Will Birch

Will Birch (born 12 September 1948) is an English music journalist, songwriter, record producer and drummer.

Birch was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. He played drums in various bands in the Southend area before helping to form The Kursaal Flyers in 1973. Featuring singer Paul Shuttleworth, the Flyers developed a strong live reputation on London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s, and released several albums. Their biggest commercial success came in 1976 with the uncharacteristic Mike Batt-produced hit single "Little Does She Know", which Birch co-wrote.^[1]

After The Kursaal Flyers disbanded in late 1977, Birch formed a power pop group, the Records. They released the minor hit "Starry Eyes" in 1978, again co-written by Birch; toured the United States; and recorded three albums, before splitting up in 1982.^[2]

Birch also co-wrote the song "A.1. on the Jukebox" with Dave Edmunds.

Meanwhile, Birch had already moved into production, working with the Liverpool-based band, Yachts, plus Billy Bremner of Rockpile, Desmond Dekker, The Long Ryders, and later Dr. Feelgood.^[3]

In the 1990s he moved into music journalism, writing many articles on the British music scene and, in 2000, writing an acclaimed^[4] account of the 1970s pub rock scene, No Sleep Till Canvey Island. He published a well-reviewed^[5] biography of Ian Dury, Ian Dury: The Definitive Biography in January 2010.^[6]

• Will Birch website