Musicians, singers, bands and groups Books
Luminare Press Emil von Sauer: Liszt's Forgotten Protégé
£16.14
Rare Bird Books It's the World's Birthday Today
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Independently Published Concert for violin and orchestra No.1: The Stansy of the Devil
£12.40
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Beer, Sweat & Blood: On Tour With The Macc Lads
£14.11
Independently Published David Cassidy: Crazy Over You in Saratoga: Ain't no rock'n'roll story: It's a special tribute to a music legend's love of horses and the fans he loved
£12.77
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Pere Soto 111 BLUES Fake Book
£19.65
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Pere Soto Waltz songs
£15.61
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Pere Soto 48 latin Jazz
£19.30
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform PERE SOTO 225 Ballads Fakebook
£22.70
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Pere Soto Gypsy Jazz Fakebook vol. II
£15.61
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Palestrina For All: Unwrapping, Singing, Celebrating
£10.66
Cascade Books Sting and Religion
£22.34
Scout Media Death Threats from an Eight-Year-Old: The Story of Jesus Jones
Book SynopsisWhen a mix of ideas and influences with no common theme or spirit, apart from one of desperation, becomes one of the most well-known bands of the 90s ...Mike Edwards is the singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the British alternative-rock band, Jesus Jones. Among having multiple chart-topping hits, releasing several albums throughout the last 3 decades, and being awarded Best New Band at the MTV Music Awards in 1991, Jesus Jones are widely known for their #1 international hit, 'Right Here, Right Now.' Jesus Jones continues to tour and record, now with a renewed vigor after being able to control their own destiny, freed from the grips of major labels. Mike’s debut novel, Death Threats from an Eight-Year-Old, chronicles how fast a band that is number one everywhere in the world can plummet from the good graces of the press, labels, radio, MTV, and even so-called diehard fans. A true introspective about the cutthroat music business told through the eyes and words of a man who experienced fronting one of the most well-known bands of their time, to finding his band label-less and shunned in a blink of an eye.
£16.59
Englance Press The Music of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
£13.29
Five Per Cent For Something Publishing Yes - The Tormato Story
£18.99
Pan Macmillan Australia Willie's Bar and Grill
£13.99
Wilfrid Laurier University Press This Awareness of Beauty: The Orchestral and Wind Band Music of Healey Willan
Book SynopsisThis Awareness of Beauty is the first book to consider the orchestral and wind band music of Canadian composer Healey Willan, who was known primarily for his choral work. A succinct biography accompanies historical, analytical, and critical investigations of Willan's instrumental music, asserting Willan's seminal place in Canadian music and the significance of his orchestral and wind band music both nationally and internationally. Each composition is investigated in chronological order to illustrate the composer's evolution as a creator of instrumental music from his early years in England to his later, and more notable, accomplishments in Canada. Willan's orchestral music may be seen as both a reaction to and a stimulus for the significant improvement in Canadian orchestral performance during the 1930s and 40s, a factor in the creation of his large-scale compositions, including two symphonies and a piano concerto. Although much has been written about Willan, most of it has centred on his choral work, with biography and/or musicology as the frame of reference; this project considers his instrumental music in terms of performance, provides historical context for many of the works included, and corrects errors that have crept into the literature.Trade Review`It is in the chapter on the band works that the author's enthusiasms emerge most strongly--and it is here that his book breaks valuable new ground. One of Willan's best-known instrumental pieces, the Royce Hall Suite for concert band, composed in 1949, bears on its title page the indication 'edited and scored by William Teague.'. Teague, a staff arranger with the New York firm Associated Music Publishers, performed this assignment using written indications by the composer. Kinder has examined their correspondence, and uses it in presenting a bar-by-bar critique of the score, concluding with the judgement that a new instrumentation giving greater respect to Willan's notes would greatly improve the Suite's effectiveness. These pages are the most vivid in the book, and make one hope to one day hear a new version, perhaps prepared by Kinder, an experienced band director, himself.'' -- John Beckwith -- CAML Review, 42, no. 2, August 2014, 201409Table of ContentsTable of Contents for This Awareness of Beauty: The Orchestral and Wind Band Music of Healey Willan by Keith W. Kinder List of Musical Examples Preface and Acknowledgments âEnglish by Birth, Irish by Extraction, Canadian by Adoption, and Scotch by Absorptionâ: Introduction and Biographical Sketch Part One: âTender, Lyrical, Forceful, Arrestingâ: The Orchestral Music 1. The Early Orchestral Works 2. The Works for Small Orchestra 3. Shorter Orchestral Works 4. Works for Piano and Orchestra 5. The Symphonies Part Two: âA Couple of Very Pretty Tunesâ: Works for Wind Band 6. Concert Band Works 7. Pedagogical Music 8. The Fanfares Conclusion Appendix 1: Works Reviewed with Sources Notes Bibliography Index
