Behind the Beehive
The Triumphs and Trials of Dusty Springfield
Behind the Beehive
The Triumphs and Trials of Dusty Springfield
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Description
An incredible whirlwind of talent, transformation, and turmoil, the British pop icon's life is detailed in this sensitive and heart-rending portrait.
For most of the early 1960s, Dusty Springfield was the most popular and best-selling female recording artist in Britain, becoming the first bonafide British star to follow the Beatles.In 1966, she was named as the top female singer in the world after a string of chart-topping hits including “You Don't Have to Say You Love Me.” Even Elton John– who had her posters covering his wall as a teen– idolized her. With her signature peroxided platinum beehive hairdo and heavy black eyeliner, she became the poster girl of the swinging 60s.
But behind all of this, Dusty was struggling with severe mental illness, erratic public behavior, violent mood swings, multiple personalities, drug addiction, and the terror of being exposed as a lesbian. However, even in her darkest moments, Dusty's star shined bright, remaining a force of charisma and humor. Follow the soaring highs and devastating lows of Dusty's career in this sympathetic biography based on meticulous research, peer accounts, and contemporary perspectives.
Table of Contents
A Note from the Author
PART 1
1. Frequent Flyer
2. Knee-Deep in the British Invasion
3. In the Grip of a Terrible Lethargy
PART 2
4. Bonkers, Daft, and Bored
5. Tickets Like Gold Dust
6. The White Queen of Soul
7. Like Chalk and Cheese
8. Personae Non Gratae
PART 3
9. A Lifetime Worth of Guilt
10. A Seething Mass of Ambition
11. What Have I Done to Deserve This?
12. Grey-Faced Night Crawlers
PART 4
13. A Controlled Hint of Desperation
14. Bright Red Boxing Gloves
15. That Indefinable Something
16. Gladys Thong, Nice to Meet You
17. A Joan Crawford Face
18. My Grab-Bag Mind
19. Swinging Into the Void
PART 5
20. A Frying Pan to the Teeth
21. Drinking, Drugs, and Drama
22. Dusty and Daffy Duck
23. Two Million Pieces
PART 6
24. A Tornado in Tight Pants
25. Fanny the Dancing Dog
26. Where Is a Woman to Go?
27. The Night the Lights Went Out
A Note about Sourcing
Selected Bibliography
Index
Product details
| Published | Sep 03 2026 |
|---|---|
| Format | Hardback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 304 |
| ISBN | 9798216437611 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Illustrations | 29 b/w images |
| Dimensions | 9 x 6 inches |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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