 31 May, 2025 - Red Rooster Festival
The Alan Tyler “How To Never Have A Hit” Show (45 minute version!) plays the main stage
More dates to be announced, watch this space…
Gigs 2024
Sunday 4 February, 2024 , 5pm,The Stag, 14 All Saints' St, Hastings TN34 3BJ. Free
Thursday 8 February, 2024 My Grass Is Blue, The Betsey Trotwood, 56 Farringdon Road
EC1R 3BL . 8pm. £5
Alan Tyler and Patrick Ralla host Come Down & Meet the Folks , a monthly Sunday shindig at the Betsey Trotwood.
Gigs 2023
Friday 27 January Sundowner, The Jenny Lind 69 High Street, Hastings,TN34 3E.
Tuesday 21 February Fat Tuesday festival, Hastings
Thursday 9 March Bowes Park Folk Club, Mum's Bistro, Myddleton Road, N22 8NG, 7.45pm, Free.
Sunday 9 March What's Cookin', The Red Lion, 80 High St S, London E6 6ET. 5pm. Free
Friday 2 June Red Rooster Festival, Shack Stage
Friday 22 December Sundowner, The Jenny Lind 69 High Street, Hastings,TN34 3E.