Popular music Books

Book SynopsisHolly Knight’s singular music career included crafting a good part of the soundtrack to the MTV eighties with mega-hits for Tina Turner (“The Best”), Pat Benatar (“Love Is A Battlefield”), and Patty Smyth (“The Warrior”)—songs that celebrated female empowerment and shaped pop and rock for years to come.“Holly Knight wrote some of the best and toughest songs for female artists. Her songs helped pave the way for women in rock. Not to mention a few dudes.” —Patty Smyth As a writer and musician, Holly Knight worked hard and played hard with the likes of KISS, Rod Stewart, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, and Heart. She showed the boys how it was done when many women were still struggling to get a foot in the door. Starting in the late 1970s in post-punk New York, Knight, a gifted keyboardist, joined the band Spider—which quickly ascended to buzzworthy status before things began to disintegrate. Fortunately, her song “Better Be Good to Me” found its way to Tina Turner and became the second single on her landmark solo album, Private Dancer, launching Holly into rarified air. Soon she was being sought out to write for other artists in search of the big hit or their lead single. Coinciding with the birth of MTV, Knight’s powerful lyrics, hooks, and melodies became a staple on the channel as it exploded into a cultural force. “People who grew up in the eighties tell me that MTV was the soundtrack to their lives. Holly Knight deserves much of the credit. Few songwriters have written such a diverse collection of songs for such a broad range of superstars.” —Alan Hunter But it was an often lonely journey to success. Not only was Holly a woman in a male-dominated industry that didn’t welcome women warmly into the inner sanctum, she carried with her the baggage of a difficult childhood and a fraught relationship with her mother, the substance of which informed the themes that made her songs so anthemic. I Am the Warrior is a story of survival, perseverance, and triumph laced with ample amounts of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. Backstage, onstage, in the studio, and on the road, this book is a revealing, bang-bang tale that welcomes you along for a look back at one of the most adventurous and colorful periods in music history. “I Am the Warrior takes readers on a wild ride through the eighties world of rock ’n’ roll from a strong female’s perspective. Songwriters Hall of Fame-inductee Holly Knight delivers the goods and stands out as a creative, gutsy woman who made her way through a field dominated by men, ultimately coming out on top. If you love music like I do, this is a must-read!” —Cassandra Peterson (AKA Elvira, Mistress of the Dark)Trade Review"Backstage, onstage, in the studio, and on the road, this memoir is an impressively revealing life story by an articulate woman who welcomes her readers to take a look back at one of the most adventurous and colorful periods in music history.” -- Midwest Book Review

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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 SynopsisFounding member of Megadeth and former Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine tells a never-before-heard story of the lifetime he has spent in rock n' roll. But this extraordinary tale, riddled with his own personal ups and downs, is also the inside account of two of the most influential heavy metal bands in the world.Here, for the first time ever, Dave Mustaine tells the tale of two of the biggest metal bands in history; a story yet to be told from the inside. Metallica, the pioneers of the thrash metal genre, rocketed to international fame in the 1980s, selling over 90 million records worldwide, making it the most successful band of its kind ever. Megadeth, the second most successful thrash metal band ever, have sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, including six consecutive platinum albums.Despite their enormous success together, Dave and Metallica have bad blood by the bucket-load. In April of 1983, due in part to alcoholism and in part to personality clashes with founding members Hetfield and Ulrich, Dave was unceremoniously fired from the band, dumped at a Greyhound bus station in Rochester, NY with a single ticket back to LA. How did such an abrupt end come about? How did he pick himself back up, recover his dignity, and go on to send another band into the dizzying heights of rock stardom? The time has come to set the record straight.From the early, crazy days of Metallica to his split with the band, and to his glorious reign with Megadeth, Dave has seen and experienced life's extremities. This startlingly candid, refreshingly in-your-face memoir tells it all.Trade Review'Tales of the heavy metal high life' Record Collector

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Book SynopsisRecognizing one of the most-honored performers of all time, A Celebration of Dolly Parton: The Activity Book is 2021's follow-up to A Celebration of David Attenborough: The Activity Book and The Unofficial Michelle Obama Activity Book.Spanning Dolly's long and illustrious career, TheActivity Book includes:Illustrations and graphics to color-in dedicated to Dolly's Greatest HitsAnagrams of our favorite Dolly songsA solution for when the daily 9 to 5 grind is transported to the working-from-home environmentA tour of Dollywood: try to spot Dolly among the throngs of visitors and maze your way around to reunite her with her missing guitarInspirational word clouds, quizzes, puzzles, games, drawings, facts, emotional rollercoaster graphs and much, much moreNot just a musician, Dolly has used her vast fame and fortune for good: setting up The Dollywood Foundation, the My People Fund and, perhaps most famously, The Imagination Library which provides free books to children throughout their chil

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Book SynopsisRecognising one of the most-honoured performers of all time, The Elton John Activity Book is a celebration of a musical great. Perfect for the long-standing superfan or for those wanting to dive head-first into Elton's world: this is a Sir Elton John lovefest.EGOT winner, Hollywood Royalty, philanthropist there is nothing Sir Elton John has not excelled at. So much more than an artist, this extensive guides celebrates Sir Elton; his charitable work with Lady Diana, his place in the musical hall of fame, and features cameos from Elton''s famous friendships such as Lady Gaga and the Beckhams!The Elton John Activity Book is a unique opportunity to learn all there is to know about Elton and the perfect companion for fans across the world.Following the incredible career of Elton, as we:Brush up on the Wit & Wisdom from Sir Elton John, from how he created some of his greatest hits, to the joys of raising a family and even his journey to sobrietyEnjoy gorgeous illustrations and bring them t

