Musicians, singers, bands and groups Books

Book SynopsisPink Floyd: Behind the Wall is a comprehensive history of the legendary band featuring photos, album covers, and posters as well as insight into their iconic songs and albums.

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Book Synopsis“All the photos of David Bowie you could possibly ever need. The most noteworthy collection of David Bowie images ever accumulated. Whether you want to own the book as a collector’s item or display it on your coffee table, this definitive work is a tribute fit for an icon.” - Interview magazine David Bowie: Icon gathers the greatest photographs of one of the greatest stars in history, into a single, luxurious volume. The result is the most important anthology of David Bowie images that has ever been compiled. With work by many of the most eminent names in photography, this book showcases a stunning portfolio of imagery, featuring the iconic, the awe inspiring, the candid and the surprising. An astonishing 25 photographers from around the world have contributed to this celebration. Their images are accompanied by personal essays and reflections about working with this astonishing artist. From memories of the earliest days at the Arts Lab in Beckenham to what it was like touring the world with Bowie, each contributor shares their experiences of working with - and knowing - this most extraordinary figure. From portraits and album covers, performances and rehearsals, to rarely seen private moments and candid snapshots, this collection is at once powerful, sentimental and inspiring. The thoughts and reminiscences of the photographers, many sharing their memories for the first time, give us an insight into this artist unlike any other. Photography and text by: Fernando Aceves, Brian Aris, Philippe Auliac, Alec Byrne, Kevin Cummins, Chalkie Davies, Justin de Villeneuve, Vernon Dewhurst, Gavin Evans, Gerald Fearnley, Lynn Goldsmith, Greg Gorman, Andrew Kent, Markus Klinko, Geoff MacCormack, Janet Macoska, Terry O'Neill, Denis O'Regan, Norman Parkinson, Mick Rock, John Scarisbrick, Steve Schapiro, Barry Schultz, Masayoshi Sukita and Ray Stevenson. Features an introduction by Bowie's life-long friend, the artist George Underwood. When David Bowie passed away on 10 January 2016, the world lost a musical hero. But his legacy lives on. While his sound and style evolved throughout his career - from Ziggy to the Thin White Duke - two facts never changed: he was an innovator; and photographers adored him. This book pays homage to this ultimate icon.Trade Review“A must-have for all Bowie fans.” -- Departures International“You couldn’t take a bad picture of him,” Rock tells The Daily Beast. “I defy you to look through the book and find a picture you could call ‘bad.’ There aren’t any. He just had an awareness. It was evident early on—he understood the power of the picture.” -- The Daily Beast“The most beautiful photographs of the star in a single and beautiful book … a rich and splendid compilation…” -- Beware Magazine“… impressive … a splendid collection” -- Velvet Goldmine“Arguably the first musical artist to constantly reinvent himself through revising his image, Bowie proved to be as much a visual icon of the 70s, 80s and 90s as he was a musical innovator. Now, all that glam has been captured in a spectacular book.” -- Chris Jenkins, Arts & Collections magazine“Audacious, wide-ranging, and frankly gorgeous.” -- Flood Magazine“David Bowie’s image was as much a part of his art as was his music. In a luxurious new book, photographers including Terry O’Neill capture images of the rock icon.” - Chris Jenkins, Arts & Collections“…the power to charm...” - davidbowie.com

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Book Synopsis'Glorious' Guardian'Revelatory' New Yorker'Evocative' Los Angeles TimesIn 1971, as her groundbreaking album Blue emerged as a singular commercial and critical success around the world, Joni Mitchell puzzled over what gift to give her friends that Christmas. The result was a handmade book, with only one hundred copies produced, filled with Joni's hand-written lyrics and reproductions of many of her stunning drawings - portraits, abstracts, random concertgoers, and more. Each was given to a friend and, until now, the edition has remained private. Today, with Morning Glory on the Vine, Joni's long-ago personal Christmas present is a present to us all.Trade ReviewGlorious * * Guardian * *I became engrossed in Mitchell's drawings while browsing the book - they're vivid, intimate - but her handwritten lyrics and poems are just as revelatory . . . Morning Glory on the Vine feels like an extension of Mitchell's already considerable reach - it's a way of better understanding what she found beautiful, and worth holding onto. It is also a reassuring, almost palliative object on its own: these drawings and writings, arranged so artfully and carefully, feel like an anchor in an increasingly unsteady world * * New Yorker * *The peerless Joni Mitchell isn't only one of the 20th century's greatest songwriters, she's also a water colourist of some distinction . . . It contains a rare intimacy and candour, as well as a unique gateway into Mitchell's inimitable music itself * * Metro, Books of the Year * *A collection of more than thirty original paintings steeped in a bygone era . . . Evocative . . . A revelation for her devoted listeners, Morning Glory on the Vine is a comforting and intimate look at what caught an artist's eye when she was at the peak of her chaparral mountain * * Los Angeles Times * *A showcase for another side of Joni Mitchell's prodigious talent * * Washington Post * *A warm, water-coloured invitation to Mitchell's Laurel Canyon years . . . Think of the book as an artful expression of friendship, a personal time capsule unearthed * * The Globe and Mail * *

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Book SynopsisIn November 2020, Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Dave Gahan, accepting the honour, said: “I’d like to thank Anton Corbijn who thank God came in at the right time and actually made us look cool.” Also in the fall of 2020, TASCHEN released the limited edition Depeche Mode by Anton Corbijn (81–18) signed by Depeche Mode and Anton Corbijn, and it became one of the fastest selling collector’s editions in the publishing company’s history. This pocket-sized and wallet-friendly edition is a testament to Corbijn’s unique vision, and indeed “cool” as Gahan acknowledged so movingly in his speech; an illustrated history of how Corbijn, who became in 1986 the band’s de facto creative director, and helped cement Depeche Mode’s reputation as the biggest cult band in the world.Featuring over 150 photographs from Corbijn’s extensive archives, including formal and informal portraits from places such as Madrid, Hamburg, the California desert, Prague and Marrakech; a multitude of off-the-cuff, candid images; and stunning live shots from all their tours since 1988 right up to 2023. Created with the full collaboration of the band, who share some insights on working with Corbijn, Depeche Mode by Anton Corbijn trumpets how one man’s original aesthetic, that has encompassed all of their photography, most of their music videos, album graphics and set designs, helped shape the band’s enduring popularity. Reflecting on his role in Depeche Mode, Corbijn recalls in the book’s introduction: “A lot of it came down to me, and I wanted it to be right for them. I wanted to think for them. To be great for them.” This book is a tribute to the depth and breadth of that greatness, a celebration of one of the most creative and enduring collaborations in rock history.Trade Review“Anton was able to give the DM sound, that we were beginning to create, a visual identity.” * Dave Gahan *

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Book SynopsisDiscover everything you need to know about the world's hottest young pop star in Olivia Rodrigo - The Ultimate Fan Book.Since releasing her debut single 'Drivers Licence' in January 2021, Olivia Rodrigo has rocketed to the top of charts around the world, and quickly become not only one of the most exciting young singer-songwriters of the moment, but one of the biggest stars in the world today. In Olivia Rodrigo - The Ultimate Fan Book, you'll discover how this former Disney starlet has found such amazing success with her catchy songs, striking fashion choices and incredible charm.Through lively text and dozens of gorgeous photographs, this Fan Book follows the rise and rise of Olivia, from High School Musical to her acclaimed album Sour, and highlights how she's only just getting started. Filled with quotes from Olivia and her closest collaborators, discussing fame, fashion, fans and more, as well as tons of stunning snaps from the red carpet to stadium stages, Olivia Rodrigo - The Ultimate Fan Book takes you onstage, in the studio and behind the scenes with one of the brightest stars on the planet.Table of ContentsIntroduction • Born to Shine • Disney Days • Moving Into Music • Drivers Licence • Award Winner/Record Setter • Sour • Olivia Live • A White House Welcome • The Next Big Thing • What's Next?

