TOM JONES, JUST HELP YOURSELF © by VERNON HOPKINS

TOM JONES, JUST HELP YOURSELF © by VERNON HOPKINS

THE CANDID MEMOIRS OF VERNON HOPKINS

TOM JONES, JUST HELP YOURSELF – SPECIAL EDITION 2014 ©

Vernon insisted on recruiting the then unknown Tom Jones as Lead Singer of the Senators, starting him on the long road to Fame and Fortune.

As close as brothers until stardom tore them apart.

“Tom Jones, Just Help Yourself” is the candid, no holds barred, memoirs of the life and times of Vernon and Tom in the 1960´s.

Currently only available from Amazon at these links – USA – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LEUE1OQ UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LEUE1OQ – and worldwide – ASIN: B00LEUE1OQ

The first printed edition is currently out of stock and only available as a digital online Special Edition at this time.

The Bass guitarist, Vernon Hopkins, the founder of the 60’s rock group the Senators, which later became the Squires, has written a memoir about his time spent with Tom Jones. It was Vernon who insisted on bringing in Tom as lead singer on the rocky road to fame and super stardom. Vernon was born in Rhydyfelin and became as close as a brother to Tom, until stardom tore them apart. Vernon was fired by Gordon Mills in 1969 and has only seen Tom on a handful of occasions since.

The book – Tom Jones, Just Help Yourself – is a no holds barred account of their time spent together. The group got caught up in the world of Fleet Street gossip, groupies, sex and drugs. Although the band started out as a tight-knit bunch of mates from Ponty, it quickly became clear that Tom had his own agenda. Tom was the star, driven by a streak of callousness that led him to neglect the other members of the group, his young wife, and everyone who stood in the way of his success.

Vernon Hopkins said:

‘The book is my recollection of my years as a professional musician with Tom Jones. It is a candid view of the music industry and the ruthless people who inhabit it. My journey begins in the South Wales Valleys, buying my first guitar, forming a band and bringing in a singer who would eventually become one of the greatest superstars in the world. Success came slowly for Tom Jones and the Senators (originally Tommy Scott and the Senators) until we were spotted by a ruthless manager, Gordon Mills, and catapulted into the London music scene of the sixties’.

The band struggled with Tom for nine life-changing years in pursuit of recognition and stardom. They left the green Valleys for the stark concrete and rat-infested slums of Ladbroke Grove, as it was at the time; it’s far more salubrious now. The band starved together but survived together, and through sheer persistence and hard work they broke through with a clutch of hits. ‘It’s Not Unusual’ catapulted them into the international limelight. Vernon went on to say:

‘It’s Not Unusual’ changed our miserable existence, but sadly it revealed a darker side to Tom Jones. There have been many biographies written about his life and times, but no-one was closer to Tom during those formative years than me. Inseparable in many ways, for so long, in the end we couldn’t have been further apart.

Some of the comments in the book will no doubt alienate me to Tom Jones’ legions of fans, but I make no apologies. Sometimes the truth, in all its stark clarity, casts an unflattering spotlight on the actions and behaviours of people we think we know. But generally we are blinded by the glare of stardom and we see what we are meant to see, what is manufactured for public consumption. I got to stand behind the curtain with Tom, and this is my story’.

‘Tom Jones, Just Help Yourself’ is an enthralling book and deeply evocative of the era, capturing all of the flavour of the time and the stars that the band rubbed shoulders with. The special online version of the book was published in July 2014, having been first published in 2012 and is currently only available from Amazon at these links
– USA – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LEUE1OQ
& UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LEUE1OQ
and worldwide – ASIN: B00LEUE1OQ

The first printed edition is currently out of stock and only available as a digital online Special Edition at this time.

It’s always the measure of a great book when it has you hooked from the first few pages. You can´t put it down until you finish it. The book really captures that era in Technicolor detail. In many respects it’s a sad story but also incredibly uplifting at the same time. The book really makes you sit up and take notice!