£30.35
New Generation Publishing Sax Madmen
£15.60
Little, Brown Book Group E Street Shuffle: The Glory Days of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Book SynopsisBruce Springsteen is one of the most important and controversial rock stars of our times: this is the story of the man - a complex, poetic loner whose albums went on to sell 18 million copies - and the band that gave his inner vision a punch and a swagger. Clinton Heylin has written the most factually accurate, informative book on Springsteen to date. As in Heylin's definitive Bob Dylan title Revolution in the Air, E Street Shuffle will focus on Bruce Springsteen and his work: the songs he's written, the way they were recorded, how they sounded live. Heylin also has unparalleled access to the people around Springsteen: current and former members of the E Street Band; CBS A&R personnel; Springsteen's 'New Dylan' contemporaries, as well as fellow Asbury Park musicians and scenesters, and rock critics. This is the essential book for any fan of the Boss.Praise for Clinton Heylin:"Arguably the world's greatest rock biographer." - The Irish Independent."The only Dylanologist worth reading." - The New York Times.Trade ReviewAn impressive feat of rock scholarship. * Sunday Telegraph *Heylin traces Springssteen's development from the bars of the Jersey Shore to the stadiums of the world in compelling fashion. * Catholic Herald *
£27.48
Omnibus Press Captain Beefheart: The Biography
Book SynopsisFollowing Don Van Vliet's death Mike Barnes will look to reassess his legacy through new interview material and with reference to reports and eulogies that appeared in the media. Mike Barnes gives an assured survey of all of Don Van Vliet's creative work as well as an insight into the extraordinary personality behind it and the history of a truly original rock band.Trade ReviewBarnes gets the story, and with the full participation of those brave musicians who attempted to interpret Beefheart's sometimes otherworldy methodology.' The Times
£16.41
Omnibus Press Sparks: Talent is an Asset
Book SynopsisWhen LA musicians Russell and Ron Mael moved to Britain in 1973, they hit the pop world as Sparks and looked like Oddballs, even in the context of the Glam Rock movement that made them welcome. Soon defined by their weird and wonderful 1974 single This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us from the Kimono My House album, Sparks went on to release 21 albums over four decades, each record inhabiting a bizarre world of it's own. Their songs were peppered with puns and pop culture nods, as well as nostalgia and jokey images, all mixed up in a kaleidoscope of musical references ranging from rock to glam to disco. The paperback edition of the critically acclaimed biography. The Sparks story is now celebrated in this book, Daryl Easlea's exploration of their extraordinary career drawing on hours of new interviews and research. Talent is an Asset comes as close as possible to pinning down the quicksilver nature of two gifted musicians who have gone out of their way to remain unpredictable and elusive, forever entrenched behind a dazzling gallery of jokes, impersonations and musical eccentricities.Trade Review'[Easlea's] mastery of the story makes Talent is an Asset that rare kind of page turning biography that nips along like any bestselling novel. ' Record Collector 'The early exploits are the most interesting.' Mojo ****
£14.95
Omnibus Press Unleashed: The Story of Tool
Book SynopsisThe very first book about the Anglo-American metal band Tool explores not only their uncompromising music but also their unsettling, self-made image based on mythological symbols and arcane theories. Now available in paperback. The quartet of master musicians - Maynard James Keenan, Danny Carey, Justin Chancellor and Adam Jones - emerged from the club scene in Los Angeles in 1990 alongside their friends Rage Against the Machine, grabbing the concept of heavy music and then completely redefining it. With a sixties-style commitment to art and agit-prop, they have now attained a level of artistic complexity and depth which makes their enduring success a miracle in today's culture of bland, corporate entertainment.They have received three Grammy awards and their rise to glory has been one of the stranger rock tales of our time. Joel McIver leaves no detail omitted as he delves into the mystery behind Tool's music.
