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Book SynopsisPublished to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Elvis' death. With exclusive interviews with fellow musicians, promoters and those who knew them, and with much unique material, this is one of the most comprehensive accounts of Elvis Presley and his career.

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Book Synopsis''A passionate, pacey tome you should do anything for a copy of'' - Kerrang! I never wanted to be a big star. I just wanted to be the biggest at what I do! Powerful, unstoppable, heavy - when that word still meant something good! - Meat Loaf, as told to Mick Wall Everything in the story of Meat Loaf is big. From the place he was born (Texas); to the family he was born into (his father weighed 22 stone, his uncle weighed over 40 stone, while Meat Loaf himself weighed 17 stone before he was even in his teens); to the sound he made (a colossal collision between Richard Wagner, Phil Spector and Bruce Springsteen); and of course the records he sold - nearly 50 million in Britain and America alone.From a tumultuous childhood with an alcoholic father to the relentless abusive bullying he endured, nobody could have predicted Meat Loaf''s meteoric rise to fame. But when the messianic rock opera Bat Out of Hell was released Trade ReviewA passionate, pacey tome you should do anything for a copy of. * KERRANG! *

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Book SynopsisFor fans of music books from David Hepworth, Pete Paphides, Bob Stanley and Craig Brown, as well as thought-provoking human interest stories like Moondust by Andrew Smith, and books by Jon Ronson, Louis Theroux and Stuart Maconie. Nick Duerden has spent many years interviewing the most famous musicians on the planet. Without exception, they are at their most interesting when they've  peaked, and when they are on their way down. In many ways, this is when  these former idols are at their most heroic, too, because they reveal  themselves not only to be humane and sensitive, but also still driven to  create, to fulfill their lingering dreams, to refuse to live quietly. Some sustain themselves on the nostalgia  circuit. Others continue to beaver away in the studio, no longer Abbey  Road so much as the garden shed. The desire for adulation is a light that never goes out. We live  in a culture obsessed by the notion of faTrade ReviewIncredibly moving * Guardian *Told with warmth and compassion . . . engrossing. * The Independent *Fascinating layers of humanity, pathos and wisdom. * Frank Turner *Entertaining. * The Telegraph *Brilliant. * David Quantick *The pop-star's bittersweet lot is represented with flair and empathy. * Pete Paphides *A poignant exploration of the aftermath of adulation. * Mojo *Today's stars might do well to read Exit Stage Left and plan for the second acts of their careers. * The Economist *

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Book Synopsis''For all these years I''ve told stories. Sometimes these days I also tell them on the radio. I''ve met some amazing people and their stories need told too. The first time Deacon Blue ever played Wembley Arena I started to introduce a song only to hear, Get on with it shouted from Row Z. We proceeded with the song, but I often thought I''d quite like to finish that story.''In 1986, Ricky Ross started a full-time career in music, which has lasted for over 35 years. His earlier working life was spent in youth work and teaching in his home city of Dundee, and his adopted home of Glasgow. It was in these two cities where he spent his formative years learning how to write and play songs. Having always written about the people and places who''ve made an impact on his life, it''s no surprise that this is how he has approached Walking Back Home, his first ever memoir, which takes the reader on a journey from Ricky''s childhood to the rollercoaster

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Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids Selected as Book of the Year by the Daily Telegraph, i paper, Metro and Harper's Bazaar ‘Magical’ GUARDIAN 'A gripping tale of the search for meaning in times of turbulence - expressed with Smith’s signature poetic flair' VOGUE 'Extraordinary ... A tense, teasing mix of reality and dream' Sunday Times 'A melancholy mood and poetic language distinguish Smith’s third memoir' BBC ‘Her willingness to look closely at life’s closing chapters makes for a magical book' WASHINGTON POST, 'The 10 books to read in September' Following a run of New Year’s concerts at San Francisco’s legendary Fillmore, Patti Smith finds herself tramping the coast of Santa Cruz, about to embark on a year of solitary wandering. Unfettered by logic or time, she draws us into her private wonderland, with no design yet heeding signs, including a talking sign that looms above her, prodding and sparring like the Cheshire Cat. In February, a surreal lunar year begins, bringing with it unexpected turns, heightened mischief, and inescapable sorrow. In a stranger’s words, “Anything is possible: after all, it’s the year of the monkey.” For Patti Smith - inveterately curious, always exploring, tracking thoughts, writing the year evolves as one of reckoning with the changes in life’s gyre: with loss, aging, and a dramatic shift in the political landscape of America. Smith melds the Western landscape with her own dreamscape. Taking us from Southern California to the Arizona desert; to a Kentucky farm as the amanuensis of a friend in crisis; to the hospital room of a valued mentor; and by turns to remembered and imagined places - this haunting memoir blends fact and fiction with poetic mastery. The unexpected happens; grief and disillusionment. But as Patti Smith heads toward a new decade in her own life, she offers this balm to the reader: her wisdom, wit, gimlet eye, and above all, a rugged hope of a better world. Riveting, elegant, often humorous, illustrated by Smith’s signature Polaroids, Year of the Monkey is a moving and original work, a touchstone for our turbulent times.Trade ReviewBoth mundane and magical … Moves constantly between reverie and memory … Portents and symbols lurk in unexpected places, and everyday objects become freighted with meaning … A reflection both on mortality and of the times in which Smith finds herself, but rich in detail * Guardian *A gripping tale of the search for meaning in times of turbulence - expressed with Smith’s signature poetic flair * Vogue *An engaging musing on mortality and defiance of age * i *A moving account of the emotional stumbles, physical and intellectual wanderings and deep losses Smith experienced in her 70th year * Independent *Some rock stars shut themselves away from life, but Smith’s engagement with the world only deepens, as this dreamy memoir shows * Daily Telegraph *Extraordinary … A tense, teasing mix of reality and dream … It’s a drifter’s book, in time, space and the imagination * Sunday Times *A picaresque voyage through her dreams and life as she faced 70, dealing with flashes of “sorrow’s vertigo” as she remembers all the loves and rock contemporaries who are gone, with a kaleidoscope of references from “Mr. Robot” to Marcus Aurelius to Martin Beck mysteries to Maria Callas’s Medea -- Maureen Dowd * International New York Times *A profoundly beautiful book, poetic in its prose and metaphysical in its meaning, it’s quite a stunning read * Financial Times *The narrating voice is the voice of Smith's music, twisting between the incantations of a priestess and laconic poetry … There is plenty of wonderful in this small, sly, mystic book * Spectator *A beatnik Alice in Wonderland, measured out in black coffee and Polaroids, it’s full of quiet puzzles, small epiphanies, more little clues how to live * Q Magazine *Arresting … Diverting and often unexpected, fresh and diverting * Literary Review *In the twilight of her career, punk’s original princess is reinventing herself as a memoirist of some distinction … It sings strong with her singular, itinerant, coffee-guzzling beat spirit. Essential reading for diehard fans -- Claire Allfree * Metro *A profoundly lyrical, digressive mapping of her fame-and-family decades … This third memoir finds Smith unhomed, at times almost unhinged, as she does her utmost to ward off those Beaten Generation blues * Mojo *Elegiac … A strikingly intimate portrait of a woman growing older and missing those who are no longer with us but remaining wide awake to the world and hopeful for its future * Sunday Express *A melancholy mood and poetic language distinguish Smith’s third memoir * BBC *Poet and performer Smith’s latest memoir zooms in tight ... Her willingness to look closely at life’s closing chapters makes for a magical book * Washington Post, 'The 10 books to read in September' *Lovely ... a slim volume [with a] minor-key melancholy * Entertainment Weekly *Patti Smith’s brilliant new memoir about love, loss and growing older … I’m already captivated by her poetic prose * Daily Mirror *Smith’s grace and erudite philosophy is a welcome balm in these times * Town & Country *Smith’s reflections on a wrenching yet grace-filled year are elegiac, vital, and magical. … Smith’s large, loyal following will seek out this spellbinding memoir, just as they embraced Just Kids (2010) and M Train (2015) * Booklist *Luminous ... Smith casts a mesmerizing spell with exquisite prose * Publishers Weekly *This is the modern-day Patti Smith: older, wiser, seeing the world, and reporting it all back to us in only the way she can. You can’t read this and not feel inspired after you put it down * Inside Hook *An incantatory, ambulatory travelogue * New Statesman *Captivating ... Redemptive * Kirkus *She weaves the threads of her thoughts and past relationships together, creating a dreamy memoir on the passage of time and our changing world * Wanderlust *One of the great diarists of her, or any other time, with an exquisite voice which manages to somehow transform even the most ordinary event into something otherworldly … An enchanting hitchhike through 2016 … Every occurrence sears into the reader’s psyche in vivid detail … Time spent in the company of Patti is always a pleasure * Classic Pop *A rock-star prophetess … Meditative, messy, poignant, deeply personal, allusive, occasionally bombastic and, crucially, still defiant, Year of the Monkey is a mercurial fusion of the mundane and visionary that only an unconquerable spirit like Patti Smith could write * Herald *She can find artistic endeavour in the mundane; or bone-deep comfort in a cup of black coffee and a cinnamon doughnut … Incredibly moving … As much a glimpse of a troubled year in Patti’s life, as a portal into our own * Record Collector *

