Books

The year is 1962 and the rock and roll band The Dogs are set to be the next big thing. Dreaming of stardom, they hope their new song Treat Me Like a Dog will hit number one in the charts.

When Lenny ‘Poddy' Peabody and James ‘Smudger' Smith have a chance encounter with two members of another up-and-coming band called The Beatles, they wish each other well. But before they know it, The Dogs are watching the Beatles take over the charts while their song languishes far below. Despondent and despairing, Poddy, Smudger and the rest of the band - Brian ‘Streaky' Bacon and Charlie ‘Biffo' Bear - go their separate ways.

Decades pass. When Streaky and Smudger's paths cross again, the band arranges to get together for one last recording session. Poddy's son, Buddy, re-works The Dogs' song You Treat Me Like a Dog and sends it to radio host, Duke Deckster. Duke plays it to his daily audience of nine million and, suddenly, The Dogs' lives are turned upside down. Ideas of retirement are replaced with tours and albums as they become the most sought-after band ever.

But much has changed since 1962. Illnesses, arguments, contracts, and exhaustion threatens everything. Can the band, and their newly kindled friendships, survive it?