£14.98
Omnibus Press Leonard Cohen: The Music & the Mystique
Book SynopsisA track by track analysis of every song recorded on officially released albums by Cohen, from his 1968 Songs Of Leonard Cohen to his most recent studio and live sets from the 21st Century Features include...An up to date chronology of all the important events in Leonard Cohen's career. An album by album, track by track analysis...Special section on compilation albums...Photographs and CD cover art.
£14.98
Omnibus Press Morrissey and Marr: The Severed Alliance
Book SynopsisMorrissey & Marr: The Severed Alliance is among the most successful - and controversial - rock biographies ever published. Having denounced the book and called for the death of its author Johnny Rogan, Morrissey later did a U-turn and cited it as evidence in the royalty-related court case brought by Smiths drummer Mike Joyce. Now, 20 years after it was first published, Rogan has returned to his definitive Smiths biography to produce a completely revised edition based on new information and new interviews to add to the almost 100 initially conducted over a four-year period. Widely acclaimed as one rock's leading writers, Johnny Rogan now brings yet more insight and analysis to his best-selling book that revealed, for the first time, the true and unsanitised story of The Smiths - the most important group of their generation.Trade Review'A hugely readable and fascinating book - flawlessly informed. A superb achievement.' Q (5 stars) "A page-turner of the first degree" - The Sunday Telegraph 'A bloody marvellous book.' Melody Maker "Personally I hope Johnny Rogan ends his days very soon in an M3 pile-up" - Morrissey
£21.05
Omnibus Press Patti Smith
Book SynopsisPatti Smith is one of pop culture's true originals. The 1975 release of her debut album Horses signalled the start of a career full of passionate commitment, abrupt gear changes and unlikely collaborations which continues to flourish well into the 21st century.Nick Johnstone, respected music journalist and long time fan, unravels the story of the girl from Chicago who mixed poetry, underground theatre, jazz and rock, and who played a key role in shaping the New York punk scene of the mid-Seventies. From the home town experimental poems through street performance in Paris to high times in New York's Chelsea Hotel, from the quiet years in suburban Detroit with husband Fred 'Sonic' to her ascension to iconic status, the Patti Smith story is full of unexpected twists and turns. Nick Johnstone makes fascinating sense of a complex creative and produces a compelling insight into the life and times of a woman who has always refused to compromise. Arthur Rimbaud, Robert Mapplethorpe, Sam Shepherd and Bruce Springsteen are just a few who have become associated with the Patti Smith legend. She has toured with Bob Dylan, opened for the New York Dolls and duetted on record with R.E.M., written songs for movies and still produces albums off arresting originality.
£12.36
Omnibus Press The Million Dollar Quartet
Book SynopsisMillion Dollar Quartet' is the name given to recordings made on Tuesday December 4, 1956 in the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The recordings were of an impromptu jam session among Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.The events of the session. Very few participants survive. Includes interviews with the drummer and the sound engineer. A detailed analysis of the music played - and its relevance to subsequent popular music. The early lives and careers of the quartet - where they were in 1956. Relevant social and economic factors which meant that a massive audience of young people were keenly looking for a new kind of music they could call their own. The "reunions" of surviving members of the quartet. The emergence of the tapes, first on bootleg and then on legitimate CDs. The genesis of the stage show and its reception - the enduring appeal of the music.
