Composers and songwriters Books

Book SynopsisWhen we went to the Palace to get The Beatles their OBEs John Lennon had some acid with him. 'I'm gonna slip it into the Queen's tea,' he told me. 'I want to open her mind and try to get her to declare war on somewhere nice and warm so we can all go and fight on the beaches.' After Jane Asher dumped Paul McCartney he literally used to cry on my shoulder. We hit the bottle together. Hard. 'I had everything and I threw it all away,' he would say. Alistair Taylor was with The Beatles from the moment they signed with Brian Epstein. In fact, apart from the signatures of each of the Fab Four, his is the only other name on the contract. From the very beginning he travelled, ate, partied, and even holidayed with them, right up until the beginning of the group's spectacular break up. As the group's 'Mr Fixit' he settled paternity cases, bought islands, houses and estates, and took care of John, Paul, George and Ringo when their lifestyles became a little too lively.

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Book SynopsisJazz musician Bobby Hackett - 'one of the finest natural musicians in the business' according to Muggsy Spanier - began his career in the 1930s; it ended with his death in 1976. An extensively researched discography of the vast number of recorded sessions in which Hackett took part during these decades forms the essential core of this substantial book. It is prefaced with the fascinating biographical insights gathered from the articles, reviews, news stories, meetings and interviews which the editors accumulated as they worked, and illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs, advertising, and record labels and covers. Detailed indexes feature both the famous and the influential - Louis Armstrong, Eddie Condon, Jackie Gleason, Horace Heidt, Glenn Miller, Lee Wiley among them - and the lesser-known working musicians and artists of the era.Prompted by Hackett's death, this work of research started with hand-written index cards, and progressed through typewriters and several generations of word processors and computer operating systems; its publication is a realisation not only of Bobby Hackett's life in music, and place in a period of musical history, but also of an enthusiasm sustained through personal acquisitions, friendships and travel - and listening to a lot of jazz!Trade Review'[The] the 630-plus pages of this book (in a readable typeface, for which we give thanks) are detailed yet unfussy and thoroughly informative. It contains twenty rare photographs and an equal number of record label scans. The book is divided in three parts: after the acknowledgments, there is a fifty-page section of reminiscences ... as well as on-the-spot pieces about appearances of Hackett and bands from 1943 on. Hackett was an early recording/stereo equipment enthusiast, and Hulme has written an intriguing essay on that facet of his life. From there, a truly informative musical biography, organized chronologically, which offers reviews of performances, details of sessions, gigs, and recordings. I find such assemblages of detail fascinating (especially because Hulme and Whyatt offer reasoned research rather than conjecture or repetitions of debatable facts). The remainder of the book - some four hundred pages - is a beautifully clear, well-organized discography, ending with pages of "discographical mysteries," a bibliography, and two detailed indices. It is a worthy tribute to a musician whose work never disappoints... [and], because it's paperbound, is surprisingly affordable. I recommend it with the greatest enthusiasm.' Michael Steinman, jazzlives, March 2016; 'This book is an excellent reference work on a jazzman, whose name is familiar enough, but whose biographical details in other reference books are often sparse or restricted to a list of gigs and selected recordings. It's divided into two main parts: his life and his recordings. The first part is further sub-divided into sections on his instrument, his style, appreciations from those who knew and worked with him, and six decades of biographical material, all of which are usefully number-coded for easy cross referencing. The second part is an exhaustive discography, which details every recording session, commercial and private, that the authors have been able to trace, as well as the many broadcasts, ... legally or illegally recorded. One of the most interesting parts of the book is a short section devoted to other musicians' thoughts about Bobby Hackett. Alec Wilder describes him as "poet and essayist...tender and witty"; Dick Cary: "the most exciting fact...was that his solos were actually compositions..."; Lache Shaw describes his tone "as if a series of glorious church bells were being struck by a sensitive mallet." Hackett himself said of music in general: "Real greatness is in simplicity". That's as good an epitaph as any jazzman might expect.' From a Review by Max Easterman, VJM, 2015; 'Bobby Hackett's is a name that brings a smile to the face of almost everyone who loves mainstream jazz. ... He has a large number of devoted fans who still, almost forty years after he left the scene, listen often and raptly to his recordings. ... This volume was obviously a labor of love for the two authors. Their dedication to Hackett's legacy is impressive and appealing. It is a highly readable book, and will serve as an indispensable resource for those who are interested in exploring the music of Bobby Hackett. It is also likely to send you scurrying around looking for some gems that have escaped your attention.' Joe Lang, Jersey Jazz.

