Wurzels' World
Mervyn Hancock

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: First Edition Limited (Aug 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1845470451
ISBN-13: 978-1845470456

Synopsis: 'The Wurzels are as renowned in the West Country as cider and Cheddar cheese. And now for the first time the group that has become a household name across Britain have revealed the true story of their rise to stardom from the world of farmyards and scrumpy. Their unique folk sounds, West dialects and rib-tickling lyrics have brought them national acclaim. But behind the scenes and the sounds has been a tough journey often littered with despair and heartbreak. From the early days of their founder Adge Cutler, who tragically died, to TV fame and the tub-thumping sounds of Combine Harvester, The Blackbird Song and more lately Ferry to Glastonbury, this is their story. So, Drink Up Thy Zider and enjoy the journey.'

Mervyn Hancock's book was published in 2004. Written in association with the Western Daily Press, the newspaper that Tommy Banner now writes for, it is an overview of the band with chapters given over to all four current Wurzels (at the time). Highly recommended

And Wurzelmania! is not forgotten. In the Acknowledgments, the author writes that Tommy and Pete "...fully appreciate the important role that a certain Paul Guningham played in the late '90s when he badgered EMI into re-issuing some Wurzels tracks, resulting in the release of The Finest 'Arvest Of The Wurzels."

And to show what a good job Paul did, Mervyn uses the Wurzelmania! archives in Wurzels' World. He expanded Paul's Wurzetteer to create Chapter 9 (with Paul's Index closing the chapter), and using Paul's song descriptions from Wurzels Songs, and Wurzelspeak in full to form the Wurzels Songs & Speak section at the end of the book - with full permission from Paul, of course!

See here for The Wurzels' "promotional tour" at Bristol City's Ashton Gate.