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Jade
Hurley This month I've decided to review a new book: Jade Hurley's autobiography. Jade Hurley has been part of Australia's rock history for nearly 45 years. He began playing the piano by ear before joining his first rock 'n' band at 14, the Rockin Rebels in Sydney. Taken under the wing of Johnny O'Keefe, Hurley pursued a solo career, playing the piano and singing, usually with a backing band. Later he became part of the troupe that recycled early fifties' rock playing in tours up and down the country and doing the RSL and club circuit in NSW. His music became more country orientated in the later years and his regular appearances on the Mike Walsh show, saw him identified with MOR performers rather than as a rocker. Often compared to Jerry Lee Lewis, Hurley makes the point that while he was obviously influenced by Lewis, he made efforts to distance himself from that enigmatic performer and to develop his own style. I found this book easy to read; Hurley uses every day language, including slang and swearing to tell his story. At times he is modest about his success, while at other times he is frank about his achievements which he has worked hard to attain. Mostly the book is a collection of humourous yarns, stories, tales and events which have peppered his life. The story jumps about, ie it is not strictly chronological, which makes dating some anecdotes difficult. There are descriptions of unusual occurrences which defy explanation - you may need an open mind when contemplating the implications of these events. Like most autobiographies, we ought to be careful about considering what the author has left out, as much as what the author has decided to tell. Thus Jade is honest about mistakes he has made, people he has upset. There are many stories in which the protagonist is not named, thus protecting the guilty but still retaining the integrity of the story or to save some people embarrassment (and no doubt the odd lawsuit!). In many instances Hurley tells it like it was, with stories about his drug use, his drinking, his brushes with the rich and famous, his dalliances with fans offering sex and favours - not all of them pleasant! However one of the most interesting themes running through the book is Hurley's relationship with Johnny O'Keefe. While acknowledging the man's greatness and importance as a mentor, manager and teacher, Jade also describes O'Keefe's troubles and downside - often glossed over by other people in the industry. A minor criticism is the poor discography, which only lists the titles of his albums and a track listing, so it is of no use to record collectors who require more detail. An index would also have been useful. Also of interest to the casual reader and fan alike are the many pictures reflecting Jade's friendships, associations, family and fellow performers. The quality of the book, the large print, the glossy paper all point to a first class publication, which is an accomplishment given the self publishing effort by the singer-pianist. There are many features of this book which will appeal to fans of early Australian rock and pop, and if you find the book hard to find on your bookshop shelves, contact Jade direct, using the information below. References
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columns Chris Spencer is author of the "Who's Who of Australian Rock'. He can be contacted through Moonlight Publishing. |
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