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Book SynopsisThe most authoritative, intelligent, diligently researched and unpretentious analysis of the British pop scene yet written'' Sunday TelegraphBlack Vinyl White Powder charts the amazing fifty year history of the British music business in unparalleled scale and detail. As a key player across the decades, Napier-Bell - who discovered Marc Bolan and managed amongst others The Yardbirds and Wham! - uses his wealth of contacts and extraordinary personal experiences to tell the story of an industry that is like no other. Where bad behaviour is not only tolerated but encouraged, where drugs are sometimes as important as talent, where artists are pushed to their physical and mental limits in the name of profit and ego. ''The Greatest Ever Book Written about English Pop-Breathtakingly Brilliant'' Julie Burchill''The cold print equivalent of a sparkling evening with a world-class raconteur.'' Charles Shaar Murray, IndependentBitchy, glib, fun and sTrade Review'Breathtakingly brilliant' - Julie Burchill'The definitive history of British pop * Observer Music Monthly *"one of the most fascinating, revealing and enjoyable journeys through 50 years of the UK record business" * Music Week *`Here you get a great autobiography of a very experienced man (he famously managed Wham!), who describes in great detail the advent of the pop industry and, of course, all the pitfalls that have become associated with it. -- Mousse T, singer * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe mesmerizing autobiography of one of the most revered soul, jazz, and blues divas of our time-the late Nina SimoneTrade ReviewLincoln Center Institute Resource Center blog, 7/9/09 "Compelling, honest, and powerful. It is meticulously packed with historical information on America during some of its ugliest times, coming from the voice of someone who lived through it everyday...a voice of a woman who devoted her adult life to changing the face of society...From a musical standpoint alone, I Put a Spell On You is an extremely valuable read. However, this would also be a unique, relevant and worthwhile addition to any high-school or collegiate history library, or anyone with an interest in the civil rights movement both politically and artistically."

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Book SynopsisCreedence Clearwater Revival is one of the most important and beloved bands in the history of rock, and John Fogerty wrote, sang, and produced their instantly recognizable classics: Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Born on the Bayou, and more. Now he reveals how he brought CCR to number one in the world, eclipsing even the Beatles in 1969. By the next year, though, Creedence was falling apart; their amazing, enduring success exploded and faded in just a few short years. FORTUNATE SON takes readers from Fogerty''s Northern California roots, through Creedence''s success and the retreat from music and public life, to his hard-won revival as a solo artist who finally found love.

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Book SynopsisA ROLLING STONE, MOJO, and PITCHFORK BOOK OF THE YEARA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The story, in his own words, of one of the century''s most feted singer songwriters: Jeff Tweedy, the man behind music by Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, and Tweedy. Through his pioneering work in the legendary country-punk band Uncle Tupelo, to his enduring legacy as the creative force behind the unclassifiable sound of Wilco, Jeff Tweedy has weaved his way between the underground and the mainstream. While his songs have been endlessly discussed and analysed, rarely has Tweedy talked directly about himself in any detail until now. Funny, disarming and deeply honest, his memoir casts light on his unique creative process and the moments that have shaped his life and career.There's a big-heartedness to the way he writes: humorous, fearless, unflinching.' GUARDIANFrank, engaging, and often very funny

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Book SynopsisPart of the "You're The Voice" series, this book features arrangements of classic Billie Holiday songs for piano, voice and guitar and a short artist biography. It includes an accompanying CD that contains full backing tracks for each song, professionally arranged and recorded to recreate the sounds of the original recording.Table of ContentsWelcome To The Jungle; It's So Easy; Nightrain; Out ta Get Me; Mr. Brownstone; Paradise City; My Michelle; Think About You; Sweet Child O' Mine; You're Crazy; Anything Goes; Rocket Queen

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Book SynopsisFive decades in the music industry, 100 albums, 10 Grammys, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Add high-profile activism for the legalisation of marijuana, the foundation of a ground-breaking philanthropic organisation, and a much-publicised personal life - Willie Nelson''s is a story like no other. Born during the great depression in 1933 and raised by his grandparents, he began singing in dance halls and Honky Tonks at the age of 13, as an escape from working as a cotton picker in the fields of Arkansas. He went on to write some of the most popular country songs of all time, and to record some classic versions of others, including Crazy, Bring Me Sunshine, Always on my Mind and Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain. An American icon who still tours extensively and headlines music festivals, Willie Nelson and his music have found their way into the hearts and minds of fans all over the world.Now 81 years of age, Nelson

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Book Synopsis''The definitive story of the Rolling Stones'' HEATIn this remarkable book, the Stones themselves reveal the story behind the legend, getting right to the heart of what makes the group tick. It''s the band''s-eye view of their history, punctuated by pithy comments on album and single releases, on memorable performances and on the ups and downs of their private world, and also includes stunning illustrations, many from their own personal archives. The book begins with their roots and what brought them together. It then charts their rise from playing in tiny clubs to their success as ''the greatest rock ''n'' roll band in the world''. They describe how their music has evolved and how it has changed their lives.''It wasn''t so much a question of being a wizard on the guitar. You also had to be quite a magician to live with the Stones'' Ronnie WoodTrade Review'Their often blunt recollections make fo ra hugely entertaining slice of rock 'n' roll history. As producer Don Was puts it:"whatever else is happening in the world, you can always count on the Rolling Stones to show up and play the shit out of 'Satisfaction'". Amen to that'. -- Simon Beckett Observer

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Book SynopsisJazz and Death: Reception, Rituals, and Representations critically examines the myriad and complex interactions between jazz and death, from the New Orleans "jazz funeral" to jazz in heaven or hell, final recordings, jazz monuments, and the music’s own presumed death. Table of ContentsIntroduction: Jazz and Death1. When I Die, You Better Second Line: The New Orleans "Jazz Funeral"2. The Devil’s Music: Jazz in Hell3. Louis and the Angels: Jazz in Heaven4. Swan Songs: Final Concerts and Last Recordings5. The Long Fall: The Death of Chet Baker6. Nine Naked Muses: Memorializing Ellington7. Funky Odors: Is Jazz Itself Dead?

