An autobiography by the drummer of one of the UK’s most successful post-punk bands, The Tourists, is due for release in early March 2018.
We Were Tourists by Jim Toomey reflects on the history of the group, who the author joined in 1976, and who also featured Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, who later formed Eurythmics.
I have been privileged in helping Jim source some of the photographs and memorabilia featured in the book, and I look forward to bringing you an interview with Jim next month.
“My book is the story of the three years I spent on the road,” the author explains; “It’s a love story – Annie and Dave became lovers at the time – and it’s also a tragedy, with the untimely passing of Peet Coombes [in 1997], who was the group’s main songwriter.”
Always a keen diarist, Toomey has written his ‘rags-to-riches’ story to share his experiences of being part of what he describes as ‘the ups-and-down of the music industry’.
“The band went from being broke and on the dole in London, to find amazing success and travelling the world, recording three albums, the last of which was recorded in the Caribbean at George Martin’s studios,” he adds. “When the band took off in such a big way, I kept all my diaries. When the dust finally settled, I moved to Australia and started writing short stories, which ended up into one long story – so the book wrote itself really.”
The book, which features a foreword by his former bandmate Dave Stewart, also examines Toomey’s performing career before joining The Tourists, which included playing alongside Mick Ronson (the Spiders from Mars) and Colin Blunstone (The Zombies), as well as performing at the legendary Star Club in Hamburg on becoming a professional musician.
We Were Tourists by Jim Toomey is published by Austin Macauley, London on Monday 5th March 2018, and can be pre-ordered via amazon.com and while you wait for it to be come out, enjoy this video of The Tourists on The Old Grey Whistle Test, which is sure to be mentioned on their 3 hour special later this week with Dave Stewart.
Recent News
Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (The Video Album) Returns in High Definition to Streaming Services On June 5th
Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (The Video Album) Returns in High Definition to Streaming Services On June 5th A defining 80s visual project reborn for the streaming age More than four decades after it first appeared on MTV, Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (The Video Album) is…
Paul Diello Brings Eurythmics and Annie Lennox inspired show “Like Lovers Do” to Brighton Fringe
Paul Diello Brings Eurythmics and Annie Lennox inspired show “Like Lovers Do” to Brighton Fringe Award winning Brighton based artist Paul Diello brings a special acoustic show to this year’s Brighton Fringe, celebrating the music of Eurythmics and Annie Lennox in an…
Bankside Yards Gallery Opens in London with Andy Earl Launch Exhibition featuring 2 photographs of Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox
Bankside Yards Gallery Opens in London with Andy Earl Launch Exhibition featuring 2 photographs of Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox A new cultural space opens in London this month with the launch of Bankside Yards Gallery , a contemporary gallery set within the emerging…
Day Tickets Now Available for Annie Lennox at Wilderness Festival 2026
Day Tickets Now Available for Annie Lennox at Wilderness Festival 2026 Sunday Day Tickets are now on sale for 2nd August 2026, when Annie Lennox brings her SISTERS curated set to Wilderness Festival at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire. This appearance marks a UK festival…
Bryan Ferry’s Bitter Sweet album reissued featuring orchestral jazz reimagining of his catalogue songs including Alphaville Co-Written with Dave Stewart
Bryan Ferry’s Bitter Sweet album reissued featuring orchestral jazz reimagining of his catalogue songs including Alphaville Co-Written with Dave Stewart Bryan Ferry’s album Bitter Sweet has been reissued, bringing renewed attention to a project that reimagines songs…
In Memoriam: Billy Poveda (1950s–2025): A Pioneer of Music Video and a Key Figure in Eurythmics’ Visual Story
In Memoriam: Billy Poveda (1950s–2025): A Pioneer of Music Video and a Key Figure in Eurythmics’ Visual Story We are saddened to hear of the passing of Billy Poveda, a pivotal but often understated figure in the visual history of Eurythmics and a major contributor to…
Recent News
Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (The Video Album) Returns in High Definition to Streaming Services On June 5th
Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (The Video Album) Returns in High Definition to Streaming Services On June 5th A defining 80s visual project reborn for the streaming age More than four decades after it first appeared on MTV, Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (The Video Album) is…
Paul Diello Brings Eurythmics and Annie Lennox inspired show “Like Lovers Do” to Brighton Fringe
Paul Diello Brings Eurythmics and Annie Lennox inspired show “Like Lovers Do” to Brighton Fringe Award winning Brighton based artist Paul Diello brings a special acoustic show to this year’s Brighton Fringe, celebrating the music of Eurythmics and Annie Lennox in an…
Bankside Yards Gallery Opens in London with Andy Earl Launch Exhibition featuring 2 photographs of Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox
Bankside Yards Gallery Opens in London with Andy Earl Launch Exhibition featuring 2 photographs of Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox A new cultural space opens in London this month with the launch of Bankside Yards Gallery , a contemporary gallery set within the emerging…
Day Tickets Now Available for Annie Lennox at Wilderness Festival 2026
Day Tickets Now Available for Annie Lennox at Wilderness Festival 2026 Sunday Day Tickets are now on sale for 2nd August 2026, when Annie Lennox brings her SISTERS curated set to Wilderness Festival at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire. This appearance marks a UK festival…
Bryan Ferry’s Bitter Sweet album reissued featuring orchestral jazz reimagining of his catalogue songs including Alphaville Co-Written with Dave Stewart
Bryan Ferry’s Bitter Sweet album reissued featuring orchestral jazz reimagining of his catalogue songs including Alphaville Co-Written with Dave Stewart Bryan Ferry’s album Bitter Sweet has been reissued, bringing renewed attention to a project that reimagines songs…
In Memoriam: Billy Poveda (1950s–2025): A Pioneer of Music Video and a Key Figure in Eurythmics’ Visual Story
In Memoriam: Billy Poveda (1950s–2025): A Pioneer of Music Video and a Key Figure in Eurythmics’ Visual Story We are saddened to hear of the passing of Billy Poveda, a pivotal but often understated figure in the visual history of Eurythmics and a major contributor to…