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Book SynopsisMatt Lee has been collecting Rolling Stones memorabilia for more than two decades. He amassed so much that he had to move house; he now has his own private museum dedicated to Stones memorabilia and he is the Guinness World Record holder for the largest Stones memorabilia collection. For the first time, Rolling Stones - Priceless showcases his collection, which spans all decades, and tells the story of the Stones through their memorabilia as never before.Table of ContentsMatt Lee's collection includes many unique, handwritten and personal items as well as tickets, posters, backstage passes, promotional items, instruments, tapes, records and clothing. All have been specially photographed for this book and are accompanied by a narrative detailing rarity and in some cases the amusing anecdotes behind how they came to be part of the collection. A regular at Stones concerts, Matt personally collects many of the pieces, as well as buying at auction and exchanging. Highlights of the collection include: the Stones' first ever contract, the band's first acetate, Bill Wyman's resignation letter, the first 'tongue' pin, a signed Shine a Light guitar, original 'Street Fighting Man' record sleeve, handwritten set lists from Mick and Keith... and thousands more.

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Book SynopsisAndras Schiff is one of the most important pianists of our time. This stimulating account of his life and work, told in two parts, takes readers on an intimate journey from Schiff''s childhood in Hungary through to the present day.In conversationw with Martin Meyer, Schiff discusses a diverse range of topics from his experiences with anti-Semitism and communist rule to his musical training with maestros such as Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Rados, as well as his thoughts on playing techniques and musical interpretation.In a collection of Schiff''s writings we are enthralled by a guided tour of Bach''s ''Goldberg'' Variations, sobered by Schiff''s public defiance against nationalistic and racist attitudes - to the extent that he refused to perform in Haider''s Austria or Orban''s Hungary - and delighted by the playful ''Ten Commandments'' for concertgoers.More than a memoir, this is a seminal compilation of the thoughts and experiences of one of the greatest musiciansTrade ReviewAndras Schiff proves just as articulate, as cultured and as provocative a musical thinker as he is at the piano throughout this highly recommendable book -- Jed Distler * GRAMOPHONE *Schiff proves just as thoughtful and appealing a character on the page as he does on the concert platform . . . Schiff writes with warmth and eloquence . . . a compelling read, offering rich insight into the life and ideas of one of the great musicians of our time * BBC Music Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe once-in-a-generation memoir of a rock legend - the No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller.''Electrifying'' New York Times''A masterpiece'' The Word''Funny, poignant, brutally honest'' Sunday Telegraph''Densely packed with incident... immensely readable'' Sunday Times''Once you begin this, wild, wild horses couldn''t drag you away''Independent''Life is pretty faultless as the quintessential depiction of the man in full and his extraordinary life and times to date'' The Times''I was hooked from the start''Harper''s BazaarAs a member of the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the riffs, the lyrics and the songs that roused the world, and over four decades he lived the original rock and roll life: taking the chances he wanted, speakiTrade ReviewA masterpiece, the most sustained, colourful and rambunctious rampage through his [Keith's] 67 years imaginable * THE WORD MAGAZINE *Funny, poignant, brutally honest, engagingly colloquial, Life is pure Keith Richards, as good a rock memoir as you are likely to read. * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Densely packed with incident ... immensely readable * SUNDAY TIMES *This is a good, gossipy read. But the best stuff is Keith on music. Check out his wonderful passage on Charlie Watt's drumming * EVENING STANDARD *Dark, honest and gleefully indiscreet from the first page to the last, it puts some of today's painfully dull musicians to shame * SHORTLIST *Once you begin this, wild, wild horses couldn't drag you away * INDEPENDENT *A hilarious, ribald and often shocking tale told elegantly and with much candidness * CATHOLIC HERALD *I was hooked from the start * HARPER'S BAZAAR *LIFE may be the best rock star autobiography ever * CLASSIC ROCK *A memoir so full of incident it feels like the author's lived three lives, not one * SUNDAY TIMES *The fact that Keith is still alive to tell the story is incredible * SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE *LIFE is pretty faultless as the quintessential depiction of the man in full and his extraordinary life and times to date * THE TIMES *Electrifying... the intimate and moving story of one man's long strange trip over the decades, told in dead-on, visceral prose without any of the pretence, caution or self-consciousness that usually attend great artists sitting for their self-portraits * NEW YORK TIMES *Keith comes across as a thoroughly decent man, with just a hint of the devil. His relationship with Jagger is complex and fascinating * EVENING STANDARD *a masterpiece, the most sustained, colourful and rambunctious rampage through his [Keith's] 67 years imaginable -- Mark Ellen * THE WORD *densely packed with incident ... immensely readable -- Lynn Barber * SUNDAY TIMES *Funny, poignant, brutally honest, engagingly colloquial, Life is pure Keith Richards, as good a rock memoir as you are likely to read. -- Sally Cousins * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *This is a good, gossipy read. But the best stuff is Keith on music. Check out his wonderful passage on Charlie Watt's drumming. -- William Leith * LONDON EVENING STANDARD *Dark, honest and gleefully indiscreet from the first page to the last, it puts some of today's painfully dull musicians to shame. * SHORTLIST *Once you begin this, wild, wild horses couldn't drag you away. -- Boyd Tonkin * INDEPENDENT *A hilarious, ribald and often shocking tale told elegantly and with much candidness. * CATHOLIC HERALD *I was hooked from the start -- Giles Deacon * HARPER'S BAZAAR *Life may be the best rock star autobiography ever. * CLASSIC ROCK *A memoir so full of incident it feels like the author's lived three lives, not one. * SUNDAY TIMES *The fact that Keith is still alive to tell the story is incredible. -- Chris Tarrant * THE SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE *

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Book SynopsisWhen Ziggy played The Marquee Club in Soho, London, in October 1973, most of those invited to the small venue did not realise that this would be the last performance David Bowie would ever give as Ziggy Stardust. Terry O'Neill, celebrated photographer, was given unprecedented access to document the event. O'Neill captured Bowie and his crew backstage as they went through costume changes, and Bowie transformed into the character he'd soon put to rest. On stage, dodging television cameras and lights, O'Neill snapped the incredible stage presence for which Bowie and his crew had become renowned. O'Neill remembers of Bowie: "He became a character on stage. As much as a person takes a role in a play for the West End or on Broadway, learning the lines, putting on the costumes - this was, I think, the way Bowie treated his stage. This night at the Marquee, I witnessed a modern-day Hamlet - and it was Ziggy Stardust". Award-winning music writer Daniel Rachel interviews key contributors of the day, including O Neill, Ava Cherry, Amanda Lear and Geoff MacCormack along with new insights and memories from fans who were in the audience who played witness to this incredible moment.Trade ReviewThe result is an incredible, intimate volume of work that perfectly befits Bowie's legacy...--Crave

