Entertainment Books

3625 products


  • Damn You Entropy

    Prometheus Books Damn You Entropy

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisScience fiction has hosted some of the greatest minds and most innovative thinkers in human history. From H.G. Wells to Octavia Butler, Star Trek to Star Wars, in books, on television, and at the movies, science fiction has shaped our future, pushed the limits of human imagination, and guided us within ourselves to examine universal truths of life. In this smartly curated book, author Guy P. Harrison collects 1,001 of the most influential and transformative quotations spanning four centuries of sci-fi, such as:Better to make a good future than predict a bad one.?Isaac Asimov, Prelude to Foundation, 1988 novelHope clouds observation.?Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965 novelNo amount of money ever bought a second of time.?Avengers: Endgame, 2019 film, written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeelyWhether you are a Dr. Who superfan, a diehard sci-fi reader, or an outer space film buffor are simply curious about the cosmosDamn You, Entropy! is an essential addition to every science fiction fan's library.

    2 in stock

    £18.04

  • Recording Broadway

    Globe Pequot Press Recording Broadway

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisRECORDING BROADWAY: A LIFE IN CAST ALBUMS

    15 in stock

    £28.00

  • The Doors Unhinged

    Little, Brown Book Group The Doors Unhinged

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn The Doors Unhinged, New York Times bestselling author and legendary Doors drummer John Densmore offers a powerful exploration of the ''greed gene'' - that part of the human psyche that propels us toward the accumulation of more and more wealth, even at the expense of our principles, friendships and the well-being of society. This is the gripping account of the legal battle to control The Doors''s artistic destiny. In it, Densmore looks at the conflict between his bandmates and him as they fought over the right to use The Doors''s name, revealing the ways in which this struggle mirrored and reflected a much larger societal issue: that no amount of money seems to be enough for even the wealthiest people.The Doors continue to attract new generations of fans, with more than one hundred million albums sold worldwide and counting, and nearly twenty million followers on the band''s social media accounts. As such, Densmore occupies a rarefied space in popular culturTrade ReviewThe Doors drummer Densmore rockets through his tumultuous six-year lawsuit against former bandmates Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger in this no-holds-barred account . . . Devoted fans will be eager to get their hands on this deep dive * Publishers Weekly *

    1 in stock

    £19.80

  • Robbie Williams

    Fonthill Media Ltd Robbie Williams

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisRobbie Williams: Song by Song is your ultimate guide to the music of the king of Britpop. From his famous track 'Angels' to his festive single 'Candy', his Swing albums and electro experiences, discover how Robbie has explored many musical styles. With 30 years of career and 11 albums, Robbie recorded more than 500 tracks.

    15 in stock

    £16.20

  • Yiruma SOLO Original

    Faber Music Ltd Yiruma SOLO Original

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisTable of ContentsSometimes Someone; Destiny of Love; Lost in Island; Shining Smile; Spring Waltz; River Flows in You; Joy; 27 May; The Sunbeams, They Scatter; I; If I Could See You Again; It’s Your Day; Kiss The Rain; Lord Hold My Hand

    2 in stock

    £15.19

  • Mia Zapata and The Gits

    Feral House,U.S. Mia Zapata and The Gits

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £23.79

  • Harry Potter Afternoon Tea Magic

    Quercus Publishing Harry Potter Afternoon Tea Magic

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisHost a magical, sophisticated, and traditional tea party inspired by the Wizarding World with Harry Potter: Afternoon Tea Magic!Learn to prepare and enjoy this indulgent tradition with afternoon treats inspired by your favourite wizards and Muggles, from Harry Potter and Hermione Granger to Newt Scamander, Queenie Goldstein, Jacob Kowalski and more.Bursting with gorgeous photography of afternoon tea nibbles, drinks and sweets, this cookbook offers step-by-step instructions on how to arrange a magical Wizarding World-themed traditional tea.Recipes include:- Aunt Petunia''s Teatime Windtorte Pudding- Honeydukes Lemon Drop Meringue Teatime Bites- Queenie''s Mini Brandied Apple Strudels- Deathly Hallows Pull-Apart Teatime Bread- Kowalski Bakery''s Buttery Teatime Witch Hats- And many more!With more than 60 recipes for clever beverages, enchanting sweets and savoury treats, Harry Potter: Afternoon Tea Magic is the p