£19.95
Omnibus Press From A Whisper To A Scream: The Complete Guide to the Music of LED Zeppelin
Book SynopsisThe indispensable consumers' guide to the music of Led Zeppelin. An album by album, track by track, run-down of every song released by Led Zeppelin, from their classic first album to their best selling albums of the seventies and beyond. Also includes details of their remastered recordings, compilation albums, live albums and Led Zeppelin on DVD. Features include...*An album by album, track by track analysis *Information on when and where the music was recorded *A track index for easy reference *16 pages of colour pictures
£12.39
Omnibus Press The Kinks: You Really Got Me
Book SynopsisThe paperback edition of the bestselling biography. The Kinks are the quintessential British sixties band, revered for an incredible series of classic songs ('You Really Got Me', 'Waterloo Sunset' and 'Lola' to name but a few) and critically acclaimed albums (The Village Green Preservation Society). Featuring original interviews with key band members Ray Davies, his brother Dave and Mick Avory, as well as Chrissie Hynde and many others close to the group, every stage of their career is covered in fascinating detail: the hits, the American successes of the 1970s and the legendary band in-fighting. Nearly 50 years after they formed, The Kinks influence is still being felt today as strongly as ever.Trade Reviewnew interviews with both Dave and Ray are particularly revealing.' MOJO ' - journalist Hasted has delivered the most complete and satisfying biography ever published on the band.' Record Collector
£18.44
Omnibus Press Lady Gaga: Looking for Fame
Book SynopsisAn updated edition of this bestselling biography that features details of her second album Born This Way and her subsequent tour as well as the release of her long-awaited third album in spring 2013, ARTPOP. Includes her numerous controversies such as that meat dress, her many collaborations with everyone with Elton John to Cher and Tony Bennett, and her movie acting debut in Machete Kills in early 2013. This is the story of her high-speed rise in the fame game, told with a mix of admiration and sharp journalistic insight. Packed with full-colour photographs complete this portrait of one of the biggest names in modern music.
£12.36
Equinox Publishing Ltd Do You Want to Know a Secret?: The Autobiography of Billy J. Kramer
Book SynopsisIn this autobiography Billy J. Kramer (born William Ashton) tells his rags to riches story, from his working class childhood in Liverpool to the racy world of international pop music. Managed by Brian Epstein, produced by George Martin, and friend, confidante and colleague of the Beatles, Kramer gives a definitive insider's account of the birth of the Liverpool sound and also the "British Invasion" of the USA. But there are dark secrets in the Kramer story. Before he reached his twenties, he was in the grip of drugs and alcohol, and there were constant tensions between him and his backing band, the Dakotas. When the screaming stopped, he reinvented himself as a cabaret performer, and some of his best records were made in the years he was out of the limelight. With a young family, drink and pills made his domestic life, and eventually his professional life, a struggle. In this no-holds-barred account, Kramer brings to life the vibrancy of the sixties. He then reveals how he exorcised his demons and forged a new career in the United States. He assembles his current band, shows a growing mastery of songwriting, and returns to national tours of Britain and the USA, keeping the flame of the Mersey sound alive. The lifetime of experience he brings to his new songs infuses every page of this enthralling read.Trade ReviewHe was the most handsome man on stage, and well-dressed too - Ringo Starr; Billy J. Kramer and his band The Dakotas have always been an inspiration to me - Peter FramptonTable of ContentsForewordChapter 1: Little Children: 1943-1958 Chapter 2: I'll Be on My Way: 1958-1962 Chapter 3: Silver Dream: 1963-1964Chapter 4: It's Gotta Last Forever: 1964-1967Chapter 5: Twilight Time: 1967-1971Chapter 6: Gone Away: 1971Chapter 7: You Can't Live on Memories: 1972-1983Chapter 8: I Won the Fight: 1984-2006Chapter 9: To Liverpool with Love: from 2006Recordings List
£24.95
John Blake Publishing Ltd Danny O'Donoghue
Book SynopsisDanny O'Donoghue is loved by millions around the world as the frontman of The Script. A cheeky Irish charmer, he is blessed with rugged good looks and a voice that pours every drop of emotion into heartfelt lyrics. But success did not come quickly for the Dubliner - it took years of hard grafting to hit the big time. Youngest of a musical family, Danny was born to be a rock star. With no interest in education, his long path to stardom began after a chance meeting with would-be guitar hero Mark Sheehan. Little did the two youngsters know that they would ultimately find fame together as one of Ireland's most successful bands. But Danny would spend a decade in musical purgatory in the US, stealing bags of ice just to fill his bath and making tea in the recording studios for the likes of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, before the two triumphantly struck out on their own. With years of learning from the best, they knew the recipe for success. the Script exploded onto the scene in style, with hit singles turning them into worldwide stars. With Paul McCartney, Take That and U2 all clamouring for their support, they were soon headlining arenas themselves. And in 2012, Danny's career reached new heights as a judge on hit show The Voice. His journey from tea boy to TV star, music hero and household name was complete.
