Schaffner, Nicholas, 1953-

Critic, collector, and composer, Nicholas Schaffner (1953-1991) was an expert on the British Invasion of rock and roll; his collection of Beatles memorabilia was the foundation for his career as a writer.

Of the six books he wrote or co-wrote, The Beatles Forever (1977), established him as an authoritative source of knowledge on the band. Among his other works are The British Invasion: From the First Wave to the New Wave (1982), which focused on the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, the Who, Pink Floyd, T. Rex, and David Bowie; it also provided abstracts of 100 other influential British bands. Schaffner?s last book was a definitive biography of Pink Floyd, titled Saucerful of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Odyssey (1991). Other writings by Schaffner include record reviews in Rolling Stone, essays in periodicals, and poems. During the late 1970s and 1980s, Schaffner also composed and performed music. A musical he co-wrote, The Harlequin, was part of the Open Space Theatre Experiment in 1978. He released a recording called Magical Kingdoms in 1990; music on this album can be heard in the 1986 movie, Parting Glances.

Nicholas Schaffner was born in New York City in 1953. He was more than just a fan of the British Invasion of rock and roll, and his collection of Beatles memorabilia was the foundation for his career as a writer. Of the six books he wrote or co-wrote, The Beatles Forever (1977) established him as an authoritative source of knowledge on the band. He followed this book with one for children called The Boys From Liverpool: John, Paul, George, Ringo (1980). With his sister Elizabeth, Schaffner compiled 505 Rock and Roll Questions Your Friends Can’t Answer (1981). The next year he published a look at his favorite bands of the 1960s and 1970s in The British Invasion: From the First Wave to the New Wave . This book focused on the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, the Who, Pink Floyd, T. Rex, and David Bowie; it also provided abstracts of 100 other influential British bands (written by Schaffner and several contributors, including his sister). In 1983 he helped John Lennon’s childhood friend, Pete Shotten, write the book John Lennon: In My Life . Schaffner’s last book was a definitive biography of Pink Floyd, titled Saucerful of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Odyssey, which was published a few months before his death on August 29, 1991. Other writings by Schaffner include record reviews in Rolling Stone, essays in periodicals such as Musician, and poems.

During the late 1970s and 1980s, Schaffner also composed and performed music. A musical he co-wrote, The Harlequin, was part of the Open Space Theatre Experiment, a festival in Soho (New York City) in March 1978. He released a compact disc called Magical Kingdoms in 1990; music on this album can be heard in the 1986 movie Parting Glances .

Source: The Estate Project for Artists with AIDS, http://www.artistswithaids.org/artforms/music/catalogue/schaffner.html (accessed on June 7, 2005)