Popular music Books
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Just Kids
Book SynopsisWinner of the 2010 Non-Fiction National Book Award Patti Smith''s definitive memoir is an evocative, honest and moving coming-of-age story of her extraordinary relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe.Sharp, elegiac and finely crafted'' Sunday TimesTerrifically evocative ... The most spellbinding and diverting portrait of funky-but-chic New York in the late ''60s and ''70s that any alumnus has committed to print'' New York TimesRender, harrowing, often hilarious'' VogueIn 1967, a chance meeting between two young people led to a romance and a lifelong friendship that would carry each to international success never dreamed of. The backdrop is Brooklyn, Chelsea Hotel, Max''s Kansas City, Scribner''s Bookstore, Coney Island, Warhol''s Factory and the whole city resplendent. Among their friends, literary lights, musicians and artists such as Harry Smith, Bobby Neuwirth, Allen Ginsberg, Sandy Daley, Sam Shepherd, William Burroughs, etc. It was a heightened time politically and culturally; the art and music worlds exploding and colliding. In the midst of all this two kids made a pact to always care for one another. Scrappy, romantic, committed to making art, they prodded and provided each other with faith and confidence during the hungry years--the days of cous-cous and lettuce soup. Just Kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. Beautifully written, this is a profound portrait of two young artists, often hungry, sated only by art and experience. And an unforgettable portrait of New York, her rich and poor, hustlers and hellions, those who made it and those whose memory lingers near.Trade Review‘The most beautiful, incredible autobiography - it will make you ache for a time and a place that you probably never knew, New York in the 1970s' * Nick Hornby *‘A sharp, elegiac and finely crafted tribute to their childlike, pre-fame romance, set against the thrilling back drop of New York's countercultural blast' * Sunday Times *‘Terrifically evocative ... The most spellbinding and diverting portrait of funky-but-chic New York in the late '60s and '70s that any alumnus has committed to print' * New York Times *‘A tender, harrowing, often hilarious portrait of young lovers forging their paths in an eccentric milieu of Beat poets, Warhol socialites, and transvestites, rock stars and artists ... Much has been written about that time, but Just Kids offers new insight' * Vogue *Just Kids is not just one of the great rock-star memoirs – and there are a few – but one of the all-time greats. Smith’s book is part youthful rapture, part elegy, part artists’ handbook. And entirely sublime * Guardian Australia: 15 Great Celebrity Memoirs *It’s a book about women, and desire, and not necessarily fitting in the box of sexuality. I really love reading stories by women that really understand the complexity and the messiness of women * Russh *
£12.16
Omnibus Press Steppin Razor
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£13.49
Swift Press Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla,
Book Synopsis''This book is a must for everyone interested in illuminating the idea of unexplainable genius'' - QUESTLOVEEqual parts biography, musicology, and cultural history, Dilla Time chronicles the life and legacy of J Dilla, a musical genius who transformed the sound of popular music for the twenty-first century.He wasn't known to mainstream audiences, and when he died at age thirty-two, he had never had a pop hit. Yet since his death, J Dilla has become a demigod, revered as one of the most important musical figures of the past hundred years. At the core of this adulation is innovation: as the producer behind some of the most influential rap and R&B acts of his day, Dilla created a new kind of musical time-feel, an accomplishment on a par with the revolutions wrought by Louis Armstrong and James Brown. Dilla and his drum machine reinvented the way musicians play.In Dilla Time, Dan Charnas chronicles the life of James DeWitt Yancey, from his gifted Detroit childhood to his rise as a sought-after hip-hop producer to the rare blood disease that caused his premature death. He follows the people who kept Dilla and his ideas alive. And he rewinds the histories of American rhythms: from the birth of Motown soul to funk, techno, and disco. Here, music is a story of what happens when human and machine times are synthesized into something new.This is the story of a complicated man and his machines; his family, friends, partners, and celebrity collaborators; and his undeniable legacy. Based on nearly two hundred original interviews, and filled with graphics that teach us to feel and "see" the rhythm of Dilla''s beats, Dilla Time is a book as defining and unique as J Dilla''s music itself.Financial Times Music Book of the Year 2022
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC M Train
