I first became aware of Teddie Dahlin when Rotten interviewed her about her book "A Vicious Love Story" and we started tweeting back and forth on Twitter and then later became Facebook friends... I invited her to be guest on "Women Who Rawk". It was on the show I realized just how cool she was... We began conversing and she asked me about doing a book with her company New Haven Books and in August 2015 to celebrate the magazines 38th Anniversary, New Haven Publishing released "The Best Of Punk Globe" book.... I decided to interview Teddie again for Punk Globe. I hope you all enjoy the interview.


So Teddie, Tell us what has been happening with Teddie Dahlin since you last spoke with Punk Globe?

Hi Ginger. Its been really busy since I last spoke to Punk Globe in 2012. I have bought a publishing company, written more books, signed a lot of new authors and done some feature writing for a couple of music magazines in the UK . I've been a guest at Rebellion Punk Festival, three years running and generally just enjoying myself and having fun with life. I'm a workaholic so love to be busy.

You are probably best known for writing the book "A Vicious Love Story" that was in 2012. It was well received and it seems like people are still buying the book. Can you explain its longevity?

Yes, Vicious is still selling. It has been translated to French and Russian too. It did very well in France and Canada and UK and USA also. I think Sid has a lot of fans out there and my book lets people see a different side of him. He has become a caricature over the years and its not a true picture of who he really was. Everyone has heard about the drugs and the nihilistic lifestyle. I wanted to write about the sweet guy I met, who wasn't anything like his image. I think that's why the book is still selling. People are sick of the stories retold again and again. A Vicious Love Story is different and new and I think people like the fact that someone has come forward to tell people not to buy into all the outrageous stories. He was just a really nice guy and deserves some respect.

Your next release was about Gary Holton.. Not well known the USA but some what a cult hero in the the UK. What prompted you to write the book?

I just enjoyed the writing experience and I wanted to do another book. I knew Gary Holton well and nobody had written anything about him. It's not a biography, but a compilation of memories of Gary, told by people who knew him well, myself included. He was a musician and an actor and moved in the circles of big rock stars and actors. He died under mysterious circumstances so it was interesting to research this.

Gary seemed to have been involved with a great variety of musical genres in his short life. What was his band Heavy Metal Kids like?

Heavy Metal Kids were a really good rock band. They made several albums, but never quite hit the big time. They toured as support for Kiss, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, Uriah Heep - all sorts. They were expected to do really well, but never fulfilled their potential. They broke up in Germany because Gary died... I remember him telling me he was devastated to be kicked out of the band for dying. No I haven't contacted him in the afterlife he he. He was taken to hospital after an overdose and his heart stopped, but they managed to get him back and that was the last straw for the rest of the band. They'd had it with him. He was always getting himself into trouble. What happened was, their driver was taking Ronnie to see his German girlfriend and Gary was in the van with this shady lady. So he grabbed her purse and said "What have you got here then, darlin'?" And pulled a small bottle out and drank it all, at which the girl answered "Methadone". He went crazy, got back to the hotel and drank everything in the minibar and passed out. Luckily he was found by a band member and they called the ambulance. This was typical Gary Holton behaviour - so many stories, and they are all in the book.

Tell us about Casino Steel?

Cas is lovely. I've known him since I was 16 - 17... I met him through Sid actually. Sid and Cas were mates and neighbours in London. Casino is originally from Norway. When Sid went back to England he would send me messages with friends of Cas, who were in London visiting. Cas would always have lots of friends visit his Maida Vale flat. Christmas 1977 Cas came home to Norway and the promoter, Tore Lande, introduced us for the first time. He's a really likeable guy with both feet firmly planted on the ground. He had several bands when he lived in London, most notably The Boys, who are still together and touring. And he played with The Ramones for a while too. Its all connected.


Is it true Gary acted in a comedy series? Tell us about that?

Gary Holton was in a comedy series. He was first in The Who film Quadraphenia with Sting (Police) and a few others. He played some bit parts in several series before he got the role of a cheeky carpenter in the Brittish TV series 'Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'. It was about a group of English guys who went to Germany to work on a building site. Hilariously funny and became somewhat of a cult series. This would have been around 1982 or 83 I think. This was what made Gary famous.

At first I thought Gary might be something like Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy but the more I read he was more like David Bowie or Marc Bolan because of his diversity? What do you think of my summary?