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Book SynopsisSince the release of her first, career-defining solo album Little Earthquakes, Tori Amos has been one of the music industry's most enduring and ingenious artists. From her unnerving depiction of sexual assault in "Me and a Gun" to her post-9/11 album Scarlet's Walk to her latest album Native Invader, her work has never shied away from intermingling the personal with the political. Amos began playing piano as a teenager for the politically powerful at hotel bars in Washington, D.C., during the formative years of the post-Goldwater and then Koch-led Libertarian and Reaganite movements. The story continues to her time as a hungry artist in L.A. to the subsequent three decades of her formidable music career. Amos explains how she managed to create meaningful, politically resonant work against patriarchal power structures and how her proud declarations of feminism and her fight for the marginalized always proved to be her guiding light. She teaches readers to engage with intention in this tumultuous global climate and speaks directly to supporters of #MeToo and #TimesUp, as well as young people fighting for their rights and visibility in the world. Filled with compassionate guidance and actionable advice-and using some of the most powerful, political songs in Amos's canon-this book is for readers determined to steer the world back in the right direction.

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Book SynopsisIn 1996 Tupac Shakur, one of the most talented artists of his time, was murdered by an unknown gunman. Fred L. Johnson and Tayannah Lee McQuillar examine the theories surrounding his death and the story of Tupac's lost legacy in this definitive biography. For millions, Shakur gave voice to their stories, but there was also another side to him, revealed as his life spun out of control, as the whispered warnings from friends went unheeded and the denunciations of critics grew louder. Disturbingly, he sang and wrote about his impending death. When it came, it brought the music industry to its knees and ended an era when American rappers were leaders in using their art to speak the truth to corporate, government, and judicial power.Trade ReviewBooklist, 2/15/2010 "The Shakur who emerges here is no illiterate gangster-turned-gangsta but, rather, a bright, artistic, driven man whose life and career continue to inspire many people." Library Journal, 1/29/10 "Original...As much a biography of Shakur as a history of racial struggle in America...Those looking for a compelling, no-holds-barred biography and an education regarding significant historical events should seek out this book." Buffalo News, 1/31/10 "Fine writing and deft analysis." PublishersWeekly.com, 2/22/10 "Exhaustively researched and contextualized...Insightful, enjoyable and expansive...This undeniably solid biography will deepen anyone's appreciation of the hip-hop legend." The Source, March 2010 "An in-depth and chilling analysis of the rap icon."

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Book SynopsisReleased in 1970, Workingman’s Dead was the breakthrough album for the Grateful Dead, a cold-water-shock departure from the Acid Test madness of the late ‘60s. It was the band’s most commercially and critically successful release to date. More importantly, these songs established the blueprint for how the Dead would maintain and build upon a community held together by the core motivation of rejecting the status quo – the “straight life” – in order to live and work on their own terms. As a unified whole, the album’s eight songs serve as points of entry into a fully-rendered portrait of the Grateful Dead within the context of late twentieth-century American history. These songs speak to the attendant cultural and political anxieties that resulted from the idealism of the ‘60s giving way to the uncomfortable realities of the ‘70s, and the band’s evolving perspective on these changes. Based on research, interviews, and personal experience, this book probes the paradox at the heart of the band’s appeal: the Grateful Dead were about much more than music, though they were really just about the music.Trade ReviewIn 1969 the Grateful Dead executed an extraordinary pivot. While playing brilliant, deeply improvisational psychedelic music, they simultaneously began to create a series of traditionally-styled new American folk songs that would be collected in Workingman’s Dead. It is perhaps the key moment in their storied history, and Buzz Poole explores this evolution with insight and a profound understanding of how these songs fit into American cultural history. * Dennis McNally, author of A Long Strange Trip (2003) and On Highway 61 (2014) *Buzz Poole nails his take on Workingman's Dead, with the song-by-song conceit proving surprisingly agile for the Dead. Poole unpacks and links the mythos attached to the album's eight songs and their histories in the Dead's songbook. Like the Dead, Poole sweeps through the American territories, from the American folklore of 'Casey Jones' to the Manson murders. Good stuff, fun read. * Jesse Jarnow, author of Heads: A Biography of Psychedelic America (2016) *Poole provides a thoughtful, detailed, and passionate look at this seminal album that frames its achievement and demonstrates why it still rewards close listening. It's great to see the Dead represented in this series! -- Nicholas Meriwether, Grateful Dead ArchivistBuzz Poole brings us back to the time before capitalism consumed the counterculture; the musical and cultural moment when the Grateful Dead reluctantly accepted the mantle as the horse pulling the wagon full of hippies, freaks, outlaws and others through the darkness of the world of power, war, and greed…Poole does an excellent job in pulling together the diverse and multiple musical, folk and literary influences apparent in the songs on Workingman’s Dead (and most other Dead albums, too.) * Counterpunch *[A] little beauty ... [and] the only Dead book I know of devoted to a single album ... No matter how extensive your Dead library, you should make room for this wee addition. * Shindig! *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Background, Historical and Personal Chapter 2: “Uncle John’s Band” Chapter 3: “High Time” Chapter 4: “Dire Wolf” Chapter 5: “New Speedway Boogie” Chapter 6: “Cumberland Blues” Chapter 7: “Black Peter” Chapter 8: “Easy Wind” Chapter 9: “Casey Jones” Notes