    2 in stock

    £18.70

  • Running Up That Hill: 50 Visions of Kate Bush

    Bonnier Books Ltd Running Up That Hill: 50 Visions of Kate Bush

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA Times Book of the Year An Uncut Magazine Book of the Year A Waterstones Music Book of the Year A Virgin Radio Book of the Year A Louder Book of the Year 'Probably the best Bush book to date.' - Record CollectorKate Bush: the subject of murmured legend and one of the most idiosyncratic musicians of the modern era. Comprising fifty chapters or 'visions', Running Up That Hill is a multi-faceted biography of this famously elusive figure, viewing her life and work from fresh and illuminating angles.Featuring details from the author's one-to-one conversations with Kate, as well as vignettes of her key songs, albums, videos and concerts, this artful, candid and often brutally funny portrait introduces the reader to the refreshingly real Kate Bush.Along the way, the narrative also includes vivid reconstructions of transformative moments in her career and insights from the friends and collaborators closest to Kate, including her photographer brother John Carder Bush and fellow artists David Gilmour, John Lydon and Youth.Running Up That Hill is a vibrant and comprehensive re-examination of Kate Bush and her many creative landmarks.Trade Review'Approaching its subject from inspired angles...probably the best Bush book to date' * 4/5 Record Collector *'Running Up That Hill offers a range of new ways to appreciate the single-minded inspiration that it springs from' * 9/10 Uncut *'Funny and illuminating. A refreshing take on one of our most complex, gifted artists' * 4/5 Mojo *'A very beautiful book' -- Chris Hawkins, BBC Radio 6'An unconventional but insightful biography of the famously reclusive singer songwriter" * Choice Magazine *'A great gift for a music fan' * My Weekly Magazine *'A comprehensive rejection of the caricatures that still cling stubbornly to the subject's name' * The Herald *'(A) celebration of the famously elusive figure" * Woman and Home *'Even familiar stories or well-worn anecdotes come to life... Doyle imbues them with a freshness. A thoroughly enjoyable read.' * Super Deluxe Edition *'The closest we've ever come to understanding the enigmatic, uncompromising Bush on page.' -- Virgin Radio

    15 in stock

    £9.89

  • American Hair Metal

    Feral House,U.S. American Hair Metal

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £21.24

  • Becoming Nick and Nora

    Globe Pequot Press Becoming Nick and Nora

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisAs Nick and Nora Charles in the six Thin Man movies from 1934 to 1947, the husband-and-wife team of William Powell and Myrna Loy showed that marriage didn't have to mean the end of the romantic comedy. From the comedic delight that was the initial The Thin Man through its five sequels as well as eight other films (including the Oscar-winning The Great Ziegfeld and Manhattan Melodrama), Powell and Loy were cemented in the public imagination as Hollywood's happiest married couple.In Becoming Nick and Nora, comedy writer and Hollywood historian Rob Kozlowski follows the winding path that Powell and Loy's screen personas took over their careers. Studios originally cultivated the two as villains in the silent era: Powell as a mustachioed, swashbuckling fiend and Loy as an exotic adversary. With the rise of talkies, the two managed to broaden their range beyond villainous stereotypes, but it took several false starts before they achieved their lasting legacy as Nick and Nora. Packe

    1 in stock

    £21.25

  • Bruce Springsteen

    Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc Bruce Springsteen

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisBruce Springsteen: An Illustrated Biography offers fans an intimate look into the life of this beloved artist, including photos of The Boss, both on stage and off, and 10 removable pieces of memorabilia.Table of ContentsIntroduction My Hometown Escape Great Expectations Darkness American Icon Second Skin Lost Years The Rising American Skin High Hopes Selected Bibliography About the Author, Dedication & Acknowledgments Image Credits