£13.26
John Blake Publishing Ltd She Can't Stop: Miley Cyrus: The Biography
Book SynopsisMiley Cyrus first shot to fame at a young age playing Hannah Montana but she has long-since said goodbye to her good girl image, and is now best known for pushing the boundaries - both on and off stage. This biography tells of Miley's extraordinary upbringing; what it was like growing up with Billy Ray Cyrus as her dad and how she coped with being a multi-millionaire by the time she was 15. It tells of her ups and downs, her relationship breakups and her difficult search for friends who wouldn't betray her. From childhood all Miley wanted to do was perform, whether that be singing or acting. She has had to fight to get where she is today and has had to face many battles over the years: she was bullied relentlessly at school; she lost the person she was closest to in the world and she has had to deal with a stalker who thinks he is married to her. Fortunately, Miley shares a tight bond with her siblings, who share her love of music, and she enjoys spending family time with them and her parents whenever she can. Find out why she will never regret her controversial MTV VMA performance with Robin Thicke and how she felt as she performed her Bangerz tour around the world in this in-depth biography written by one of Miley's biggest Smilers.
£13.26
Omnibus Press Muse: Out of This World
Book SynopsisThis updated edition of the bestselling biography now includes new interviews with the band conducted by the author between 2010 and 2012, including many extremely personal, never-before-seen passages. Alongside this is a detailed new chapter to the book, covering the extensive world tour for 'The Resistance' and the relationship break-ups, wild LA rock'n'roll parties, alcohol addictions and recoveries that led to the writing and recording of Muse's most recent album 'The 2nd Law'. Exploring the meanings behind the songs themselves, the chapter concludes with first-hand accounts of several up-close-and-personal live shows and looks forward to the huge stadium tour of the summer.Trade ReviewObsessively observed, nicely paced. Includes plenty of previously unpublished interviews. [This book] makes you appreciate how far this band has come.' Record Collector (5 stars) 'Mark Beaumont does a compelling job taking you to the heart of the band.' Classic Rock
£15.71
Omnibus Press Bruno Mars
Book SynopsisBruno Mars has sold over 115 million records worldwide as a singer, producer and songwriter. This book documents his childhood in Honolulu and how he found fame from the age of four.
£18.44
Omnibus Press Kanye West: God and Monster
Book SynopsisThis biography, the most in-depth look at Kanye's life and career to date, lifts the mask to expose the man behind the endless myths. Featuring quotes from all of the major players in Kanye's life, Kanye West: God And Monster traces his life from the suburbs of Chicago through art school and rap apprenticeships to recording in the coolest studios of New York and Hawaii with the biggest names in music, revolutionising hip-hop at every step of the way. It documents every rumour and revelation, details the wildest extravagances and biggest ego blow-ups of this true rap original. Exploring his life, music and controversies like never before, Kanye West: God And Monster is the ultimate profile of this legendary pop culture titan.
