Van Morrison’s agent writes crime fiction as the music business sleeps

Van Morrison’s agent writes crime fiction as the music business sleeps

April 29, 2026 · 44 min · Episode 902

About this episode

Paul Charles discusses his transition from music agent to mystery novelist and shares insights on the live music industry.

In the 70s Paul Charles wrote lyrics for an Irish prog band. Now he writes mystery novels. Inbetween he’s been agent for Tom Waits, Nick Lowe, Van Morrison, Hothouse Flowers and many others and has forgotten more about live shows than most of us will ever know. Here he talks about: •⁠ ⁠hearing the Beatles for the first time through the family radio •⁠ ⁠meeting Tom Waits in a queue at Tower Records in Hollywood •⁠ ⁠why he likes to watch the way bands take the stage •⁠ ⁠the changes he’s seen in the live music landscape •⁠ ⁠why everybody suddenly wants to tour •⁠ ⁠what will change about ticket prices and what probably won’t •⁠ ⁠why the artist doesn’t want to see his agent in the bar after the show •⁠ ⁠what it’s like when Jackson Browne plays you his new record •⁠ ⁠why his latest McCusker mystery is called “Hi Love, You Just Dropped Your Glove” Order “Hi Love, You Just Dropped Your Glove”: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0GTC3M9CW/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Mark Ellen, David Hepworth, Alex Gold

Guest: Paul Charles

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock, Acast

Books & works: Hi Love, You Just Dropped Your Glove

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