    5 in stock

    £18.70

  • None of this Rocks

    Headline Publishing Group None of this Rocks

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisNone of This Rocks is a memoir by Joe Trohman - lead guitarist and cofounder of Fall Out Boy - that reads like a double album full of revealing stories from his youth and his experiences of modern rock and roll stardom. With wit and wisdom, and maybe a little bit of whining, Trohman grapples with depression, his mother''s brain cancer, antisemitism, pills, petty larceny, side hustles, and pop punk at the turn of the century. None of This Rocks chronicles a turbulent life that has informed Trohman''s music and his worldview. His mother suffered from mental illness and multiple brain tumors that eventually killed her. His father struggled with that tragedy, but was ultimately a supportive force in Trohman''s life who fostered his thirst for knowledge. Trohman faced antisemitism in small-town Ohio, and he witnessed all levels of misogyny, racism, and violence amid the straight edge hardcore punk scene in Chicago. Then came Fall Out Boy. From the guitarist''s v

    1 in stock

    £13.49

  • The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisMichael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were true visionaries of British cinema, creating glorious Technicolor masterpieces including A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Black Narcissus (1947) and The Red Shoes (1948). Delving into their magical and obsessive worlds, this lavishly-illustrated publication presents fresh perspectives on the filmmaking duo, shining the spotlight not only on them, but also on their circle of talented collaborators. Thelma Schoonmaker, Caitlin McDonald, Alexandra Harris, Mahesh Rao, Sarah Street, Ian Christie and Marina Warner write about the key figures who shared Powell and Pressburger’s creative journey, and Tilda Swinton, Tim Walker, Sarah Greenwood, Michelle Williams Gamaker, Sandy Powell, Joanna Hogg and Stephen Jones reflect on the ways in which Powell and Pressburger’s stories and images have haunted and inspired them in their own work. The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger draws on the BFI’s stunning design and archive collections, as well as key objects held in other public and private collections.Trade ReviewThis book is a pleasure to read, full of generous appreciations of Powell and Pressburger’s work from a multitude of personal angles. -- Philip Kemp * Sight & Sound *A lavish volume. -- Robin Ashenden * The Spectator *A richly illustrated book … Alongside the films themselves, this splendid book is testament to a unique creative collaboration. -- Jacqueline Riding * The Art Newspaper *The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger raids the BFI’s archive to provide definitive visual gloss on the partnership’s career. Gorgeous paintings from the production-design teams. Reproductions of pages from Powell’s diary revealing his immaculately vertical penmanship. Lavish promotional stills that work subtle variations on the moving images. No coffee table is complete without it. -- Donald Clake * The Irish Times *A superb acknowledgement of the powerfully collaborative nature of filmmaking … [And] a record of remarkable artistic freedom made possible for a prolifically imaginative director and writer to cast their spells, enthusiasm and love. * London Grip *Table of ContentsA Letter from Tilda Swinton A Letter from Michael Powell to Emeric Pressburger 1. INTRODUCTION by Claire Smith and Nathalie Morris A Note on Collaboration by Thelma Schoonmaker 2. EXILES by Caitlin MacDonald Notes from a Photographer by Tim Walker 3. PILGRIMS by Alexandra Harris Notes from a Production Designer by Sarah Greenwood 4. BLACK NARCISSUS by Mahesh Rao Notes from an Artist by Michelle Williams Gamaker 5. STARVED FOR TECHNICOLOR by Sarah Street Notes from a Costume Designer by Sandy Powell 6. METAPHORS OF VISION by Ian Christie Notes from a Director by Joanna Hogg 7. THE RED SHOES by Marina Warner Notes from a Milliner by Stephen Jones Index