£20.17
Omnibus Press Jeff Beck: Hot Wired Guitar
Book SynopsisThis new, revised edition of Hot Wired Guitar brings Beck's story bang up to date, from his adventures at The White House in December 2012 with Mick Jagger and US President Barack Obama, to touring the world with Beach Boy Brian Wilson and the 2014 release of Jeff's latest solo disc.The definitive account of Jeff Beck's journey from his childhood in 1940s South London to the world-wide success of 2010's album Emotion and Commotion and beyond. Author Martin Power has talked to former Yardbirds members Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty as well as manager Simon Napier-Bell and fellow musicians including Max Middleton, Stanley Clarke, Simon Phillips, Jimmy Hall, Mo Foster, Doug Wimbish and many others. Supported by full album reviews, rare photographs and an up-to-date discography, Hot Wired Guitar is the most complete and comprehensive account of the life and times of Jeff Beck, the man who took the electric guitar and showed the world just what could be done with just six strings and 'one hell of an attitude'.Trade ReviewThis book does the job thoroughly' Classic Rock 8/10 'A fulsome chronicle of one of the UK's best musicians' development...full of admirable gumshoe work by the writer.'Record Collector
£17.82
Omnibus Press Dolly Parton: Smart Blonde, the Life of
Book SynopsisIn this revised edition of his definitive biography of Dolly Parton, Stephen Miller has updated his original book on the superstar. Going behind the larger-than-life image to discover what makes Dolly tick, Miller gets to the core of a remarkable woman from a poor East Tennessee background who made it in the male-dominated world of Sixties Nashville and went on to build a respectable movie career. Talking to Dolly's family members, musicians and producers, the author explores Dolly's private life, including her closely-guarded relationships with her husband of nearly fifty years, Carl Dean, and her lifelong friend Judy Ogle. What emerges is a unique portrait of a strong woman who took control of her life, her music and a successful business career with resolute determination. Dolly loves making jokes at her own expense; perhaps the best joke has been how one of America's great singer-songwriters became a legend by being serious about her music while being frivolous about her image.
£18.44
Omnibus Press I am Damo Suzuki
Book SynopsisBy the time The Fall released `I Am Damo Suzuki’ in the mid-1980s, the elusive legend to which the song paid tribute had returned to music. Since making his name as the vocalist of the great German band Can, Kenji `Damo’ Suzuki has united a vast range of musicians across the globe through The Damo Suzuki Band and Damo Suzuki’s Network. Now in his seventh decade, Damo is as contemporary a figure as ever. I Am Damo Suzuki encompasses his personal travelogue, his spiritual journey and the life-force that has allowed him to twice rise above life-threatening illness. Paul Woods’ narrative – drawing on interviews with Suzuki himself, family members, bandmates and friends – evokes the decades-long odyssey of a musical enigma.
£15.29
Omnibus Press Faces: Had Me a Real Good Time, Before, During and After
Book SynopsisThe definitive account of one of rock 'n' roll's most engagingly shambolic acts as well as an evocative portrait of the times in which they raised hell and recorded some timeless tracks, now updated with details of the sad death of keyboard player Ian McLagan.Trade Review'It's amazing. It's got a huge amount of information' Rod Stewart. 'Highly recommended.' The Beat. 'Overgrown adolescent ruffians riffing away through a fog of booze, bed-hopping and fisticuffs [are] well represented here by Neill, but the author also rightly praises the music that established The Faces as the quintessential touring rock 'n' roll band.' Four Stars. Record Collector. 'It's unthinkable that Rod Stewart's much anticipated reminiscences will plunge headlong into the nuanced depths of musical delight and moral depravity as Neill's tome does... rich in detail and behind the scenes yarns.' Four Stars. Mojo
£18.99
John Blake Publishing Ltd My Kirsty: End of the Fairytale
Book SynopsisKirsty MacColl led a dazzling life - tender, creative, heroic and full of love. This book, by her mother Jean MacColl, charts with moving insight Kirsty's early years and celebrates her brilliant career at the front rank of the music business in the 1980s and 1990s with such hits as the Pogues collaboration 'Fairytale of New York'. It mourns her tragic and untimely death - killed by a speedboat in Mexican waters in December 2000. It also tells, with heartfelt truth, the shocking story of the elaborate cover-up and gross miscarriage of justice that followed and appeals for justice to be done in her name.Trade Review'A moving and beautiful portrait' - DAILY MAIL
£15.84
John Blake Publishing Ltd Michael Ball: The Biography
Book SynopsisMichael Ball is more than a Laurence Olivier Award winner and multiplatinum recording artist; he holds the unique status of being Britain's foremost musical theatre actor. Testimony to his success is the huge cult following he has built ...not least among theatre audiences. From his debut in London's West End, with a superb performance in the original 1985 cast of Les Miserables, to unqualified acclaim in Aspects Of Love, Passion, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and more recently in Hairspray and Sweeney Todd. Michael's silky smooth voice and boyish charms have seduced audiences everywhere, a popularity that has led to more than 15 sought-after solo albums and the hit single 'Love Changes Everything'. Television and radio have not been slow in courting his talents, from his first flirtation with the small screen and a rather embarrassing appearance in the ITV soap Coronation Street to hosting his own successful chat shows. He even represented Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992. Andrew Lloyd Webber, understated as ever, joked: 'He's a top man at what he does - and he has a rather nice taste in Savile Row suits.' But there is so much more to Michael than curly-haired smiles and smartly-dressed dulcet tones. In this first ever biography of the star, author Willie Robertson provides a comprehensive and compelling insight into the legend that is Michael Ball. A must read for any fan!