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES and INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERIn Face the Music, Paul Stanley—the co-founder and famous “Starchild” frontman of KISS—reveals for the first time the incredible highs and equally incredible lows in his life both inside and outside the band. Face the Music is the shocking, funny, smart, inspirational story of one of rock’s most enduring icons and the group he helped create, define, and immortalize.Stanley mixes compelling personal revelations and gripping, gritty war stories that will surprise even the most steadfast member of the KISS Army. He takes us back to his childhood in the 1950s and ’60s, a traumatic time made more painful thanks to a physical deformity. Born with a condition called microtia, he grew up partially deaf, with only one ear. But this instilled in him an inner drive to succeed in the most unlikely of pursuits: music.With never-before-seen photos and images throughout, Stanley’s memoir is a fully realized and unflinching portrait of a rock star, a chronicle of the stories behind the famous anthems, the many brawls and betrayals, and all the drama and pyrotechnics on and off the stage. Raw and confessional, Stanley offers candid insights into his personal relationships, and the turbulent dynamics with his bandmates over the past four decades. And no one comes out unscathed—including Stanley himself.“People say I was brave to write such a revealing book, but I wrote it because I needed to personally reflect on my own life. I know everyone will see themselves somewhere in this book, and where my story might take them is why I’m sharing it.” —Paul StanleyTrade Review"Paul Stanley proves himself as an artist in music and on canvas and now with a great book." -- Jimmy Page "Both honest and inspirational. Amazing tales from one of rock's great frontmen." -- Sir Elton John "Paul is a great man who has achieved great things. From the Popcorn Club all the way to the Hall of Fame, his story is inspiring and motivating for anyone who dreams big." -- Dave Grohl "An entertaining yet piercingly honest journey from self-conscious child to the world's most visually famous rock band, to, finally-with the makeup wiped away-a place of peace as a father and a man. Paul Stanley's story is both ordinary and extraordinary, which makes it inspiring." -- Mitch Albom, author of The First Phone Call From Heaven and Tuesdays With Morrie "For years the members hid their true identities behind cartoon personas and hard rock anthems... After years of carefully maintaining his Starchild superhero identity, Stanley lets down his guard and unleashes a torrent of pent-up feelings that erupt and flow over 400 pages like molten lava." -- Guitar World Magazine "KISS' flamboyant "Starchild" unplugs his high-wattage amps and introduces fans to an even more intriguing character: Stanley Harvey Eisen... [Face the Music is] an indispensable part of KISStory." -- Kirkus Reviews "Elegantly and thoughtfully, Stanley takes us behind the mask of Starchild, his KISS persona, and shares intimately his own insecurities about his physical appearance and his emotional life." -- Publishers Weekly "Most people will probably not associate sensitivity with the flamboyant heavy-metal rock band KISS, and yet in his memoir, front man, rhythm guitarist, and cofounder Paul Stanley succeeds in making a connection with the reader, KISS fan or not." -- Booklist

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Book Synopsis**THE PERFECT GIFT FOR BILLIE EILISH FANS**A celebration of Billie Eilish''s refreshing outlook, creativity and independence. We all want a bit more Billie in our lives!Billie Eilish isn''t up for conforming to others'' expectations of what a young woman should look and sound like. This multi-award-winning artist lays down her own beat and refuses to be labelled, restricted or dismissed. She uses her platform to advocate openness around mental health and to work towards positive change in the world around her.With chapters on learning to be yourself, standing up for what you believe and dealing with haters, Be Bad, Be Bold, Be Billieexplores Billie''s incredible journey to stardom, providing hints and tips on how to adopt her poise and no-nonsense attitude to get to where you want to be.

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Book SynopsisBob Dylan is an iconic figure in American music and cultural history. This book considers Dylan from four perspectives: his complicated relationship to blackness, the underrated influence of his singing style, his fascinating image in films, and his controversial songwriting methods that have led to charges of plagiarism.Trade Review"Only Yaffe gets anywhere close to following Dylan's drift" (Christopher Bray, Literary Review)"

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Book SynopsisA biography of the influential jazz pianist, Bill Evans. Peter Pettinger, himself a concert pianist, describes Evans's life, his personal tragedies and commercial successes, his music making, his technique and compositional methods, his approach to ensemble playing, and his legacy.Trade Review"Pettinger understands what sets the pianist apart, and explains with a minimum of technical language and just enough musical transcriptions to get his key points across. . . This is an ideal companion for those who want to 'understand' Evans in the most important way, through listening."—Bob Blumenthal, Boston Globe"Peter Pettinger writes frankly in his fine new biography of what was no secret to Evans's appalled colleagues: The most influential jazz pianist of the past half-century was addicted to drugs—first heroin, then cocaine—for much of his adult life."—Terry Teachout, New York Times Book Review"[A] fine new biography . . . packed with . . . shrewd critical commentary."—Terry Teachout, New York Times Book Review"Peter Pettinger sets out to catalog and explain Evans’ wide-ranging genius. . . . The making of every important Evans recording is discussed, and as he follows the extreme ups and downs of a career vexed by heroin addiction and other problems, Pettinger shows how the personal helped shape the artistic sensibility of this jazz innovator."—Tom Moon, Philadelphia Inquirer"Pettinger . . . has thoroughly researched Evans’s life, reading the available literature and tracking down the pianist’s associates for commentary, and he has listened assiduously to the Evans catalog, which is no small feat given its enormousness."—Adam Bresnick, Wall Street Journal"Pettinger provides a portrait of Evans that will serve as a foundation for further investigation of this quiet jazz giant. Recommended for jazz fans and music buffs."—Library Journal"Pettinger is eminently qualified to assay Evan’s evolution as a pianist, and students of Evan’s music will no doubt enjoy the author’s references to Evan’s scores and academic excursions."—Publishers Weekly"A fine new biography. . . . Pettinger, a concert pianist, is brilliant in describing, with a technical precision which is nonetheless accessible to the non-musician, what Evans was up to. Its a good read."—S.D. Feeney, Face Magazine"Pettinger's book is a reliable guide, but its chief asset is the late author's insight and enthusiasm for a unique performer."—Brian Priestly, Piano"One of the great perfectionists of jazz has been given a biography worthy of gifts."—Michael Kerrigan, The ScotsmanSelected as a 1998 Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times Book ReviewWinner of the 1999 ASCAP–Deems Taylor Award in the Pop Books Category"Peter Pettinger’s book on pianist Bill Evans is one of the best jazz biographies I have ever read. It is beautifully and lovingly written, meticulously researched, and filled with deep insight into Evans’s personality and musicmaking."—Barry Kernfeld, author of What to Listen for in Jazz"This book is likely to become a classic. There is nothing quite like it in the history of jazz. A concert pianist looks at the work of a jazz pianist whom many authorities consider one of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century. Pettinger hears all sorts of subtleties as only a fellow pianist can. He is also a felicitous and interesting writer. This is a brilliant piece of extended analysis."—Gene Lees

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Book Synopsis“An engaging journey into the wild and wonderful world of drumming.”—CLEM BURKE, BlondieTo have a great band you need a great drummer. For the first time, Tony Barrell shines a long-overdue spotlight on these musicians, offering an exciting look into their world, their art, and their personalities. In Born to Drum, he interviews some of the most famous, revered, and influential drummers of our time—including Chad Smith, Ginger Baker, Clem Burke, Sheila E., Phil Collins, Nick Mason, Patty Schemel, Butch Vig, and Omar Hakim—who share astonishing truths about their work and lives. He investigates the stories of late, great drummers such as Keith Moon and John Bonham, analyzes many of the greatest drum tracks ever recorded, and introduces us to the world’s fastest and loudest drummers, as well as the first musician to pilot a “flying drum kit” onstage.Filled with fascinating insights into the trade and little-known details about the greats, Born to Drum elevates drummers and their achievements to their rightful place in music lore and pop culture.“As Born to Drum proves, there’s a lot more to be told about drums and drumming than the Rolls-Royce in the swimming pool and the pyro beneath the bass drum.”—NICK MASON, Pink Floyd“Everyone should read this book—especially if you’re not a drummer. A great insight into a great sport.”—Joey Kramer, AerosmithTrade Review"Interesting, entertaining, and insightful. Barrell finally gives drummers their due-it's more than we're all a little crazy and just want to make some noise." -- Chad Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers "An engaging journey into the wild and wonderful world of drumming." -- Clem Burke, Blondie "As Born to Drum proves, there's a lot more to be told about drums and drumming than the Rolls-Royce in the swimming pool and the pyro beneath the bass drum ... Good advice may be found within." -- Nick Mason, Pink Floyd "Everyone should read this book-especially if you're not a drummer. A great insight into a great sport." -- Joey Kramer, Aerosmith