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Book SynopsisWisdom and musings on creativity and life from one of the world’s most beloved musicians, producers, and mentors—the legendary multi-award-winner Quincy Jones12 Notes is a self-development guide that will affirm that creativity is a calling that can and should be answered, no matter your age or experience. Drawing from his own life, and those of his many creative collaborators past and present, Quincy Jones presents readers with lessons that are hardworking and accessible yet speak to the passion of self-expression. He includes sections as deep as how to transform grief into power, and as practical as how to set goals and articulate intentions through daily affirmations. Weaving his story throughout, Jones lets readers in on his own creative process, as well as the importance of letting honesty, hard work, and good relationships drive your career.

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Book SynopsisOn a lazy Sunday in 1954, twelve-year-old Jerry Schilling wandered into a Memphis touch football game, only to discover that his team was quarterbacked by a nineteen-year-old Elvis Presley, the local teenager whose first record, "That’s All Right," had just debuted on Memphis radio. The two became fast friends, even as Elvis turned into the world’s biggest star. In 1964, Elvis invited Jerry to work for him as part of his "Memphis Mafia," and Jerry soon found himself living with Elvis full-time in a Bel Air mansion and, later, in his own room at Graceland. Over the next thirteen years Jerry would work for Elvis in various capacities — from bodyguard to photo double to co-executive producer on a karate film. But more than anything else he was Elvis’s close friend and confidant: Elvis trusted Jerry with protecting his life when he received death threats, he asked Jerry to drive him and Priscilla to the hospital the day Lisa Marie was born and to accompany him during the famous "lost weekend" when he traveled to meet President Nixon at the White House. Me and a Guy Named Elvis looks at Presley from a friend’s perspective, offering readers the man rather than the icon — including insights into the creative frustrations that lead to Elvis’s abuse of prescription medicine and his tragic death. Jerry offers never-before-told stories about life inside Elvis’s inner circle and an emotional recounting of the great times, hard times, and unique times he and Elvis shared. These vivid memories will be priceless to Elvis’s millions of fans, and the compelling story will fascinate an even wider audience.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing never-before-seen photographs of U2 on their first US Tour, Bad Brains, Black Flag, Danzig, The Descendants, Fugazi, The Damned, The U.K. Subs, and many, many moreSince 1981, Chris Barrows has taken pictures of bands at their concerts, backstage, and behind the scenes. From U2 during their first tour in 1982 to Captain Sensible of The Damned on his knees in an alley licking a dominatrix’s thigh high vinyl boots, or Lee Ving standing on railroad tracks at night, Barrows' intimate and stirring portraits of bands stripped down and unguarded will be a wonderful addition to any music fan's collection.Trade Review"Cheap Shots isn't just a killer punk rock photo book. It's also a vital rock 'n' roll history document."—Razorcake"Sadly, there is a lot of American music history that will be forgotten in the mists of time, simply because no one thought to document these instances. Thankfully, this is not always the case. Chris Barrows captured many nights, now decades old, with his camera. His work is not only good but allows us to see what was happening way back then. Chris is one of the only people I am aware of who took their camera into the backstage environs of a Black Flag show. It’s not that we were engaging in conduct less than becoming, we didn’t have the budget, it’s just that no one cared. But Chris did and so, through his lens and to our great benefit, the past is still with us."—Henry Rollins, frontman of Black Flag and author of The Portable Henry Rollins among many more"Cheap Shots is a taste ov what Florida Punk Rokk veteran Chris Barrows (Pink Lincolns, Jackie Papers, The Spears) witnessed at shows. These cheap shots are the quintessential photojournal for the quintessential punkrokker. I am honored to be included within these pages ov brilliant photos shot and assembled by my good friend and fellow vetpunk!"—Rikk Agnew, Universal Punkgoth Rock n' Roll Superstar Guitar God, Living Legend"In those halcyon days of punk rock pits of yore an element of danger was omnipresent along with a wafting mist of blood sweat testosterone and pussy juice and thank Satan shutterbug warriors like Chris Barrows risked their necks and were there to capture this historical aggro in warts and all full blown Eastman black and white. The brick you hold in your fetid urine mitts contains a slice of this never before seen punk rock piece of history. Stunning remembrances of an outsider musical movement chronicled thru the lens of one who sensed the importance of the moment."—Tesco Vee, co-founder of Touch and Go Records"...these pictures they remind me that I was alive back then. Though they don't make me remember some things, they do make me remember something. The one thing I want to remember most of all—we were there to play for our friends."—Jack Brewer, frontman of Saccharine Trust

