A former regional press journalist has defied Parkinson’s disease to write a book giving his personal take on the music scene over the last 50 years.

Dave Hadfield, left, a former Bolton News journalist who became a sports writer at the Independent, has penned All the Wrong Notes: Adventures in Unpopular Music about his love of music, particularly “unpopular” music genres such as folk.

The book includes personal stories from his life, including the time he had a curry with Ewan McColl, father of singer Kirsty, and an infamous concert where Bob Dylan was branded “Judas” for using an electric guitar.

Dave has also detailed some of the lowest points of his life in the new book, including his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease six years ago.

He told the Bolton News: “My first experience of music was in the early 1960s. I went to a club when I was about 14 and from that night I was hooked.

“As well as the music, the book touches on personal parts of my life, such as my cancer scare and near breakdown, as well as my Parkinson’s disease.

“I hope it will demonstrate that even with a disease like this, there’s still an awful lot you can do. I have been told it reads well so it proves it doesn’t have to be the beginning of the end.”

Dave has also written books about his other passion of rugby league.

His latest book is published by Scratching Shed Publishing and is available from Amazon and in book shops.