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Book SynopsisUntil now, Kathleen Ferrier has been a glorious voice, but through the pages of these fascinating letters and diaries, never previously published, we get to the real person. Fifty years ago, Kathleen Ferrier, the greatest lyric contralto Britain has ever produced, lost her courageous battle with breast cancer. Her name endures to this day, for she struck a chord with a wide-ranging public - in concerts, on records and on the radio - despite a career which lasted barely ten years. Within a decade this former telephone exchange operator was singing on stage at Covent Garden or before royalty at private parties. She was surely fun to know: this collection of 300+ letters and twelve years of her personal diaries give a sunny picture of her life in the muted post-war years. Her indefinable personality was a mix of extreme modesty and self-determined ambition, and a mischievously blunt sense of earthy Lancastrian humour. Until now, Kathleen Ferrier has been a glorious voice, but through the pages of these fascinating letters and diaries, never previously published, we getto the real person. CHRISTOPHER FIFIELD is foremost a conductor, but also a writer on music history (Grove, DNB, Viking Opera Guide, Oxford Companion to Music), and the author of two biographies, of Max Bruch (recently reissued by the Boydell Press) and Hans Richter.Trade ReviewFifty years on, a voice that still touches the heart. * GRAMOPHONE *A vivid self-portrait of a brave, secure woman in love with life and music, whose joie de vivre was palpable and supported both by a notable lack of inflated egoism and a singular sense of humour which rarely faltered, even toward the end. Anyone interested in Kathleen Ferrier's life and art, and the milieu of the Second World War years and their aftermath by which they were embraced, will find this welcome book required reading. It is above all, and despite the final descent, a celebration of living. * JOHN TALBOT, BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY NEWSLETTER *On closing [this book] with a terrible sadness, I'm a fan too... The secret is her voice - the plain-speaking tone of a Lancashire lass who was also an aesthete, a joker and an exemplary friend. These letters...chronicle everything, from whom she knocked around with - Britten, Pears, Barbirolli, Danny Kaye, Rex Harrison - to what she sang and what she greedily ate. -- Michael Church * FINANCIAL TIMES *Delightful letters and diaries. -- Rupert Christiansen * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Editing and presentation are as fine as anyone could wish and Fifield's introductions to each chapter could not be better written. -- Best Buy5 Stars * CLASSIC FM *

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Book SynopsisA collection of essays which explore the cultural background and creative evolution of this once-overlooked work. This volume is based on a selection of papers presented during a study course devoted to Gloriana held at the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies in 1991. Glorianahas been a source of controversy since its première as part of the Coronation celebrations in 1953. It was planned as a national opera of broad appeal by its authors, Benjamin Britten and William Plomer, but, despite wide coverage in the media, the opera failed toestablish itself in the repertoire until a new production in 1966 revealed it to be a powerful and stageworthy work. In recent years it has attracted an increasing amount of scholarly attention. This volume offers essays byROBERT HEWISON, PHILIP REED, ANTONIA MALLOY, DONALD MITCHELL and PETER EVANS which explore the opera's cultural background, the early stages of its creative evolution, the first critical responses, and various aspects of the workitself: these are supplemented by a list of source materials for the opera and the works derived from it, and an extensive bibliography.Trade ReviewBoydell's reprint ... of Gloriana highlights the ongoing need for scholars to revisit the opera ... Clearly, there remains more to uncover about this 'royal' work that so vexed and perplexed its opening night audience. * NORTH AMERICAN BRITISH MUSIC STUDIES ASSOCIATION *

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Book SynopsisOn 25th July, breaking news revealed that Michael Jackson, King of Pop, was dead. Fans and the media watched in shock as the story unfolded: doctors had lost the battle to save him after he had collapsed from a heart attack. In a cruel twist of fate, he had passed away before he got the chance to make his final curtain call in the form of 50 planned sell-out shows at London's O2 Arena. From a very young age, Michael's exceptional music talent was clear. He stood apart from his four brothers when they performed together as the Jackson 5 and, in 1974, he embarked upon what was to become a monumental solo career. A string of chart-busting albums and singles followed, with the Thriller album selling 47 million copies worldwide and yielding seven top-ten singles. It is belived that, in his lifetime, he sold around 750 million records, making him one of the most successful entertainers ever. This in-depth and affectionate biography traces the rise of the man, from child prodigy to tortured megastar. It is the definitive portrait of a pop legend whose strange and brilliant life will never be forgotten.