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive study of the piano music of award-winning American composer Samuel Adler will interest pianists, teachers, and anyone interested in the musical art of our day. American composer Samuel Adler has composed a huge and multi-faceted body of works ranging from symphonies, concertos, and oratorios to solos for every standard Western instrument, to a rich trove of vocal and choral music, to pieces for students. Among them, encompassing his compositional life of some seventy years, is an array of works for the piano: three concertos; fifteen solo pieces and sets of pieces; a sonata for two pianos; and four volumes of music for beginning and intermediate players. Bradford Gowen writes about each of these works with the knowledge of one who has studied, performed, and recorded Adler's piano music and has previously written about it. He begins with an overview of stylistic and pianistic traits found throughout these pieces and then examines each work chronologically according to genre, in a two-part format. The first part is an essay on the work's style, emotional content, and unique features, which at the same time places the work in the context of other music by Adler and by additional composers from the present and past eras. The second part, informal and practical, is directed to a pianist interested in getting to know this music. As a "lesson" on the piece, it offers specific suggestions for practicing and interpretation and many solutions to technical challenges. Rounding out the book are an in-depth interview with the composer plus six invaluable appendices.Trade ReviewA practical and useful book for all levels of pianists, from students to seasoned performers. Gowen's engaging prose and clear enthusiasm for Adler's music make reading about the works enjoyable as well as instructive. This book will be especially useful to institutions with strong piano and music education programs. -- Carol Lubkowski * MUSIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION NOTES *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments A Note to the User of This Book Samuel Adler: A Biographical Sketch Interview with Samuel Adler Introduction 1. Pedagogical Volumes Gradus Books I and II (1971) Gradus Book III (1981) The Sense of Touch (1982) 2. Solo Works through 2000 Capriccio (1954) Sonata Breve (1963) Canto VIII (1973) Sonatina (1979) "Thy Song Expands My Spirit" (1980) The Road to Terpsichore: A Suite of Dances (1989) Three Piano Preludes (1999-2000) 3. Solo Works since 2001 Four Composer Portraits (2001) Festschrift (2007) Fantasy for Piano (2013) Four Choreographies (2017) Five Short Occasional Pieces (2018) "Bagatelle for Jürgen" (2020) Variation on "America the Beautiful" (2020) Music for the Young and the Young at Heart (2021) 4. For Two Pianos Duo Sonata for Two Pianos (1983) 5. For Piano and Orchestra Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (no. 1) (1983) Second Piano Concerto (1996) Piano Concerto no. 3 for Piano and String Orchestra (2003) Appendix 1: Piano Music Graded Approximately according to Technical Difficulty Appendix 2: Chamber Works with Piano Appendix 3: Partial List of Works for Voice and Piano, Selected by the Composer Appendix 4: Works for Other Keyboard Instruments Appendix 5: Chronological Representative Selection of Adler Works for Other Instruments and Ensembles Selected Bibliography Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisSince his untimely death in 1974 at the age of twenty six, Nick Drake has not only gained a huge international audience, which eluded him during his lifetime, but has also come to represent the epitome of English romanticism. Drake's small but much-loved body of work has evoked comparisons with Blake, Keats, Vaughan Williams and Delius, placing him within a long line of English mystical romanticism. Yet upon closer inspection Drake's work betrays a myriad of international, cosmopolitan influences and approaches that seem to confound his status as archetypal English troubadour. Nathan Wiseman-Trowse unravels the myths surrounding Nick Drake's music to show how audiences have come to think of his work as representing the very idea of Englishness itself. The music itself provides clues, hinting at a specific English landscape that Drake would have wandered through during his lifetime. Yet Drake's interest in blues, jazz, and eastern mysticism hint at a broader conception of English national identity in the late 1960s, far removed from mere parochial nostalgia. Similarly, the framing of Drake's music after his death has done much to situate him as a particular kind of English artist, integrating American counterculture, the English class system and a nostalgic re-imagining of the hippy era for contemporary audiences. Nick Drake: Dreaming England explores how ideas of Englishness have come to be so intimately associated with the cult singer songwriter. Essential reading for any fan of Nick Drake, the book will also appeal to those interested in folk music or English national identity.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION 1 DREAMING ENGLAND 2 LISTENING TO THE LAND 3 THE COUNTRY AND THE CITY 4 MELANCHOLIA AND LOSS 5 DRAKE'S LEGACY Chronology References Select Bibliography Discography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisFan, musician and writer Roland Link has compiled a wealth of images of the legendary Belfast band through the 1970s and 80s. It includes many previously unseen photographs of the members on the road, on stage, in candid moments and in promotional out-takes. These are supported by a myriad of contemporary memorabilia (tour posters, tickets, passes and badges) and accompanied by comments from band members and a number of the photographers. The book also contains a Rare Vinyl Guide covering the band's original singles and albums. "When people ask me about Stiff Little Fingers I'm going to point them towards two books; Kicking Up A Racket and What You See Is What You Get ...job done." Jim Reilly

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Book SynopsisThroughout most of the twelve years between their formation and disbanding after the death of drummer John Bonham, Led Zeppelin were regarded as arguably the most influential group in popular music since The Beatles. While seen as pioneers of British heavy rock, their sound also embraced blues, psychedelia and folk music. Earlier in his career Jimmy Page had been one of the most highly sought-after session guitarists, while John Paul Jones was a versatile multi-instrumentalist and experienced arranger, and Robert Plant was one of the most individual vocalists of the era. A deal signed with Atlantic Records allowed them total musical control, and a deliberate policy of not allowing any tracks to be released as singles in Britain helped to ensure maximum demand for their albums as well as huge ticket sales every time they toured. Initially unpopular with critics, they were much loved by fans on both sides of the Atlantic and indeed throughout much of the world. This book provides a thorough examination of each track on all the group's studio albums, additional songs on official live releases and compilations of BBC sessions material.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Acknowledgements; 1 Led Zeppelin; 2 Led Zeppelin II; 3 Led Zeppelin III; 4 [Led Zeppelin IV]; 5 Houses of the Holy; 6 Presence; 7 In Through the Out Door; 8 Coda; 9 Led Zeppelin Boxed Set; 10 Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2; 11 The Complete Studio Recordings; 12 The Song Remains the Same; 13 How the West Was Won; 14 Celebration Day; 15 BBC Sessions; 16 The Complete BBC Sessions; Endnotes.

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Book SynopsisTake the stage with the Christopher NortonStunning music for solo flute and piano for intermediate to advanced-level players, from the creator of Microjazz15 entertaining and inventive pieces based on well-known American folk tunes, Christmas carols and nursery rhymesSpectacular performance and accompaniment tracks available onlineInstrumentation:Flute and piano

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Book SynopsisThe full range of traditional fiddle repertoire is now at your fingertips! Using these generous collections, you can create your own ceilidh, barn dance, jazz club or Sarajevo street-café. Some of this music is familiar, some more exotic, but all of it is absolutely authentic, faithfully arranged and, above all, hugely enjoyable.Each title in the series is available in two formats: the Violin Edition (with an optional easy violin part and guitar chords); or the Complete Edition, which also includes both keyboard and violin accompaniments. Either format is hugely flexible, which means the music can be played as solos, duets or trios as well as with larger ensembles.Edward Huws Jones has travelled extensively researching fiddle-playing traditions. In each book he explains the background of the particular musical style, giving his own suggestions for a lively performance.Instrumentation:violin (2 violins) and piano, guitar ad libitum

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Book Synopsis The latest book in the bestselling All the Songs series, this is the most in-depth exploration of Springsteen's songs ever written.Spanning nearly 50 years of albums, EPs, B-sides, and more, read the full story behind every single song that The Boss has ever released. Moving chronologically through Springsteen's long career, expert authors Margotin and Guesdon explore everything there is to know about every single song. No stone is left unturned across 670 pages, from the inspiration behind the lyrics and melody to the recording process and even the musicians and producers who worked on each track.Uncover the stories behind the music in this truly definitive book - a must-have for every Springsteen fan.