Book Synopsis''So honest and pure as to count as a true rapture'' JOAN DIDION''A poetic masterpiece'' JOHNNY DEPP''Our St John of the Cross, a mystic full of compassion'' EDMUND WHITE''A roadmap to my life'', from the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids: an unforgettable odyssey of a legendary artist, told through the prism of cafés and haunts she has worked in around the worldREVISED EDITION WITH FIVE THOUSAND WORDS OF BONUS MATERIAL AND NEW PHOTOGRAPHS M Train begins in the tiny Greenwich Village café where Smith goes every morning for black coffee, ruminates on the world as it is and the world as it was, and writes in her notebook. Through prose that shifts fluidly between dreams and reality, past and present, and across a landscape of creative aspirations and inspirations, we travel to Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul in Mexico; to a meeting of an Arctic explorer's society in Berlin; to a ramshackle seaside bungalow in New York's Far Rockaway Trade ReviewThis book is so honest and pure as to count as a true rapture * Joan Didion *Patti Smith has graced us with a poetic masterpiece, a rare and privileged invitation to unlatch a treasure chest never before breached * Johnny Depp *A tender, harrowing, often hilarious portrait of young lovers forging their paths in an eccentric milieu of Beat poets, Warhol socialites, and transvestites, rock stars and artists * Vogue *The most beautiful, incredible autobiography – it will make you ache for a time and a place that you probably never knew, New York in the 1970s * Nick Hornby *She was once our savage Rimbaud, but suffering has turned her into our St John of the Cross, a mystic full of compassion * Edmund White *
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers Slash
Book SynopsisIt seems excessive...but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Saul "Slash" Hudson was born in Hampstead to a Jewish father, an album cover artist, and a black American mother of Nigerian descent, who created David Bowie's look in The Man Who Fell to Earth. He was raised in Stoke until he was 11, when he and his mother moved to LA. Frequent visitors to the house were David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Ron Wood and Iggy Pop, . At this time Slash got into BMX bikes, and would eventually turn professional, winning won major awards and money, but at 15 his grandmother gave him his first guitar. Even though it had just one string he began teaching himself to play, and soon school was forgotten as he devoted up to 12 hours a day to honing his skills. Sessions with numerous local LA rock bands followed until a fateful meeting with singer W Axl Rose! and the rest was rock history.Trade Review‘Brilliant stuff’ **** News of the World ‘The most insane rock n’ roll autobiography you’ll ever read.’ Observer ‘A raucous rock yarn’, (Top 10 Rock Books) The Independent **** Q Magazine ‘A fitting monument… Slash’s memoirs are an unexpectedly intoxicating cocktail of irresponsibility and dedication.’ Independent on Sunday ‘Slash’s story is harrowingly compulsive reading, presenting the most graphically spot-on account of hardcore drug addiction since William Burroughs’ The Record Collector
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group I Am Ozzy
Book Synopsis''Mightily entertaining'' - Heat People ask me how come I''m still alive, and I don''t know what to say. When I was growing up, if you''d have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of sixty, with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and California, I wouldn''t have put money on me, no f**king way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time. A lot of it ain''t gonna be pretty. I''ve done some bad things in my time. But I ain''t the devil. I''m just John Osbourne: a working class kid from Aston, who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time.Trade ReviewPacked with outrageous, hilarious, disgusting and wholly improbable incedents * Guardian *A must-read for fans of vicarious rock'n'roll insanity * Scotland on Sunday *Every page of this hugely entertaining, sometimes painfully frank autobiography seems to have at least one punch-line to a good joke * Uncut *Mightily entertaining * Heat *A frank and honest account that will make you laugh out loud . . . A brilliant read * Sun *Gripping, funny and sad * Q *
£11.69
Rock N' Roll Colouring The Official Iron Maiden Colouring Book
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Omnibus Press Hey Ho Lets Go
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£11.69
Little, Brown Book Group Paul Weller Dancing Through the Fire
£24.00
Rizzoli International Publications Annie Lennox Retrospective
£40.00
Thames and Hudson Ltd Oasis
Book SynopsisJill Furmanovsky has photographed legendary rock musicians for more than 50 years, including Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Blondie, The Clash, The Ramones, The Pretenders, Joy Division, Leonard Cohen, Amy Winehouse and Oasis. In 2024 she received a Lifetime Achievement award from Amateur Photography magazine; the Legend of the year award from So.Co for Image of Music Awards; and the Abbey Road ICON award. Noel Gallagher is the primary songwriter, lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of Oasis, the band that defined the era of Cool Britannia. In August 1994 Oasis's first album, Definitely Maybe, entered the UK charts at number one and received widespread critical and commercial success, as did their next two albums, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) and Be Here Now (1997). The band split in 2009 but are reforming for a worldwide tour in 2025.