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Book SynopsisWhen news filtered through the media that Stuart Cable, the drummer with a larger than life personality - and an even larger head of curly hair - had been unceremoniously sacked from one of the biggest rock bands in the UK, the music world was stunned. Stuart Cable has been a fun-loving rocker since he was a young lad, and growing up in the same village in south Wales as his Stereophonics bandmates, Kelly and Richard, it was never going to be long before he began jamming for real. By his early twenties they were performing in local working men's clubs and by the mid-1990s they were signed up by Richard Branson. The rest, as they say, is history, and in this laugj-out-loud autobiography Stuart spills the truth on the unbelievable journey he had with one of the greatest British rock bands of all times. Life hasn't all been a party, though - there were dark and difficult times for Stuart. But now he is launching his quest for superstardom once again, drumming for another band, Killing for Company, and hosting his own radio show.

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Book SynopsisFalco and Beyond is devoted to the most popular Austrian song-writer, singer and rapper of the twentieth century and one of the most successful European singers of all time. Falco was born in 1957, reached the peak of his popularity in the 1980s with songs such as Der Kommissar, Rock Me Amadeus and Jeanny, with mixed luck attempted to revive his career in the 1990s and died in a car crash in 1998. He sold over 30 million records worldwide and remains a successful posthumous artist. The book attempts to identify the most salient and contradictory features of Falco's art, such as linguistic inventiveness and dexterity, rapping and adopting a posture of a romantic artist. It argues that Falco's songs betray an apocalyptic imagination, picturing the image of an exhausted and unhappy world. It looks at Falco's career and his phenomenon in the context of international and Austrian music business and politics, and investigates how his popularity has been maintained after his death, by means such as records released posthumously, cover versions of his songs, mashup songs and videos, biographies and Falco fandom.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part 1 Falco and the Logic of the Neoliberal Culture Industry Part 2 Falco Synchronic: Romanticism and Intertextuality Part 3 Falco Diachronic: From Grace to Gravity Part 4 Falco Lebt: Mourning and Melancholia Discography

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Book SynopsisDuring his 13 year career between 1955 and 1968, Paul Chambers was one of the leading double bass players in jazz, performing with a wide variety of artists and a range of the music's sub-genres and recording over 300 LPs for labels such as Blue Note, Riverside, Mercury and Columbia Records. Chambers performed as a sideman with some of the greatest names in jazz including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery, Joe Henderson, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, Gil Evans and Freddie Hubbard. He recorded a half dozen LPs under his own name including his own compositions but is probably best remembered for his contribution to the greatest jazz recording of all time; Miles Davis' 'Kind Of Blue'. Mr. P.C.: The Life and Music of Paul Chambers tells the story of this quiet giant of jazz; his early experiences in Detroit, his early rise to jazz celebrity, his time at the top, his ultimate struggle against the tides of change enveloping the music that he loved and the circumstances surrounding his tragic death, aged 33, in 1969. Using material from other literary sources and interviews with family members, friends and colleagues with the jazz fraternity, this book represents the first time that much of this influential musician's story has been told. The book includes a comprehensive discography detailing all of his recordings both as a sideman and bandleader.Trade ReviewNamed one of the best books of 2012 by The New York City Jazz RecordTable of ContentsChapter One - Motor City Scene Chapter Two - New York, the Jazz Corner of the World Chapter Three - Chambers' Music Chapter Four - Workin' with Miles Chapter Five - Bass On Top Chapter Six - Milestones Chapter Seven - Blue Steps Chapter Eight - Sketches and Beyond Chapter Nine - After Miles Chapter Ten - Big Paul Epilogue

