Lesley-Ann Jones

Last updated

Lesley-Ann Jones
Lesley-Ann Jones signing.jpg
Jones signing books
Born Kent, England
OccupationAuthor
LanguageEnglish
Nationality British
ChildrenThree
Website
www.lesleyannjones.com

Lesley-Ann Jones is a British author, [1] journalist and broadcaster who spent more than 20 years as a national newspaper journalist on Fleet Street. Of Welsh descent, she was born in Kent, England. She read French and Spanish at the University of Westminster, and worked in the music industry.[ citation needed ] She later followed her father, sportswriter Ken Jones, to Fleet Street.

Contents

Biography

In the 1980s, she worked for Chrysalis Records, London, the label of some major acts at the time (Spandau Ballet, Jethro Tull (band), Special AKA, Midge Ure & Ultravox, Blondie), where she wrote sleeve notes, prepared press releases and organised interviews for the national press. She moved into television at the inception of Channel 4. The prime-time Saturday-night pop-music magazine series ‘Ear Say’, which she co-presented with Capital Radio DJs Nicky Horne and Gary Crowley, led to guest appearances on a variety of TV and radio shows, including Capital's You Ain’t Heard Nothing Yet, a weekly music quiz produced by pop guru Phil Swern, and Radio Clyde’s Bill Padley Show, with Padley and singer/songwriter Jim Diamond. She also wrote a weekly column for The Sun . She spent six years as a showbusiness feature-writer for the Daily Mail , Mail On Sunday and You magazine, touring with Paul McCartney, David Bowie, [2] the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Queen [3] [4] and other star acts of the day.

As a freelance feature writer, her contributions to publications in the UK, US, Australia and Europe included interviews with Tony Blair, Frank Sinatra, Raquel Welch, Mel Gibson, Charlton Heston, Paul McCartney, Brigitte Bardot and Princess Margaret. She appeared weekly for several years on BFBS Forces Radio with the late Tommy Vance, and worked on documentaries on Stevie Nicks, Ken Russell and Jermaine Jackson. She also appeared on TV shows Fax!, Music Box and Livewire in the UK, and E! Entertainment and Hard Copy in the US. The Pampers diaper commercial she filmed with her baby daughter for Saatchi & Saatchi was aired across Europe for 18 months, one of the campaign’s most successful ads.

Following three years writing columns and features for the Sunday Express and the Mail on Sunday , she revised and updated her 1997 definitive biography of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. Republication by Hodder & Stoughton in October 2011 (paperback 2012) was due to coincide with the release of a Mercury biopic to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the singer's death. However, production of the film was delayed, and it was not released until 2018. [5]

In 2010, she was appointed Showbusiness Editor [6] for SKY/Freesat's music channel Vintage TV. She wrote and presented their celebrity interview series 'Me & Mrs Jones' (produced by Transparent Television and featuring heritage rock and pop artists Rick Wakeman, Frank Allen of The Searchers, Leee John of Imagination, Kim Wilde, Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel, Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet and Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt of Status Quo.)

In December 2015, she wrote and co-produced The Last Lennon Interview for ShowBiz TV. [7] It was internationally acclaimed, and was first aired on the 35th anniversary of John Lennon’s death. It was the first time former BBC Radio 1 DJ Andy Peebles had publicly talked about his interview with John and Yoko Ono in New York only a couple of days before Lennon was murdered.

Personal life

The mother of a son and two daughters, she lives in London and Kent, England.

Her father was sports reporter Ken Jones, [8] and her uncle is ex-footballer Cliff Jones.

Published works

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bohemian Rhapsody</span> 1975 single by Queen

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, A Night at the Opera (1975). Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, the song is a six-minute suite, notable for its lack of a refraining chorus and consisting of several sections: an intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock part and a reflective coda. It is one of the few progressive rock songs of the 1970s to have proved accessible to a mainstream audience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen (band)</span> British rock band

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1970 by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor, later joined by John Deacon (bass). Their earliest works were influenced by progressive rock, hard rock and heavy metal, but the band gradually ventured into more conventional and radio-friendly works by incorporating further styles, such as arena rock and pop rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddie Mercury</span> British rock musician; frontman of Queen (1946–1991)

Freddie Mercury was a British singer and songwriter who achieved worldwide fame as the lead vocalist and pianist of the rock band Queen. Regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Mercury defied the conventions of a rock frontman with his theatrical style, influencing the artistic direction of Queen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert</span> 1992 benefit concert