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Book SynopsisRod Stewart was born the working-class son of a Scottish plumber in North London. Despite some early close shaves with a number of diverse career paths, ranging from gravedigging to professional football, it was music that truly captured his heart - and he never looked back. This title tells his story.Trade ReviewHe is enjoyably gossipyabout friends such as Elton John and about his many exes — including Britt Ekland, who loved making eggy bread for his bandmates, and his former wife Rachel Hunter, the only one to have broken his heart. Written in a cheery, faintly ironic style (there’s even a chapter devoted to his haircut), this is a very enjoyable romp. * DAILY MAIL *…amiably and self-knowingly told... the tone pitched right and the jokes good…He writes articulately about music: where a drummer sits on the beat, or what makes a song bombproof. It's the work of someone who really knows his craft, and loves it. * Guardian *Behind the rock'n'roll persona, vividly portrayed in his new memoir, is a self deprecating man of manners...highly entertaining. * The Sunday Times *Quite the life you've led... the stories in here, I mean, I blushed a little * Graham Norton *It really is a rollercoaster ride...It’s a proper book. It’s not frothy. It’s not candy flossy...It is no holds barred. You wrote it yourself, it’s so obvious. It’s your voice all the way through * Chris Evans *

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Book SynopsisBy June 1993, when Washington, D.C.'s Fugazi released their third full-length album In on the Kill Taker, the quartet was reaching a thunderous peak in popularity and influence. With two EPs (combined into the classic CD 13 songs) and two albums (1990's genre-defining Repeater and 1991's impressionistic follow-up Steady Diet of Nothing) inside of five years, Fugazi was on creative roll, astounding increasingly large audiences as they toured, blasting fist-pumping anthems and jammy noise-workouts that roared into every open underground heart. When the album debuted on the now-SoundScan-driven charts, Fugazi had never been more in the public eye. Few knew how difficult it had been to make this popular breakthrough. Disappointed with the sound of the self-produced Steady Diet, the band recorded with legendary engineer Steve Albini, only to scrap the sessions and record at home in D.C. with Ted Niceley, their brilliant, under-known producer. InadvertentlTrade ReviewWritten with a fan’s loving attitude and a journalist’s eye for puncturing false narratives, this entry in the 33 ? series is a great primer for those new to Fugazi as well as an illuminating read for those who wore out their Kill Taker cassettes long ago. * Pitchfork *Table of ContentsForeword Rob Sheffield Introduction A Brief History of Four Musicians Interlude: A Comment on Ritual, or How Fugazi Wrote Songs "Steady Diet of No Reverb" The Albino Demo "Facet Squared" “Public Witness Program" "Returning the Screw" Interlude: The Sleeve "Smallpox Champion" "Rend It" "23 Beats Off" "Sweet and Low" "Cassavetes" Interlude: Punk vs. the Pop Charts "Great Cop" "Walken's Syndrome" Two Finales Interlude: Live Afterword Acknowledgements Bibliography

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Book SynopsisCollects lyrics from the popular rap artist's two albums and includes his commentary on the origin of each song.

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Book SynopsisExplores a key hip hop album marking the cross over point where the streets and the charts collided.Trade Review"It was only a matter of time before a clever publisher realized that there is an audience for whom Exile on Main Street or Electric Ladyland are as significant and worthy of study as The Catcher in the Rye or Middlemarch... freewheeling and eclectic, ranging from minute rock-geek analysis to idiosyncratic personal celebration-- The New York Times Book Review Ideal for the rock geek who thinks liner notes just aren't enough-- Rolling Stone One of the coolest publishing imprints on the planet--Bookslut These are for the insane collectors out there who appreciate fantastic design, well-executed thinking, and things that make your house look cool. Each volume in this series takes a seminal album and breaks it down in startling minutiae. We love these. We are huge nerds. - Vice A brilliant series...each one a word of real love - NME Religious tracts for the nock 'n' roll faithful - Uncut"

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Book SynopsisDiscover the fascinating story behind the rise of a new pop icon: Dua Lipa.When Dua Lipa was eleven, her music teacher told her she wasn’t good enough to join her school choir – her husky voice couldn’t reach the high notes.Now, she’s a global star. Her songs are pop anthems, streamed billions of times; she’s collaborated with everyone from Calvin Harris and Miley Cyrus to Madonna and Elton John; she’s won Grammys, BRITs and MTV awards; and she’s the biggest homegrown talent to emerge from the UK music scene since Ed Sheeran and Adele. Dua’s rise has been all the more impressive given that her Kosovan parents arrived in London as refugees, but her determination, hard work and undeniable voice have seen her transcend these humble beginnings, all while remaining fiercely proud of her heritage.In this revealing biography from the publishers of Harry, Ariana and Adele, pop music journalist Caroline Sullivan charts Dua’s incredible journey to pop superstardom. Spanning everything from her mainstream breakthrough to her sold-out Future Nostalgia Tour, and exploring her influences, activism and high-profile personal life, it paints the most complete portrait yet of this icon in the making.

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Book SynopsisPink Floyd are one of the most innovative and enduringly successful bands in history. 1973's Dark Side of the Moon, though far from the first concept album, established a new model for quasi-symphonic, long-form investigations into the human condition. It is a record of thoughtfully poignant lyrics and some of the most powerful, genre-defining rock music ever made. Roger Waters, Rick Wright, Nick Mason and the tragically brilliant Syd Barrett fused English whimsy with electrifying voyages through inner and outer space. Their underground gigs are the stuff of psychedelic legend, but between 1968 and 1971, with Barrett replaced by David Gilmour, their sonic inquiries were never braver. Some were delivered instantly while others were revealed slowly, but all played crucial parts in rock's development. During the 1970s, the music matured as the messages darkened. While Floyd continued to prove that emotional weight can be forged from deceptively modest arrangements, the band's live spectaculars reached a pitch of technical complexity and extravagance none has matched. With insightful analysis and witty objectivity, Richard Butterworth appraises afresh Pink Floyd's official recorded canon, from 'Arnold Layne' to The Endless River and beyond to 2022 and the first all-new Floyd music for 28 years.

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Book SynopsisIt contains love songs, work songs, songs about the pains and anxieties of existence, songs of consolation, songs about various kinds of spiritual quest and the realms of the mystical, and songs which deal with healing and reconciliation, both with the self and with others.