£40.00
John Murray Press Living in a D.A.I.S.Y. Age
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£16.99
Omnibus Press Long Shadows, High Hopes: The Life and Times of
Book SynopsisMatt Johnson – founder, songwriter and visionary lynchpin of iconic band The The – created some of the most vital music of his era, be it the intense visual feast of Infected or the prescient politics of Mind Bomb. Then he walked away from it all. In this authorised biography, with free access to the The The archives, Neil Fraser draws on hundreds of hours of interviews with Johnson and his contemporaries and colleagues, including Johnny Marr, Johanna St Michaels, JG Thirlwell and Tim Pope. From the early days in the East End to glory days on a global stage, through Johnson’s retreat from public life and return with The The in 2017, this updated edition addresses the 2018 Comeback Special Tour and beyond. Long Shadows, High Hopes examines the enigma that is Matt Johnson – outspoken political lyricist but intensely private man – and what prompted him to step out of the shadows after so long.
£10.44
HarperCollins Focus Taylor Swift
£11.24
Little, Brown Book Group Scar Tissue
Book Synopsis* The frank, shocking and inspiring autobiography of Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'the world's biggest band' (MOJO)* 'Book of the Year' N.M.E.Trade ReviewKiedis recounts his pharmacological odyssey with wide-eyed relish and a refreshing lack of rehab remorse * SUNDAY TIMES *Everyone who reads this genuinely outrageous book will have their own favourite scene * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *An entertaining account of being the most priapic, junkie member of California's most priapic, junkie rock band * GUARDIAN *The year's most astonishing rock autobiography * OBSERVER *
£11.69
Gloria Books Limited Before We Forget
£21.25
Manchester University Press Gee Vaucher: Beyond Punk, Feminism and the
Book SynopsisAs one of the people who defined punk’s protest art in the 1970s and 1980s, Gee Vaucher (b. 1945) deserves to be much better-known. She produced confrontational album covers for the legendary anarchist band Crass and later went on to do the same for Northern indie legends the Charlatans, among others. More recently, her work was recognised the day after Donald Trump's 2016 election victory, when the front page of the Daily Mirror ran her 1989 painting Oh America, which shows the Statue of Liberty, head in hands. This is the first book to critically assess an extensive range of Vaucher’s work. It examines her unique position connecting avant-garde art movements, counterculture, punk and even contemporary street art. While Vaucher rejects all ‘isms’, her work offers a unique take on the history of feminist art.Trade Review'Binns’s book is meticulously researched and well written, covering an area of punk history that deserves a full spotlight all of its own. Equal parts informing, accessible and compelling, this is the story of a woman whose talent and beliefs have made a huge contribution to conveying punk’s revolutionary message.'Molly Tie, Punktuation!‘A compelling documentation of an important figure in the postwar British counterculture: the stubbornly unpositionable Gee Vaucher. Binns traces the life and work of this uncompromising artist not only in the short high years of Crass and the anarcho-punk movement – dominated by Vaucher’s aesthetic – but also the decades before and after when she defined, refined and extended her powerful practice. Read this book for a brilliant and engaged creative life.’George McKay, Professor in Media Studies, University of East Anglia‘This is a long overdue contribution to an important history. Binns shines new light on Gee Vaucher's significance, showing how her method of photorealism-presented-as-montage can help us make sense of the “skewed reality” around us.’Lucy Robinson, Professor in Collaborative History, University of Sussex‘Gee Vaucher’s artwork was crucial to Crass: thought-provoking and confrontational always.’Adrian Sherwood, music producer'Gee’s indescribable artwork has been an inspiration for multiple generations of artists and art appreciators. Gee is proof that Art changes people's lives — and for the better!'Winston Smith, artist and illustrator (www.winstonsmith.com)‘Binns’s book is an expert feminist reading of the life and work of political graphic artist Gee Vaucher that adeptly writes this unsung heroine into a history of punk design. A must-read for these fractured times.’Teal Triggs, Professor of Graphic Design, Royal College of Art'An essential book, giving due attention to one of the most influential artists of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Gee Vaucher's artwork has been much copied but never bettered. Her influence is here captured expertly by Rebecca Binns's well-researched critical analysis.'Matt Worley, Professor of Modern History, University of Reading‘Finally! What those in the