Product Description

John Bindon emerged from a poor, working class London childhood and fraternised with the Krays and the Richardsons, but eventually turned his back on crime to play major parts in films such as Mick Jagger?s Performance, The Who?s Quadrophenia and Michael Caine?s Get Carter. . His story reads like the plot of a movie which Big John himself might have landed a part in. Usually typecast in tough-guy roles, his on-screen persona was chillingly close to the real-life one. Big John?s nickname came from his status as a legendary sexual performer, so it was no surprise that his encounters with stunning women, led to numerous high profile relationships. Bindon is an incredibly well known figure and has the same legendary status as Lenny ?The Guv?nor? Mclean, and this book should have the same popular appeal.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #130479 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 254 pages

About the Author
Wensley Clarkson is an investigative journalist who has written numerous non-fiction books, screenplays and television documentaries. His books have sold more than a million copies in seventeen countries worldwide.

Customer Reviews

bit disappointing although some interesting bits
I was a little disappointed about this biography about Bindon. Apart from his debut in 'Poor Cow' here was not enough insight into his film and TV career despite the fact he appeared in numerous 70's productions with many people who are still alive today. The ending of the book was particularly poor, Bindon's decline in health is covered in less than a page - his death is described in one sentence. It left me asking more questions than before I started.
His friendship with Princess Margaret and his trial for murder were the only interesting parts

Very Disappointing
The title of this review says it all. Whilst Bindon himself was no doubt a great subject for a book the way the author has written it lets it down no end. The book just jumps from point to point with no flow or feel of the guy. Perhaps the author uses too many sources but i didnt enjoy this book at all. I have read many criminal type auto biographies and this is by far the worst, in fact if it hadn't been based around an area of london i know fairly well i probably wouldnt have made it to the end.

Reasonable read but could have been so much better
Am afraid i have to echo several of the previous reviews in that parts of the book feel rushed, in particular the last stages of Bindons life are barely covered. Early-to-mid stages of his life are covered more thoroughly & portray a tough but loveable rogue who has one foot in the London underworld of the 60's & 70's and the other in the parties & nightclubs frequented by a mixture of royals, actors, politicians, hangers-on & low-lifes.
What the book does mangage to do well is to document an all but forgotten era of London , one in which a charismatic fella from the wrong side of the tracks could use his charm to open doors. It often feels as though you're reading a particularly good version of 'The Sweeney' ! If you're interested in this particular time you'll find much to like here though you may be left wanting a more thorough piece of work on someone who undoubtedly deserves one.
'Moody' by Wensley Clarkson is a better piece of work & more conclusive.