Adele Bertei in Conversation with Ali Millar

‘A harrowing voyage through the cultural tornado of America in the latter part of the 20th century as seen through the eyes of a thoroughly 21st century girl. Very inspiring’

Rufus Wainwright

Iconic rock-and-roll musician Adele Bertei comes to London to talk about her memoir, Twist: An American Girl, an iconoclastic story of girlhood and coming-of-age in sixties and seventies America and transforming trauma through art and imagination.

Set in an America rife with poverty and violence, ruled by mobsters and misogyny, with a cast of characters including an unforgettable schizophrenic mother, Catholic saints, poet killers and girl-gangsters, Twist is a wildly-told and moving personal history of queer working class culture.

Adele Bertei began playing music in Cleveland with Pere Ubu’s legendary Peter Laughner, and as an original member of the Contortions, produced by Brian Eno on No New York. She was the pioneering creator of The Bloods—the first out, queer, all-women-rock band. Her singing and songwriting career includes recording, performing live, and writing for such diverse acts as Thomas Dolby, Whitney Houston, Scritti Politti, Sheena Easton, Jellybean Benitez, Lydia Lunch, the Pointer Sisters, and John Lurie. She is the author of two previous books: Peter and the Wolves (a memoir) and Why Labelle Matters, a finalist for the 2022 Lambda Literary Awards.

Bertei will be in conversation about her life and work with Ali Millar. Millar’s debut book, The Last Days: a memoir of faith, desire and freedom was published in 2022. Her journalism has appeared in The Guardian, The Stylist, The Sunday Times and Caught by the River.

Their conversation will be followed by audience Q&A and a book signing. Doors will open from 6:45pm.

Tickets: £8 General Admission / £23 Book & Ticket, inc. a copy of Twist (RRP £20)

Venue: The Auditorium (Level 6) at Foyles, 107 Charing Cross Road*

*Please note that the Auditorium at Foyles is fully accessible from the Ground floor lifts.