I see what you mean about diversity, so yes you are spot on with your comparrison with concern to his musician/actor thing, but his personality was very different to both Bowie and Bolan (not that I ever knew any of them - just thinking public image) Gary was more like Ronnie Wood. Actually they used to share a dealer. Gary liked his drugs. He had a problem. They looked alike too, perhaps Gary is a little prettier than Ronnie though (soz Ron). Gary was the epitome of 'sex and drugs and rock and roll'. He would never settle down. Always looking for the next big thing - the next high. He was actually tipped to be the new front and vocals for ACDC back in 1981. It was almost in the bag and Gary had to pop over to London to audition (he was living in Norway at the time and had a big hit here with Casino Steel). He was led to believe it was just a formality. Of course Gary partied all night and suddenly realized that his audition was on the same day as the previous singer's , Bon Scott, birthday or death I can't remember. Anyway so Gary bought a whole case of brandy or whiskey, Bon Scotts favorite tipple, to the audition. He was late and not sober and the rest of the band just looked at him in shock. What was he thinking? But that was Gary in a nutshell. He'd just go 'Wheyhey!!' I spoke to him when he came back to Norway and he was devastated that he'd blown it. ACDC said they'd lost one front/vocals to alcohol, and they didn't need another alcoholic front. Gary was down for a while, especially when ACDC album, Back in Black, was a huge hit. It was just a few months later that he was offered the part in the TV series and moved back to London.

I remember Rotten raving about your book but I must admit I was not aware of Gary Holton. Did you interview alot of people who knew him?


Yes, but it was really difficult. Because of the drugs alot of people didn't want to talk to me. For a while I was afraid Fast Living would never be released. Gary's death is still an open case and people were afraid to talk to me. I kept digging but it was almost impossible. The guys from the Heavy Metal Kids, Keith Boyce, Ronnie Thomas, Coz and a few others were amazing. They opened a few doors. Neon Leon, who lived with a Swiss heiress called Charlotte, knew Gary too, since that's were a lot of people would pick up their drugs. My lovely friend photographer Eileen Polk tells about the scene back then. She too stayed with Charlotte for a while. Neon Leon then moved in with Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones) and his wife. Spider, Pure Hell, was dating Charlotte for a while. Lemmy wrote a song about her, Charlotte the Harlot. I was digging and digging and finally managed to get the trust of the lady, Jahnet, who was with Gary when he died. She told me about what happened that night, but the whole truth is definately not told yet because it doesn't add up. There are lots and lots of holes. Some people are scared they will go to prison. In the UK, the Coroner has a long list of verdicts that have to be established within the balance of probability, except suicide and unlawfull killing, which have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt. When the Coroner can't give a verdict or the proof isn't there, the only thing left is an open verdict. This means the case can be re-opened again at a later date, should new evidence come to light. Let me tell you about Garys death and you can make your own minds up.

Gary had been in Nottingham filming the TV series. He'd lost his drivers license due to a DUI, so Jahnet and her partner Brian drove to Nottingham to pick him up. He'd recently been photographed by a 'newspaper' (rag) and made the front page being called a 'heroin hudlum', because he tried to take the photographers camera and stop him taking pictures, whilst out with friends. Anyway, Gary was really upset about this because the headline made his mother ill. He was worried. This was a Friday and Jahnet didn't want him to be alone because of his state of mind. Gary had tried to clean up his image, but it was obvious to everyone who knew him that he was still using - alot. So Gary arrived at Jahnet and Brian's house and he wanted to go out. Jahnet thought if she didn't go with him, he would stay in. But he went to the pub in Maida Vale. When he came back, he'd been drinking and asked Jahnet to come with him to a friends place. She was worried and decided to drive him to this place, but maintains he wasn't really drunk. Once there, Jahnet says they sat up talking with this friend. He wasn't drinking, just upset about things. THe friend gave Jahnet and Gary a matress on the floor of the living room to sleep on and Jahnet set the alarm for 8am because he had rehearsals at 9am the following day. Jahnet says she slept by his side with her arm around him - so she is adamant he didn't go anywhere. When she woke up he was dead......

But I had a look at Garys autopsy report, which tells a very different story. Gary had been drinking heavily. He was so drunk he was on the verge of passing out, 199mg of alcohol per litre was in his blood. (200mg is when you get Ataxia and pass out). They found traces of Cannabis and valium. They also found 0.8mg of diamorphine - the medical term for heroin. 0.8mg is a huge amount as 0.5mg is considered lethal. The police found no equipment you would expect to find in a place where an addict overdoses. So Gary had a spliff and some Valium to calm him down. He drank probably the best part of a bottle of brandy which was his favorite tipple. Then he shot up heroin directly into a vein. Being as drunk as he was, I would find it really difficult to believe he would be able to dilute the heroin in the spoon with water, let alone find a vein and shoot up. The autopsy report says he would have been dead within a couple of minutes, but Gary manages to take all the drug paraphernalia and hide it. As you see, it doesn't add up. Nobody is talking....Its 35 years since he died this year.

