About this title.

How could a celebration of peace, love and music spiral downwards into depths of violence, blackmail and fear? Sweetwaters, the iconic festival that brought so many people together during the heyday of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, took a very public and controversial turn for the worse in 1999. This book, as told by festival organiser Daniel Keighley, sets the record straight. This is a riveting look at an exhilarating period of music and creativity-with such musicians as Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, Eurythmics, The Pretenders, The Psychedelic Furs, UB40 and Simple Minds, as well as the cream of the Kiwi crop, the people and personalities of the time. The fascinating autobiography details Keighley's involvement in and passion for connecting music and people, and is a blow-by-blow 'behind the scenes' account of the now notorious 1999 festival. Keighley has a story to tell. His side of the story. Having recounted the heaady highs of previous Sweetwaters events, he then leads you through the extreme lows that followed the demise of the 1999 event: gang violence, public slander, bankruptcy and imprisonment. He writes of such deeply personal trials with blunt honesty, unflinching detail and great humility. The untold story is no longer a secret. It is the concluding chapter in the incomplete saga.

Share    Tweet

This page has been viewed 2424 times.

About this Author.

Daniel Keighley has worked in the entertainment industry in New Zealand for the last 30 years. In that time he made use of skills ranging from band management to producing shows in 14 countries, with audiences ranging from two confused attendees to 600,000 enthusiastic supporters. Daniel is one of a handful of New Zealanders who has signed a local band to a major international record label. He has played in the Virgin cricket team at Richard Branson's manor in Oxford, denied Chrissie Hynde the use of a hire car to court her lover, held the offspring of Talking Heads drummer (Chris) and bass player (Tina) on side of stage while the band played, and woken up in a sea of s**t in New York. Daniel loves New Zealand art in all of its forms, and has many local bands in his collection. Even Chris Knox. He spent his early days attempting to champion local art nationally and internationally, from music to blown glass. He has introduced New Zealand art to the world, ranging from comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to glass sculpture at the Chicago New Arts Form Expo. He has three children and is still married.

Reviews