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Book SynopsisA ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR"To flip through the book is to be immersed back in the glory days of Cool Britannia... and it's just as cool as you remember"GQRemember Britpop and the '90s through hundreds of its most striking images - with many seen here for the very first time. Taken by renowned photographer Kevin Cummins, chief photographer at the NME for more than a decade, the images in this book explore the rise and fall of Cool Britannia and all that came with it.Nostalgic, anarchic and featuring contributions from icons of the Britpop era including Noel Gallagher and Brett Anderson, While We Were Getting High is a seminal portrait of a decade like no other.Artists featured include:OasisBlurSuedePulpElasticaSupergrassThe CharlatansGeneSleeperKula ShakerEchobellyThe Bluetones...and many more

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Book SynopsisRihanna invites you into her world with this stunning visual autobiographyTrade Review'This book is incredible.' - DJ Khaled 'The book is a rollicking and sumptuous autobiography, told largely with intimate images. Ephemera are woven in throughout, from early passports and a Barbie workout cassette to a handwritten note from the designer Jeremy Scott that says, 'Congrats on making Paris your bitch!'. The book unfolds in chronological order, but the structure is freewheeling and chapter-less, lending it an impressionistic quality: how a person might recall her own lived memories.' - Vogue 'Well, this gives new meaning to 'drop': Rihanna's 500-page tome. If it fell on your foot, it would crush it. She has put her stamp on almost every pop culture form - music, film, fashion - and now, books... Rihanna is in a class of her own.' - The New York Times 'It's well worth the money.' - US Weekly 'In this beautiful new book...we see her like we have never seen her before.' - Good Morning America '...The book is surely a worthy work of art itself... The book... is more than just a large, incredibly heavy hardcover publication containing stunning professional photographs from her whirlwind life. Rihanna gives readers a rare and intimate look into her journey, chronicled in family pictures, captivating tour shots, and even rare handwritten letters...' - Billboard 'Even for those who aren't obsessed with the pop star's every move, it's a gorgeous collection of photographs.' - Rolling Stone 'From the childhood pictures to newspaper clippings of her first media coverage, tour-diary snippets and holiday snapshots, the previously unpublished photographs give a comprehensive look into Rihanna's stratospheric rise from Barbados to megastardom.' - Vogue UK 'Candid, unapologetic and, most importantly, authentic to her essence.' - iHeartRadio 'Another big first - Lavish!' - Essence 'Seriously, is there anything this woman can't do?' - Metro 'Set forth in this literature, Rihanna is arguably the most visually groundbreaking artist and celebrity of her generation - the ultimate blueprint of coolness and relatability. ...In all its 504-page glory - spanning her childhood in the Barbados, four distinctive album eras since 2010's 'Loud', her rise as a fashion mogul, and vacation candids - this piece elevates that conversation, reminding readers that Rihanna is the de facto queen of Instagram, 2010's fashion blogs, and celebrity media, as well as Tumblr favorites.' - MTV '...With over 1,000 behind-the-scenes photos of the artist and her entourage... as the photos revealed themselves, each new image eliciting hushed coos and nods of understanding.' - Time '1,050 color photos spanning the length of Rih's career and capturing her transition from pop star to businesswoman.' - Paper 'Luxurious.' - Bustle '...A visual masterpiece.' - Elite Daily 'Stunning.' - ET Online 'Rihanna's new coffee-table book will have more intimate moments than a Savage x Fenty show.' - HelloGiggles 'The mogul's life story in over a thousand rare photos demands prime coffee-table space...' - InStyle

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Book SynopsisMusician, novelist, poet, actor: Nick Cave (b. 1957) is a Renaissance man. His wide-ranging artistic output—always uncompromising, hypnotic, and intense—is defined by an extraordinary gift for storytelling. In Nick Cave: Mercy on Me, Reinhard Kleist employs a cast of characters drawn from Cave’s music and writing to tell the story of a formidable artist and influencer. Kleist paints an expressive and enthralling portrait of Cave’s childhood in Australia; his early years fronting The Birthday Party; the sublime highs of his success with The Bad Seeds; and the crippling lows of his battle with heroin. Capturing everything from Cave’s frenzied performances in Berlin to the tender moments he spent with love and muse Anita Lane, Kleist’s graphic biography, like Cave’s songs, is by turns electrifying, sentimental, morbid, and comic—but always engrossing.

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Book SynopsisJOE ELLIOTT: We had balls and we were naive, in a good way. We just went out there, full throttle.Offering fans the most personal and comprehensive record of Def Leppard’s history to date, Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard is narrated by the band in their own words, illustrated with photography and memorabilia from the Def Leppard archives.RICK SAVAGE: Coming up during the punk era helped us because there were only a couple of bands playing our type of music. People probably took more notice of us because we stood out.Despite an average age of only 18, Def Leppard burst onto the hard rock scene in 1980 like a group of seasoned veterans. Thinking big from the very start, the blueprint for their music was, as singer Joe Elliott states, ‘Queen meets AC/DC.’ Def Leppard’s story is one of stratospheric highs and crashing lows, of triumph over adversity. While becoming one of the world’s best-selling music artists with blockbuster albums Pyromania and Hysteria, the band overcame drummer Rick Allen’s accident and the death of bandmate Steve Clark. During their 45-year history, Def Leppard have continued to make new music – with 12 studio albums to their name, including their 2022 release Diamond Star Halos – finding success with every record and tour.In a wide-ranging account from the band and archive text from past members, Definitely chronicles Def Leppard’s incredible story, from their humble beginnings rehearsing in a spoon factory in Sheffield, to recording ground-breaking multi-platinum albums and touring sell-out stadiums around the world.JOE ELLIOTT: In the summer of 1988 we shifted 4 million copies of Hysteria in the US alone. At that moment we were the biggest band in the world.With unlimited access to the Def Leppard vault, Definitely presents over four decades of the band’s history through handwritten correspondence, rare vinyl pressings, tour memorabilia, music video storyboards, draft album artwork, press cuttings, previously unpublished photographs and much more.Part memoir, part scrapbook, Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard is the ultimate record of Def Leppard’s legendary career.

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Book SynopsisA charismatic performer and frontman to Queen, Freddie Mercury is regarded as one of the greatest rock singers in music history.Bursting with all the famed wit, wisdom and wisecracks that made the late, great showman's larger-than-life career so compelling, this tiny tome is home to all of Freddie's most famous, infamous, and funniest flights of spoken fancy. From controversial interview quotes to candid life philosophies, through his legendary performance at Live Aid in 1985 to his final days as a solo artist, everything he ever said (almost) is here."A lot of people slammed 'Bohemian Rhapsody', but who can you compare that to? Name one group that's done an operatic single." Freddie, on 'Bohemian Rhapsody', interview with Circus magazine, March 1977."I think Queen songs are pure escapism, like going to see a good film – after that, people can go away, and go back to their problems." Freddie, on the magic of his band's songs, interview with Melody Maker, May 1981.Table of ContentsHe Will Rock You - Freddie's love of music, song writing and playing live • Want it All - Queen's rise to global super mega stardom • A Kind of Magic - Iconic music, albums and live performances • Under Pressure - Fame and rock and roll stardom • Killer Queen - Freddie's love of performance, and the controversies that followed him • Breaking Free - His solo career and life after Queen.