£14.11
Omnibus Press Teenage Kicks: My Life as an Undertone
Book SynopsisMichael Bradley joined his school friend's group in Derry, Northern Ireland in the summer of 1974. They had two guitars and no singer. Four years later the Undertones recorded 'Teenage Kicks', John Peel's favourite record, and became one of the most fondly remembered UK bands of the post punk era. Sticking to their punk rock principles, they signed terrible deals, made great records and had a wonderful time. They broke up in 1983 when they realised there was no pot of gold at the end of the rock and roll rainbow. His story is a bitter-sweet, heart-warming and occasionally droll tale of unlikely success, petty feuding and playful mischief during five years of growing up in the music industry. Wiser but not much richer, Michael became a bicycle courier in Soho after the Undertones split. "Sixty miles a day, fresh air, no responsibilities," he writes. "Sometimes I think it was the best job I ever had. It wasn't, of course."
£20.17
Omnibus Press Boys Keep Swinging: A Memoir
Book Synopsis`On the stage, Jake Shears is a triumphant explosion of unembarrassed carnality and charm. On the page, he's very much the same. Boys Keep Swinging is one courageous joyride of a memoir. It should be illegal for rock stars to write so beautifully.' – Armistead Maupin `The purpose of my life is to entertain. It's a constant feedback loop.' Before becoming lead singer in the fabulous Scissor Sisters, Jake Shears was Jason Sellards, just a kid with an unfathomable imagination and a love of He-Man dolls. Splitting life between Arizona and the Pacific West Coast, his childhood was marked by school bullies and the terror of the rise and misunderstanding surrounding the AIDS virus. With changes in age and geography Shears gradually found a sense of belonging - first in Seattle, then in the street life and lights of New York City in the late 90s where, with friends and musicians also thirsting for freedom and the stage, he would form Scissor Sisters and go on to sell out venues worldwide. This is a wide-eyed and determined coming-of-age story from a world famous LGBTQ+ icon, but its heartbeat is Shears' friendship with Mary Hanlon, who he met via The Edge, a prehistoric chatroom, when he was 15 and she was 21. For years Shears lived in New York with a landline for which only Mary knew the number. Although long-distance, self-absorption and changing circumstances would take their toll on the friendship, this was the safe-house that sheltered a pair of misfits from the unthinking prejudices of a fearful world, a haven to which both would always return, and for which Shears wrote the song 'Mary'.
£18.00
John Blake Publishing Ltd Slash: Excess: the Definitive Biography
Book SynopsisOne of the most iconic guitarists of all-time, his staggering performance on Guns N' Roses' Appetite For Destruction heralded the arrival of a brand new superstar name in rock. His complex relationship with frontman Axl Rose and the phenomenal music that emerged from that band cemented his reputation in rock's history books; since leaving G N' R, however, Slash has masterfully plied his trade through a series of solo projects and high profile guest appearances. This is the first book to examine the complete story of Slash, from his humble roots in suburban London in the late Sixties, to his thunderous ride through the alleys and red carpets of California to his present day success with Velvet Revolver. The book also takes a fresh look at the Guns N' Roses saga and examines all of Slash's other projects in exhaustive detail. Paul Stenning is the author of several books on rock music and is a regular contributor to the pages of Metal Maniacs, Terrorizer, Alternative Press and Record Collector. He is the author of the best-selling book on Guns N' Roses, The Band That Time Forgot as well as biographies of AC/DC, Iron Maiden and My Chemical Romance.