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Book SynopsisElectronic dance music was once the utopian frontier of pop culture. But three decades after the acid house 'summer of love', it has gone from subculture to the global mainstream. Does it still have the same power to inspire? From the pleasure palaces of Ibiza and Las Vegas to 'new frontiers' like Shanghai and Dubai, raving is now a multi-million-dollar business. But there are still hardcore believers upholding its DIY ethos - the techno idealists of Berlin and Detroit and the queer subcults of New York, the post-apartheid party people of South Africa and the outlaw techno travellers of France. In Rave On, Matthew Collin travels the world to experience these unique scenes first-hand, talk to the key players and hear the story of how dance culture went global - and find out if its maverick spirit can survive its own success.Trade ReviewPart history lesson, part vibrant dance-floor travelogue, Collin's smart geographical survey shows how club culture mutates and adapts, its meaning changing between Detroit, Durban and the conspicuously consuming Dubai ... Between those repetitive beats, there's still a world of possibility. -- Victoria Segal * Sunday Times *Ten x-rays of dance culture in ten global hotspots that lovingly trace the history of each locale's sound through its DJs, promoters and proponents ... Both scholarly and intimate ... Collin's quest is never short of illuminating ... fascinating -- Kitty Empire * Observer *Praise for Altered State: 'At last somebody has written the real history of the last ten years, and written it with such wit, verve, empathy and profound intelligence. I can't recommend this marvellous piece of work enough. -- Irvine WelshAltered State remains the definitive story of the last decade's love affair with MDMA and mucking about in fields just off the M25 * Q *The first book to forensically document the acid house explosion ... written with the authority of the first-hander * Mixmag *Altered State is not just timely; it was crying out to be written * Independent *Matthew Collin has a reporter's eye, a critic's erudition and a fan's passion -- Dorian Lynskey, author of 33 Revolutions Per MinuteA timely deconstruction of the interests and influences shaping international dance music - but with all the fun left in ... both an intoxicating field trip and a well-argued word to the wise on (not) selling out. -- Robert Bound * Monocle *Rave On describes in fascinating detail how electronic music scenes bubble up in places that are in the depths of poverty, despair or unrest. The Detroit and Berlin chapters are particularly powerful... Collin's descriptions of Berlin's superclub Berghain today are particularly wonderful -- Jude Rogers * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisHoly Ghost is the first extended study of free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler, who is seen today as one of the most important innovators in the history of jazz. Ayler synthesized children s songs, La Marseillaise, American march music, and gospel hymns, turning them into powerful, rambunctious, squalling free-jazz improvisations. Some critics considered him a charlatan, others a heretic for unhinging the traditions of jazz. Some simply considered him insane. However, like most geniuses, Ayler was misunderstood in his time. His divine messages of peace and love, apocalyptic visions of flying saucers, and the strange account of the days leading up to his being found floating in New York s East River are central to his mystique, but, as Koloda points out, they are a distraction, overshadowing his profound impact on the direction of jazz as one of the most visible avant-garde players of the 1960s and a major influence on others, including John Coltrane. A musicologist, and friend of Don Ayler, Albert s troubled trumpet-playing brother, Richard Koloda has spent over two decades researching this book. He follows Ayler from his beginnings in his native Cleveland to France, where he received his greatest acclaim, to his untimely death on November 25, 1970, at age thirty-four, and puts to rest speculation concerning his mysterious death. A feat of biography and a major addition to jazz scholarship, Holy Ghost offers a new appreciation of one of the most important and controversial figures in the twentieth-century music.Trade ReviewReading like an action-packed novel, Koloda s biography is definitive, colorful, and a major addition to the literature of American music and jazz. - Scott Yanow, author of Jazz On Record 1917 76

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Book SynopsisThe Jam - Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler - were the ultimate 'angry young men' of pop. Leading the Mod Revival of the 1970s in thrilling new directions, their tight live shows, razor-sharp style and perfectly crafted songs earned them a devoted following and a string of number one hits. By 1982 The Jam were bigger than ever, but the pressure of success was taking its toll. At the peak of their powers, Paul Weller made the shock decision that was far from welcomed by the rest of the group, let alone the fans: The Jam were to split up and go their separate ways. This richly illustrated and revealing oral history of their final year, led principally by the voice of drummer Rick Buckler, contains a number of previously unseen images and untold stories, taking us from the recording and release of their final studio album, The Gift, to The Jam's last appearances together. In addition to Buckler's memories of the time, The Jam 1982 also brings together testimonies from Gary Crowley, producer Peter Wilson, A&R manager Dennis Munday, photographer Neil ‘Twink’ Tinning, Eddie Piller, Paolo Hewitt, Mat Osman, Belle Stars singer Jennie Matthias (‘The Bitterest Pill’), touring musicians Jamie Telford and Steve Nichol and others, to tell the tale of a single, fateful year: the year The Jam, for better or worse, went out at the very top of their game.

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Book SynopsisPressure Dropchronicles reggae's most tumultuous and influential decade. Beginning in 1970 and unfolding both in Britain and Jamaica, reggae flourished against a backdrop of political upheaval, gang warfare, Black Nationalism, racial and class discrimination and grinding poverty.

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Book SynopsisThe first of threevolumes, When Evening Falls: Rainbow 1974-77 covers the Dio era of Rainbow,immortalised through the seminal albums Rainbow Rising and Long LiveRock n' Roll.

