Rock Legends Celebrate Buddy Holly - UK Book Launch

Last week, we proudly launched Buddy Holly: Words of Love at The Orangery in London—an especially fitting venue, as it was where Paul McCartney hosted the very first Buddy Holly Week in 1976.

The event was held in partnership with the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation and featured onstage appearances from some of Buddy Holly and The Crickets’ most passionate admirers and contributors to the new book, including Roger Daltrey, Ronnie Wood, and Yungblud.

'When his lyrics are combined with his wonderful voice, the sincerity shines through and the songs still speak to listeners today.' – Roger Daltrey

Buddy Holly biographer Philip Norman and world-renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber also spoke, joined by esteemed radio presenters Mike Read and Whispering Bob Harris OBE. The afternoon closed with an electrifying rockabilly set by Darrel Higham and his band.

In the audience, we were thrilled to welcome even more stars from the worlds of music and the arts—many of them Ambassadors of the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation and contributors to Words of Love. Among them were Allan Clarke of The Hollies, Guy Fletcher of Dire Straits, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, legendary guitarist Albert Lee, John Lodge of The Moody Blues, photographer and musician Mike McCartney, Bruce Welch of The Shadows, and the iconic artist Sir Peter Blake.

'Buddy stood for innovation; doing things his own way and leading with his gut... and that downstroke guitar was just punk as f**k.' – Yungblud

Buddy Holly: Words of Love is the most comprehensive celebration of Buddy Holly’s legacy ever published. Featuring contributions from over 100 legendary musicians, the book explores how Buddy inspired generations of artists across the decades. His remarkable story is told through the voices of family, friends, and devoted fans—brought to life with rare artefacts and never-before-seen photographs.

With a foreword by Paul McCartney and afterwords by Don McLean, Roger Daltrey, and Pete Townshend, this stunning volume has been six years in the making. Created in close collaboration with Maria Elena Holly, it is a true labour of love and a must-have for any music lover. Secure your copy today by clicking here.

Thumbnail photography by Dave Hogan / Carousel photography by Simon Godsave & Sarah Oglesby for The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation

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