Entertainment For Lively Minds
Tom Hibbert
I was going through a pile of old books and found a copy of Tom Hibbert's brilliant 'Who The Hell...' book, a collection of those pieces he used to write for Q back in the day. Flicking through it was a nostalgic experience, for the late 80s early 90s. When we - and I am assuming many of us here were Q readers - were exercised by the likes of Jeffrey Archer, Sam Fox, Jeremy Beadle, Keith Floyd, Edwina Currie, Chris Eubank, uh, Mr Blobby and so on.
Some of the pieces are in hindsight, rather poignant. There's a rather tragic George Best, the baby-faced Gazza, the obscenely merry Gary Glitter, a lovely piece on Dennis Potter and the very strange Lord Sutch. Then there are some preposterous egos - Ringo Starr, David Icke, Eddie The Eagle, Chuck Berry... all captured with superb prose, puckish wit and deliciously irreverent cheekiness. I couldn't think of many writers now who can match him, outside of the Word, naturally, which I would have considered his natural home along with the rest of the gang.
But - where is Tom Hibbert now? I read some quotes around the time Smash Hits folded when as 'Pop's Mr Smartypants', he offered a few choice memories of the time, but since then, I've found nothing. Anyone know what he's up to?
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I refer the honourable gentleman...
... to this earlier answer.
Thanks, Fraser
Christ. Read the Guardian piece, poor bloke. And that was a lovely post by Mr Ellen, I'm glad to hear he's doing OK now. Tom Hibbert was one of the few British writers who inspired me to enter the jungle of journalism. If I could one day write a piece as half as good as that Roger Waters feature, I'd be a very happy man indeed.
The Everton right back??
?
Who The Hell..?
Has been my khazi read for the last week or so. It made me raise an eyebrow to see how many of those interviewed were no longer with us. It is so much a thing of the time. Is there any way modern PRs would let stuff like that be published? I seem to remember Simon Mayo being about the only person to come unscathed out of a Who The Hell..? Were there any others?
THE HAIRY CORNFLAKE
was given a right going over by the good Mr Hibbert. It made for great reading and, as I recall, DLT wrote a letter in the next edition complaining about his treatment with a comment along the lines of.. " if you ever need my help in the future you needn't bother asking". Priceless
Hmm.
I don't really think it was a profound taxing of Mr Hibbert's journalistic skills to make DLT look like a git.
Can you imagine him doing Rod Liddle?
That would indeed be brilliant
Were Hibbert to be 'Who The Hell-ing' in 2009, there would be no shortage of prize buffoons, tragic oafs and deluded prats just bursting with potential. I mean, just for starters, imagine 'Who The Hell Does..
Simon Cowell
Jordan
David Cameron
Chris Moyles
Bono
Jeremy Clarkson
Slotbadger
think he/she is?
Didn't they do already do Clarkson in this?
Definitely recall a Clarkson interview in Q way back where he was made to look an arrogant deluded homophobic prat.
And Q's reply
'Quack quack oops'
Still regularly read the 'Who the Hell' book when I need chearing up so a seasonal glass raised to Mr H for all the fun i've had at others expense
Another seasonal glass
to one of the best and funniest music journalists I've ever read, anywhere. And he's a Moby Grape fan. The man's a hero.
Thought I'd try to find 'Who the Hell' tome online
Couldn't find any sign of it searching under 'Tom Hibbert' on amazon.
Strange, I thought. Only to discover that the writer is quoted as 'Tom Hobbert'. Amazon fail!
eBay is your friend......
Inspired by this thread and some old copies of Q, I bought one today. £2.79 inc P&P
NB - author spelled incorrectly on eBay too. Was under Hobbert. Try here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tom-Hobbert-Best-of-Q-Who-the-Hell_W0QQitemZ180443...