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Book SynopsisIn Britain during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a new phenomenon emerged, with female guitarists, bass-players, keyboard-players and drummers playing in bands. Before this time, women's presence in rock bands, with a few notable exceptions, had always been as vocalists. This sudden influx of female musicians into the male domain of rock music was brought about partly by the enabling ethic of punk rock ('anybody can do it!') and partly by the impact of the Equal Opportunities Act. But just as suddenly as the phenomenon arrived, the interest in these musicians evaporated and other priorities became important to music audiences. In an updated new paperback edition of a book originally published in hardcover in 2007, Helen Reddington investigates the social and commercial reasons for how these women became lost from the rock music record, and rewrites this period in history in the context of other periods when female musicians have been visible in previously male environments. Reddington draws on her own experience as bass-player in a punk band, thereby contributing a fresh perspective on the socio-political context of the punk scene and its relationship with the media. In addition to a wealth of original interview material with key protagonists, including the late John Peel, Geoff Travis, The Raincoats and the Poison Girls, this edition has been updated to reflect the national nature of punk and post-punk with the inclusion of interviews from members of Birmingham-based band The Au Pairs, Leeds-based band The Delta 5 and Viv Albertine of The Slits. Lucy Whitman (aka Lucy Toothpaste) who started the fanzine Jolt and later wrote for Spare Rib also provides enlightening words on the relationship between female punk band members and feminism.Trade ReviewPraise for the first edition ' - an entertaining and important book - ' Mojo ' - a fascinating social and cultural history - ' Popular MusicTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. A ladder through the glass ceiling? 2. Media gatekeepers and cultural intermediaries 3. The Brighton scene 4. Noise, violence and femininity 5. The aftermath 6. The social context: academic writing on subcultures, the rock press and 'women in music' 7. Conclusion

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Book SynopsisSince her death in 2003, Nina Simone has continued to be revered as a cultural icon and role model for scores of fans and fellow musicians. Much of her fame derives from her association with the civil rights movement, for which she wrote such classic songs as 'Mississippi Goddam', 'Four Women' and 'Young, Gifted and Black'. The defiance and affirmation of such anthems was accompanied by an equal dedication to songs of melancholy, yearning and spiritual questing. Placing Simone and her music firmly within the socio-historical context of the 1960s, this book also argues for the importance of considering the artist's entire career and for paying greater attention to her music than is often the case in biographical accounts. Simone defied musical categories even as she fought against social ones and the result is a body of work that draws upon classical and jazz music, country blues, French chanson, gospel, protest songs, pop and rock tunes, turning genres and styles inside out in pursuit of what Simone called "black classical music". The book begins with a focus on the early part of Simone's career and a discussion of genre and style.Connecting its analysis to a discussion of social categorization (with particular regard to race), it argues that Simone's defiance of stylistic boundaries can be seen as a political act. From here, the focus shifts to Simone's self-written protest material, connecting it to her increasing involvement in the struggle for civil rights. The book also provides an in-depth account of Simone's 'possession' of material by writers such as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Sandy Denny and Judy Collins, while exploring the relationship between the personal and the political. In considering material from the Simone's lesser-known work from the 1970s to the 1990s, the study proposes a theory of the "late voice" in which issues of age, experience and memory are emphasised. The book concludes with a discussion of Simone's ongoing legacy.Trade ReviewNina Simone, a twentieth-century musical giant, has been astonishingly neglected - by listeners, critics and scholars. Richard Elliott explains why, but his wonderful book does far more: with enviable depth of analysis and breadth of cultural reference, he summons Simone's music to a rendezvous with history that its significance, power and beauty always promised. An event, in every sense.' Richard Middleton, Emeritus Professor of Music, Newcastle UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Categories 2. Politics 3. Possession 4. Lateness 5. Legacy Conclusion Bibliography and Discography

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Book SynopsisAuthor Robert Sherlaw Johnson discussed all Messiaen's main works, exploring his musical language, the development of his technique, his individual approach to harmony and rhythm, the theological and symbolic aspects of his music, and his use of birdsong. The appendices include a chronological list of works and a list of bird names.Trade Review'will be basic to all future Messiaen scholarship.' The Times Literary Supplement.

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Book SynopsisThey were the pioneers of American hardcore, forming in California in 1878 and splitting up 8 years later leaving behind them a trail of blood, carnage and brutal, brilliant music. Throughout the years they fought with the police, record industry and their own fans. This is the band's story from the inside, drawing upon exclusive interviews with the group's members, their contemporaries and the groups who were inspired by them. It's also the story of American hardcore music, from the perspective of the group who did more to take the sound to the clubs, squats and community halls in American than any other.Trade Review...essential reading for any fan. - Rock Sound

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Book SynopsisWithout London band Wire, punk rock might never have developed beyond primitive three-chord thrash and cliched songs about tower blocks and dole queues. Arguably the first art-punks, the four musicians - Colin Newman on vocals and guitar, Graham Lewis on bass and vocals, Bruce Gilbert on guitar and Robert Gotobed (nee Grey) on drums - evolved fast from their groundbreaking 1977 debut album "Pink Flag", with its 21 short, sharp, minimalist bursts of noise and melody. They were catalysts in the shift from punk to post-punk, paving the way for the likes of Magazine, Gang of Four, Public Image Limited and Joy Division. Paul Lester's book will tell the story of this crucial transitional band, from their early days dodging hostile crowds at punk venues like the Roxy, through their attempts to inject some arthouse experimentation and Situationist subversion into an increasingly conservative punk scene, up to their split in 1981 and beyond their mid-80s return and their various solo projects.It will take you behind the scenes and feature interviews with the original members, following them up to the present, poised as they are to come back with a brand new album and filled with a renewed sense of vigour as one of the most important bands in the last thirty years.