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Book Synopsis'A thorough, objective telling of McCartney's story - in and out of the most famous band ever.' ESQUIREThe first biography written with McCartney's approval and with access to family members and friends closest to him.In 2013, Sir Paul McCartney granted Philip Norman 'tacit approval' as his biographer. The result is a masterly and complex portrait of the most successful songwriter in history.It gives a unique insight into McCartney's childhood, blighted by the loss of his mother when he was fourteen, and into the creative symbiosis and fierce rivalry between John Lennon and himself that powered the Beatles' music. Here, too, for the first time, is the full story of McCartney's triumphant but troubled post-Beatles years: the tragic death of his first wife, Linda, and the chaotic divorce from his second wife, Heather Mills.Paul McCartney is the definitive life of a long-misunderstood genius that superbly evokes half a century of popular music and culture.Trade ReviewNorman is an enviably skilled pen-portraitist, with a consummate ability to conjure the presence of [McCartney] ... A powerful sense of McCartney the man comes across in this book's evocative high points ... A capably executed biography, brimming with detail -- John Harris * THE GUARDIAN *A thorough, objective telling of McCartney's story - in and out of the most famous band ever. But it's also a breezy read, considering the tremendous ground it covers -- Jeff Slate * ESQUIRE.COM *Meticulous character study that adeptly shuns hero worship -- Bill Prince * GQ magazine *Where [the] book succeeds the most is bringing the reader into McCartney's private life... The most up-to-date account of Paul's life to yet appear * THE ECONOMIST *A compelling narrative about a working-class Liverpudlian whose extraordinary musical gifts made him the most successful songwriter in history... McCartney emerges from [the book] as a textured but decent man -- Graham Boynton * NEWSWEEK *Norman makes meaningful use of his access to members of Macca's Liverpool clan, a colourful crew to whom he's always remained close, as well as many business and musical associates, friends, lovers, collaborators and flunkies ... The Beatles story is so amazing in every respect that when it's told as well as this, it's worth reading again -- Allan Jones * UNCUT *An enormous and sympathetic book ... The story of its subject's life from his childhood in Liverpool through the breakup of the Beatles in 1970 has lost none of its ability to charm ... One of the best stories the past century has to tell -- Dwight Garner * NEW YORK TIMES *Philip Norman's considered biography portrays the 'cute' Beatle in all his creative complexity and breadth -- Neil Spencer * THE GUARDIAN *This biography is a compelling chronicle of the life of an immortal icon -- Ed Murphy * HOT PRESS *This 800-page opus is crammed with detail ... Read it for the detail and humour of the early years, and marvel at the revelations * i PAPER *Meticulous detail ... you can even smell the sweat, rat shit and basement mold in the Cavern Club ... Even Macca, who, to Norman's surprise, agreed to give him "tacit approval" without directly particpating, apparently had to concede that the guy is a Beatles scholar to reckon with. The Beatles' startlingly brief career is recounted expertly; Norman knows his facts ... vivid storytelling ... Norman gets as close as anyone has yet. -- Will Hermes * ROLLING STONE *Norman is perhaps the only biographer to provide an exegesis of the one Beatle most everyone gets wrong. This is thrillingly thorough stuff ... richness of detail ... McCartney is a rounded figure here -- Brian Boyd * THE IRISH TIMES *[Norman] is a good interviewer and the book is charming when he lets his Liverpool sources speak about the days before the Beatles were inevitable ... Paul McCartney is full of things that happened to Paul McCartney and through absurd fame and a few tragedies he appears to be an unusually decent man with few regrets * THE SCOTSMAN *Written with the tacit approval of its subject, Philip Norman's Paul McCartney: The Biography is the most thorough examination to date of the ex-Beatle's life and music, also serving to set the record straight on McCartney's central importance in the group once described as "the 20th century's greatest romance" * CHOICE magazine *A colourful and detailed account of Macca's life and music * SAGA magazine *A very fair and multi-layered biography * MAIL ON SUNDAY - Summer Reads *What's left to reveal about one of the most chronicled musicians of the 20th century? As it turns out, a great deal. With the notoriously guarded McCartney's "tacit approval," Norman sheds new light on well-known Beatles stories and then goes further, forging a thoroughly absorbing account of McCartney's life after the group's breakup: business ventures, parenthood, personal tragedy, the struggle to live and create beyond the legacy of his fabled band. The result is a tantalizing trip down the legend's own long and winding road. * HUFFINGTON POST *

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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 RockawayTrade 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 *

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Book SynopsisThe Go-Go’s were the first all-female rock group in history to write their own songs, play their own instruments, and reach the top of the Billboard charts with their #1 album, Beauty and the Beat. Made In Hollywood is drummer Gina Schock’s personal account of the band, which includes a treasure trove of photographs and memorabilia collected over the course of her 40-year career.The Go-Go’s debut album, Beauty and the Beat, rose to the top of the charts in 1981 and their hit songs 'We Got the Beat', 'Our Lips Are Sealed', “Vacation”, and 'Head Over Heels' (to name a few) served as a soundtrack to our lives in the ‘80s.Now, after the release of their Critics Choice Award-winning Showtime documentary, and in anticipation of their forthcoming induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and their 2021 West Coast shows, Gina takes fans behind the scenes for a rare look at her personal images documenting the band's wild journey to the heights of fame and stardom. Featuring posters, photographs, Polaroids, and other memorabilia from her archives, Made In Hollywood also includes stories from each member of the Go-Go’s, along with other cultural luminaries like Kate Pierson, Jodie Foster, Dave Stewart, Martha Quinn, and Paul Reubens.With a style as bold and distinctive as any Go-Go’s album, Made In Hollywood is the perfect tribute to one of the world's most iconic groups.