The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness was a benefit concert held on Easter Monday, 20 April 1992, at Wembley Stadium in London, England, for an audience of 72,000. The concert was produced for television by Ray Burdis, directed by David Mallet and broadcast live on television and radio to 76 countries around the world, with an audience of up to one billion. The concert was a tribute to Queen's lead vocalist, Freddie Mercury, who died of an AIDS-related illness on 24 November 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under Pressure</span> 1981 single by Queen and David Bowie

"Under Pressure" is a song by the British rock band Queen and singer David Bowie. Originally released as a single in October 1981, it was later included on Queen's 1982 album Hot Space. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Queen's second number-one hit in their home country and Bowie's third, and also charted in the top 10 in more than 10 countries around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klaus Voormann</span> German musician and artist (b. 1938)

Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann is a German artist, musician, and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Bolan</span> English guitarist and singer (1947–1977)

Marc Bolan was an English guitarist, singer-songwriter and poet. He was a pioneer of the glam rock movement in the early 1970s with his band T. Rex. Bolan strongly influenced artists of many genres, including glam rock, punk, post-punk, new wave, indie rock, Britpop and alternative rock. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 as a member of T. Rex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Asher</span> English actress and author (born 1946)

Jane Asher is an English actress and author. She achieved early fame as a child actress, and then through her association with Paul McCartney, and has worked extensively in film and TV throughout her career.

<i>Queen II</i> 1974 studio album by Queen

Queen II is the second studio album by the British rock band Queen. It was released on 8 March 1974 by EMI Records in the UK and Elektra Records in the US. It was recorded at Trident Studios and Langham 1 Studios, London, in August 1973 with co-producers Roy Thomas Baker and Robin Geoffrey Cable, and engineered by Mike Stone. It is significant for being the first album to contain elements of the band's signature sound of multi-layered overdubs, vocal harmonies, and varied musical styles.

<i>A Night at the Opera</i> (Queen album) 1975 studio album by Queen

A Night at the Opera is the fourth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 28 November 1975, by EMI Records in the United Kingdom and Elektra Records in the United States. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker and Queen, it was reportedly the most expensive album ever recorded at the time of its release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">May Pang</span> American former music executive (born 1950)

May Fung Yee Pang is an American former music executive. She worked for John Lennon and Yoko Ono as a personal assistant and production coordinator. When Lennon and Ono separated in 1973, Pang and Lennon began a relationship that lasted more than 18 months. Lennon later referred to this time as his "Lost Weekend". Pang published two books about her relationship with Lennon: a memoir, Loving John ; and a book of photographs, Instamatic Karma. A documentary about their relationship, The Lost Weekend: A Love Story, was produced in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backing vocalist</span> Singer who provides vocal harmony on a song

A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are used in a broad range of popular music, traditional music, and world music styles.

Henry James Beach, known as Jim Beach or "Miami" Beach, is a British lawyer and band manager, best known for being the long-time manager of the rock band Queen, its individual members and the comedy group Monty Python. He was nicknamed "Miami" by Freddie Mercury, a play on his surname. He took over as manager of the band in 1978 after he had acted on their behalf as a lawyer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John and Elvis Are Dead</span> 2005 single by George Michael

"John and Elvis Are Dead" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael from his fifth studio album, Patience (2004). It was co-written by childhood friend David Austin. It was released on 30 August 2005 as a download-only single and was therefore unable to chart in the United Kingdom under the chart rules at that time. The song marks Michael's final single from a studio album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casbah Coffee Club</span> Rock and roll music venue in Liverpool, England

The Casbah Coffee Club, officially Casbah Club, was a rock and roll music venue in the West Derby area of Liverpool, England, that operated from 1959 to 1962. Started by Mona Best, mother of early Beatles drummer Pete Best, in the cellar of the family home, the Casbah was planned as a members-only club for her sons Pete and Rory and their friends, to meet and listen to the popular music of the day. Mona came up with the idea of the club after watching a TV report about the 2i's Coffee Bar in London's Soho where several singers had been discovered.