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERStranger Than Kindness is a journey in images and words into the creative world of musician, storyteller and cultural icon Nick Cave.This highly collectable book invites the reader into the innermost core of the creative process and paves the way for an entirely new and intimate meeting with the artist, presenting Cave's life, work and inspiration and exploring his many real and imagined universes. It features full colour reproductions of original artwork, handwritten lyrics, photographs and collected personal artefacts along with commentary and meditations from Nick Cave, Janine Barrand and Darcey Steinke.Stranger Than Kindness asks what shapes our lives and makes us who we are, and celebrates the curiosity and power of the creative spirit.The book has been developed and curated by Nick Cave in collaboration with Christina Back. The images were selected from 'Stranger Than Kindness: The Nick Cave Exhibition', opening at the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen in June 2020.Trade ReviewA scrapbook of rarely seen photos and sketches traces Nick Cave's transformation from Aussie teenager into an international artist . . . It takes on a life of its own, revealing his often compulsive way of working, as well as his abiding interests and obsessions: desire, faith, sin, despair, redemption, grief, love, and the transformative thrust of language itself * * Observer * *Goes deep into Cave's creative process, via his artwork, lyrics and photographs, and his ever-succinct commentary * * Guardian, 5 of the best * *A carefully curated collection of artwork, handwritten lyrics, photographs, personal possessions and essays, Stranger Than Kindness is a proper deep-dive into the story and creative processes of Nick Cave * * NME, Best Music Books of the Year * *[Takes] us on a detailed journey into his creative psyche. It features everything from school reports and scribbled shopping lists to lyric sheets and handwritten dictionaries - "the secret and unformed property of the artist," as Cave puts it * * Evening Standard, Best Music Books of the Year * *The material evidence of Cave's creative life. [There is] an excellent introduction from Darcey Steinke . . . a book of beauty and understated style . . . The book serves best as an invitation to explore Cave's work further, whether one is a novice or a committed celebrant. It is worth the effort * * Herald * *Features [Cave's] lurid, bizarre, beautiful, touching artwork and handmade books [and] an exquisite, winding essay by the American novelist Darcey Steinke. The essay is, simply put, extraordinary . . . Steinke has otherworldly gifts . . . I bought an expensive art book from a musician I like; what I got was a kind of compass leading me through a weird and often bleak time * * VICE * *A fascinating read, doubly so when listening to Cave perform the songs his obsessive evidence-gathering informs * * The Times * *Magnificent . . . A visual history of Cave's life, it's annotated by him with the same warmth and wit that have made his Red Hand Files series of letters to his fans so special. As for the images, they give more insight into the workings of his mind than any interview could . . . Darcey Steinke [has] written a fascinating and scholarly essay on Cave's work that sets him alongside some of literature's greatest figures . . . Exhaustive, gorgeous and thoughtful, this book of treasures will delight and inspire any admirer of Cave's work * * Classic Rock * *Offer[s] an access-all-areas peek into his life's work, featuring lyrics, essays, set designs, artwork, personal notes, previously-unseen photos and more * * Q Magazine * *Nick Cave's fans have long deserved a book that offers a long-view perspective on him and his work, and Stranger Than Kindness more than fulfils on its promise. The book collates a - carefully considered and curated - scattershot of artistic imagery, original lyric drafts, scrapbooks, and a few literary influences . . . [There is an] insightful and searching essay from Darcey Steinke . . . Stranger Than Kindness both embodies and enriches our understanding of how Nick Cave the artist came to be, and illuminates why his music continues to matter to so many * * HeadStuff * *

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Book SynopsisSammy Hagar—legendary lead singer of Van Halen, founder of the Cabo Wabo Tequila brand, and one of rock music’s most notoriously successful performers—tells his unforgettable story in this one-of-a-kind autobiography of a life at the top of the charts. From his decade-long journey alongside Eddie Van Halen to his raucous solo career with Chickenfoot and everything in between—the drugs, groupies, and excesses of fame, the outrageous stadium tours, and the thrill of musical innovation—Hagar reveals all in this treasure trove of rock-and-roll war stories. Red is a life-changing look at one of music’s biggest talents—an essential read for music fans and anyone dreaming of becoming rock’s next number one star.Trade Review"Sammy's no bullsh*tter. If Sammy says it happened, it did. There's nobody else anywhere like him." -- Michael Anthony "Sammy has maintained his all-star success no matter where his Red Rocker career has taken him. He still can't drive fifty-five, but hey, he's the one driving the Mustang. So site back and ride." -- Toby Keith "Nobody had to explain the American dream to Sammy. He knew in his gut that there was a better life available to him if he refused to accept the status quo. It's all here in Sammy's new book." -- Ted Nugent "I'll admit it: I've been a Sammy Hagar wannabe since I heard his voice on a Montrose album...I'm proud to call him a rock star hero, a friend, and a brother in the sun. Rock on, Red Rocker!" -- Kenny Chesney "Sam's the man. Tequila, fast cars, rock 'n' roll-my kind of guy." -- Jimmie Johnson, five-time NASCAR champion "There are not a lot of people I would drop whatever I'm doing to go and see, but Sammy Hagar is one of thouse people...The man rocks his ass off, and vicariously through him so do I. My man-Sammy Hagar." -- Whoopi Goldberg "Over the many years I've known Sammy, his Red Rocker passion in music has always inspired me. But it's also his love of cooking great food and sharing a good bottle of wine that has been at the core of our friendship for so long. -- Emeril Lagasse "There are tell-all books. And then there are tell-all books written by Sammy Hagar. The 63-year-old ex-Van Halen frontman holds back nothing -- and I mean absolutely nothing -- in his autobiography...the Red Rocker's life look-back doesn't skimp on the details." -- Associated Press

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Book SynopsisNOW A LIMITED SERIES DIRECTED BY DANNY BOYLE_____________________Foreword by Chrissie HyndeWithout the Sex Pistols there would be no punk rock, and without Steve Jones there would be no Sex Pistols.It was Steve who formed Kutie Jones and his Sex Pistols, the band that eventually went on to become the Sex Pistols, with his schoolmate Paul Cook and who was its original leader. As the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of Punk - the influence and cultural significance of which is felt in music, fashion and the visual arts to this day - Steve tells his story for the very first time.Rising from the streets of Hammersmith, Steve Jones was once a lonely, neglected boy living off his wits and petty thievery. Given purpose by the glam art rock of David Bowie and Roxy Music, he became one of the first generation of punks taken under the wings of Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood. For the very first time Steve describes theTrade ReviewLonely Boy is often eye-wateringly funny … Jones is good at puncturing myth … His book’s a delight. * Observer, 'Music Book of the Day' *The Sex Pistols guitarist details his life – an impoverished Sixties childhood, sexual abuse and dalliances with crime – in a way that is both moving and candid. * Telegraph, 'Top 50 Books of the Year' *The Pistols’ story, retold refreshingly and with added rumpage … What’s special about this book is its story arc, which will make the most hardened punk well up … A poignant, honest, drily humorous rump-fest from a lost soul found. * Mojo *[An] absolute riot of revelation…[Jones] owns up to his failings with a colourful candour that is moving. -- Neil McCormick * Telegraph *It can be harrowing, hilarious, and often touching, but above all, Lonely Boy is life-affirming. Thank you, Steve Jones. * Sex-pistols.net *

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Book SynopsisLaura Nyro (1947-1997) was one of the most significant figures to emerge from the singer-songwriter boom of the 1960s. She first came to attention when her songs were hits for Barbra Streisand, The Fifth Dimension, Peter, Paul and Mary, and others. But it was on her own recordings that she imprinted her vibrant personality. With albums like Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry she mixed the sounds of soul, pop, jazz and Broadway to fashion autobiographical songs that earned her a fanatical following and influenced a generation of music-makers. In later life her preoccupations shifted from the self to embrace public causes such as feminism, animal rights and ecology – the music grew mellower, but her genius was undimmed. This book examines her entire studio career from 1967’s More than a New Discovery to the posthumous Angel in the Dark release of 2001. Also surveyed are the many live albums that preserve her charismatic stage presence. With analysis of her teasing, poetic lyrics and unique vocal and harmonic style, this is the first-ever study to concentrate on Laura Nyro’s music and how she created it. Elton John idolised her; Joni Mitchell declared her ‘a true original’. Here’s why.