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Book SynopsisWild, defiant and startlingly inventive, The Slits were ahead of their time. Although they created some unique hybrids - dub reggae and pop-punk, African rhythms, funk and free jazz - they were dismissed as being unable to play. Their lyrics were witty and perceptive while their influential first album challenged perceptions of punk and of girl bands - but they were still misunderstood. And that infamous debut album cover, with the band appearing topless and mud-daubed, prompted further misreadings of the first ladies of punk. Author Zoe Street Howe speaks to The Slits themselves, to former manager Don Letts, mentor and PIL guitarist Keith Levene and many other friends and colleagues to discover exactly how The Slits phenomenon came about and to celebrate the legacy of a seminal band long overdue its rightful acclaim. Too long seen as a note in the margin of the history of rock, The Slits at last get a fair hearing in this revealing biography.Trade Review...an interresting and insightful book. - Rock Sound

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Book SynopsisRunaway Dreams tells the story of brothers Pat, John and Tommy McManus who, as Mama's Boys, wrote their own chapter in the history of rock music. From a farmhouse in Derrylin, Northern Ireland, and a family steeped in the traditions of Irish folk music, the three brothers set out at the height of 'The Troubles' to make their mark on a world stage. Given an early leg up by Barry Devlin of Horslips, then by Hawkwind and Wishbone Ash, their success was assured when Phil Lynott chose Mama's Boys to accompany Thin Lizzy on their farewell tour. The band went on to circuit the world many times over, sharing the stage with the likes of Deep Purple, Rush, Sting, Black Sabbath, Rory Gallagher, and Foreigner; and touring in the company of Twisted Sister, Scorpions, Iron Maiden, Ratt and Bon Jovi. At the height of their success tragedy struck the band when youngest brother, Tommy, after years of struggle, died of leukaemia at the age of 28. There could be no Mama's Boys without Tommy, and yet it was unthinkable for the two remaining brothers not to play on. So, after a brief hiatus, the music and the successes continued with Pat and John's new venture, Celtus. Playing their debut at the Royal Albert Hall, the band went on to win the 1998 Irish World Music Award, ahead of U2, The Corrs and Enya, and toured with Sheryl Crow, Deacon Blue, Paul Carrack and Jimmy Nail. Their final performance was with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Runaway Dreams is the story of a band of brothers who, through passion, talent, loyalty and determination, became cultural icons in Ireland and in the words of Mary Anne Hobbs 'living, breathing Irish history.' Michael Walsh lost count years ago of how many times he saw Mama's Boys, and of how many nights he hitched home in the rain through the back roads of Northern Ireland after their shows. He is now, in addition to being a Mama's Boys and Celtus fan, an Associate Professor of Art History at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Previous books include: This Cult of Violence (Yale University Press, 2002); A Dilemma of English Modernism (University of Delaware Press, 2007); Hanging a Rebel (Lutterworth Press, 2008) and London, Modernism and 1914 (Cambridge University Press, 2010).Trade Review'Morals, ethics and a lack of ego; now there's a real rock 'n' roll story.'- Eric Egan, Music Book of the Fortnight, Hot Press.

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Book SynopsisAuthor Martin Roach reveals how the band members met, played their early gigs, financed their own early EPs and how, with four hit albums under their belt; they still continue to maintain a tight degree of control over their output. Featuring insights into Coldplay's professional insecurities and anxieties and the notoriously angst-ridden personality of lead vocalist Chris Martin, this is an in-depth portrait of one of Britain's most successful bands of the new millennium. Fully illustrated and including a comprehensive discography.

