BS: Play Power: Richard Neville

Subject: BS: Play Power: Richard Neville
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 04:08 AM

i'm still wallowing in the aftermath of my 50'th birthday...

please be patient..

when I was about 15 I stumbled upon a hardback copy of
"Play Power: Exploring the International Underground
by Neville, Richard"
in the religious section of our local provincial small town West Country Library..

Big mistake.. it became my furtive adolescent bible
and revolutionary life-style manual..

..and f@cked up any chance I would ever have of good exam grades
and a proper career in a decent local government job..

..about 7 years later when i finally managed to get sorted back out
and sign up for a degree in Humanities
I found a 2nd hand paperback copy..
and on slightly more mature re-reading realised it might actually be quite a cynical piss take on 60's counter culture..

that confused me a bit..

and I spent the 80's trying to be a sensible grown up..


maybe its about time I read it again..

Anyone else care to share their experience of this mental irresponsible book..????

Subject: RE: BS: Play Power: Richard Neville
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 12:36 PM

Sounds like an intriguing read. Happy birthday, pfr!

Subject: RE: BS: Play Power: Richard Neville
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 12:40 PM

Yeah, he's a bit of a male chauvinist pig isn't he? All that stuff about screwing chicks with no consequences. Right on, let the chicks do the cooking too.

AND most of the "get things free" tips at the back (e.g. free phone calls) don't work! Been looking for a fourpence in the slot phone box for months but no luck man, what a heavy trip.

Subject: RE: BS: Play Power: Richard Neville
From: richd
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 01:01 PM

I sort of half remember him and his book, which I think I did read in the early 70s. Didn't have much of an influence on me I must say. I thought 'The Little Red Schoolbook' was better. I've still got a battered copy somewhere. Fortunately I 've been able to avoid both the extremes of 60s&70s crap druggie hippie stuff and the pressure to grow up and be sensible, and have reached the age of 52 without ever having had what my Dad would have called a 'proper job'. (despite having worked all my life) An achievement that I feel he and my hard working (and early deceased) forebears would have been very proud. Good luck to you mate, and may you never grow old.