know have been waiting for: a comprehensive, revealing and long overdue analysis of the creative importance of Gee Vaucher. Set against the backdrop of recent socio-economic, political and cultural events, via (but not limited to) punk, this book confirms Vaucher as the trailblazing innovator that she is, and charts her artistic influence to-date. Rebecca Binns thoughtfully surveys over fifty years of Vaucher’s collage, photo-montage, painting, drawing, sculpture, film and installation, rightfully positioning her as a key player within art history, while refusing to restrict this uncategorisable artist to any particular movement. If you are familiar with Vaucher’s work, you have been vindicated. And if you are not, prepare to be amazed.’Marie-France Kittler, co-curator Gee Vaucher: Introspective (Firstsite, 2016) -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 The changing face of British arts, politics and culture during Vaucher’s art school years2 Radical art collectives and the free festivals movement 3 New York, political photomontage and the underground press 4 Towards the definition of a punk aesthetic 5 Crass art and the birth of anarcho-punk 6 Post-punk, hardcore, and the dissolution of the dream 7 Post Crass introspection: postmodernism and the anti-rationalist avant-garde 8 Beyond the art world: political agitation and public intervention in the new millennium Index
£76.50
Omnibus Press Teenage Kicks
£11.69
John Murray Press Uncommon People
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Faber & Faber The Chronicles of DOOM
Book SynopsisA Rough Trade and Clash Book of the Year''Excellent, detailed [. . .] Hip-hop writer SH Fernando Jr benefits from an insider's understanding of the milieu and provides generous context.'' Kitty Empire, ObserverOn December 31, 2020, the world was shocked to learn about the death of hip-hop legend MF DOOM. Born in London and raised in the suburban enclave of Long Beach, New York, Daniel Dumile Jr.''s love of cartoons and comic books would soon turn him into one of hip-hop''s most enigmatic, prolific, and influential figures.The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap's Masked Iconoclast recounts the rise, fall, redemption, and untimely demise of MF DOOM. Broken down into five sections: The Man, The Myth, The Mask, The Music, and The Legend, journalist S. H. Fernando chronicles the life of Daniel Dumile Jr., beginning in the house he grew up in in Long Beach, NY, through to the mysterious, masked icon that he was to become. Centring the music, Fernando deftly lays out the history of east-coast rap against DOOM''s life story and dissects the personas, projects, tracks, and lyrics that led to his immortality.Including exclusive interviews with those who worked closely with him, the book provides an unknown, intimate, behind the scenes look into the life of MF DOOM, a supervillain on stage and hero to those who paid attention.
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Dylan Goes Electric
Book SynopsisTHE INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE A COMPLETE UNKNOWN.One of the music world?s pre-eminent critics takes a fresh and much-needed look at the day Dylan ?went electric? at the Newport Folk Festival.On the evening of July 25, 1965, Bob Dylan took the stage at Newport Folk Festival, backed by an electric band, and roared into his new rock hit, Like a Rolling Stone. The audience of committed folk purists and political activists who had hailed him as their acoustic prophet reacted with a mix of shock, booing, and scattered cheers. It was the shot heard round the world?Dylan?s declaration of musical independence, the end of the folk revival, and the birth of rock as the voice of a generation?and one of the defining moments in twentieth-century music.In Dylan Goes Electric!, Elijah Wald explores the cultural, political and historical context of this seminal event that embodies the transformative decade that was the sixties. Wald delves deep into the folk revival, the rise of rock, and the tensions between traditional and groundbreaking music to provide new insights into Dylan?s artistic evolution, his special affinity to blues, his complex relationship to the folk establishment and his sometime mentor Pete Seeger, and the ways he reshaped popular music forever. Breaking new ground on a story we think we know, Dylan Goes Electric! is a thoughtful, sharp appraisal of the controversial event at Newport and a nuanced, provocative, analysis of why it matters.?In this tour de force, Elijah Wald complicates the stick-figure myth of generational succession at Newport by doing justice to what he rightly calls Bob Dylan?s ?declaration of independence? . . . This is one of the very best accounts I?ve read of musicians fighting for their honor.? ?Todd Gitlin, author ofThe SixtiesandOccupy NationTrade Review"Provides a deeply researched and entertaining chronicle of the culture clash that Dylan sparked from