In the Sixties

In the Sixties chronicles the cultural revolution of 1960s London through the first-hand account of Barry Miles, a central figure in the era's underground scene. Miles documents his experiences running the Indica Bookshop and Gallery while interacting with artists, musicians, and writers who shaped the decade. The book presents detailed observations of iconic figures including Paul McCartney, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, and other cultural luminaries who frequented London's counterculture hubs. Events covered include the founding of International Times newspaper, the UFO Club, and pivotal moments in the British underground press movement. Miles reconstructs the period through personal anecdotes and insider perspectives of key locations like the Indica Bookshop, Beatles Apple Corps offices, and various London nightclubs and galleries. His account spans from the early beatnik influence through the psychedelic era and the end of the decade. The narrative captures a specific moment when art, music, literature and social change intersected to transform British culture. Miles' position at the center of these overlapping scenes provides a unique lens on how underground movements eventually influenced mainstream society.

Readers value the firsthand account of London's 1960s counterculture scene, particularly Miles' personal interactions with figures like Paul McCartney, Allen Ginsberg, and William Burroughs. Several reviewers note his detailed coverage of the underground press movement and art galleries. Readers appreciate: - Direct observations of cultural figures' daily lives - Documentation of the London avant-garde art scene - Behind-the-scenes stories of Indica Bookshop - Coverage of lesser-known countercultural events Common criticisms: - Name-dropping without deeper analysis - Scattered chronology that's hard to follow - Focus on London scene to exclusion of other UK areas - Limited perspective on political movements Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (87 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (26 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) "Miles' personal bias shows through but that's what makes it authentic," notes one Amazon reviewer. Multiple Goodreads reviews mention the book works better as a reference than a straight-through read.

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Rad Dad: Dispatches from the Frontiers of Fatherhood by Tomas Moniz and Jeremy Adam Smith This collection captures the underground press movement and countercultural publishing spirit that defined 1960s alternative media.

London Calling: A Countercultural History of London Since 1945 by Barry Miles Miles expands his examination of counterculture beyond the 1960s to paint a complete picture of London's underground movements.

🎸 Barry Miles co-founded the Indica Bookshop and Gallery in London, which became a major counterculture hub where John Lennon first met Yoko Ono. 🎨 The author served as Paul McCartney's official biographer and ran the Beatles' Zapple Records label, which was dedicated to spoken word and avant-garde recordings. ✌️ Miles documented Allen Ginsberg's first visit to London in 1965 and helped organize the famous International Poetry Incarnation at Royal Albert Hall, considered Britain's first major counterculture event. 📚 The book provides firsthand accounts of the London underground press movement, including Miles' role in founding International Times (IT), Britain's first underground newspaper. 🎵 Miles lived above his Indica Bookshop, which became a gathering place for figures like William Burroughs, Pete Townshend, and Pink Floyd, making him a key witness to London's cultural revolution.