In Griff’s own words “I was the middle son of gypsy witch and a West London car dealer, born into a very well known, close knit, large family from Notting Hill – I was a market trader, tyre fitter, professional musician, artist, entrepreneur, furniture dealer, gilder, property portfolio, professional comedian, model, sports therapist, songwriter, producer, freemason, father, lifelong mental health sufferer, massive breakdown left me suicidal, in an institution believing I was the king of Spain”.
Griff’s first book “I Was The King Of Spain” documents tales from an emergency operation to avoid arm amputation after being hit twice by the same car, to a bizarre £25k drug deal involving armed Arabs, Beatles photographer Bob Freeman and Led Zep frontman Robert Plant in a Marrakech street market, to sexual encounters with one of Kid Creole’s Coconuts after a Pet Shop Boys Hollywood party, to business dealings with the Kray Brothers, to reggae band ASWAD breaking up a fight with 80s heart-throb Rick Astley in the foyer of a Gibraltar hotel, to a plane load of statue funded Russian football hooligans helping me find true love in Spain, to saving the life of one of the rapper duo Salt & Pepper at a London smash hit party, to starting and selling a successful business, fooling experts in the world of antiques, to having a gap decade, then another five years off, drumming in a Status Quo tribute band and currently drumming in the band Ghosts: Spirit of the Jam, a Jam tribute band.
Along with movie man, Mark Williams, Griff is responsible for the recently released punk/new wave documentary Are They Hostile? and accompanying CD of the same name featuring some of the lesser known Croydon punk bands that were around between 1977 and 1985.
Griff appeared on the Trisha show to talk about his book and the Are They Hostile? documentary film.
Griff’s book “I Was The King Of Spain” is available from Olympia publishers
Official trailer from the Are They Hostile? documentary film.
Verified Buy the book!!!! 🤣🤣🤣 I HATE READING!!!! But was curious… I was laughing out loud within minutes. There’s so many funny stories it’s just brilliant! 🤣 Taking on holiday to read again….! 🏖️😎 xxVerified King of Spain Fantastic book laughed all the way through!!! Highly recommend it!! Have met griff a few times through his band and and joy to chat too. This book will have you in stitchesVerified A fabulous and funny account of an interesting life !! Couldn’t put it down and have loaned it out to share this great collection of anicdotesVerified A Life Well Lived! There is nothing conventional about Griff or the life he has lived. A colourful raconteur, a social butterfly, entrepreneur, artist, comedian and musician – it is not really surprising that he has lived such a diverse and entertaining life filled with many ups and downs.The book is full of ‘sliding doors’ moments some of which are coincidental, others have been skilfully manufactured but all are genuine and that makes this such a compelling read. Griff is one of life’s explorers, a generous spirit, always on the lookout for his next adventure, unafraid of failure and happy to experiment, a combination that constantly provides us with laugh out loud anecdotes and interesting tales or to use Griff’s analogy ‘dives into a beautiful swimming pool in the sun’.Whether you know Griff personally or not, you will not put this book down once you start reading it!Verified amazing life story I enjoyed every page of this book somthing very different and entertaining on every page. I Highly recommended very funny.Verified Compulsive Reading ! Thought I would start the book with a view to continuing daily but couldn't put the book down until I finished . Well worth a buy very anecdotal and reminiscent as I am of a simular age to the author. Volume 2 surely there must be more .Verified Read from start to finish in a day Somewhere between Spike Milligan and Al Murrey, easily digestible, fascinating honest look into the life of this creative and spontaneous individual ... and what a lovely bloke as well. Wonder what the sequel will conjure up for the 2nd part of his life!Verified A legend and story teller supreme, in his own words. If you want to read some great anecdotes and tales, told in an inimitable and hilarious style, this book is fantastic fun. A different life, lived to the absolute! Full disclosure - I have known the author for many years. Buy it!Verified A collection of recollections I was curious about this book and purchased on a whim, It's good. Very good. Griff is obviously a funny guy and recounts his life stories with sharp observational wit. Succinctly told with a punchy delivery, he needs to explore a career as part of a comedy writing team.