A mystery like Brian Jone's death. Had he had substance abuse issues all of his life?

Yeah, if he could smoke it, sniff it, inject it or stick it up his a.hole he would pretty much do that. He lived on the edge. We were good friends for a couple of years. I am a friend of his then girlfriend, Sue Harrison, and I never once saw him shoot up or take anything. As an addict he became devious. Being a heroin addict wasn't considered cool at all in the social circle we moved in.

His life now intrigues me although I have never heard of any of his bands Teddie did you know that Norweigem band Aha? My late friend Patrice Burke had a wild affair with Morten Harket?

I loved AHA back in the day, Morten is a friend of mine. In fact he has read A Vicious Love Story last year. He is also a really nice guy. He just down to earth and pretty normal as popstars go. He has tried a solo career, but I believe the guys are together again now for a come back for AHA.....again.

She sold her story about to the press to teach him a lesson.. Don't fuck with me fella!! Do you remember that scandal?

No actually I just had to look it up. Was she the girl in the video for Take On Me? I remember there was something going on. But then Morten met Swedish Camilla and settled down for a while and had a few children. They all live in Oslo, but Camilla and Morten are divorced now.

No Patrice was American. Her family owned Duke's Coffee Shop in West Hollywood, CA... His Manager locked her out of Morten's while she was out shopping. She was broke so she sold her sordid story along with photo's of him wearing women's lingerie.. It was quite a scandal! Your next release was called Access All Areas? Tell us a synopsis of that book?

Gary Holtons death really intrigued me. I hope I'm not coming across as unsympathetic. I was very upset about his death, but it wasn't unexpected to us who knew him well. So whilst digging into that mess, I thought it would make a really good plot for a crime/fiction. So I wrote Access All Areas where a bassist, Tiger, in a big rock and roll band dies in the same way. His wife was asleep beside him in the bed and swears he wasn't doing alcohol and drugs. The main character, Charlie Hart, a 26 year old, newly divorced young lady solves the mystery, but has to research back to the early 80's to find out who killed Tiger and why.


Tell us how how the book was received??

It did okay. I haven't really promoted any of my crime/fiction. I bought a publishing company and signed authors and Ive been really busy getting titles out and decided I'd just put my crime fiction out there and just hope some people found it and liked it. Its 3 books now and I am writing the 4th when I have time between being a publisher. I keep thinking I'll get them some attention once I have time. Punk Globe : Your last releases Project Polina and MANIA The Mask Of sanity have also been mystery fiction books... How long does it take you to get the cast of characters and basic idea for each book.. That seems to be quite a project. Do you have ideas that you write down and then keep them on file?

All three books have the same main characters and then new ones obviously, come into the stories. AAA practically wrote itself. Project Polina see's Charlie Hart dragged into her bodyguard boyfriend's job. He was assigned to look after a Russian heiress and they were attacked by the FSB and had to hide. In MANIA Charlie is asked to become a bodyguard with the same Close Protection Companion that her boyfriend, Brody, works for. She goes under cover to try to find out who is threatening the mega-wealthy Goldbloom family. One of the main characters in all the books is Charlottes Grandma Blue, who is 79 and quite a lady. She started her own punk band and is very over the top. Another is Malcolm Reynolds who is the sleazy band manager - guess who his character is based on - lol...?

Project Polina was written because I was fascinated by the Russian community in the UK. They are oligarchs and extremely wealthy. Their lifestyles are extreme. I had a lot of fun researching them.

MANIA is about a psychopathic killer who is targeting a wealthy banking family. People are getting killed and they can't work out who is behind it and why.

I have a little book that I keep a track of the characters and their stories. Actually they are now like family to me. I get ideas and I write them down, but sometimes they surprise me. Things happen in the story as I'm writing and I don't always see it coming. It takes on a life of its own. I probably need about 6 months for each book. I have all the details researched correctly. All medical details have to be correct. I spend a lot of time researching... Then I write and rewrite. How I work is I start writing the story until I'm completely empty. Got nothing left. So I stop and start working on the text and the wording. That usually takes me back to where I left off and I find new fuel to forge forward again - and so on.


I know Author Danielle Steel through her late son Nick. I was amazed by how she became the characters she wrote about.. One of her books took place in Japan and she did so much research to make the book real.. Is that how you write your crime books?

Yes exactly like that. I try to place the characters in places I know well. But in the last Charlie Hart I sent her to San Diego, Coronado Island. Now I've been to San Diego, but not Coronado, so I had to research that alot. Also I had to talk to an actual bodyguard with a military background to help me with the details of what a Close Protection Agent would be doing on his initial course and basic training. My doctor helps out with medical details, and I generally just make myself a nuisance to anyone who can help with details lol So writing is 50% research and 50% making a good story.