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Book SynopsisJourney is undoubtedly one of America s most successful melodic rock bands, with record sales in excess of 75 million. And with the recent phenomenal success of "Don t Stop Believin'" now the most downloaded song of all time they ve been given an amazing new lease on life. The band is now receiving more acclaim and exposure than at any time since their early eighties heyday, when they released the multi-million selling "Escape" and "Frontiers" albums. Here, for the first time ever, Journey's extensive history is explored in this definitive biography, charting the many highs and lows of one of America s most beloved rock bands. Featuring original interviews and a wealth of research, "Don t Stop Believin: The Untold Story Of Journey" follows the band's entire career. It s a story filled not only with heartache, bitterness and behind-the-scenes squabbles, but also creativity, dedication, passion and drive. Fans both old and new will be fascinated by this previously untold story." " "

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Book SynopsisIncluded are original reviews of Nick's albums as they appeared at the time of release, the solitary interview with Nick that appeared in Sounds magazine, and interviews with many who knew him, including producer Joe Boyd, Nick's sister Gabrielle and parents Rodney and Molly Drake, musical collaborator Robert Kirby and many more. In addition The Pink Moon Files features musical analysis of Nick's recordings, including discussion of his guitar techniques and alternative tunings, reviews of tribute concerts and articles about Nick's legacy in Tanworth-in-Arden and elsewhere. A superb compendium of writing about Nick, this book is a valuable addition to any bookshelf and a must for fans old and new.

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Book SynopsisWith Fairport Convention and solo, Sandy Denny displayed one of contemporary music''s finest voices; she also composed her own material, including "Who Knows Where The Time Goes"--a huge U.S. hit for Judy Collins--and sang on Led Zeppelin IV.However, Sandy tragically got caught in a spiral of drink and drugs and died at age 31 in 1978.Best-selling Dylan biographer Heylin draws on hours of new interviews to tell Sandy''s story.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive account of Jeff Beck's journey from his childhood in 1940s South London to the world-wide success of 2010's album Emotion and Commotion and beyond.Author Martin Power has talked to former Yardbirds members Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty as well as manager Simon Napier-Bell and fellow musicians including Max Middleton, Stanley Clarke, Simon Phillips, Jimmy Hall, Mo Foster, Doug Wimbish and many others. Supported by full album reviews, rare photographs and an up-to-date discography, Hot Wired Guitar is the most complete and comprehensive account of the life and times of Jeff Beck, the man who took the electric guitar and showed the world just what could be done with just six strings and 'one hell of an attitude'.

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Book SynopsisThe Great Drugs Bust has everything; sex, drugs, rock and roll and a huge slice of British social history. At its core are four pep pills, a Sunday tabloid, two celebrated rock stars and a court case that changed popular culture forever.Charts the events that created one of the most sensational events of the 20th century. Taking its cue from the genesis of the Rolling Stones, the story winds itself through a labyrinth of drugs, fame and controversy that ultimately ended up on a doorstep of a West Sussex country mansion one Sunday night in February 1967. It chronicles a major turning point in British society; a watershed where attitudes to drugs prompted a seismic change in popular opinion

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Book SynopsisWhen Nirvana first exploded onto the music scene in 1991 with the anthemic `Smells Like Teen Spirit’, few people could’ve predicted their subsequent global impact. As drummer for the British group Captain America – one of the two support bands on Nirvana’s Nevermind UK tour – Andy Bollen had a ringside seat at the exact moment that Nirvana went massive. Afforded the sort of access a journalist could only dream of, Andy Bollen wrote up his own personal diary in Nirvana’s dressing room. Here, he spoke candidly to Cobain: from his fears of losing original fans to his love of the Bay City Rollers. He saw firsthand how Nirvana worked, the relationships that made them tick and the dynamic that made them one of the great bands.

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Book SynopsisThe Dutch composer, Louis Andriessen, has been writing and talking about his own work and everything which is directly, indirectly, or nothing at all to do with it, for many years now and The Art of Stealing Time is a collection of these articles, lectures and interviews. Andriessen talks about his childhood memories, his literary and cinematic preferences, colleagues he admires and ensembles he has established. He also talks about his own work, from De Staat [The Republic], the piece with which, twenty-five years ago, he changed the face of the musical landscape in the Netherlands up to and including the last opera he created with Peter Greenaway, Writing to Vermeer. Andriessen's style is informal, direct and always engaging, and through his use of anecdote, he is able to convey complex ideas to the widest of audiences, musicians and non-musicians alike. Controversial, funny, stimulating and thought-provoking, The Art of Stealing Time gives us a unique insight into the mind and working methods of one of the most significant composers alive today. This is, without doubt, a book to return to again and again.

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Book Synopsis

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