    15 in stock

    £25.50

  • 1964 Eyes of the Storm

    Penguin Books Ltd 1964 Eyes of the Storm

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisPhotographs and Reflections by Paul McCartney''Millions of eyes were suddenly upon us, creating a picture I will never forget for the rest of my life.''In 2020, an extraordinary trove of nearly a thousand photographs taken by Paul McCartney on a 35mm camera was re-discovered in his archive. They intimately record the months towards the end of 1963 and beginning of 1964 when Beatlemania erupted in the UK and, after the band''s first visit to the USA, they became the most famous people on the planet. The photographs are McCartney''s personal record of this explosive time, when he was, as he puts it, in the ''Eyes of the Storm''.1964: Eyes of the Storm presents 275 of McCartney''s photographs from the six cities of these intense, legendary months - Liverpool, London, Paris, New York, Washington, D.C. and Miami - and many never-before-seen portraits of John, George and Ringo. In his Foreword and Introductions to these city portfolios,

    2 in stock

    £48.00

  • The Pipe Organ A Composers Guide

    Oxford University Press Inc The Pipe Organ A Composers Guide

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis concise but remarkably comprehensive book is essential reading for music creators. It fills a significant gap. The organ, despite its great history and exciting contemporary presence, has hitherto hardly figured at all in orchestration guides. Composers will find ideas, encouragement and inspiration within these pages. * Judith Weir CBE, Master of the King's Music *This is essential reading for any lover of the organ as a reminder of how historical and important the instrument is. For anyone unfamiliar with the organ, it will be a fascinating journey of discovery, wonderfully written and informative. It could have been so easily dry and predictable, but it is the antithesis of that. What a superb piece of work. * David Hill MBE, President, Royal College of Organists *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Introduction to the organ Overview Organ Building Trends Historic Organs Common Mistakes Extended Techniques Chapter 2: Registration Overview Main Stop Categories Principals Flutes Strings Reeds Other Categories Foundations Mixtures Mutations Miscellaneous Stops Couplers Registration Aids General Pistons Divisional Pistons Crescendo Pedal Chapter 3: The Manuals Overview Idiomatic Writing Non-Chordal Techniques Chordal Techniques Playing on Multiple Manuals Chapter 4: The Pedals Overview Idiomatic Writing Double/Multi-Pedalling The Pedals in Context Chapter 5: Other Types of Organ Overview Chamber Organ Harmonium Theatre Organ Hammond Organ Chapter 6: The Organ in Ensemble Overview Organ and Choir Organ and Orchestra Concertos Organ and Chamber Ensembles Organ and Electronics

    1 in stock

    £25.99

  • Building a Voice

    Goldsmiths, University of London Building a Voice

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisOn the emergence, embodiment, and mediation of voice as skin.How do we build or make a voice together? Can we imagine the voices we make in the form of a skin, a multi-sensory interface that behaves both as a boundary and as a point of connection? What does such a voice capacitate in times of crises and uncertainties?In Building a Voice: Sound, Surface, Skin, Zeynep Bulut explores these questions. She examines the multi-sensory and collective forms of voice making in experimental music, sound and media art in conversation with the use of voice in creative interventions for environmental crisis, experiences of voice hearing, and digital technologies of artificial and tactile speech.Through this conversation, she points to two key terms: plasticity of voice, and non-dialogue. Plasticity of voice indicates both malleable and resistant aspects of voice. Non-dialogue refers to cross-sensory, non-dyadic, and distributed modes of interaction across both humans and nonhumans. The plasticity of voice and the non-dialogue, Bulut argues, encourage us to think about voice in the form of a skin, a surface that both connects and differentiates, without being limited to human body or labels of verbal language.Voice-as-skin, in effect, prompts us to reflect on both individual and collective, concrete and emergent, and uncertain and shared aspects of voice and speech, as well as to pace and revisit our conceptions of communication, intersubjectivity, connectivity, understanding and empathy.

