The Lindisfarne Story

Thoroughly researched history of one of Britain’s longest-established folk-rock groupsDetailed and comprehensive discographyEssential reading for any lover of ’70s and ’80s rock musicIncludes information provided to the author by surviving original members such as Rod Clements (leader of the current line-up) and Ray Laidlaw When singer-songwriter Alan Hull joined the group Brethren in 1969 and they were renamed Lindisfarne shortly afterwards, nobody could have foreseen that the name would still be around more than forty years later. It has been a chequered saga for them, from the members’ origins in the beat and folk boom of their teenage years, to their swiftly-won reputation as one of Britain’s most popular live attractions and the remarkable success of the chart-topping second album Fog on the Tyne, from the issues – which divided them into two camps in 1973 and a total disbandment two years later – to a reunion following two annual series of Christmas concerts in their native Newcastle and beyond. They survived the sudden death of Hull in 1995 and several changes in line-up until 2003, dispersing and then reforming again some ten years later. This tells the story of their long and colourful history, the ups and downs, and the singles, albums and concerts, which made them a unique name in popular music history. Illustrations: 35 colour photographs

Newcastle folk-rock giants Lindisfarne have always been a people''s band. Fog on the Tyne tells the band''s story, from its birth in the union of two struggling 1960s bands, through to the new line-up of the present day.'

From its misty beginnings as part of the mainland in the Stone Age, this history covers Lindisfarne's formation as an island, the Roman and Anglo-Saxon eras, the influence of Columba and Iona, Lindisfarne's own apostle, Bede and the monastic tradition, the coming of the Vikings, the Benedictine years and the dissolution of the monasteries.

In 1844 a German scholar traveled ten days by camel to a monastery guarded by the 1,100-year-old skeleton of a janitor, where the scholar discovered the world’s oldest complete copy of the New Testament. In 1947 the oldest complete manuscript of Hebrew Scripture disappeared in Syrian riots. Part of it was later recovered, and a full page and a fragment were also discovered in Brooklyn, New York. In 1536 William Tyndale was burned at the stake for the crime of publishing the New Testament in English. The Bible is a remarkable collection of books and letters, written by more than forty authors over a period of 1,500 years. Its words have been studied, disputed, and treasured. They have also brought comfort, conviction, and challenge. Today at least one book of the Bible is translated into more than 2,400 of the world’s 6,900 living languages. The Story of the Bible is a sweeping panorama of the Bible’s 3,500-year history, answering questions such as: How accurate are the manuscripts we have? Do all translations say the same thing? Was America really founded on the Bible? Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls so important? Endorsements: “A captivating and colorful account of the history of the Bible from parchment to print.” – Ravi Zacharias, from the foreword “The Story of the Bible tells beautifully and crisply how the Bible came together and how it has been read through the centuries. It is a joy to scan and is rich to read, an excellent book about the most unique book in the world.” – Darrell Bock, Ph.D., author, Jesus: According to the Scriptures and Breaking the DaVinci Code “The Story of the Bible offers breathtaking insight and compelling clues into the Bible and its power over the heart of mankind.” – Rabbi Daniel Lapin, American Alliance of Jews and Christians

"David Adam has been captivated by the beauty, wonder and holiness of Lindisfarne since first glimpsing its fairytale castle from the train as a young boy. In this absorbing volume, he shows the island's human face, revealing how Lindisfarne and its people have responded to trial, tribulation and triumph in the course of a long and vibrant history. This tiny place witnessed one of the last stands of the 'British' Celtic peoples against the invading Anglo-Saxons in the 6th century. It has been the home of saints and scholars, most notably St. Aidan and St. Cuthbert, and famously produced the medieval masterpiece known as the "Lindisfarne Gospels". Less familiar to readers, perhaps, will be that the island experienced the first recorded Viking invasion in 793, and was involved in the 17th century Civil War and the 18th century Jacobite Rebellion. Today its ruined 11th century Priory and 16th century Castle - later redesigned by the great English architect Edwin Lutyens - draw pilgrims and visitors from all over the world. Wherever you walk on Lindisfarne, the past impinges on the present ..."--Publisher's description