the Newport stage." -- David Remnick, The New Yorker "It is a great work of scholarship, brimming with insight - among the best music books I have ever read." -- The Guardian "Wald contextualizes the deeply divisive event in illuminating detail ... a major contribution to modern musical history." -- Booklist (starred review) "Wald is a superb analyst of the events he describes. And his analyses fly in the face of conventional wisdom. Even his introduction includes enough startling context to indicate 'Dylan Goes Electric!' will be seeing the old story with new eyes." -- Janet Maslin, New York Times "Wald's personal knowledge seems encyclopedic ... An enjoyable slice of 20th-century music journalism." -- Kirkus Reviews "Anyone interested in Dylan, folk music, or rock and roll will adore this volume. It might not resolve the questions of what really happened in Newport in 1965, but it comes very close." -- Library Journal "In this tour de force, Elijah Wald complicates the stick-figure myth of generational succession at Newport by doing justice to what he rightly calls Bob Dylan's 'declaration of independence' ... This is one of the very best accounts I've read of musicians fighting for their honor." -- Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties and Occupy Nation "What Wald reveals about that most mystified of singer-songwriters and the folk and rock worlds that then surrounded and elevated him changed my own view of a moment I thought I had all figured out-and of the songwriterly 1960s as a whole." -- Ann Powers, author of Weird Like Us: My Bohemian America and, with the artist, Tori Amos: Piece by Piece "Devastatingly smart analysis ... Wald is a remarkably sharp and graceful writer, capable of drawing extraordinary connections between artists, genres, and cultural moments. There's simply no one better when it comes to unpacking not just the mechanics of American music, but the mythology of American music." -- Amanda Petrusich, author of Do Not Sell At Any Price: The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World's Rarest 78rpm Records "Elijah Wald's book reflects the many directions in which America's music scene evolved in those extraordinary years, 1963-1970-I can't recommend it enough." -- George Wein, Founder of the Newport Folk Festival "Concise and entertaining ... a great story, masterfully told, of how the times were, indeed, a-changin'-and why." -- Ed Ward, rock and roll historian for NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross and author of Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero "Easily the definitive account of Newport '65." -- CounterPunch Magazine "There is no shortage of books about Bob Dylan ... but Elijah Wald's heavily researched book manages to offer new information and unique insight into the social context of this controversial moment in music history." -- Buzzfeed
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Dirt
Book SynopsisA chronicle of the career of Meotley Creue, one of rock music's most provocative and notorious bands, provides an insider's view of rock stardom.
£12.34
Little, Brown Cat On The Road To Findout
£21.25
Simon & Schuster Ltd Unknown Pleasures
Book Synopsis'Genuinely funny; indeed, the story will keep you entertained for a very long time' Sunday Times Joy Division changed the face of music. Godfathers of the enduring alternative scene, they reinvented rock in the post-punk era, creating a sound – dark, hypnotic, intense – that would influence U2, Morrissey, R.E.M., Radiohead and many others. This is the rollercoaster story of Joy Division – the friendships, fights, fall-outs; the rehearsals and recording sessions; the larger than life characters – told by the band’s legendary bassist, Peter Hook. 'Hook has restored a flesh-and-blood rawness to what was becoming a standard tale. Few pop music books manage that' Guardian 'An honest, enthusiastic account . . . it’s a window like no other into the reality of life in this most aloof of bands' Metro
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Kurt Cobain
Book SynopsisThe first publication of Kurt Cobain''s diaries, which were found after his death in 1994. Genuinely moving, provocative and candid, and suprisingly funny, pieces of writing which, as a whole, provide a unique account of the rise and fall of a greatpopular artist and icon.
£21.25
Orion Publishing Co Lemmy
