ERIC IDLE'S GREEDY BASTARD DIARY TO BE PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY 2005
by Hans ten Cate (special thanks to Joelle Yudin of Harper Collins)
Thursday, 29 July 2004

The Greedy Bastard Diary: A Comic Tour of America, by Eric Idle will be published February 2005, by Harper Collins

Eric Idle's diary documenting his travels and travails during last year's Greedy Bastard Tour will be published by Harper Collins this coming February (2005). The book will hit bookstores to coincide with the Broadway debut of SPAMALOT.

The diary, as many fans know, was shared online every day last fall with bits sent to me by Eric from the road as he and his band of Greedy Bastard Players traversed America in search of a good belly laugh. In between gigs, performing classic Python material as well as loads of new songs and comedy bits, Eric kept a daily journal documenting the progress of the show while also adding tons of personal reminiscences and humorous anecdotes.

The 256-page book will also feature a 16-page color photo insert.

"I still feel somewhat nervous encroaching on the Palin territory of writing a travel diary based on a journey," Eric says, "though it is true, I reason, that all the Pythons have been involved in documentaries. So this must be a Python thing."

Here is a snippet from the intro to the book...

A Greedy Bastard Tour.

I'm eating dim sums with my friend Danny the guitar maker.

"I'm thinking of going on the road again," I say, "but the trouble is it costs so much to take a whole cast out on the road, you can't make any money."

"You should do a Greedy Bastard Tour," says Danny.

"A what?"

"A Greedy Bastard Tour. It's a rock and roll term."

"Really?"

"Yeah, that's like when you go out first time you take a full band with a big crew, and tons of buses and lots of lighting and fireworks and it costs a bundle and you lose a ton. So the next time you go, you do a Greedy Bastard Tour, and it's just you and a geetar."

"I love it, that's it," I said "that's the title: The Greedy Bastard Tour."

"But what if they don't get the irony….?"

"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to the Greedy Bastard Tour. I am your greedy bastard for tonight…"

So begins The Greedy Bastard Diary: A Comic Tour of America, available in February 2005 from Harper Collins. The book's marketing campaign will include a national broadcast and print media campaign, a 25-city national radio blitz, regional author appearances, and various on-line promotions. Check www.pythonline.com periodically for updates.

• Harper Collins, 2005 (U.S.) ISBN 0-06-075864-3
• 256 pages; 7" x 9"
• 16-page color photo insert
• $23.95 U.S. ($33.95 Canadian)