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Book SynopsisCelebrate 40 years of WHAM! with the Sunday Times bestseller from one half of the world''s most famous bands ''I couldn''t put it down. Such a fantastic book'' Chris Evans, Virgin Radio ________ School mates. Band mates. Soul mates . . . When Andrew Ridgley took George Michael, the new boy at school, under his wing, he discovered a soul mate. In Wham! George and Me, Andrew tells the story of how they rode a rollercoaster of success around the world while making iconic records and surviving superstardom with their friendship intact. It is a memoir of love, music, the flamboyant 1980s and living in a pop hurricane. No one else can ever tell their story - because no one else was there . . .Forty years on from their explosion into pop music, Andrew Ridgeley tells the inside story of Wham!, his life-long friendship with George Michael and the formation of a band that changed music. ________ ''A joyous celebration of the Wham! years. For anyone who was a teenager in the early 1980s, it will take you on a nostalgia trip. It''s an honest but affectionate account of a remarkable duo who remained true to their origins and their friendship throughout it all'' Daily Express ''As infectious as their music'' Daily Mirror ''A remarkably generous memoir. In more than one sense, the biography of a friend'' Spectator ''A great story'' Saturday Live, Radio 4 ''A lovely book. A love letter to George'' Graham Norton, BBC One ''Charming, heartfelt . . . there''s a real poignancy to Ridgeley''s description of Wham!''s glory days'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewEven before the first page of this charming, heartfelt memoir, Ridgeley's eloquent dedication to his "dearest friend" George Michael will have you in tears. This is more than a gleeful shuttlecocks-in-shorts account of young guns having some fun: there's a real poignancy to Ridgeley's description of Wham!'s glory days, the knowledge of what will be lost - a band, a best friend - chilling in the Club Tropicana sunshine. * The Sunday Times *A touching account of male friendship * The Times *Celebrity Memoirs of the Year * Guardian *A remarkably generous memoir....in more than one sense, the biography of a friend * Spectator *It's a joyous celebration of the Wham! years. For anyone who was a teenager in the early 1980s, it will take you on a nostalgia trip, with dozens of comically captioned photos of the band during the white espadrille years. It's an honest but affectionate account of a remarkable duo who remained true to their origins and their friendship throughout it all * Daily Express *Packed full of nostalgia, heart and insight, Wham! George & Me is a lovingly written ode to friendship and a celebration of one of the greatest pop acts of all time. A superb tribute * Classic Pop Magazine *In this moving memoir, which is also a vivid nostalgia trip for anyone who was a teenager in the 70s and 80s, he tells the story of his friendship and musical collaboration with George Michael. Engaging * Sunday Express *The Wham! star charts his treasured friendship with George Michael, from their meeting at school in 1975 to George's untimely death in 2016. The duo left a legacy of pop classics from the exuberant Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go to the evergreen Last Christmas, and Ridgeley's enthusiasm for life in a chart-topping band is as infectious as their music * Daily Mirror *This book is all you could want and more! * Magic Book Club *I couldn't put it down. Such a fantastic book * Chris Evans, Virgin Radio *A great story * Saturday Live, Radio 4 *A lovely book. A love letter to George * Graham Norton, BBC1 *A touching and vivid nostalgia trip - with great photos * Best *Top 50 gift picks for the book lovers in your life * The Herald *A fond look back at the Wham! star's life in the group that helped define Eighties pop * Choice Magazine *Will no doubt appeal to the fanbase . . . Humorous and touching * Times Literary Supplement *Joyful nostalgia * Daily Express *As a hard-nosed ex-detective, it was a source of much hilarity that I am such a Wham! fan but my copy of this is a prized possession * Peter Bleksley *

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Book Synopsis ‘This book will delight both New Order-ites and general rock readers’ MojoA ROLLICKING, NO-HOLDS-BARRED ACCOUNT OF NEW ORDER'S ENTIRE HISTORY. Two acclaimed albums and an upcoming US tour – Joy Division had the world at their feet. Then, on the eve of that tour, the band’s troubled lead singer, Ian Curtis, killed himself. The next time they got together, they were a new band. That band was New Order – their label was Factory Records, their club The Haçienda. Their distinctive sound paved the way for the dance music explosion that followed, earning them the reputation as one of the most influential bands of their generation, and changing the course of popular music. Following on from his bestselling titles The Haçienda and Unknown Pleasures, Peter Hook has written a rollicking, no-holds-barred account of the band's entireTrade Review‘Rock writing rarely tells us properly what a band treading water or in slow decline feels like from the inside. Hook does so memorably.’ * Guardian *‘The 768 pages will delight both New Order-ites and general rock readers, revealing the astonishing human bathos behind this group's godly future-rock […] The way Joy Division and New Order combined high art with base behaviour is well established but this book rides that tandem to new dimensions […] there's much more than carnage’ * Mojo *‘Set against a lurid backdrop of orgiastic tours, awash with drink, drugs, and a debauched retinue of dealers, hookers and mad roadies, Hook drawing from a seemingly bottomless well of outrageous anecdotes, many of them hilarious and told with the same droll voice that delighted readers of The Haçienda: How Not to Run a Club’ * Uncut *‘Epic rock tale of sex, drugs and jealousy … A must for fans, it's wildly funny and revelatory' * The Sun *‘A rollicking read’ * Record Collector *‘You don’t have to be an ardent fan of Manchester music to enjoy this doorstopper … engrossing’ * Cheshire Life *‘Substance chronicling the original four-piece’s history is as mammoth and downright idiotic as the band deserves … something hilariously daft happens on nearly all of Substance’s 750 pages’ * Classic Pop *

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Book SynopsisSpeaking for the first time about the profound impact that his brother's death had on him, the author offers a tribute to Duane that only a younger brother could write, showing how, to this day, he still confronts the grief of losing his big brother, even as Duane continues to guide and inspire him.Trade Review...This book is everything you could hope for: in a grizzled, laconic drawl, Allman provides a rambling backstage account of his five decades with the Allman Brothers Band, and he doesn't seem to hold anything back. -- New York Times Book Review A soul-searching rumination on a hard-lived life... For generations of fans, Allman's book provides insights into the many turns in that long road... MY CROSS TO BEAR carries a welcome seal of honesty. -- USA Today In his memoir, the rambling and rambunctious Gregg Allman lays bare his soul... In the end, Allman, writing with music journalist Light, has produced a fiercely honest memoir. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) This is a story about musical brotherhood. Rich and moving... Nothing less than profound. Life, love and music from one of the most influential American recording artists of the last 40 years. -- Kirkus Reviews "Packed with juicy anecdotes, gripping details and raw energy...Fans of the Allman Brothers Band are certain to relish the revelations... MY CROSS TO BEAR provides a window into Allman's tortured soul - he presents himself as a man cracked and flawed, yet somehow intact." -- Birmingham News