£15.84
Sonicbond Publishing Peter Hammill On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Book SynopsisThe British singer, songwriter and musician Peter Hammill is one of the key figures in the history of progressive rock. As the leader and main creative force of Van der Graaf Generator, he was behind some of the most powerful and compelling rock music of the 1970s, and since VdGG reformed in 2005 has continued to lead the group down a unique musical path. But Van der Graaf Generator are only part of the Peter Hammill story. Beginning with 1971's Fool's Mate and continuing all the way to 2021's In Translation, Hammill has carved out a lengthy solo career consisting of some 35 albums, plus a number of live albums and collaborations. The range of styles in evidence on these albums is remarkable, from baroque progressive rock to snotty proto-punk, angular new wave, delicate ballads, electronic experiments and even a full-length opera. This is the first book to offer an in-depth exploration of Peter Hammill's solo discography, revealing the sonic intensity and emotional turmoil that lie at the heart of his work. The book is an invaluable companion to Dan Coffey's Van der Graaf Generator: every album, every song, already published by Sonicbond Publishing.
£999.99
Independently Published 250 PERE SOTO phrases over V7
£19.44
Chronicle Books Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics
Book SynopsisDolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend. As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly Parton’s personal and business archives. Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics. Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songs Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries. Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton’s archives, this book is a show- stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan. Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You,” and more. The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and country Add it to the shelf with books like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.
£38.00
Equinox Publishing Ltd Do You Want to Know a Secret?: The Autobiography
Book SynopsisWhen Billy J. Kramer’s record of Lennon and McCartney’s “Do You Want To Know A Secret?” topped the New Musical Express charts in 1963, he became the first singer in the world to have a number one hit with a Beatles song, apart from the Fab Four themselves. This success propelled the teenage Kramer into the fast lane, and he followed it with another five top twenty singles within the space of two years. In this autobiography Billy J. Kramer (born William Ashton) tells his rags to riches story, from his working class childhood in Liverpool, via a British Rail engineering apprenticeship in the dying days of steam, to the racy world of international pop music. Managed by Brian Epstein, produced by George Martin, engineered by Hurricane Smith, and friend, confidante and colleague of the Beatles, Kramer gives a definitive insider’s account of the birth of the Liverpool sound and also the “British Invasion” of the US. We follow him to the Star Club in Hamburg, to Abbey Road, into the BBC studios, and onto package tours and stage shows with the Beatles, Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Tommy Quickly and other stars of the age. He shares a dressing room with James Brown, and appears alongside other 1960s giants of the American music business. Kramer also brilliantly evokes the world of variety, as he goes behind the scenes with comedian Tommy Cooper, and learns about the stagecraft of artistes from another era. On the surface, Kramer’s career seems like a dream come true, but there are dark secrets in the Kramer story. Even before he’d reached his twenties, he was already in the grip of drugs and alcohol, and there were constant tensions between him and his Mancunian backing band, The Dakotas. When the screaming stopped, he reinvented himself as a cabaret performer, and some of his best records were made during the years he was out of the limelight. He brought up a young family, but the drink and pills made his domestic life, and eventually his professional life, a struggle. In this no-holds-barred account of his life, Kramer evokes the vibrancy of the sixties and reveals how he exorcised his demons and forged a new career in the US. He assembles his current band, shows a growing mastery of songwriting and recording, and returns to national tours, keeping the flame of the Mersey sound alive. The lifetime of experience he brings to his new songs infuses every page of this enthralling read.Table of ContentsForeword Chapter 1: Little Children: 1943-1958 Chapter 2: I’ll Be on My Way: 1958-1962 Chapter 3: Silver Dream: 1963-1964 Chapter 4: It’s Gotta Last Forever: 1964-1967 Chapter 5: Twilight Time: 1967-1971 Chapter 6: Gone Away: 1971 Chapter 7: You Can’t Live on Memories: 1972-1983 Chapter 8: I Won the Fight: 1984-2006 Chapter 9: To Liverpool with Love: from 2006 Recordings List
£14.95
