EPISODE · Apr 29, 2026 · 44 MIN
Van Morrison’s agent writes crime fiction as the music business sleeps
from Word In Your Ear
In the 70s Paul Charles wrote lyrics for an Irish prog band. Now he writes mystery novels. Inbetween he’s been agent for Tom Waits, Nick Lowe, Van Morrison, Hothouse Flowers and many others and has forgotten more about live shows than most of us will ever know. Here he talks about:• hearing the Beatles for the first time through the family radio• meeting Tom Waits in a queue at Tower Records in Hollywood• why he likes to watch the way bands take the stage• the changes he’s seen in the live music landscape• why everybody suddenly wants to tour• what will change about ticket prices and what probably won’t• why the artist doesn’t want to see his agent in the bar after the show• what it’s like when Jackson Browne plays you his new record• why his latest McCusker mystery is called “Hi Love, You Just Dropped Your Glove”Order “Hi Love, You Just Dropped Your Glove”: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0GTC3M9CW/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourearHelp us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
In the 70s Paul Charles wrote lyrics for an Irish prog band. Now he writes mystery novels. Inbetween he’s been agent for Tom Waits, Nick Lowe, Van Morrison, Hothouse Flowers and many others and has forgotten more about live shows than most of us will ever know. Here he talks about:• hearing the Beatles for the first time through the family radio• meeting Tom Waits in a queue at Tower Records in Hollywood• why he likes to watch the way bands take the stage• the changes he’s seen in the live music landscape• why everybody suddenly wants to tour• what will change about ticket prices and what probably won’t• why the artist doesn’t want to see his agent in the bar after the show• what it’s like when Jackson Browne plays you his new record• why his latest McCusker mystery is called “Hi Love, You Just Dropped Your Glove”Order “Hi Love, You Just Dropped Your Glove”: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0GTC3M9CW/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourearHelp us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Van Morrison’s agent writes crime fiction as the music business sleeps
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