    5 in stock

    £27.00

  • Neil Young Album by Album

    Pen & Sword Books Ltd Neil Young Album by Album

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisWith an illustrious career stretching back almost six decades and encompassing 50 solo studio albums alone, Neil Young is one of the most prolific, compelling figures in the history of popular music, equally revered as both an acoustic singer-songwriter and as the force of nature frontman of rock legends Crazy Horse. As he enters his late seventies, Young remains as energetic and relevant as ever, locking horns with streaming giant Spotify in protest against their alleged promotion of COVID-19 misinformation and continuing to release new music when many of his contemporaries have long since faded away into comfortable retirement.Neil Young: Album by Album is the most complete retrospective of the great Canadian's discography ever written. Covering his entire solo career from his 1968 debut to 2023''s Before and After, the book offers in-depth, track-by-track reviews of every Young studio album, providing an engaging insight into the restless creativity that gave the world classics like

    15 in stock

    £20.00

  • Ghibliotheque Film Korea: The essential guide to

    Headline Publishing Group Ghibliotheque Film Korea: The essential guide to

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisExplore the magical, mysterious world of Korean cinema, in this new book from the authors of Ghibliotheque.'A book for both the well-versed and the newcomer.'-EMPIREFrom smash hits such as Parasite to cult favourites Oldboy, The Handmaiden and Train to Busan, Korean cinema is a hotbed of creative talent and the force behind the most exciting, captivating filmmaking in the world right now.In this essential guide to the country's cinematic story, Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham - authors and hosts of the hit podcast Ghibliotheque - guide you through the must-see films from a century of Korean movies.Exploring 30 movies, from the breakout hits to deeper cuts, hidden gems and future classics, Film Korea is a gateway to everything you need to know about the white-hot world of Korean cinema. Combining reviews and director biographies with recommended further viewing and a catalogue of beautiful film stills and movie posters, this is your one-stop guide to an incredible, captivating artform.

    1 in stock

    £18.00

  • Queen Uncovered: Unseen photographs, rarities and

    Headline Publishing Group Queen Uncovered: Unseen photographs, rarities and

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisFor 13 years, Peter Hince lived the rock 'n' roll dream. As head roadie for Queen he had a front row seat and backstage pass to some of the greatest moments in music.Now, he is opening up his incredible archive and sharing hundreds of photographs and mementoes – many never seen before – as well as stories and memories from life inside rock 'n' roll history.Queen Uncovered is packed with images and ephemera from this truly unique collection, covering life on the road and in the studio, backstage and on-stage, relaxing at parties, filming iconic music videos and much more besides.

    1 in stock

    £27.00

  • Frightfest Guide To Mad Doctor Movies: The Dark

    15 in stock

    £16.99

  • Sacred Vibrations

    Hay House UK Ltd Sacred Vibrations

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisTake a journey into the extraordinary world of healing sound and embark upon a powerful exploration of the science and magic of crystal singing bowls.Fascinating discoveries in science and medicine are revealing the many ways sound affects us at both a biological and an emotional level. At a time when people are seeking solace and healing as never before, distinguished musician and crystal singing bowl master teacher Jeralyn Glass has penned an intriguing narrative that impactfully shows how you can embrace the healing power of music.Sacred Vibrations shares the remarkable story of the Glass's rise to acclaim as a Broadway and opera singer who graced some of the world's most celebrated stages. We walk with her as she shares her exploration of the healing power of music that traces its roots to primitive humanity. We learn from the wisdom and scientific research of her friends and colleagues who are bringing the study of sound and music to an epic cresce

