Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1970s Birmingham - collector's edition. Last few copies left!

This collector's edition of the 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1970s Birmingham' comes with an exclusive cover - we're down to the last few copies

Why do you need the collector's edition of the 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1970s Birmingham'?

We all keep cherished mementos from our youth: faded concert tickets, nightclub flyers, and — providing someone actually had a camera way back when — the odd photo. But they're either getting damp in the corner of the attic, or they’ve been inadvertently thrown out when your ex was complaining about clutter after your last house move.

The 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1970s Birmingham' is your very own time machine back to your misspent youth, full of memories and mementos from people like you who were there — hey, you might even spot yourself in there! 

This premium-quality coffee table book will trigger amazing memories every single time you open it. In fact, you'll never stop smiling!
This collector's edition of 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1970s Birmingham' truly deserves its place as the centrepiece of your living room!

It's a book you can touch, feel, and lose yourself in (forget this digital nonsense - this is for people who know better!)

It will inspire conversations and allow you to share your memories with friends and family.

It will be something you'll come back to again and again and again.

You'll find something new every time you open it - there really is that much in there!

The book:

• Is guaranteed to bring the memories of ‘70s Birmingham flooding back!
• Is packed with scores of photos, rare memorabilia and more
• Is the perfect gift for anyone that remembers the era – or why not treat yourself?
• Is critically acclaimed and features the likes of Barbarella’s, Rum Runner, Mothers, Rebecca’s, the Barrel Organ, the Crown, Opposite Lock, the Tow Rope and much more
• Is a fascinating nostalgia trip that has taken over a year of in-depth research.

More about the book: 

From Barbarella’s to Black Sabbath – ‘70s Birmingham unmasked like never before.

With industrial unrest on an unprecedented scale and the city enduring one of the worst IRA atrocities on mainland Britain, cultural life in ‘70s Birmingham could have taken a very dark turn.

But exactly the opposite happened. The city went on to produce some of the biggest names in popular music history and venues like Barbarella’s and Rebecca’s – owned and operated by ‘King of Clubs’ Eddie Fewtrell - dominated the night scene for the majority of the era.

The decade is chronicled like never before in the brand new ‘Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1970s Birmingham’ book which has been researched and written by local brothers Jim and Ron Simpson who have been at the very heart of the city’s music scene since the late 1960s.

Duran Duran, UB40, Dexys Midnight Runners and many more found initial success in the 1970s and feature in the story.

The book’s co-author Jim Simpson is arguably more qualified than most to write about the decade – he helped create success for one of the city’s biggest cultural exports of the era, Black Sabbath.

He was their first manager and took them to the top of the charts. He also managed other successful bands, found, toured and recorded American blues musicians and ran Henry's Blueshouse and the Big Bear record label.

The ‘Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1970s Birmingham’ – which is full of rare photos and memories from luminaires spanning Jasper Carrott to Tony Iommi – features venues like the legendary Mothers, once described by John Peel as the best club in the world.

Jim Simpson said: “Birmingham had a thriving live music and nightlife scene in the 1970s. It was an exciting place to be and this book is a true celebration of the decade.”

The ‘Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1970s Birmingham’ follows best-selling editions of the book series that have been previously launched in the likes of Coventry, Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester, Chesterfield and other places.

Ron Simpson added: “It was the decade that gave us everything from disco to punk via heavy rock and reggae and Birmingham was at the centre of everything.”

See the authors chatting about the book here:

* We also give a donation to Dementia UK for every product sold to help support the charity's amazing work across the country.

What our readers say - here's a selection of some of our recent reviews: 

5 stars not enough – I’d give 10!

“Would give 10 stars if I could - I couldn’t stop smiling, bought back so many memories of all the different fashions and bands. The books are fantastic and I love all the photos of Birmingham during those fabulous years. Brilliant books, highly recommend, didn’t want them to end!”

Fantastic Trip Down Memory Lane

“Brilliant book and fantastic collection of photos. Keep going back to it again and again. Thanks so much for bringing my much-missed youth back to life.” 🙏🌷

Those were the days

“I loved this book! I adored the pictures of my old haunts. Very informative, it filled in gaps that I was too young to appreciate at the time. Those were the days. What a brilliant time we had, feel very privileged to have seen so many good bands locally so its good to see it in print. Even a picture of the pub where I worked a few evenings after the Saturday job in town!”

Takes me back

“What a fantastic book – it took me right back to Birmingham in the 1970s, the pubs and eateries – the fashions, music and nightclubs and discos we all used to go to.
Just the right combination of pictures and words – and the fact that it uses the memories of real people is brilliant. It’s well put together with fantastic themes running through the whole book.
I can thoroughly recommend ‘The Dirty Stop Outs’ Guide to 1970s Birmingham’ – it’s packed full of memories.”

Great book full of memories of my Birmingham