Book Synopsis''Unflinching, forthright and full of wry humour as the man himself, and there''s little praise greater than that'' CLASSIC ROCK''Wall''s vision of Lemmy as a Rock''n''Roll stalwart who made no concessions is vivid to the last'' GUARDIANIn ''The Ace of Spades'', Motörhead''s most famous song, Lemmy, the born-to-lose, live-to-win frontman of the band sang, ''I don''t want to live forever''. Yet as he told his friend of 35 years, former PR and biographer Mick Wall, ''Actually, I want to go the day before forever. To avoid the rush...''. This is his strange but true story. Brutally frank, painfully funny, wincingly sad, and always beautifully told, LEMMY: THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY is the story of the only rock''n''roller never to sell his soul for silver and gold, while keeping the devil, as he put it, ''very close to my side''. From school days growing up in North Wales, to first finding fame in the mid-60s with the Rockin'' Vicars; from being JimTrade ReviewWall's vision of Lemmy as a Rock'n'Roll stalwart who made no concessions is vivid to the last * GUARDIAN *'Lumme! Who is this lovely, likeable Lemmy?' * MAIL ON SUNDAY *LEMMY is as unflinching, forthright and full of wry humour as the man himself, and there's little praise greater than that. * CLASSIC ROCK *
£9.49
Putman Publishing Lazarus The Second Coming of David Bowie
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£20.00
HarperCollins Publishers Robert Plant A Life The Biography
Book SynopsisRobert Plant is one of the few genuine living rock legends.Frontman of Led Zeppelin, musical innovator and seller of millions of records, Plant has had a profound influence on music for over four decades. But the full account of his life has barely been told until now.Robert Plant: A Life is the first complete and comprehensive telling of Plant's story. From his earliest performances in folk clubs in the early 1960s, to the world's biggest stages as Led Zeppelin's self-styled Golden God', and on to his emergence as an emboldened solo star.The sheer scale of Zeppelin's success is extraordinary: in the US alone they sold 70 million records, a figure surpassed only by the Beatles. But their success was marred by tragedy.These pages contain first-hand accounts of Plant's greatest highs and deepest lows: the tragic deaths of his son Karac and his friend, Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.Told in vivid detail, this is the definitive story of a man of great talent, remarkable fortitude and extraoTrade Review‘Anyone seeking insight into Plant as a man and a musician will find it here.’ Q ‘There have been countless books on Led Zeppelin but little of substance on lead singer Plant. Methodically researched, the music legend’s extraordinary career, influences and legacy are superbly articulated in this tremendous biography of an enigmatic rock star.” The Bookseller ‘Whole lotta truth about Zeppelin’s Viking rock god’ Mail on Sunday ‘Particularly enlightening on Plant's formative pre-Zep years in the Midlands, A Life puts the singer's eclectic career into clear context.’ Dave Lewis, Tight But Loose magazine
£9.49
Hal Leonard Europe Limited Complete Chord Songbook
Book Synopsis
£18.99
Faber & Faber Touching From a Distance
Book SynopsisThe only in-depth biographical account of the legendary lead singer of Joy Division, written by his widow. Includes a foreword by Jon Savage and an introduction by Joy Division drummer, Steven Morris. Revered by his peers and idolized by his fans, Ian Curtis left behind a legacy rich in artistic genius. Mesmerizing on stage but introverted and prone to desperate mood swings in his private life, Curtis died by his own hand on 18 May 1980.Touching from a Distance documents how, with a wife, child and impending international fame, Curtis was seduced by the glory of an early grave. Regarded as the essential book on the essential icon of the post-punk era, Touching from a Distance includes a full set of Curtis''s lyrics and a discography and gig list.
£11.69
Pan Macmillan Michael Jackson
Book SynopsisJ. Randy Taraborrelli is one of our most highly acclaimed biographers, and the author of thirteen books including the major bestsellers Madonna: An Intimate Biography, Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness, and Once Upon a Time: The Story of Princess Grace, Prince Rainier and their Family. His most recent biography is The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe.
£17.00
Canongate Books Eat the World
Book Synopsisi thought ifi ate the worldi would finallybe fulli would neverbe hungry againIn this debut collection, Marina''s talent for powerful, evocative song lyrics finds a new outlet in her poetry. Each poem resonates with the same creative melodies and emotional depth that have made her an artistic sensation. Hailed by The New York Times for ''redefining songs about coming of age, and the aftermath, with bluntness and crafty intelligence,'' Marina delves even further into trauma, youth and the highs and lows of relationships in these profound, autobiographical poems and accompanying illustrations to form a collection that transcends the boundaries of music and literature.
£15.29
Sher Music Co Rhythm First A Beginners Guide to Jazz Improvisation Eb Version
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£18.99
Omnibus Press Nirvana
Book SynopsisThis is a true insider's commentary on one of rock's most influential bands, with a Foreword by Benjamin Myers (The Offing, Gallows Pole).
