Tony Tyler

Who was Tony Tyler?

James Edward Anthony Tyler was a British writer who authored several books and wrote for the New Musical Express, Macworld, MacUser, PC Pro and Computer Shopper.

After being expelled from school, Tyler became a police cadet, but quit when told his stammer was so extreme he would never be able to give evidence in court. He found employment as a trainee reporter on a Merseyside paper.

His best friend Tim Craig was a merchant seaman. Tyler stowed away on his Hamburg-bound ship, aware that the Beatles — whom he vaguely knew — were resident in the German port. He later joined the Royal Tank Regiment, with which he served in Aden. In 1966, his father died, and he bought himself and two friends out of the army.

Tyler subsequently found himself playing Hammond organ in a soul group based in Italy, the Patrick Samson Set; they had a No 1 there with a cover of "A Whiter Shade of Pale".

Back in London in 1969, he became publicist for EG Management, who cared for the careers of T. Rex, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

He was brought into the NME in 1972 by the editor Alan Smith, and was described as "inspirational" by his colleagues of the time.