Phew, Eh Readers?

The Life and Writing of Tom Hibbert

Tom Hibbert

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QTY:

English

Nine Eight Books
23 April 2025

Music reviews & criticism; Rock & Pop music; Reportage & collected journalism

'Superb celebration of his life and work ... a must-read tribute' CLASSIC POP, 5/5

'The funniest and most revealing of all music journalists' - NEIL TENNANT

'A laugh riot' - CLASSIC ROCK

A Classic Pop Book of the Year 4/5 - Mojo

4/5 - Record Collector 8/10 - Uncut

Idiosyncratic.

Iconoclastic.

Acerbic.

Hilarious.

The influence of Tom Hibbert's music writing across print, radio, TV and podcasts is incomparable. From his genre-defining work at Smash Hits to his 'Who the Hell ... ?' profiles for Q magazine and beyond, this book brings together many of Hibbert's funniest writings.

Compiled by Barney Hoskyns and Jasper Murison-Bowie at Rock's Backpages, the archive of music journalism, Phew, Eh Readers? showcases some of Hibbert's greatest pieces. Presented thematically and chronologically, they highlight his marvellously eccentric perspective on life and popular culture.

Many leading writers and journalists attest to Hibbert's genius. This compendium supplements his writing with new reflections on Tom from some of his peers, colleagues and admirers, including Mark Ellen, Bob Stanley, Tom Doyle, Chris Heath, Sylvia Patterson, along with his widow Allyce.

Phew, Eh Readers? is a must-read homage to one of the most influential writers of our time, a man who left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape.

By: Tom Hibbert
Imprint: Nine Eight Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 276g
ISBN: 9781788708708
ISBN 10: 1788708709
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 23 April 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Tom Hibbert died prematurely in 2011 at the age of fifty-nine but he leaves behind a legacy unrivalled in music journalism over the past forty years. Hibbert created a mode of humour whilst at Smash Hits that is still used and embraced by writers, fans and critics to this day. He redefined what music journalism could be - recognising and celebrating the inherent absurdity in pop music and picking apart its pomposity at any opportunity. A man of singular passions - his great musical loves were limited to a handful of cult figures - ensured that the self-righteous were never far from being skewered by Hibbert. Twelve years after his death, we're all living in a pop world created in Tom Hibbert's image.