Old Treacle Press proudly announces the publication of Tales from the Bedroom Wall: The Life and Times of a Serial Thrill Seeker, the extraordinary memoir of Steve Blacknell—legendary broadcaster, record executive, and pop culture provocateur. Set for release on 9th July in both digital and hardback editions, this unforgettable autobiography chronicles a life spent chasing (and often catching) the thrill of the moment.
With a foreword by Rolling Stones icon Bill Wyman, Blacknell’s memoir is far more than a backstage pass to the world of rock and roll. It’s a deeply personal account of ambition, obsession, survival, and self-discovery—narrated with humour, candour, and unapologetic flair.
From hospital radio to BBC2, MTV USA, and Live Aid, from dating Kate Bush to crossing continents on Concorde with Phil Collins, Blacknell’s tale reads like a greatest hits compilation of media history’s most outrageous chapters. Yet, behind the laughter and anecdotes lies a man grappling with addiction, bulimia, heartbreak, and the emotional toll of fame’s fleeting highs and crushing lows.
Blacknell’s career saw him working with artists ranging from Steely Dan to New Order, facing down exploding speedboats, fending off bankruptcy, and playing table tennis with Bill Wyman while casually discussing The Rolling Stones. As Europe’s first “video jockey,” he brought London style to 23 million viewers on MTV USA, before spiralling into—and clawing his way out of—the chaos that surrounded his larger-than-life persona.
“I haven’t lived life by design,” Blacknell says. “I’ve just packed in as many adventures as I could in the time I’ve been given—and I’m not done yet.”
Now in his seventies, reunited with the love of his life, and still running London’s Waffle Club as well as The Central London School of TV and Media Training, Steve Blacknell offers not just a memoir, but a life-affirming reminder of what it means to burn brightly—even if you crash along the way.
Tales from the Bedroom Wall: The Life and Times of a Serial Thrill Seeker
By Steve Blacknell
Foreword by Bill Wyman
Published by Old Treacle Press
📘 Available 9th July – in Hardback and Digital Formats