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Book Synopsis"Prince: All the Songs is a major achievement...[It] may be the definitive single-volume book about Prince for both its breadth and the way it views his life through the songs that were the true essence of his being." - PsychobabbleSpanning nearly 50 years of albums, EPs, B-sides, and more, read the full story behind all of the songs that Prince ever released. Moving chronologically through his epic back catalogue, expert author Benoît Clerc analyses everything there is to know about each song and session.No stone is left unturned across more than 600 pages, illustrated with incredible photography throughout. From the inspiration behind the lyrics and melody to the recording process and even the musicians and producers who worked on each track, uncover the stories behind the music in this truly definitive book - a must-have for every Prince fan.

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Book SynopsisThe hidden history of the women who dared to write music in a man’s world. ‘Lucid, engaging and exuberant... [Sounds and Sweet Airs] is terrifically enjoyable and accessible, and leaves one hankering for a second volume.’ The Sunday Times Francesca Caccini. Barbara Strozzi. Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre. Marianna Martines. Fanny Hensel. Clara Schumann. Lili Boulanger. Elizabeth Maconchy. Since the birth of classical music, women who dared compose have faced a bitter struggle to be heard. In spite of this, female composers continued to create, inspire and challenge. Yet even today so much of their work languishes unheard. Anna Beer reveals the highs and lows experienced by eight composers across the centuries, from Renaissance Florence to twentieth-century London, restoring to their rightful place exceptional women whom history has forgotten.Trade Review‘Beer’s writing is lucid, engaging and exuberant, strongly evoking the cultures and atmospheres that surrounded her subjects…the book in general is terrifically enjoyable and accessible, and leaves one hankering for a second volume.’ * Sunday Times *‘A meticulously researched, engrossing read, vividly bringing its eight subjects to life. It should appeal not only to music connoisseurs but to anyone interested in social and cultural history – and women’s place in it.’ * Financial Times *‘Such traits, as Beer laments, are still with us…All the more important, then, for excellent books like this one to remind us of what we are all missing’. * Catholic Herald *'Offers vivid, colourful context on a situation that is echoed back through the centuries…Readable and wide-ranging, Beer's deft sketches are an elegant introduction to their subjects'. * Spectator *'Never less than highly readable'. * Classical Music *‘Rewarding…insightful…Beer conveys the sexism and lifelong frustrations some immensely gifted creative artists encountered.’ * New York Times *'Beer's meticulously researched book is a vital step in the battle to overturn that ultimate injustice'. * Observer *'Beer has an eye for detail, and gives us a vivid sense of the stratagems these gifted, determined women had to employ'. * Sunday Telegraph *'In this riveting book Anna Beer wades through centuries of prejudice from the fear of women composing at all…to the persistent unwillingness to perform, discuss or distribute their music'. * BBC Music Magazine *''[A] stimulating and engaging book, written with passionate enthusiasm and a light touch'. * Literary Review *‘I am constantly in search of books that explore the lives of women who have been dismissed or overlooked by history, and this is what makes Anna Beer's latest book a total godsend. Sounds and Sweet Airs is an intoxicating historical examination of the way gender has shaped what we consider to be canonical... Beer’s impassioned overview delves into the hopes, motivations, and struggles each woman faced as she attempted to pursue her vocation while coping with the “boys club” mentality of their respective music communities.’ Lenny Letter’s Lit Thursday * Lenny Letter’s Lit Thursday *‘Books could be written about composers denied a place in the classical canon because of ethnicity or class or religion, but that doesn’t negate the truth and importance of Sounds and Sweet Airs’. * Gramophone *‘Beer’s snapshot lives of women composers are savvy, sympathetic... [an] essential and insightful study of a woman’s unsung place in the closed world of classical music.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘An engaging read and…contains a powerful and timely message’. * History Today *‘This is a truly inspiring and fascinating book... Female composers today no longer need to feel there is anything to stop them creating music and forging a career as a composer – if there is still any doubt, then just read Sounds and Sweet Airs.’ -- Debbie Wiseman MBE – Classic FM’s Composer in Residence‘A rich, revealing study of the lives of eight outstanding female composers...Long overdue, this book includes a list of recommended listening for each composer, a glossary of musical terms, and suggestions for further reading.This important work furthers cultural understanding of the history of female composers.’ * CHOICE magazine *‘A fascinating and refreshing rescue of a few well-chosen exemplars from the worthy but dull hands of musicologists... Thrilling.’ -- Natalie Wheen, former presenter on BBC Radio and Classic FM‘Both feminist analyst and fluent biographer, Beer makes engrossing and cogent cases for her subjects. She concludes that the proof of their art lies in the hearing and recommends recent recordings.’ * Booklist *‘This book is a delight. Eight striking composers are reinstated in musical history, thanks to Anna Beer’s energetic research and lively writing.’ -- Nicola LeFanu, composer and Professor Emeritus, University of York‘A fascinating glimpse into the world of the women whose music we should know and be hearing in the canon.’ -- Charlotte Bray, winner of the Lili Boulanger Memorial Prize 2014 and composer of At the Speed of Stillness‘Elegantly written, Sounds and Sweet Airs offers compelling evidence of the prejudices against women composers’ aspirations across the centuries.’ -- Rhian Samuel, Composer and Professor Emeritus, City University London‘An important book... groundbreaking and entertaining... This book should be required reading not just for those interested in cultural history, but for anyone wishing to understand the perception of women in the modern era.’ -- Professor Steven Parissien – Director, Compton Verney‘Anna Beer’s eloquent and passionately argued narrative builds on the most up-to-date scholarship and makes an irresistible case for listening again to the work of women who were among the most admired musicians of their age. Much more than simply an attempt to balance the historical record, Sounds and Sweet Airs is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand music’s power and the politics of gender and sexuality that promoted, shaped and silenced women’s compositional careers from the Renaissance to the twentieth century.’ -- Professor Daniel Grimley, Merton College, Oxford‘Absorbing ... [Beer] writes with rich detail and sympathetic insight about [these women's] ambitious, adventurous battles to overcome barriers to creativity.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Serious students of music and women's history will want to add this title to their required reading lists.’ * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe Little Book of the Beatles is a superb book of quotations by, and about, the band that revolutionised popular music the world over. A perfect companion for Beatles fans everywhere, this collection of bite-sized quips helps capture exactly what made the Fab Four so special. From insightful quotes by fellow artists, collaborators and friends, to words of wit and wisdom from John, Paul, George and Ringo themselves, you'll find more than 170 amusing and inspiring soundbites inside. 'I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition.' John Lennon, 1970. Table of ContentsIntroduction. Hello Goodbye. Beatlemania. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. John, Paul, George and Ringo. Twist and Shout. And in the End.

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Book SynopsisThe lyrics to the songs of the Beatles read like poetry. This book treats them as such, and illustrates each track artistically, paying careful attention to detail and high design standards. The stories, themes and ideas behind nearly 200 songs are explored in this beautiful book that includes photographs, artwork and illustration to bring the Fab Four's lyrics to life as never before. Table of ContentsNearly 200 Beatles songs are carefully illustrated in this beautiful book. With an emphasis on superb design, the lyrics to the most popular songs in the world are decorated on the page with photography, illustration and artwork.

