'Tom Jones & The Squires' bassist Vernon Hopkins explains how he kick started Tom Jones' career 

Том самый лучший,со всеми не обнимешься,ему с его талантом надо было идти дальше,и петь уже не с группой ,а оркестром,что он и зделал

I see one person has given the thumbs down...just proves that the TRUTH really does hurt...

Nice interview Vernon...did a few demo sessions with you early 70's along with Bill Parkinson ..gonna buy the book also

A great read I really enjoyed Vern's book but I also feel very sorry for the way he was treated by Tom Jones he could have afforded to look after the Squires. I was the bass player in NZ in the book it said Australia that swapped basses after the Auckland show. I liked the Epiphone for it's woody sound but after a while I went back to Fenders. Vern says the Fender I swapped with him was a mixture of parts and he sold it. It was actually one of the first Fender Jazz basses to be imported to NZ and was played by Billy Kristian of Ray Colombus and the Invaders. Billy had built a Vox Teardrop body which coulds be exchanged for the Fender Jazz body and I gave both to Vern all he had to do was put the parts back on the Fender body. I regret selling both basses but that is history. Anyway, I really enjoyed Vernon's book and recommend it as a great read. Bill Belton NZ

I bought Vernon's book. Great Read!! Tom did the Squires wrong.I'm a big Tom Jones fan but don't like the way he has treated his musicians.What goes around Comes around!!

I am reading the black covered version of Vernon's book called "Tom Jones, Just Help Yourself". A good title in my view! Vernon is a excellent writer and I am enjoying the book with all the description and famous people he and his group met over the years. But as a person who has always loved Tom Jones's unique and soulful voice, I am quite shocked to read what he did and said about his faithful, loyal Squire band! If it had been me asking Gordon for a pay rise of £40 a week and I was told that I couldn't have it, I would have left Gordon and Tom and offered my band elsewhere!!

The pub he stayed at in Sunbury-on-Thames was (is?) The Magpie. I had a few pints with him about that time and his opinion of Tom Jones was not good then.

This was a POS sour grapes pablum puke from some guys who weren’t talented enough to move into the big time with Tom. Small and petty. And they never forgave him.

Just read the book, Vernon still has an air of bitterness after all this time, I can understand it, but to keep mentioning Tom's bent nose and wonky teeth and how he was being unfaithful to his wife reeks of revenge to me. Bit desperate after all this time but I do understand how Vernon feels but that's how the industry worked back then. Bands/backing bands were two a penny back then but decent lead singers who could be turned into stars were not. The second Tom got moved out of calcutta and started getting paid more the band should have heard the penny drop and got out, but to see how much they could get out of playing second fiddle to Tom (then heading for the stars) then complain afterwards is a bit silly. You knew what was happening. Wish you could have been glad for Tom, a fellow band member.

Vernon should have taken the energy he's put in maintaining his victimhood into building a great career. "Living well is the best revenge" but sitting in a corner spitting bile gets you nowhere.

It was toms manager that got rid of you not tom