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Book SynopsisJoe Jackson is a singer, songwriter, composer, and performer who has twisted and turned his career through numerous genres, and continues to release excellent albums forty years after his initial breakthrough success. For some he’s the ‘Angsty Young Man’, forever hitched to two hit singles; ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him?’, and ‘It’s Different For Girls’. Other memories may extend further to include the smooth pop gems of ‘Steppin’ Out’ and ‘Breaking Us In Two’ from the early 1980’s. By the 1990’s he had apparently faded from the spotlight. Stardom has never seemed to be the Jackson’s central ambition; he’s been happier to follow his muse. There is more, so much more to this gifted musician, and this book covers every facet of a brilliant, unpredictable, and fearsomely independent recording career. From early ‘new wave’ successes, via unexpected ‘covers’ albums, film soundtracks, impressive conceptual works, to classical compositions. These are all interspersed with more great songs always written with intelligence and verve. Jackson is the constant musical explorer. For those who have stayed the course this book charts his every port of call so far; if you are unfamiliar but want to know more, jump onboard. You won’t regret it.

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Book SynopsisThis is the definitive autobiography of John Lydon, one of the most recognizable icons in the annals of music history. As Johnny Rotten, he was the lead singer of the Sex Pistols - the world''s most notorious band, who shot to fame in the mid-1970s with singles such as ''Anarchy in the UK'' and ''God Save the Queen''. Via his music and invective he spearheaded a generation of young people across the world who were clamouring for change - and found it in the style and attitude of this most unlikely figurehead.With his next band, Public Image Ltd (PiL) Lydon expressed an equally urgent impulse in his make-up - the constant need to reinvent himself. From their beginnings in 1978 he set the template for a band that continues to challenge and thrive in the 2010s. He also found time for making innovative new dance records with the likes of Afrika Baambaata and Leftfield. Following the release of a solo record in 1997, John took a sabbatical from his music career into other me

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Book SynopsisThe second volume in this highly collectable series covers the years 196970, offering album sleeves, interviews and more. -- .

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Book SynopsisAn alphabetical history of one of rock’s heaviest bands…Metallica! Featuring hard-rocking rhymes and bold illustrations, The ABCs of Metallica looks back at the remarkable history of one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most celebrated groups. Each letter of the alphabet highlights a significant moment along the band’s journey, from their humble Garage Days, to their numerous classic albums such as ...And Justice for All and Master of Puppets, to biographical information on the band members themselves. The book is sure to entertain young readers as well as diehard fans of all ages. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation, which is dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services.

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Book SynopsisMarc Bolan was the very first superstar of the Seventies. As the seductive focus of "T Rex", he revelled in fame and fortune, released a string of classic records, but then lost his way, bingeing on cocaine and booze and apparently heading for obscurity. But the fatal 1977 car crash that cut short his planned comeback as a punk rocker was also to fix him forever as the classic icon of Glam Rock. Today, almost 30 years after his death, the legend of Marc Bolan lives on and not just for the image. His music and chameleonic style were to influence many future bands. Mod, Beatnik, Hippie, Glam and Punk Rocker - Bolan's numerous guises offer a fascinating glimpse into the man himself as well as British pop history. This classic biography of a pop obsessive draws from interviews with many friends and colleagues including the late John Peel, brother Harry and band members Mickey Finn and Bill Legend.Trade ReviewIn the best Bolan biography yet, Paytress writes thoughtfully and perceptively. Q Though Paytress is very good on Bolan's rise and fall, he is absolutely brilliant on the seismic tremors of youth culture. Tony Parsons.

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Book SynopsisThis fully illustrated book celebrates the captivating lives of legendary figures who revolutionised music, from Elvis and Hendrix to Bowie and Jagger. Authored by music journalist Kathy McCabe and featuring stunning images from renowned rock photographer Tony Mott, this book makes the perfect gift for any rock music enthusiast.

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Book SynopsisAerosmith''s lead guitarist Joe Perry opens up for the first time to tell the riveting inside story of his lifeinside the band, featuring everyone from Jimmy Page to Alice Cooper, Bette Midler to Chuck Berry, John Belushi to Al Hirschfeld. Before the platinum records or the Super Bowl half-time show or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Joe Perry was a boy growing up in small town Massachusetts. But the guitar became his passion, an object of lust, an outlet for his restlessness and his rebellious soul. That passion quickly blossomed into an obsession, and he got a band together. One night after a performance he met a brash young musician named Steven Tyler; before long, Aerosmith was born. What happened over the next forty-five years has become the stuff of legend: the knock-down, drag-out, band splintering fights; the drugs, the booze, the rehab; the packed arenas and timeless hits; the reconciliations and the comebacks. Full of humour, insight and brutal honesty