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Book Synopsis'Daniel Rachel imagines what the next Beatles album might have been like, with painstaking detail and great stories' - David Hepworth, The Guardian'A fantastical journey through what might have been... Exciting and compelling.' - Chris Hawkins, BBC 6 Music'Daniel Rachel's forensic investigation makes a strong case for looking afresh at the evidence... a fascinating detailed read' - Mojo'In this meticulously crafted book, Rachel offers an extraordinary peek behind the curtain of one of the most celebrated music groups in history...a must-read for any music aficionado' - Music Devotee'A detailed researcher and writer... Ingenious.' - Record Collector'Full of enthralling details about the highs and lows of the band's last year... it's like the DNA in a crime scene.' - David Hepworth, Word in Your Ear'A book that is religiously detailed and yet manages to create tantalising glimpses of what might have been' - Louder Than War***This is the story of the great lost Beatles album.The end of the Beatles wasn't inevitable. It came through miscommunication, misunderstandings and missed opportunities to reconcile.But what if it didn't end? What if just one of those chances was taken, and the Beatles carried on? What if they made one last, great album?In The Lost Album of The Beatles, Daniel Rachel - winner of the prestigious Penderyn Music Book Prize - looks at what could have been. Drawing on impeccable research, Rachel examines the the Fab Four's untimely demise - and from the ashes compiles a track list for an imagined final album, pulling together unfinished demos, forgotten B-sides, hit solo songs, and arguing that together they form the basis of a lost Beatles masterpiece.Compelling and convincing, The Lost Album of The Beatles is a daring re-write of the group's history, and a tantalising glimpse of what might have been.Trade ReviewDaniel Rachel imagines what the next Beatles album might have been like, with painstaking detail and great stories -- David Hepworth * The Guardian *A book that is religiously detailed and yet manages to create tantalising glimpses of what might have been -- Craig Campbell * Louder Than War *Daniel Rachel's forensic investigation makes a strong case for looking afresh at the evidence... a fascinating detailed read * Mojo *

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Book SynopsisA Times Book of the Year 'Most underrated group? World of Twist.' - LIAM GALLAGHER'They're a top band. No one could do what World of Twist do, except World of Twist.' - NOEL GALLAGHER'They were such a special band, such a moment in time, and Gordon has written such a special book.' - JON RONSONWorld of Twist: the greatest lost band of all time.While fame, glory and untold riches seemed like an inevitability for World of Twist at the turn of the '90s, the universe was simply not ready for a group of retro futurists, psychedelic adventurers and cosmic tunesmiths.Too late for Madchester, too early for Britpop and too much fun to pigeonhole, the band went on to face a demoralising string of near-misses and 'what could have been's, ultimately falling apart in a medley of incompatible drugs, musical contretemps, sartorial differences and all-round shoulder-shrugging apathy.But they burned bright and left an indelible mark on everyone who looked deep into their light...Now, in When Does the Mind-Bending Start?, co-founder, guitarist and principal songwriter Gordon King tells the incredible inside story of his time with World of Twist, revealing the jealousy, anguish and personal demons experienced by the clashing personalities of King and the band's late singer, Tony Ogden.This is a memoir of tragedy and triumph, comedy and drama, demise and recovery.Trade Review'They were such a special band, such a moment in time, and Gordon has written such a special book.' -- Jon Ronson'Amazingly good: moving, funny and about everything - music, friendship, success, failure, loss, place and 1,000 other things. You won't regret buying it and reading it.' -- John Harris'The engaging narrative is rich in comedy, mundanity, fantasy, hubris and poignancy. 4/5' -- Mojo'One of the most vivid, celebratory and honest books ever published about love for music. 4/5' -- Record Collector

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Book SynopsisTHE POWERFUL AND UPLIFTING NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERIn March 2022, much-loved pop star, father and son Tom Parker died from incurable brain cancer. This story is his legacy, in his own words.A proud working-class lad from Bolton, he rose to chart-topping fame with The Wanted and even took America by storm. A loving father to Aurelia and Bodhi and a devoted husband to Kelsey, his life after pop superstardom was all about family, friends and finding new purpose.After his diagnosis in 2020, he become a prominent campaigner for brain cancer research, appearing in the House of Commons as well as holding a massively successful concert in aid of Stand Up to Cancer in the Royal Albert Hall.Throughout it all, Tom had hope. This inspirational memoir shows how far hope and daring to dream can carry you, no matter what cards you're dealt.

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Book SynopsisThis in-depth biography details Harry's life so far. From his childhood and his journey to fame on the X-Factor to releasing incredibly successful solo music and becoming a fashion icon, this book gets you closer to Harry than ever before.From the start of his career we follow the roller coaster of emotions as One Direction broke up, and we learn how Harry reinvented himself. Free from the shackles of being in a boyband he was able to be the rock star he had always dreamed of being and conquer the US by himself.Not content with being one of the world's biggest popstars, Harry has also cultivated a career as a film star, kicking off with a starring role in box-office hits like Dunkirk before going on to become a member of the iconic Marvel universe and, in 2022, taking the lead in My Policeman and Don’t Worry Darling. Now, as universally acknowledged fashion royalty, he has hosted the Met Gala with Serena Williams and Lady Gaga and regularly models for Gucci. In 2021 he released his beauty brand, Pleasing, and he has even partnered with the meditation app Calm to record a story designed to help listeners drift off. His new album Harry’s House soared to the top of the charts in both the UK and the US, and his 2022 tour 'Love on Tour' has sold out globally. In short, his phenomenal success shows no signs of slowing down. Get to know the iconic singer in greater depth with this book that gets you to the heart of a very modern pop star – a must read for all of Harry's fans.Also available:Ariana: The Biography (9781782439745)Adele: To 30 and Beyond: The Unauthorized Biography (9781789294361)Britney: The Unauthorized Biography (9781789294590)

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No period of Bob Dylan's six-decade career confounds fans more than the 1980s. The singer began the decade with Saved, the second in a trio of explicitly religious records, and a tour in which he declined to play his older songs because of concern they were anti-god. Dylan's ambivalence about the songs that made him an icon was mirrored by fans, many of whom found his post-conversion messages strident and judgmental. This made Saved his worst selling album in years and set a pattern for the next several years. Despite being a prolific time, in which the singer released seven studio albums, the decade was defined by inconsistency. Throughout the 1980s, some of his most profound work alternated with lackluster compositions and indifferent performances - sometimes on the same album. However, even as Dylan struggled artistically, all of his albums contained reminders of why he continued to be celebrated. By the end of the decade, his perseverance - both on stage and in the studio - and a spontaneous collaboration with some of his peers coalesced into his best received releases since the 1970s. Rather than closing a book, the combination of Oh Mercy and the first Traveling Wilburys record pointed to new chapters. The 1990s began a remarkable run of success that few popular artists have managed at any stage of their careers.

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Book SynopsisThey pulled on their platform boots and slapped on the makeup when everybody else was discarding theirs. Their albums were subject to poor production, scathing reviews, and commercial indifference. Other bands refused to have them as their opening act. Their record company was up against the wall. By all reasoning, they should have become one of the 'lost' bands of the 1970s, like the Harlots of 42nd Street or the Hollywood Stars. Yet in 1975 Kiss unexpectedly came Alive! and by the following year, they were the biggest rock and roll band - and brand - in America. This is a journey through Kiss's first and most storied decade. It is the story of the four men behind the masks, and the music they made, the studio albums, the legendary live albums, and of one of the greatest rock follies in music history, the four simultaneously released solo album. Along the way, it tells of the costumes and the concerts, the merchandise and the Marvel comic books, the television appearances and the disastrous 1978 movie, Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. And having bestrode the 1970s like an unstoppable colossus, it ends with Kiss under siege, beset by changing public taste without, and combustible personalities within.