About the Author

When Vernon persuaded a 21-year-old Tom Jones to join his band – with the promise of a crate of light ale – who would have known history was in the making. ‘I’ve written a book about my time with Tom. There have been many biographies written about his life and times, but no-one was closer to Tom during those formative years than me. Inseparable in many ways, for so long, in the end we couldn’t have been further apart. I got to stand behind the curtain with Tom, and this is my story’. ‘When I was writing the book, it just jogged loose so many memories. I can vividly remember the whole rollercoaster. When we arrived in London we were skint and starving and living in a basement together. The band has been pressing me for years to get our side of the story out, and here it is. There were good times and there were certainly bad times, working with Tom and Gordon was a real education. But I have no regrets. Tom drove the band and the band drove Tom, and the audiences responded and bless them all for their support. It all worked beautifully, it was a beautiful time and a beautiful bunch of boys from the Valleys in South Wales followed their dreams and against all the odds got noticed. Now who could argue with that?

First Published 2012

The Bass guitarist, Vernon Hopkins, the founder of the 60’s rock group the Senators, which later became the Squires, has written a memoir about his time spent with Tom Jones. It was Vernon who insisted on bringing in Tom as lead singer on the rocky road to fame and super stardom. Vernon was born in Rhydyfelin and became as close as a brother to Tom, until stardom tore them apart. Vernon was fired by Gordon Mills in 1969 and has only seen Tom on a handful of occasions since. Tom Jones, Just Help Yourself – is a no holds barred account of their time spent together. The group got caught up in the world of Fleet Street gossip, groupies, sex and drugs. Although the band started out as a tight-knit bunch of mates from Ponty, it quickly became clear that Tom had his own agenda. Tom was the star, driven by a streak of callousness that led him to neglect the other members of the group, his young wife, and everyone who stood in the way of his success.

Reviews and Articles – 1st Published Edition 2014

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/tom-jones-before-voice—3061463
http://tomjonesintl.com/2013/01/13/book-review-tom-jones-just-help-yourself-by-vernon-hopkins/
http://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/news/10201221.Ex_bandmate_of_Sir_Tom_tells_his_side_of_the_story/
http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Tom-Jones-stole-Reggie-Kray-s-dinner/story-17670105-detail/story.html
http://www.spanglefish.com/bookoggle/index.asp?pageid=480863
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/tom-jones-former-band-mate-2059751
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1954XMOCG4DN7/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1908773448
http://www.amazon.com/review/R31BE78U2CXD3T/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1908773448
http://www.amazon.com/review/RCR0DBCLIE264/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1908773448

N.B. The printed and 1st edition of this book is currently out of print and only available as a digital Special Edition at this time.

Comments

“An excellent read…colourful, candid, humorous and especially poignant for me, being a valley’s girl born in Pontypridd (that Ponty air was rich with talent in those halcyon days). What a page turner, I couldn’t put the book down. It brought a flood of special memories, both good and not so good times, but never dull, vibrant with unique and wonderful characters (“Those Were The Day’s My Friend”). Thank you for sharing Vernon, Da Iawn (Well done!)!” – IRIS WILLIAMS, OBE

“This is the story that the public were never supposed to read…Brilliantly written by Vernon Hopkins. At last a book of truth about the beginnings of a great period of fame and fortune and a must read for all those that want to know the real story of those bygone days. I remember working as support for Tommy Scott and The Senators when I was lead singer of Peter and the Wolves, and it was an honour to witness their astounding success.” – PETER KARRIE

“A truly remarkable insight to the rock and roll journey of the century, Vernon Hopkins has nailed it! The book is a thoroughly gripping and entertaining experience.” – LEAPY LEE

Find on

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Amazon links

USA – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LEUE1OQ
UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LEUE1OQ
DE – http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00LEUE1OQ
ES – http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B00LEUE1OQ
FR – http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00LEUE1OQ
Also available Amazon, Italy, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Canada and Mexico. – ASIN: B00LEUE1OQ

©VERNON HOPKINS – SPECIAL EDITION 2014 ©VERNON HOPKINS – FIRST EDITION 2012

DISTRIBUTED & PUBLISHED ONLINE WORDWIDE, PROMOTION AND MARKETING WITH ASSISTANCE OF NICK HOLLAND-MORGAN nickhollandmorgan@gmail.com

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