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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.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Whether you're the sort of man who knows everything from who first threw the Devil Horns to the correct pronunciation of Yngwie Malmsteen, there is something fascinating to learn from Louder Than Hell ... Shed[s] new light on the making of Satan's Music." -- Esquire "Presents the collective memory of heavy metal through the ages and eras in the voices of the men who lived it ... It's an aficionado's delight." -- New York Daily News "Louder than Hell is a love letter to the misunderstood genre of heavy metal music, written by trusted companions who had a front row seat on the devil's rollercoaster. The definitive chronological testimony by the people who were there, including some who are no longer with us." -- Mark McGrath, Sugar Ray and co-host Extra "A great read and an instant classic." -- The Onion's A.V. Club "This is the best oral history I've read since Please Kill Me. Louder than Hell is the first book that really delivers the brutal truth from the mouths of the artists and key players themselves! I couldn't put it down." -- Matt Pinfield "Two devil horns up!" -- USA Today A compelling, first-person account of a seemingly unstoppable force ...the book reads like an extended, uncensored, shockingly satisfying episode of VH1's Behind the Music. -- Washington Post "An amazingly comprehensive book on all eras and genres of hard rock and heavy metal. The stories and attention to detail make it an instant must for anyone who ever was or is a fan." -- Eddie Trunk, DJ and host of That Metal Show on VH1 Classic Often hilarious, occasionally, 'God, I wish I hadn't read that!', sometimes profound, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes infuriating ... no one holds back on any subject... you come away from this book with a crystal-clear vision of this world -- The Huffington Post "The authors inclusiveness give this examination a weight that is just as heavy as the music." -- Publishers Weekly "A who's who of heavy music ... What makes Louder Than Hell un-put-down-able are the stories ... Essential." -- Revolver (4 stars) "No one's gone quite as deep into the genre's recesses as this 746-page oral history, which covers everything from the birth of Black Sabbath to Dave Mustaine's departure from Metallica to the disaster that was Woodstock '99." -- Rolling Stone, four stars "Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman know metal. Louder Than Hell is an amazing gathering of different breeds of heavy metal rockers telling the tales metal fans want to hear." -- Tom Morello, Rage Against the Machine "If you love metal, great stories, and music history told by the people who made it, then Louder than Hell is a must-read. This is the book every metal fan should own. -- Alice Cooper "Louder Than Hell comes straight from the twisted minds of rock icons and flows seamlessly through various eras of heavy metal...I really dig this book." -- Riki Rachtman "I've said thousands of times that reading 'totally sucks.' But this book does indeed not suck. Books on the history of even something as cool as metal can be a bit antiseptic and boring-not this one." -- Brendon Small, Dethklok "Who likes rock n roll here?? Well if you do, this is the book for you! ... This is the definitive chronicle of all that is heavy metal and I've read them all!" -- Chris Jericho, Fozzy "As definitive as it gets, bonding historical anecdotes to pieces of debauched mythology from the scene's platinum superstars and fringe icons ... as indispensable as a skull-adorned leather jacket." -- Entertainment Weekly, A-

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Book SynopsisA lover of books like The Alchemist and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Russ delivers a short, potent, inspirational, raw, and honest book that gives readers a way to find self-belief and unlock their potential.

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Book SynopsisCorey Taylor is an American musician best known as the lead singer of hard rock bands Slipknot and Stone Sour, which together have sold over 10 million records. Taylor has been nominated for 10 Grammies and has won one. He has also written his own monthly column for UK magazine, Rock Sound, since 2001.Trade ReviewWild * NME *One hell of a read * Classic Rock *

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Book SynopsisThe Doors were arguably the most important rock-and-roll band of the 1960s, unquestionably a catalyst for American music as we know it. Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison were both UCLA Film School graduates, best friends and rarely apart until Morrison moved to Paris shortly before his death in 1971.Trade Review[The] jewel-like passage (a description of Manzarek and two young buddies who manage to gain entrance to a black juke joint to hear blues singer Muddy Waters) is one of the most moving and exhilarating portraits of white boys succumbing to the power of black music this reviewer has read, worthy of Kerouac's stunning prose on jazz clubs... [An] engaging read. * The Washington Post Book World *The best book yet about The Doors * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisMusic Saved Them, They Say: Social Impacts of Music-Making and Learning in Kinshasa (DR Congo) explores the role music-making has played in community projects run for young people in the poverty-stricken and often violent surroundings of Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The musicians described here former gang members and so-called witch children living on the streets believe music was vital in (re)constructing their lives. Based on fieldwork carried out over the course of three-and-a-half years of research, the study synthesizes interviews, focus group sessions, and participant observation to contextualize this complicated cultural and social environment. Inspired by those who have been saved by music, Music Saved Them, They Say seeks to understand how structured musical practice and education can influence the lives of young people in such difficult living conditions, in Kinshasa and beyond.... a tribute to the persisTrade Review "It has been a notable feature of Pairon’s approach to his research that it has been conducted with and for his participants. Their voices are so vivid, brought to life with a plethora of detailed quotes that one can almost feel present in the room as they make and discuss their music. In this way, the book is also a tribute to the persistence, engagement and courage of the people in these projects, who can be proud that their work is now exposed to a global audience, not just of researchers but also to practitioners around the world who could learn from and be inspired by these hitherto unknown projects. Accordingly, the language of this book is accessible and non-technical to promote maximum engagement." —John Sloboda, Research Professor, Guildhall School of Music & Drama "Lukas Pairon has given us an exhilarating and incisive read, one in which he systematically dismantles the many myths that glorify music's 'magical powers' to change lives and replaces them with insightful, analytical assessments that allow the voices of the participant musicians to be heard in more ways than one. Through the process, he powerfully demonstrates how music can realistically change people's lives, in ways that are both limited but also profound. This book is very moving but never sentimental, one of the best accounts of music's real transformative capacities that I have come across." —Lucy Green, Emerita Professor of Music Education, University College London Institute of Education "It has been a notable feature of Pairon’s approach to his research that it has been conducted with and for his participants. Their voices are so vivid, brought to life with a plethora of detailed quotes that one can almost feel present in the room as they make and discuss their music. In this way, the book is also a tribute to the persistence, engagement and courage of the people in these projects, who can be proud that their work is now exposed to a global audience, not just of researchers but also to practitioners around the world who could learn from and be inspired by these hitherto unknown projects. Accordingly, the language of this book is accessible and non-technical to promote maximum engagement." —John Sloboda, Research Professor, Guildhall School of Music & Drama "Lukas Pairon has given us an exhilarating and incisive read, one in which he systematically dismantles the many myths that glorify music's 'magical powers' to change lives and replaces them with insightful, analytical assessments that allow the voices of the participant musicians to be heard in more ways than one. Through the process, he powerfully demonstrates how music can realistically change people's lives, in ways that are both limited but also profound. This book is very moving but never sentimental, one of the best accounts of music's real transformative capacities that I have come across." —Lucy Green, Emerita Professor of Music Education, University College London Institute of Education Table of Contents List of Figures / Foreword / Preface / Acknowledgements / Introduction / Chapter 1: The Case Studies: Espace Masolo and Beta Mbonda / Chapter 2: Practitioner Research / Chapter 3: Why Make Music at All? / Chapter 4: Artistic and Social Accompaniment: The Teaming Up of Musicians/Teachers/Mentors/Educators / Chapter 5: Behind the Wheel: The Role of Competence and Mastering / Chapter 6: Shared Ownership: The Potential of Empowerment through Participation in Internal Organization and Governance Related to Music-Making / Chapter 7: Music As an End in Itself: The Role of Enjoyment/Play / About the Author / Index