£13.49
Orion Publishing Co Inside Out
Book SynopsisThe definitive history of Pink Floyd, one of the world''s great bands, by founder member Nick Mason.One of the most fascinating rock bands ever, Pink Floyd was formed in 1965. After a year in the London ''underground'' experimenting with revolutionary techniques such as lights that matched their music, they released their first single in 1966. Their breakthrough album, The Dark Side of the Moon, was released in 1973 and stayed in the charts until 1982, the longest a record has ever been continuously in the charts, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time.In 1975 they released Wish You Were Here, which reached iconic status, then in 1979 The Wall went to number 1 in almost every country in the world. The movie version of The Wall starring Bob Geldof was released in 1982, becoming a cult favorite. In the 1980s a rift developed between the band members which culminated in law suits. Only recently have there been reconciliati
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Autobiography
Book SynopsisSteven Patrick Morrissey was born in Manchester on May 22nd 1959. Singer-songwriter and co-founder of the Smiths, Morrissey has been a solo artist for twenty-six years, during which time he has had three number 1 albums in England in three different decades. This book deals with his work and life.Trade ReviewFive stars. With typical pretension, Morrissey's first book has been published as a Penguin Classic. It justifies such presentation with a beautifully measured prose style that combines a lilting, poetic turn of phrase and acute quality of observation, revelling in a kind of morbid glee at life's injustice with arch, understated humour ... It is recognisably the voice of the most distinctive British pop lyricist of his era -- Neil McCormick * Daily Telegraph *A brilliant and timely book ... What is so refreshing about Morrissey's Autobiography is its very messiness, its deliriously florid, overblown prose style, its unwillingness to kowtow to a culture of literary formula and commercial pigeon-holing ... Autobiography is a true baggy monster, a book in which a distinctive prose style is allowed to develop ... A rococo triumph ... Overwhelmingly this is a book to be thankful for ... In the ways that matter, Autobiography reads like a work of genuine literary class -- Alex Niven * Independent *Sharply written, rich, clever, rancorous, puffed-up, tender, catty, windy, poetic, and frequently very, very funny. Welcome back, Morrissey -- Michael Bonner * Uncut Magazine *Rancorous, rhapsodic, schizophrenic: Autobiography delivers a man in full -- Andrew Male * Mojo *If one is willing to accept that a Morrissey book could be a classic, then the book justifies its status remarkably early on. ... As a work of prose Autobiography is a triumph of the written word * Louder than war *Funnier than the Iliad ... A triumph -- Colin Paterson * Today Programme, BBC Radio 4 *One of the autobiographies of this or any year ... A wonderfully entertaining read. He's as witty, acerbic and opinionated as you'd expect, but there's a welcome self-awareness throughout that makes the dramatic flourishes and hyperbolic dismay all the more hilarious. He may have more flaws than Manchester's Arndale Centre but he's just brilliantly, uniquely Morrissey * Daily Mirror *Morrissey's Autobiography is brilliant and relentless. Genius, really -- Douglas CouplandWell, so far Morrissey's book is an absolute masterpiece; no doubt the whole stinking country will hate it. -- Frankie BoyleThis is the best book ever. Like ever * Wonderland *Carried along on quite extraordinary prose * Time Out *The Best Music Biog Ever ... In the world of rock autobiographies, Morrissey's is nigh-on perfect -- Ben Hewitt * NME *Practically every paragraph has a line or two that demands to be read aloud to the mirror, tattooed on foreheads, carved on tombstones * Rolling Stone *Morrissey is a pop star of unusual writing talent * The New York Times *Autobiography is a rich and substantial work, the figure emerging at its centre both compelling and complex. Those who know his music will be unsurprised by the qualities of Morrissey's prose, which is ornate, windswept, elusive yet never tricksy, and full of unexpected twists and thrusts. He writes with understanding (albeit often with a tout comprendre c'est rien pardonner caveat) and is most of all straightforwardly moving; never more so than when writing about his childhood -- Gwendoline Riley * Times Literary Supplement *Autobiography doesn't disappoint. In its pages Morrissey manages to perform the neat trick of deconstructing his own myth while at the same time adding to it. Old scores are settled and anyone who ever crossed the singer is neatly decapitated herein by withering, barbed prose. Things could have gone very differently for Morrissey. He could have ended up cleaning canal banks or delivering the post for a living. Both of these outcomes would have left the world a far duller place. Autobiography is the man in his own words and, Morrissey being Morrissey, this means that we are presented with an account that is real and fantastic, unapologetically romantic and brutally honest. The die-hard fans have read the book already but for anyone with even a passing interest in what makes one of the most individual and unflinching voices in British pop music tick, Autobiography is essential * Loud and Quiet magazine *
£9.99
HarperCollins Publishers Cash The Autobiography ix
Book SynopsisThis fascinating autobiography of the country music legend recounts the highs and lows, the struggles and hard-won triumphs of his remarkable life.The story takes us from Johnny Cash's childhood on an Arkansas cotton farm to his early years at Sun Records. We read of his life on the road and meetings with, and performances for, world leaders. There is also the darker side of his life: the years of addiction to amphetamines and pain killers, a suicide attempt and the spiritual awakening that pulled him through.He looks unsparingly at his turbulent past, but remains a man of honesty, humility and humour. His memoir reveals his friendships with Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Billy Graham.Trade Review‘I’ve never met a man who combined spiritual depth, musical ability and international fame with such grace, charm and humility as Johnny.’Dr Billy Graham
£10.44
Bonnier Books Ltd Prince A Sign o the Times
Book SynopsisThere are pop stars, and then there is Prince. In this kaleidoscopic, freewheeling biography, John McKie examines the remarkable life and career of one of the most mysterious figures in music through the prism of the record most widely considered his masterpiece, 1987's Sign o' the Times. Drawing on more than 200 interviews with friends, ex-girlfriends, bandmates, recording engineers, bodyguards, personal assistants, wardrobe designers and hairdressers, accomplished music writer John McKie examines the life of this musical polymath with the help of many of the people who knew him best. Family members and friends discuss his childhood when he learned to master several instruments, there is new information on how he made the soundtrack to Purple Rain, the full story about why he decided to stop using his name, the now legendary Super Bowl half-time show and that guitar solo at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame which has been viewed on YouTube 100 million times. McKie also dives into the personality of the man: what made him laugh, the way he hired and fired colleagues, what he was like to live with, how his relentless drive to make music led to him recording for hours without sleep, how he changed his car stereo to road test his new hits and even booked his guitar and album sleeves their own seats on flights. Prince: A Sign o' the Times is the most comprehensive book ever written about one of the most enigmatic and talented pop stars of all time.