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Book SynopsisIn Eminent Hipsters, musician and songwriter Donald Fagen, best known as the co-founder of the rock band Steely Dan, presents an autobiographical portrait that touches on everything from the cultural figures that mattered the most to him as a teenager, to his years in the late 1960s at Bard College, to a hilarious account of a recent tour he made with Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald.Fagen begins by introducing the ''eminent hipsters'' that spoke to him as he was growing up (and desperately yearning to be hip) in suburban New Jersey in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The figures who influenced him most were not the typical ones Miles Davis, say, or Jack Kerouac but rather people like Jean Shepherd, whose manic, acidic nightly radio broadcasts out of WOR-Radio had a tough realism about life and enthralled a generation of alienated young people'; Henry Mancini, whose chilled-out, nourish soundtracks, especially to films by Blake Edwards utilised the unconventional, spaTrade ReviewNerdishly clever, entertainingly original and even a moving reconfiguration of the memoir format. -- Bernadette McNulty * Sunday Telegraph *Fagen, as you might expect, is an elegant and erudite writer. -- John Mulvey * Uncut *If you're a Dan fan you should read this book. If you're not a Dan fan you should read it anyway. * The Afterword *Part memoir, part personal dissertation, and it makes for an enjoyable, if brief, read. -- Dylan Jones * GQ *A curious little autobiographical volume by another hero of long ago, Donald Fagen, once and again of Steely Dan. * Spectator *Eminent Hipsters is regularly funny and insightful. * Sunderland Echo / Dorset Echo *I would like to be given Eminent Hipsters. -- Sebastian Faulks * Observer *An excellent, albeit slim, collection of essays about the Steely Dan singer’s formative teenage influences as "a subterranean in gestation with a real nasty cast of otherness". -- Andy Gill * Independent *A memoir of inspired essayism and darkly comic recollection which barely touches on Steely Dan yet utterly satisfies. -- Mat Snow * Mojo *This is moaning of the highest order — jazz moaning, you might call it — and Fagen keeps it up for 70 brilliant, hilarious pages. For the intelligent, grumpy old music fan, only one of these books needs to be bought as a present this Christmas, and it’s not Morrissey’s. -- Markus Berkmann * Spectator *Eminent Hipsters is regularly funny and insightful…whether you know who Fagen is or not, it’s still worth anyone’s time. * Yorkshire Evening Post *The writing is sharp, wry and elegant, without a single wasted word. -- Aidan Smith * Scotland on Sunday *This book is a piece of pure bliss. -- Anthony Quinn * Guardian *An unalloyed joy. -- Les Gofton * Times Higher Education *Constantly surprising, and recalled with great elegance. * Financial Times *A terrific and easy read. -- Jonathan O'Brien * Sunday Business Post *Wry, funny and forensically observant. * Saga *A terrific music memoir. -- Tony Clayton-Lea * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisThis book features the images from Pink Floyd's album sleeves and promotional material designed for the group. It features almost all Pink Floyd's iconic album covers, posters, singles bags, a selection of band photos, booklet pages and rough artwork that developed into iconic designs. This new edition incorporates an additional 32 pages of material used in re-issues created since 2007. Storm Thorgerson, who died in 2013, was a world-famous designer whose memoirs of his time spent with Pink Floyd are combined with all the artwork he created to represent the band at each stage of their career. Storm revisited the work he created for the albums and offers insights into the work that went into the creation of this legendary album art. Designers who worked with Storm have all contributed to this new edition of Mind Over Matter. Amongst the new material is artwork from the Oh By The Way box set, the Atom Heart Mother 40th Anniversary 'Wire Cow' sculpture, the Why Pink Floyd? Campaign and the Dark Side Of The Moon 40th Anniversary images and stickers.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive account of Whitney Houston's astonishing life, ground-breaking career and tragic death complete with never-before-seen photographs from the only one who truly knows the story behind the headlines: her mother, Cissy Houston.Cissy has said little publicly about Whitney's heart-breaking death. Now, for the first time, she opens up and shares the unbelievable story of her daughter's life, as well as her own, and addresses Whitney's brightest and darkest moments.A legendary Grammy Award-winning gospel singer in her own right, Cissy Houston shows how the lessons from her own musical journey helped to shape Whitney's career from teaching Whitney to use her voice, to keeping her level-headed throughout her meteoric rise to fame.With candour and respect, she sets the record straight about Whitney, exploring both her turbulent marriage and her misunderstood struggles with drug abuse. Cissy goes behind the tabloid headlines to show fans around the world the true, human side of a strong, successful yet flawed musical icon who died much too young.Includes a Foreword by Dionne Warwick.Trade Review‘Essential reading for anyone who wants the inside angle on one of the greatest musical careers of the 20th Century.’ Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“More than an insider’s story about VH; Monk also shares fascinating firsthand information about how the music industry operated at that time…An absolute must-read for VH fans and fans of rock music memoirs.” — Library Journal “Too bad the title The Dirt was already taken. Noel Monk – who went from being Van Halen’s road manager to their business manager during their Diamond Dave prime – holds nothing back…Monk paints a convincing picture of a brilliant, substance-addled young band that wasn’t built to last.” — Rolling Stone “The Van Halen book you’ve been waiting for…brutally honest and at times shocking…Van Halen fans will be discussing and debating it with the same attention to detail as Eddie’s finger-tapping work on ‘Eruption.’” — Houston Press “There’s plenty of sex and drugs here, along with the absurdities of the hard-rock life.” — New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisFollowing hard on the explosion of British punk, in 1979 Gang of Four produced post-punk’s smartest record, Entertainment! For the first time, a band wedded punk’s angry energy to funk’s propulsive beats—and used that music to put across lyrics that brought a heady mixture of Marxist theory and situationism to exposing the cultural politics of everyday life. But for an American college student from the suburbs—and, one expects, for many, many others, including British youth—Jon King’s and Andy Gill’s mumbled lyrics were often all but unintelligible. Political rock ‘n’ roll is always something of an oxymoron: rock audiences by and large don’t tune in to be lectured to. But what can it mean that a band that made pop songs as political theory actively resisted making that theory legible? Coming to terms with the impact of Entertainment! requires us to take the mondegreen—the misunderstood lyric—seriously. The old joke has it that the title of R.E.M.’s debut album should have been not Murmur, but Mumble: true, so far as it goes. But that’s the title, too, of rock ‘n’ roll’s Greatest Hits compilation—and that strategic inarticulateness itself, which creates such an important role for the listener, has an important politics.Trade ReviewKevin Dettmar, having been an American college student in the '70s, is-in an odd way-the ideal author to write the 33 1/3 series volume #91 about British post-punk band Gang of Four's album Entertainment! (1979). In addition to being well-versed to discuss the cultural and musical implications of such a band steeped in leftist and “Situationist” political theory, in the book's introduction, he also proclaims the band to be his “favorite of all time.” This is the kind of mixture of knowledge and fervor that has made the series a great addition to the literature about pop music. Dettmar tends to beat us over the head with the Marxism and Situationism in the British band's lyrics and approach, the way their lyrics make sharp social commentary in counterpoint to their equally jagged yet seductive dance rhythms. It's a bit of a stretch, the case he makes for each of the songs as a “think piece,” but it may help the casual listener to give the band another spin to listen for what is hidden subversively in their sound. * SLUG Magazine *There are not many great Marxist/feminist rock bands, but Gang of Four have a strong claim of being among them. Entertainment was their first album, released in 1979, is innovative both musically and with its lyrics; it was a time of many great albums … Kevin Dettmar aims to address the power of the Gang of Four in his short book on their album Entertainment … The text refers to many different figures and ideas, including Emerson, Don Delillo, James Joyce and Engels. Mostly, his approach is plausible and clever, although he is occasionally eccentric … this book is worthwhile. -- Christian Perring, Dowling College, USA * Metapsychology Online Reviews 19:8 *Words are at the very heart of Kevin Dettmar’s affectionate retrospective of the Leeds quartet’s first and best-known album, 1979’s Entertainment! - not only because Dettmar is a professor of English but because Gang of Four’s debut is a veritable treasure trove of punning, word play and semantic dissonance. -- Houman Barekat * The Quietus *Table of ContentsIntroduction Keywords Ideology Nature Theory Alienation Consumer Sex Back to the Gutters

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Book SynopsisFrom the award-winning country/pop star Shania Twain comes an in-depth look at her difficult childhood and rise to worldwide fame.

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