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Book SynopsisGreen Day are one of rock history's greatest and most successful bands. Singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool have been together creating rock music with a punk heart for over three decades. The trio has reigned supreme, shattering previously conceived notions of how commercially successful a punk rock band can be. They helped extend the boundaries of the genre by adding excellent pop/rock song writing. Green Day harnessed alternative music's creativity with a passion and fire that ignited two of rock's best albums, the influential Dookie, which sold 20 million, and the culturally important rock opera American Idiot, which sold 16 million and went on to become a Broadway show. In their 30-plus years, Green Day revolutionized rock musically and lyrically, inspiring countless bands. During the 1990s, they lead the pop-punk charge, and in the 2000s, they inspired a second generation of fans and bands through a lyrically intelligent and musically complex style of hard rock. Green Day: On Track takes a journey through the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame band's career, analysing every album and song in their storied catalogue

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Book SynopsisTraversing power metal, acoustic introspect and finally settling on their breakthrough cinematic sound, Finnish heavyweights Nightwish are the leading name in the sumptuous world of symphonic metal. Having tackled numerous high-profile line-up changes, each threatening to derail the grand vehicle of spirit curated by founder Tuomas Holopainen, their every turn has been documented across nine studio records. Whilst the surface presents the Nightwish discography as a feast of metaphor and imagination, it's in the undercurrent that the vulnerability of the compositions are revealed; the fury of 'Master Passion Greed' detailing the acrimonious split with vocalist Tarja Turunen, the melancholia permeating Century Child and the awe-inspiring ode to evolution of Endless Forms Most Beautiful. This book analyses every song released by the group, from their Angels Fall First debut to 2020's Human. : : Nature., discussing inimitable singles 'Nemo' and the begrudgingly composed 'Sleeping Sun' as well as patriotic sport soundtracks, impromptu live outings and curious cover versions. Nightwish On Track also discusses the abundant live releases and compilations from their career to date and gathers together an exhaustive list of the band's B-sides and rarities.

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The White Stripes were one of the breakout bands of the early 2000s 'rock revival'. They produced some of the most indelible songs of the 21st Century and reintroduced a sense of mystery and panache to the staid indie rock scene of the era. But that was only the beginning for singer-guitarist Jack White. From his humble origins in the fabled Detroit garage rock scene, via The White Stripes and his other bands, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, to his ongoing solo career, Jack White has forged an extensive and eclectic body of work. Now, as the head of his own record label, he has achieved what most musicians dream of: the freedom to follow his idiosyncratic muse where it takes him, regardless of the whims of the record industry or popular taste. His music takes in all styles, from psychedelic power pop, to gothic swamp rock, to futuristic synth-funk, but he remains connected to the traditions of American roots music. He is always eager to cite his influences, and his collaborations and production work are an important part of his musical development. This is the first book that takes in the entire scope of Jack White's career: his bands, his solo work, and his work with other artists. By going through his discography track-by-track, this book will argue that Jack White is one of the great artists of the modern age. Perhaps, in fact, the last great rock star.

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Book Synopsis'All I can do is be me, whoever that is.' The many ides of Bob Dylan are revealed in this collection of the artist's words and lyrics.Having celebrated his 80th birthday in May 2021, with plaudits given around the globe, this influential and enigmatic troubadour-poet has been a-changing with the times since the 1960s, when he was the 'voice of a generation'. Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winner, musician, artist, author and actor, the living legend's words have inspired, enthralled, provoked and puzzled generations of fans, literary buffs, musicians and songwriters – and have been mulled over by academics and artists alike. This collection of quotes – humorous, grave, desperate, passionate, fearless, surreal – includes a rich tapestry of confessions, admonitions, laments, prophecies and existential meanderings.Interspersed with fascinating facts, The Little Guide to Bob Dylan sheds light on the deep inner workings of this taciturn man and his music.SAMPLE FACT: Many of Dylan's songs were hits for other artists, including the No.1s 'Mr Tambourine Man' for the Byrds, 'All Along the Watchtower' for Jimi Hendrix and 'Blowin' in the Wind' for Peter Paul & Mary.Table of ContentsFolk Beginnings: Exploring his early days, his words chart the influences on his road from being Robert Zimmerman to being Bob Dylan • Protest & Freedom: Music as a form of protest has long been one of Dylan's leitmotifs; here are his music and musings on civil rights, social injustice, politics and personal freedom • Love & Women: He covers love from every angle - also here are his thoughts on muses Suze Rotolo, Joan Baez and Sara Lownds • A-Changing: Taking responsibility for one's actions, or not, existential free will and personal identity are all themes in this chapter. Does anyone really know exactly Bob Dylan who is? • The Music & the Meaning: His views on his art and its meaning, as well as the purpose of life and the existence of god, success and failure, stage fright and life on the road • Death, Loss & Longing: Nostalgia, loss, death and the slipperiness of time are the key Dylan themes explored here.

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Book SynopsisWithout a doubt one of the most important, influential and acclaimed artists since the 1960s, Leonard Cohen is admired by fans, musicians and composers the world over. His death in 2016 at the age of 82 was front-page news globally. The deeply personal nature of his work, and its profound insight into humans and human nature see him revered as a lyrical genius, and for good reason. His ongoing themes of depression, love, religion and relationships struck a chord with fans all over the world and his albums (as well as his books of poetry) sold accordingly.The Little Guide to Leonard Cohen features quotes from the man himself, as well as contributions from many great artists and commentators. Cohen had many celebrity fans, including Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, Judy Collins and more. This book contains many insightful, witty and meaningful quotes by and about Leonard Cohen, as well as fascinating facts, song lists and more.SAMPLE QUOTE: 'My reputation as a ladies' man was a joke. It caused me to laugh bitterly through the 10,000 nights I spent alone.' - Leonard CohenSAMPLE FACT: 'Hallelujah' has been recorded by more than 200 artists, in many languages. Many of the cover versions have outsold Cohen's original.Table of ContentsThe Stranger Song: The early years of Leonard Cohen. Famous Blue Raincoat: Cohen's first album is released in 1967 and he gains a small, cult following. Quotes and facts from this era. Everybody Knows: Records keep coming and Cohen continues to write, in his own style and on his own terms. Quotes from celebrity fans as well as the man himself. Hallelujah: Continuing themes are evident in Cohen's musical works. Quotes and facts on the oft-visited subjects of love, depression, religion and politics. I'm Your Man: An enduring subject of Leonard Cohen's work was his relationships with women. This chapter features many quotes on just that subject. Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye: A list of Cohen's album releases, from 1967's Songs of Leonard Cohen to the posthumous release Thanks for the Dance.

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Book SynopsisOn the fiftieth anniversary of David Bowie's magical album, Aladdin Sane 50 is the ultimate celebration of a musical masterpiece – and the most famous photograph in pop history.This landmark book contains hundreds of photographs, including dozens of David from the Aladdin Sane session that have never been seen until now, fifty years since they were taken.Aladdin Sane 50 also features essays by renowned experts and authors Paul Morley, Charles Shaar Murray, Nicholas Pegg, Kevin Cann, Jérôme Soligny and Geoffrey Marsh on Bowie's remarkable album and the story behind the famous cover.In a breathtaking package designed by long-time Bowie collaborators Barnbrook creative studio, Aladdin Sane 50 pays tribute to a seminal album and an iconic image, one that will live forever more in rock 'n' roll history.