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Book SynopsisThe first book to make sense of 21st Century pop, Retromania explores rock''s nostalgia industry of revivals, reissues, reunions and remakes, and argues that there has never before been a culture so obsessed with its own immediate past. Pulling together parallel threads from music, fashion, art, and new media, Simon Reynolds confronts a central paradox of our era: from iPods to YouTube, we''re empowered by mind-blowing technology, but too often it''s used as a time machine or as a tool to shuffle and rearrange music from yesterday.We live in the digital future but we''re mesmerized by our analogue past.

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Book SynopsisSpanning Tom Waits'' extraordinary 40-year career, from Closing Time to Orphans, Lowside of the Road is Barney Hoskyns'' unique take on one of rock''s great enigmas. Like Bob Dylan and Neil Young, Waits is a chameleonic survivor who''s achieved long-term success while retaining cult credibility and outsider mystique. From his perilous jazzbo years in ''70s Los Angeles to the multiple-Grammy winner of recent years - by way of such shape-shifting ''80s albums as Swordfishtrombones - this exhaustive biography charts Waits'' life step-by-step and album-by-album. Affectionate and penetrating, and based on a combination of assiduous research and deep critical insight, this is a outstanding investigation of a notoriously private artist and performer - the definitive account to date of Tom Waits'' life and work.

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Book SynopsisJarvis Cocker is widely regarded as one of the most original and memorable lyricists and performers of the last three decades. Here, for the first time, is a selection of sixty-six lyrics, presented with commentary and an introduction by the man himself.In this volume, readers (and Pulp fans) will find such classic Jarvis lyrics as ''Common People'', ''Disco 2000'', ''Babies'', ''This is Hardcore'' and ''Do You Remember the First Time?'' The selection, assembled by the author, reveals a sensibility that is unmistakeably Jarvis: a sometimes visceral, sometimes everyday take on love, relationships and the things we do to each other when the lights get low.Mother, Brother, Lover takes the reader on a thirty-year tour into the life, art and preoccupations of one of the great British artists of the late twentieth century. Shocking, sharp, clever and funny, it is a beautiful collection of lyrics and commentary.

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Book SynopsisI can confirm that should you ever find yourself on stage playing the bass guitar with three left hands, it is usually the one in the middle that is the real one. The other two are probably phantoms. Playing the Bass with Three Left Hands tells the story of one of the most revered British bands of the 1980s: Spacemen 3. As the decade turned and acid house hit the mainstream, the band imploded spectacularly, going their separate ways just as they were on the cusp of breakthrough success. Here, Will Carruthers tells the story of his time in a wholly dysfunctional yet hugely influential band, in one of the funniest and most memorable music memoirs.

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Book SynopsisA ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEARWayne Kramer, legendary guitarist and co-founder of quintessential Detroit proto-punk legends The MC5, tells his story in The Hard Stuff.''As gripping as it is sobering.''THE TIMES''Voyerustically dramatic.''NEW YORK TIMES''Eye-opening.''GUARDIAN''One of rock''s most engaging and readable memoirs.''ROLLING STONE''Inspiring and redempetive.''UNCUT''An endearing read.''MOJOLed by legendary guitarist Wayne Kramer, The MC5 was a reflection of the times: exciting, sexy, violent, out of control assuring their time in the spotlight would be short-lived.Kramer's story is a revolutionary one, but it is also the deeply personal struggle of an addict and an artist. From the glory days of Detroit to the junk-sick streets of the East Village, from Key West to N

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Book SynopsisThe SUNDAY TIMES Top Ten Bestseller#1 Book of the Year, UNCUT#1 Book of the Year, ROUGH TRADEBook of the Year, MOJOOver the course of two albums and some legendary gigs, Joy Division became the most successful and exciting underground band of their generation. Then, on the brink of a tour to America, Ian Curtis took his own life.In This Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else, Jon Savage has assembled three decades' worth of interviews with the principal players in the Joy Division story to create an intimate, candid and definitive account of the band. It is the story of how a group of young men can galvanise a generation of fans, artists and musicians with four chords and three-and-a-half minutes of music. And it is the story of how illness and inner demons can rob the world of a shamanic lead singer and visionary lyricist.

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