(Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

TRU GUEST LECTURER

TRU brings in former Rolling Stones manager, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer to teach new course

Oct 30, 2019 | 10:14 AM

KAMLOOPS — It’s not every day a rock and roll industry legend turns into a university lecturer.

Starting in January 2020, Thompson Rivers University students will get a taste of what Andrew Loog Oldham experienced during the height of the 1960s London rock scene. Oldham worked with world famous groups and musicians, and after a PR stint with the Beatles, he became the first manager of the Rolling Stones and produced hits such as “Satisfaction”, “Ruby Tuesday”, and “Paint It Black”.

“This (teaching) to me, is actually, this experience will be like making a record,” says Oldham. “The same way as when I did my books; I regarded them as making records.”

Andrew Loog Oldham (Image Credit: YouTube)

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For one semester in 2020 — though he doesn’t rule out future classes — Oldham will teach at the university as a visiting scholar-in-residence. The course will delve into the evolution of pop culture from 1954 to 1984, and show students how music industry trends can come full circle. Oldham notes that much of what he has to say will still be relevant to today’s student body.

“They’ve searched out of what new stuff has been offered to them, and invariably they go back to tie dye shirts, and Canned Heat, and the Grateful Dead or Pink Floyd. It’s a remarkably niched world out there.”

After decades of working with musicians and production companies alike, Oldham was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

(Image Credit: Betina La Plante)

Billy Collins, a Senior Lecturer with TRU’s Tourism Management department, will be co-instructing the course with Oldham and Bruce Baugh from the Philosophy department.

“As Andrew has said, we’re going to go back into the 1950s, the dreary London days of the 1950s, and we’re going to sort of progress along,” Collins explains, “Sort of in a linear fashion, but I think we’re going to probably bounce around a bit, and hit on some high points throughout all that.”

The course, called Rock Dreams: A History, 1954-1984 | Up Close and Personal with Andrew Oldham, has no prerequisites needed, so even non-TRU students can take the class.

From left to right: Billy Collins, Andrew Loog Oldham, Richard McCutcheon (Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

“It is fair to say that this course has never been taught anywhere else on the planet,” says Collins. TRU’s Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Richard McCutcheon says having high profile lecturers come to Kamloops has been a part of the university’s growth as a whole.

“I think having Andrew here builds on that. And I think that it’s going to be remarkable to see what kind of connections he brings to the community,” McCutcheon says. “And as you know, once those connections start happening, it spreads out. So I’m really pleased that we’re able to facilitate that through TRU.”

“I think that the advanced sort of little rumour mills are going to build and build, and we’re going to see a lot of interest in this.”

Starting in January, every Thursday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., the course will offer 100 seats through the 13 weeks, with plans for extras if needed.