£22.50
Canongate Books 3 Shades of Blue
Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestseller, the story of jazz, told through the journeys of three towering artists
£11.69
Bloomsbury USA Wild is the Wind
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£18.00
HarperCollins Publishers BRIGHT
Book SynopsisCrazy Rich Asians meets Gossip Girl by way of Jenny Han in this knock-out sequel, about a Korean American teen who is thrust into the competitive, technicolor world of K-pop, from Jessica Jung, K-pop legend and former lead singer of one of the most influential K-pop girl groups of all time, Girls Generation.Couture gowns, press parties, international travel. Rachel Kim is at the top of her game. Girls Forever is now the number-one K-pop groupin the world, and her fame skyrockets after her viral airport styling attracts the attention of fashion's biggest names. Her life's a swirl of technicolour glamour and adoring fans. Rachel can't imagine shining any brighter.The only thing that's missing is lovebut Rachel's determined to follow the rules. In her world, falling in love can cost you everything.Enter Alex. When Rachel literally falls head over designer heels into his lap on a crowded metro, she's tempted to give up her anti-love vows. Alex is more than just heart-stopping dimples and aTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR SHINE: “Shine is a lush, heart-filled story with a core of whip-smart satire. In Rachel, Jung has created a protagonist both sympathetic and believable, a girl dreaming big in a brutal industry. Prepare to laugh, cry, and devour this all in one sitting.” —Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Warcross Series
£8.54
Hal Leonard Europe Limited The Smiths Complete Chord Songbook
Book Synopsis
£18.89
British Library Publishing The Philosophy of Jazz
£11.69
Transworld Publishers Ltd Real Girl
£18.70
Wymer Publishing Queen Live
Book SynopsisIf you saw Queen, then Queen Live! will serve as the ultimate tour program-type memento of those magic days. And if you didn't, this book goes a long way toward putting you in that hallowed space, watching one of the most talented bands night after night, year after year until the bitter end on this most eminent of British institutions.
£44.99
HarperCollins Only God Can Judge Me
£21.25
Faber Music Ltd Radiohead The Acoustic Guitar Songbook
Book SynopsisPut together for the first time in one book, the artist approved Radiohead: The Acoustic Guitar Songbook contains over 20 of the greatest guitar songs from Radiohead. Spanning their entire career to date, each song is transcribed for acoustic guitar in standard notation and tab, with melody line and chord boxes.Table of ContentsBlow Out; Desert Island Disk; Exit Music (For A Film); Fake Plastic Trees; Faust Arp; Gagging Order; Give Up The Ghost; Go To Sleep; High And Dry; How To Disappear Completely; Karma Police; Knives Out; Jigsaw Falling Into Place; Lotus Flower (Nice Dream); The Numbers; Paranoid Android; Present Tense; Street Spirit (Fade Out); Thinking About You; The Tourist
£17.99
Wymer Publishing Lost In A Distant Dream
Book SynopsisThe third and final volume, LostIn A Distant Dream: Rainbow 1982-84, 1994-97, 2016-19 covers the finalyears with Joe Lynn Turner, the reformed band of the nineties with DoogieWhite, and likewise the final chapter of Rainbow with Ronnie Romero that ended in2019.
£16.19