    15 in stock

    £12.74

  • Berserker

    Pan Macmillan Berserker

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisAdrian Charles Edmondson is an English actor, comedian, musician, writer and television presenter. He studied drama at Manchester University where he met his comedy partner Rik Mayall. The influence of the absurdist dramatists he studied and his early love for The Goon Show, The Muppets and Monty Python are all reflected in his comedy practice. He and Rik were part of the first wave of Alternative Comedy where their glorious pursuit of laughter and anarchic performances changed the comedic landscape forever.He starred as Vyvyan in The Young Ones, the series that blasted its way onto our screens tearing into our preconceptions of what television comedy could be. Adrian has since had a very significant career. A career that has taken him in later years into straight' acting as well, at the RSC, BBC TV's War and Peace and EastEnders, and as a writer of books for adults and children. He has also had an award-winning music career with hisTrade ReviewBoarding school, despair, love, music, Rik Mayall – everything Adrian Edmondson writes about makes you love him desperately -- Caitlin Moran, journalist and author of How to Be a WomanThe berserker from The Young Ones and Bottom tells his story with self-effacing charm and no end of backstage anecdotes * Ian Rankin *This is a bloody good book. Lots of people live interesting lives, but very few people can write genuinely interesting books about those lives. Adrian Edmondson has done both. And while it is incredibly funny, it is also a lot, lot more than that * Miles Jupp *The bravest, most affecting celebrity book of the year * Daily Express *Edmondson can be very funny and very poignant simultaneously * Daily Mirror *A hilarious romp through a golden era of comedy and a searingly honest and moving memoir * Red Magazine *

    1 in stock

    £19.80

  • Happy Forever: My musical adventures with The

    Outline Press Ltd Happy Forever: My musical adventures with The

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisMark is one of the most indomitable yet gentle spirits I ve ever met. He will always be one of my favorite artists I ve ever worked with. And someday when I grow up, I want to be just like him. Alice Cooper. This book is a puzzle. The outside frame pieces are about me, but the picture wouldn t be complete without the perspectives of all the people telling you about me. Mark Volman. Mark Volman has led a storied life, and many of those stories are contained in Happy Forever. A true son of southern California, he has gone from topping the charts with The Turtles ( Happy Together ) to underground cred with Frank Zappa and beyond. As Flo & Eddie, Mark and his longtime singing partner Howard Kaylan were the not-so-secret ingredient on many other artist s records, taking Bruce Springsteen into the Top 10 for the very first time and helping T. Rex dominate the British charts. Then came The Ramones, U2, Blondie, Duran Duran, and so many more; the list of credits is long and varied. Happy Forever covers all of that, along with subsequent forays into animation, a stint as a radio personality in Los Angeles and New York, and a midlife return to academia, which led Mark to create and run innovative college programs in LA and Nashville. But this is not the world according to Mark Volman, and it is not your average musical autobiography. Alongside his own comments, this uniquely insightful book contains contributions from more than one hundred of Mark s peers, friends, and lovers who share their thoughts on the man himself and on topics that span the social and cultural landscape of past half-century. Happy Forever s cast list reads like a who s who of popular music, featuring members of The Doors, The Monkees, The Byrds, The E Street Band, and many more; producers Tony Visconti, Bob Ezrin, and Hal Willner; voice actors from The Simpsons and the Firesign Theatre; and key figures from the worlds of radio, animation, and academia. The book also includes previously unseen photographs and forewords by Alice Cooper and Chris Hillman.

    15 in stock

    £15.26

  • Surrender

    Cornerstone Surrender

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis''A brilliant, very funny, very revealing autobiography-through-music. Maybe the best book ever written about being a rockstar'' CAITLIN MORAN_______________________________________________________________Bono - artist, activist and the lead singer of Irish rock band U2 - has written his autobiography: honest and irreverent, intimate and profound, Surrender is the story of the remarkable life he''s lived, the challenges he''s faced and the friends and family who have shaped and sustained him - now out in paperback.''When I started to write this book I was hoping to draw in detail what I''d previously only sketched in songs. The people, places, and possibilities in my life. Surrender is a word freighted with meaning for me. Growing up in Ireland in the seventies with my fists up (musically speaking), it was not a natural concept. A word I only circled until I gathered my thoughts for the book. I am still grappling with this most humbling of commands. In the band, in my marriage, in my faith, in my life as an activist. Surrender is the story of one pilgrim''s lack of progress ... With a fair amount of fun along the way.'' - BonoAs one of the music world''s most iconic artists and the cofounder of organizations ONE and (RED), Bono''s career has been written about extensively. But in Surrender, it''s Bono who picks up the pen, writing for the first time about his remarkable life and those he has shared it with. In his unique voice, Bono takes us from his early days growing up in Dublin, including the sudden loss of his mother when he was 14, to U2''s unlikely journey to become one of the world''s most influential rock bands, to his more than 20 years of activism dedicated to the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. Writing with candour, self-reflection, and humour, Bono opens the aperture on his life - and the family, friends and faith that have sustained, challenged and shaped him.Surrender''s subtitle, 40 Songs, One Story, is a nod to the book''s 40 chapters, which are each named after a U2 song. Bono has also created 40 original drawings for Surrender which will appear throughout the book.

