Mark my words it’s my life at Grand

Tickets are on sale to see writer and broadcaster Mark Ellen, the man who presented Live Aid to the world, talk about his colourful life in the music business at a special one-off show at Clitheroe’s Grand Theatre this year.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Feb 2015, 06:50 BST
Mark EllenMark Ellen
Mark Ellen

Ellen, who also presented the Old Grey Whistle Test for the BBC for five years, said: “If you want to find out which rock star spent half a million pounds a week hiring a private jet or what it was like to interview Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Phil Spector or Lady Gaga it would be great to see you at the Grand.”

Ellen began his musical voyage on the now defunct Record Mirror at the height of punk in 1977, where, he says, he was ‘rightly beaten up for his yards of unconditioned hair.’

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He even plucked bass in Tony Blair’s band at university after playing Father Christmas at Debenhams in Guildford and spending a week as a ringmaster’s assistant at Hoffman Brothers’ Circus.

Stints at the New Musical Express, Smash Hits, Q and The Word magazines followed, and Ellen even briefly sat in for legendary DJ John Peel at Radio 1.

Mark Ellen, Rock Stars Stole My Life, Clitheroe Grand Theatre, May 6. £10. 01200 421599.

Related topics:ClitheroeLady Gaga