Trapeze wins four-way auction to techno-duo Orbital's story

Anna Valentine, publisher at Trapeze, has won world rights in a four-way auction to Halcyon On and On by "techno-rave pioneers" Orbital, writing with Andy Fyfe.

The book, in which brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll tell their story for the first time, will be published in August 2019, following the deal struck with Kevin Pocklington at The North Literary Agency. US rights were meanwhile pre-empted by Ben Schafer at Da Capo Press.

Orbital, the electronic dance music duo from Kent, released their first single, Chime, in 1989, since which time the brothers have sold millions of albums, played to a broadcast audience of over 10 million people during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games (with Stephen Hawking on lead vocals), and headlined the Other Stage at Glastonbury three times.

Having between them "survived addictions, suicide, four marriages, and two splits and reunions" according to Trapeze, Valentine also said she hoped the memoir would "do for the dance scene what The Dirt by Mötley Crüe did for rock", in going behind the scenes to also throw a spotlight on the the brothers' "tumultuous relationship" and offering "a unique insight into Orbital’s world, and into the unbreakable bond between brothers".

Paul Hartnoll commented, "This book will be the best, most honest communication we’ve had in years, maybe ever", to which Phil Hartnoll added: "I can’t wait to see what Paul thinks about me, himself and Orbital!"