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Book SynopsisA breathtaking, never-before-seen glimpse into life on tour with David Bowie, by the late singer's official tour photographerIn 1983 David Bowie set out on the Serious Moonlight Tour, his biggest ever. On the road with him was his official photographer, Denis O'Regan. Few artists and photographers have had such a close touring relationship. This book is the result: a never-before-seen photographic portrait of a year with Bowie, from the theatre of performance to his most unguarded moments. Introduced by O'Regan and with every single image personally approved by Bowie, this is an intimate view of an icon at the height of his fame.Trade ReviewThese are relaxed, intimate pictures, many showing Bowie off-stage, Bowie himself, even. * The Evening Standard *A stunning collection of over 300 personal pictures, with many published for the first time. Visually, it is a handsome book that is beautifully produced, with first-rate graphics and splendid reproduction . . . Ricochet is a remarkable photo essay about an artist at his inflection point, capturing Bowie's story as well as that of the culture surrounding him. * All About Jazz magazine *

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Book SynopsisNo life in popular music touched on as many major musical milestones as that of The Beach Boys' Carl Wilson. While he is often unjustly overlooked as a mere adjunct to his more famous brothers Brian and Dennis, Carl was a major international rock star from his early teens. The proud owner of one of the greatest voices in popular music-one that graced some of the most important records of the pop era, including 'God Only Knows' and 'Good Vibrations'-Wilson was also one of the first musicians to bring the electric guitar to the forefront of rock'n'roll. His musical skills provided The Beach Boys' entree into the music business, from which he then stewarded their onstage journey through the ups and downs of the 60s to their comeback in the 70s and into the role of 'America's band' in the 80s. Along the way, Carl quietly endured his own battles with obesity, divorce, substance abuse, and ultimately terminal cancer, all the while working to protect his family's business and legacy. This major new biography reveals the true story of modern rock'n'roll, lived from the centre of the most important decades of popular music.

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Book SynopsisThe Beach Boys: All The Songs is a detailed look at the recorded output of this most unique and influential popular music group. From the 1962 debut Surfin' Safari through to 2012's That's Why God Made the Radio - the first record Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys had made together in sixteen years. This book covers all the material released by the major labels. To qualify, a song must have been issued commercially and released under the name "Beach Boys." Some of the truly obscure are included, such as `Howdy from Maui', a collaboration with Jeff Foxworthy from 1996. As well as covering the highest UK and US chart placings, each album is dissected with explanations on each song including songwriting credits and also includes background information to the making of each album. Documented in chronological order, each album release is given its own chapter and "orphaned" tracks such as B-sides and outtakes are also included within the appropriate time line. Author Rick Swan also provides bios for the key band members as well as the supporting musicians and the book is capped off with a full song title index for easy reference. Whether you are just starting out on your discovery of The Beach Boys or a longstanding fan, this detailed tome provides great insight into this most enduring band.

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate pick-me-up to save you from the nine-to-five heartbreak blues. The Little Guide to Dolly Parton is your bible of devastating Dolly-isms. Yes, that's right, the most iconic and acclaimed female country singer in the history of music is so inventive and brilliant with her clever wisecracks and sage advice that popular culture has crowned her with an -ism after her name. No one else is as worthy. For more than five decades, Dolly has been laying down her own brand of whip-smart wit and wisdom to the world, with many quotes and quips becoming as famous as her lyrical genius, for which she has won too many song writing awards and honours to mention. Stacked to the rafters with more than 150 bite-size bon-mots, one-liners and ripostes – as well profound and sincere observations – The Little Guide to Dolly Parton is your new favourite life companion. 'I never think of myself as a star because, as somebody once said, "A star is nothing but a big ball of gas" – and I don't want to be that.' Reflecting on stardom during an interview with Billboard, 2014. 'I'm proud of my hillbilly, white trash background. To me that keeps you humble; that keeps you good. And it doesn't matter how hard you try to outrun it – if that's who you are, that's who you are. It'll show up once in a while.' Discussing her background, during an interview with Southern Living, 2014. Table of ContentsHello Dolly! • Jolly Dollyisms • Rags to Riches • Hillbilly Heartbreaker • Queen of Country • Living Doll.

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Book SynopsisIn 2015 Chris O'Leary published the first folume of his two-volume exporation, Rebel Rebel, of every song David Jones / David Bowie ever wrote, in chronological order. This is the second volume. Ashes to Ashes covers every single Bowie song, whether it was sung, written, or produced by him, from 1976, when he first recorded with Iggy Pop on "The Idiot," to his last masterpiece "Blackstar," released just days before his death in 2016. Each song is annotated in depth and explored in essays that touch upon the song's creation, production, influences and impact. It hits everything from "Heroes" to the Labyrinth soundtrack, from his 1985 camp duet with Mick Jagger on "Dancing In the Street" to "Where Are We Now," his comeback single in 2013. Along the way we encounter a vast cast of characters, weaving in and out of Bowie's life and his music: Brian Eno, John Cale, Nile Rodgers, Lou Reed, Freddie Mercury, Scott Walker, Marc Bolan, Arcade Fire, John Lennon, Mickey Rourke, Gary Oldman, Iman, Hanif Kureishi, Julien Temple, Giorgio Moroder, Neil Young and many others. And we range across the globe from Bowie's years in divided Berlin to his "exile" years in Switzerland through his final years as a New Yorker, recording within walking distance of his home.

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Book SynopsisWhen the classic Deep Purple MKII line-up reformed in 1984 after an eleven year absence, it proved once again that this was the definitive Deep Purple and their reunion tour was a box office bonanza. Sadly by 1989 the friction between Blackmore and Gillan that had led to the spilt first time around did so again and Gillan was fired. With all eyes on the 25th anniversary of the band's 1968 inception, there was huge pressure, both from within and outside the band for Gillan to return to the fold so that the occasion could be celebrated in style. The critics said it wouldn't work — it did. And they said it wouldn't last... well they were certainly right about that! Upon Gillan's return in late 1992 they produced The Battle Rages On... album and then planned to embark on a world tour. However, the American shows were all cancelled, which left just Europe and Japan. Whilst the tensions within the band were greater than ever, Jon Lord went on to say, “the shows were done at an energy level and ability level I’ve rarely seen attained before. I think we played as well as we’ve ever played.” Indeed, for those fortunate to witness the tour most fans shared Lord's opinion. Yet, the divisions between Blackmore and Gillan grew as the tour progressed with Blackmore calling a halt to proceedings before the Japanese leg could begin. In all there would be just thirty-seven shows — the last hurrah of the ultimate Deep Purple line-up. Author Jerry Bloom caught ten of the shows and was privy to some of the shenanigans that went on, making him the ideal person to document the last MKII tour in detail. Along with the comprehensive narrative, this beautifully designed book is crammed full of never before seen photos from the tour. It includes many shots of the band both on stage as well as back stage, in hotels, on aeroplanes and relaxing as the tour wound its way across Europe culminating in Blackmore's last show with the band in Finland on 17th November 1993.

