He is an authority on the rock band Queen and has often been interviewed about the band and their lead singer Freddie Mercury, with whom he was a close friend and would often socialize on the gay bar scene.
He gained degrees in History (Dartmouth College, USA) and Philosophy,
Politics and Economics (University College, Oxford).
He was the co-author of 'The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles'.
He received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio Award from the
Radio Academy in 1996.
He received the Sony Award for Music Broadcaster of the Year in
2003.
He was inducted into the Radio Academy's Hall of Fame in December 2005.