<i>Classic Rock</i> (album) 1978 studio album by The London Symphony Orchestra

Classic Rock, produced by Jeff Jarratt and Don Reedman, is the first album in the Classic Rock series by London Symphony Orchestra. It was released on 1 July 1978 by K-Tel International, and entered the UK Albums Chart on 8 July 1978, rising to number 3 and staying in the charts for 39 weeks. The album gained platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry on 10 November 1978. The album was recorded at EMI Abbey Road Studios on 15–16 October 1976. A further nine albums in the series followed, between 1979 and 1992.

Chris Charlesworth is a British-based music journalist and author; and, between 1983 and 2016, managing editor of Omnibus Press. He is particularly noted for his work about, and with, The Who, for whom he has worked as an executive producer. Charlesworth also worked as David Bowie's publicist at RCA Records from 1979 to 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Brown (musician)</span> Musical artist

Kenneth Brown was a British guitarist with The Quarrymen, a precursor to The Beatles.

<i>A Night at the Odeon – Hammersmith 1975</i> 2015 live album by Queen

A Night at the Odeon is a live album by the British rock band Queen. The album is the first official release of the band's Christmas Eve performance at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1975, filmed by the BBC. The show was broadcast on BBC2 and BBC Radio 1, and included one of the first live performances of "Bohemian Rhapsody". It is the band's most popular bootleg.

<i>Bohemian Rhapsody</i> (film) 2018 biopic about Freddie Mercury

Bohemian Rhapsody is a 2018 biographical musical drama film that focuses on the life of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the British rock band Queen, from the formation of the band in 1970 to their 1985 Live Aid performance at the original Wembley Stadium. It was directed by Bryan Singer from a screenplay by Anthony McCarten, and produced by Graham King and Queen manager Jim Beach. It stars Rami Malek as Mercury, with Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joe Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, and Mike Myers in supporting roles. Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor also served as consultants. A British-American venture, it was produced by Regency Enterprises, GK Films and Queen Films, and was distributed by 20th Century Fox.

References

  1. ↑ Jones, Lesley Ann. "Lesley-Ann Jones". Hodder & Stoughton.
  2. ↑ "The Culture Interview: Lesley-Ann Jones". The Advantages of Age. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Freddie Mercury Biographer Lesley-Ann Jones on the 'Incredibly Shy Man' She Knew". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  4. ↑ David Kirby (13 July 2012). "'Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury,' by Lesley-Ann Jones and '40 Years of Queen,' by Harry Doherty". The Washington Post . Washington, D.C. ISSN   0190-8286. OCLC   1330888409.
  5. ↑ "Bohemian Rhapsody: Queen biopic surpasses $900m at box office". BBC. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  6. ↑ Jones, Lesley-Ann. "ME & MRS JONES – Transparent TV". transparent.tv.
  7. ↑ Peebles, Andy; Jones, Lesley Ann (8 December 2015). "JOHN LENNON". Showbiz TV.
  8. ↑ "Ken Jones RIP: From red-hot football reporter to authoritative and balanced all-round sports columnist". Sportsjournalists.co.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  9. ↑ Jones, Lesley-Ann (2019). Tumbling Dice. Independently Published. ISBN   9781091752047.
  10. ↑ Jones, Lesley-Ann (2018). Bohemian Rhapsody: The Definitive Biography of Freddie Mercury. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN   9781444733693.
  11. ↑ Jones, Lesley-Ann (2016). Hero: David Bowie. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN   9781444758818.
  12. ↑ Jones, Lesley-Ann (2015). Imagine. Mulcahy Books. ISBN   978-1519274649.
  13. ↑ Jones, Lesley-Ann (2013). Ride a white swan : The Lives And Death of Marc Bolan . ISBN   978-1444758795.
  14. ↑ Jones, Lesley-Ann (2011). Freddie Mercury : The Definitive Biography ([New edition] ed.). London: Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN   9781444733679.
  15. ↑ Jones, Lesley-Ann (1997). Freddie Mercury The Definitive Biography. London: Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN   0340672080.
  16. ↑ Jones, Lesley-Ann & Gray Jolliffe (1996). Excuses, Excuses. London: K. Cathie Ltd. ISBN   9781856261821.
  17. ↑ Jones, Lesley-Ann (1993). Naomi : the rise and rise of the girl from nowhere. London: Vermilion. ISBN   9780091782825.
  18. ↑ Eggar, Robin; Swern, Phil; Jones, Lesley-Ann (1984). The Sony Tape Rock Review. Rambletree. ISBN   9780947894009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.