There and Black Again

Don Letts - filmmaker, musician, DJ, broadcaster, social commentator, husband and father - has always defied conformity. A British-born son of Windrush parents, he seamlessly pivoted between London's punk and reggae scenes - earning his reputation as the 'Rebel Dread'.In There and Black Again, Don Letts looks back on his exceptional life, which has seen him befriend Bob Marley after sneaking into his hotel, join The Clash's White Riot tour as manager of The Slits and become one of the UK's most highly regarded video directors just as the MTV boom hit.Told in part as scenes from a movie shot on location in London, Kingston, New York City, Los Angeles, Windhoek, Salt Lake City and Goldeneye, There and Black Again co-stars a cast of hundreds, including Joe Strummer, John Lydon, Bob Marley, Chrissie Hynde, Chris Blackwell, Paul McCartney, Nelson Mandela, Keith Richards, Patti Smith, Chuck D., Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood.With reflections on the Black Lives Matter movement and the highs and lows of personal relationships, this impactful book includes moments of civil unrest, live music, humour and political struggle. There and Black Again is the refreshing and often unexpected story of a man who has never been afraid to tread his own path.

‘The Don’s tale, upgraded, expanded, marinated in late-life wisdom… reflecting on a remarkable life, against the backdrop of covid turmoil and Black Lives Matter. Letts expands on everything… even opening up on relationship roller-coasters. The fullest picture yet of the man behind the shades’ Classic Rock‘Like the crowning unmade episode of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe – lavished with cinematic eye for detail… a mighty colourful autobiography’ Mojo'Magnificent piece of work' Please Kill Me

A former journalist and contributing editor at Time Out and Vox magazines, now editor, publisher, and author, Mal Peachey worked with Don on the Grammy Award-winning documentary, The Clash: Westway To The World. He subsequently edited the transcripts of interviews he conducted with the band for the only official Clash biography, The Clash by Strummer, Jones, Simonon and Headon (Atlantic Press, 2008). Under the pseudonym Johnny Morgan he has written several best-selling illustrated rock books for Sterling Publishing in the US (including Beach Boys, Disco, and Lady Gaga). As DJ at London's premier punk venue The Roxy Don introduced punks to reggae, and Bob Marley to the punky-reggae party. He made his first film while working at The Roxy (The Punk Rock Movie) using a hand-held Super-8 camera. Twenty years later Don directed the most successful Jamaican movie of all time, Dancehall Queen. In 2018 he was given an honorary doctorate for his contribution to British culture. Don broadcasts a show on the BBC 6 Music channel and is much in demand around the world as a nightclub DJ.

The long-awaited autobiography of DJ and Film Director Don Letts.

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