    15 in stock

    £11.69

  • Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids?: An Indie

    Bonnier Books Ltd Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids?: An Indie

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis'You will love this book.' - RICHARD OSMAN Shortlisted for the Penderyn Music Book PrizeA Rough Trade Book of the YearA Resident Book of the YearA Monorail Book of the YearA Virgin Radio Book of the YearIn 1986, the NME released a cassette that would shape music for years to come. A collection of twenty-two independently signed guitar-based bands, C86 was the sound and ethos that defined a generation. It was also arguably the point at which 'indie' was born.But what happened next to all those musical dreamers?Some of the bands, like Primal Scream, went on to achieve global stardom; others, such as Half Man Half Biscuit and The Wedding Present, cultivated lifelong fanbases that still sustain their careers today. Then there were the rest - the ones who endured general indifference from the record-buying public and ultimately returned to civvy street.Now, thirty-five years on, journalist Nige Tassell tracks down the class of C86, unearthing members of all twenty-two bands and sharing the stories, both tragic and uplifting, of these long-lost musicians.Told with warmth, compassion and humour, this is a very human account of ambition, hope, varying degrees of talent and what happens after you give up on music - or, more accurately, after music gives up on you. It's a world populated by bike-shop owners, dance-music producers, record-store proprietors, ornithologists, driving instructors, solicitors, caricaturists and possibly even an Olympic sailor. And let's not forget the musician-turned-actor gainfully employed as Jeremy Irons' body double...More than simply the tale of the tape, Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids? is an exploration of C86's wide-reaching and often surprising legacy.Trade Review'You will love this book.' -- Richard Osman'Twenty-two tales of youthful anger, innocence and indolence, filtered through almost forty years of regret, melancholy and, occasionally, dogged resistance. Nige Tassell succinctly and sweetly conjures up an era when groups could form in Glossop, Hebden Bridge or Whitstable and - for a few months, at least - become national heroes via the patronage of John Peel and the weekly music press. He spins gold from their grab-bag of agendas, musical politics and effects pedals and creates something that is frequently more impressive, entertaining and enjoyable than the music itself.' -- Bob Stanley'This is a funny, sad, gorgeous and beautifully researched book about the most influential loser tribe in the history of British music.' -- David Quantick'A valuable slice of pop history.' -- Mark Ellen'Nige's writing is to be treasured - a warm, welcoming and wonderful book.' -- Jude Rogers'Who, of a certain vintage and a certain propensity for hoarding things in lofts, including cassette-tape compilations sold via a weekly music publication, wouldn't want THIS BOOK?' -- Andrew Collins'Incredibly beautiful.' -- John Niven'Excellent.' -- Gideon Coe'About music, but also about youthful dreams and mature reality. A lovely read.' -- Danny Kelly'Absolutely fantastic.' -- Sian Pattenden, Culture Bunker'Often funny, sometimes poignant ... [a] candid, evocative snapshot of a scene that is fondly but scarcely celebrated. 4/5' -- Classic Pop'A valuable preservation of faded networks and forgotten ways to belong.' -- The Wire'Cheery. 8/10' -- Uncut'Rather brilliant ... in the stories of many of these C86 kids are reminders of the power of optimism. If we can, we should guard against losing our belief in possibility.' -- The Scotsman

    15 in stock

    £9.89

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