Rock N Roll Nanny, by Sally Arnold

 

Publication October 17, 2022

Sally Arnold lived the rock'n'roll fantasy that most fans could only dream about. Hanging out with famous musicians, meeting the rich and famous, and seeing exotic places are only the surface of that reality, however. Even with some background in concert photography and interviewing many an artist myself back in "the good ol' days", I was astonished to read of the unending, constantly changing list of responsibilities she shouldered just to get the artist onstage, let alone keep them alive and healthy. 

What from the distance looked alluring was tiring, frustrating, and required her to be on alert and ready at all hours. Just reading the tasks she handled, from setting up offices to supervising stage set-up and frequently not-very-cooperative artists, to managing to herd the often egotistical, wasted performers on stage, was exhausting. From working as a nanny, honest, she was trained at a highly respected school, for Mick and Bianca Jagger after the birth of Jade, to working on all aspects of mega-shows for the likes of the Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Rolling Stones, the Who and others, to charity events that brought her into contact with the likes of royalty, Arnold navigated it all in an admirable way.

That said, tho' I'm probably odd man out here, I found myself as intrigued by her early travels as her rock'n'roll experiences. True, reading of how she taught Mick how to change a "nappy" (British terms used) to Charlie Watts taking her shopping for baby supplies for Jade added a touch of reality, but so, too, did her experiences traveling to the likes of China and Russia via the Trans-Siberian Railroad. This was at a time when foreign travelers of either sex there were rare and not only looked at with suspicion but frequent targets of theft. Amazingly, she seemed to love every moment of it, even being held for a time when her Visa proved incorrect. She also details later travels that are a delight to read but I was most impressed by her courage as a young girl taking on her dream of travel against some pretty big odds. Her experiences and travel both seem to have colored her world.

Those with an interest in not just rock'n'roll but how the music/touring industry works will find this a fascinating read. If you're into travel and other cultures, so much the better. There's lots of name-dropping, of course, but that doesn't distract from the real story, a young woman overcoming odds to find her place in the world, a world that ultimately included surviving cancer.

Thanks #NetGalley and #SilverwoodBooks for introducing me to Sally Arnold. What a fascinating life she has led.