We Were Tourists

Jim Toomey was already a successful drummer when he became a part of a new group, The Tourists, in the late seventies. He formed the group with Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Peet Coombes and Eddie Chin.From their early beginnings in London, finding their sound and their voice, through their success, their recordings, TV appearances, and their tours across the world, this is the story of The Tourists, told by the man sitting behind the drums.In a series of anecdotes and tales of the band's journey, we gain insight into the inner workings of a successful band; the fun and success, but also the work, the creativity, the pressures of seemingly endless tours, the good and the bad sides of the business, and the all too familiar trajectory of a band which sowed the seeds of music which endure 40 years later.

Memoir of a Nobody

In 1980, sixteen-year-old Molly and her mother move to a new town, triggering her mum’s already fragile mental health to spiral out of control. Strangers in a strange place, the townspeople do their best to help, but the challenges run deep.

Molly’s parents had separated when she was five, leaving her older brother, David, as their mum’s primary carer. Both siblings endured bullying at school, while weekends were spent working alongside their mother – often unpaid. The routine involved travelling to distant towns, working through the day, followed by wining and dining in the evening, and then sleeping in the car. Early the next morning, the cycle would repeat, with David and Molly bearing the brunt of their mother’s erratic moods.

David, rebellious and worn down, eventually left home, leaving nine-year-old Molly to become her mother’s sole carer. Now, she must face the daunting task of managing her mother’s instability alone. How will Molly cope with the weight of her new responsibilities? Will she and her mum receive the help they so desperately need? And what role will her absent father play in their lives?

This deeply personal and poignant true story recounts Molly’s highly unusual and challenging early life, offering a raw and moving glimpse into resilience and survival.