Have you thought about your next release? Yes, book 4 is in the pipeline. Its called Prophet to the Perverted. Charlie Hart is asked to take care of a young singer of a band Malcolm has signed, The Psy-Kick Prophets. I am triggered about the real life scandal around the UK band Lost Prophets. Their front, Ian Watkins, was jailed for 35 years for plotting to rape a baby and getting another woman to abuse her child on the internet for him to see. All my fiction is based on uncomfortable topic's. I like the shock value. Access All Areas was about rape and the groupie culture around bands on tour. Project Polina was about drugs and hatred going back many years right back to the Russian Revolution of 1917. MANIA delves in the the mind of psychopaths and sociopaths. So Prophet to the Perverted is loosely based on the Lost Prophets story, but I make it my own.

Tell us what has been going on with New Haven Publishing?

It has been crazy busy this year. We have signed a lot of authors and a lot of new titles. We have lots of books in the pipeline for release later this year. Next one up is the actor/entertainer, Gary Shail's autobiography; I Think Im on the Guest List. Ian Phillips is penning a book about Skinheads and Neon Leon is putting something together as is Kenny Gordon. Its an exciting time at New Haven Publishing.

You recently released a book about Miss Diana Ross. It is Called Diana Ross Reflections.. Tell us how that has been doing in sales?

I don't have the exact numbers because there is a delay from sales to print, but it has been doing really well both in the States and the UK. Its quite a tome and getting great reviews.


You should also have Jimi LaLumia review that. He loves Miss Ross... Will there be a follow up book?

I've sent Jimi The Best of Punk Globe Magazine and Diana Ross Reflections to review. I hope he likes them both.

Tell us about The Ugly Girls Guide To Modeling?

Anita De Bauch is a well known model in the UK. She model's all over the world. She has written a great book about how you dont have to be under 20 years old and tall and skinny to become a model and actually make a great living. The 'ugly' word in the title is how she said she felt when trying to get signed by an agency. Most models get turned down and it can be a kick to their self confidence. But she takes the reader through how to do it themselves. She talks about beauty and gives lots of tips, but she also talks about the business and what to expect and what to avoid. Its a really good read if you want to be a model or if you just want tips and help with food and beauty.

Raven Taylor is good tell me more about her?

Raven is a lovely Scottish lady who has written a trilogy that's a punk rock memoir. The last one is coming out before Christmas. Her books take you back to a time when punk was new and a young shy girl meets and falls in love with a punk rock star. It sounds great, but things get really complicated...

You also have Nikki Palomino signed to a three book deal with her Still Dazed trilogy.. Again I am amazed with where she gets her concepts for each book. Are you happy with trilogy this far?

Nikki is a gem. She writes brilliantly and her DAZED trilogy is really good. She has a few other idea's too and we are definitely keen to read more of her work. The first two in the DAZED trilogy has been very well received, with the final coming out early next year.


I have also released a Best Of Punk Globe book for New Haven publishing. it was work but so rewarding in the end... Any thoughts Teddie?

This book has been a lot of fun. You and I work well together and having Marc Floyd working on his very distinctive cover and the graphic designer Pete Cunliffe on it has been great. I knew this book would do well when the three largest magazines in the UK contacted asking to review. Its normally me begging the magazines to review hehe...

I also know you have a big surprise for an upcoming release.. Can you give us any clues?

We are in the first stages of work with a book that is based upon a documentary film that's already out and doing well. I can't say too much about it yet, but the documentary interviews some of the biggest names in the music business in its genre and some of them have passed, so the documentary was basically their last interviews. I'm really excited about this and I'll let you know as soon as we have a cover and release date - its definitely something that's going to get peoples attention.

Give us all your Internet addresses for readers to get the latest information?

www.newhavenpublishing@gmail.com
www.newhavenpublishingltd.com

What is in store for you and New Haven Publishing for the rest of 2015?

I will be at Louder Than Words Literary Festival in Manchester UK in November, with an assortment of our books. I'm there as both writer, journalist and publisher. In addition, I have lots of titles coming out before the Christmas trade so lots of work to get through. I sometimes wish the readers could see the amount of work that goes into every book.


Are you having fun relaxing in the hot Arizona heat? Any last words for Punk Globe readers?

I am in Arizona with my 18 year old daughter who is going to ASU. Its so bloody hot. Az is breaking all its heat records. But I am having a lovely time. I love being in the States and I'll be going back and forth a lot more during the next four years. I'd like to come to LA too soon and perhaps have a book signing with the other LA based New Haven authors. Now that would be great fun.

Thanks for the interview Teddie.