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Book SynopsisAn updated biography of the Korean superstars BTS. After debuting in 2013 with their single album 2 Cool 4 Skool, BTS released their first Korean-language studio album, Dark & Wild, and Japanese-language studio album, Wake Up, in 2014. The group?s second Korean studio album, Wings (2016), was their first to sell one million copies in South Korea. K-Pop sensations BTS are the biggest boy band in the world and the first Korean act to achieve number one albums and singles in the US and UK with their special brand of turbo-charged hip hop and rap. The talented group of rappers, vocalists, and dancers who make up BTS are RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jin, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. Their fresh sound has made them the most exciting act to dominate the music charts for years and the highest grossing boy band of all time. In total they have sold more than 40 million albums and made number 1 on iTunes in more than 65 countries. They show no sign of stopping. While they are still creating innovative music, shattering records, and winning awards around the world, their history is still in the making. This is the story so far.

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Book Synopsis'Don't live life worrying about it, just T. Rex the s*** out of it.' - Sylvain Sylvain The New York Dolls were called many things; glam, proto-punk, hard rock, but are probably best understood as a 'dirty rock & roll' band. Combining an aggressively androgynous style with street smart New York attitude and campy humour, the New York Dolls ushered in the era of CBGBs, heroin chic, loud guitars and referential lyrics which gave rise to Patti Smith, The Ramones, Television and many more. Fans of the band range from Guns N' Roses to Morrissey, who organised the reformation of the band when he curated Meltdown festival in 2004. Sylvain Sylvain was there from the start, and this is his story. Taking in his early life in New York, the rise, fall and rise again of the New York Dolls, and all his misadventures between, There's No Bones in Ice Cream is the true story of one of rock's greatest, told in his own authentic voice. 'In any great band it's often The Quiet One who has the best stories. There's No Bones in Ice Cream would be a superb book even if Sylvain worked in a bank. As it is it's one of the best rock biographies ever. Ten out of ten.' - Classic Rock

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Book SynopsisRonnie Lane's story is that of a working-class kid who started his musical career busking a ukulele at the age of eight. As a young man he signed with legendary manager Don Arden, who paid him in paisley shirts. He then enjoyed a phenomenal 17 consecutive Top 40 singles, womanising and LSD, and fell under the spell of a mystic before joining forces with Rod Stewart. Ronnie was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, moved to America, went broke and died far too young. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with friends and family, Caroline and David Stafford unearth the truth and talent of the man behind the music.Trade Review'A spirited and heartfelt account of Ronnie’s amazing life and music’ Charlie Hart, Slim Chance; 'This book captures the man and his incredible musical and personal journey in a celebratory way, but also handles his terribly sad ending sensitively. I raise a glass to both the book and to Plonk and say thank you for both' Mark Baxter, author of Scorcha!

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Book SynopsisLife's a Gamble is the autobiography of iconic singer-songwriter Pauline Murray. It recounts her journey from a small mining village in northeast England, through to gaining national recognition as the frontwoman of her band, Penetration, and how she became a key member of the punk movement. Emerging onto the punk scene at just 18 years old, inspired by an early encounter with the Sex Pistols, Pauline details how she played alongside the leading bands of the era, navigated the demands of the music industry, conquered the post-punk landscape with the Invisible Girls, opened her own music studios and reformed Penetration in 2001. Highly illustrated with unseen photographs and drawing upon Pauline's teenage diaries, interviews and archive material from her personal collection, this book chronicles the life and work of an authentic creative artist and punk rock legend.Trade Review'A beautifully written down to earth account of growing up in the north of England, discovering punk, and making a career from music. Pauline writes from the heart with no airs or graces. It is a joy to read her long awaited life story and unique perspective of those legendary times and beyond, with plentiful accompanying images. Essential reading!' Gaye Black, The Adverts 'This is a clear-eyed account of Pauline’s creative journey. She never loses her punk vision, and serves as an example to up-and-coming musicians of the resilience and tenacity you need to survive and thrive. You’re with her all the way- I couldn't put it down.' Helen McCallum

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Book SynopsisSeventy years since the radical music of the 1960s first hit the airwaves, the anthems of the era continue to resonate with our current times. Through studying these musicians and the political contexts in which their pioneering songs were birthed; amidst paranoia, psychedelic delusions, desire and civil unrest; Aaron Leonard’s Whole World in an Uproar is an important new critical history of countercultural music from the Summer of Love to the unwelcome arrival of Bob Dylan.Trade Review"What happened when HUAC, the FBI, Jim Crow, corporate media outlets, drug warriors, the religious right, and even the Old Left tried to stop a freight train? Drawing on a broad range of sources, including FBI files, Whole World in an Uproar recounts that momentous story.""Aaron Leonard integrates an amazing amount of research into a story that ranges from FBI surveillance of the Old Left to the rock scene to the social dissension around the anti-Vietnam War and Black liberation movements. A well-thought through, fascinating documentary about movements and people who were affected by oppressive societal actions.""A fascinating counter-history of the 1960s music revolution through the eyes of the persecutors, paranoiacs and culture warriors who tried to stop it."

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Book SynopsisThe Damned are forever in the history books as the first UK punk band to get an album out. Damned Damned Damned was a flamethrower of a record, led by the incendiary violence of “New Rose” (first UK punk single as well) and “Neat Neat Neat,” two shocking punk anthems that defined the golden era of the new wave more purely pogo-mad than anything outta The Clash or the Sex Pistols. And the mayhem never let up, with the band already breaking up and reforming (another first!) by 1979 for one of the greatest punk albums of all time, Machine Gun Etiquette (by the way, The Damned were also the first UK punk band to tour America). More punch-ups and gratuitous vandalism ensued as the band expanded its palette through the years. Popoff has wanted to write Lively Arts: The Damned Deconstructed for decades, and now that it’s finished, he’s been all over video and radio calling it his favourite and best book he’s ever done. For in it, Popoff got to analyse monastically — headphones and repeat button at the ready — every damned Damned song across all the albums and every EP and single. This herculean task represented a joy of an exercise from a penmanship point of view, but it was most satisfying in a proselytizing sense — Martin wants everybody joining him in poring over The Damned catalogue in minute detail. Let this long-suffering band of scrapping, scratching cats in a sack know how important and beloved they are before they’re all dead!

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Book SynopsisPete Brown is a lot of things. A major songwriting talent who was responsible for Cream's classic musical moments, important collaborations with Jack Bruce and such notable experiments in jazz and rock as The Battered Ornaments, Graham Bond and countless progressive music groups. A talented poet who helped pioneer the emerging UK Beat scene in the sixties, making history with his earliest performances and going poetic toe to toe with the likes of Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Gregory Corso. He was also a child of war and the memories of The Blitz are still with him to this day. He is an anarchist at heart who believes in the mantra of telling it like it is and has done as much through the decades of a songwriter, musician, producer and poet. Within certain circles Pete Brown is a legend, a creative force of nature who is constantly on the move to the next big thing. To much of the world, Pete Brown is an unknown quantity, known for his Cream fame and not much else. With this book, Pete Brown: The Poet Who Rocks, the creative whirlwind will be on full display. This is Pete Brown. Now his story can be told.

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Book Synopsis*Includes an exclusive new chapter*'Excellent' Guardian'Hugely enjoyable' Irish Times'Dazzling' LRB 'Fascinating' New Statesman 'An absolute must-read' GQAn NME and BBC Culture Book of the Year 2020For a while, Sweet Dreams were made of this.From the testimony of the people who lived it, comes Dylan Jones' masterful history of the Blitz kids, synth-pop and the style press, from 1975 to 1985. 'Few music scenes have received more opprobrium than the New Romantics. A bunch of fame-grabbing clothes-horses? Certainly. But also, a progressive force that opened new routes for music while embracing most genders, ethnicities and sexual preferences.' MOJO 'Compelling reading for those who lived and breathed the indulgence of the era without realising its signific

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