Popular music Books

Book Synopsis'The Beatles are coming! The Beatles are coming!' While the chant will be familiar to any Beatles fan, there was a time before the band took the world by storm, when they were little more than an inexperienced, though talented, semi-professional group of musicians in dire need of practice. Their agent Allen Williams first sent them to Germany in August 1960 and through their experiences and difficulties in Hamburg, the Beatles not only became proficient musicians, but more importantly began to build the reputation that would eventually make them the most popular band in the world. The Beatles in Hamburg is the first detailed, objective analysis of the events and personalities that shaped the Beatles as performers, composers and musicians, and the role that Hamburg itself played in their remarkable story. Ian Inglis illuminates this obscure period in Beatles history, providing a revealing view of a crucial, formative period for the group. Written by one of the world's leading scholars of the Beatles and their music, the book will be of immense interest to fans of the group, as well as those interested in the history of popular music and the social history of the 1960s.Trade Review'Inglis is at his best when summarizing the environmental forces and personal relationships that fostered the intense level of artistic growth the group achieved during their time in that city. In his chapter on the Beatles' musical influences, he adeptly summarizes, in a short space, the unusual variety of musical currents that entered into their repertoire, including rhythm and blues, rockabilly, doo-wop, and Brill Building pop.' - The Weekly Standard

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Book SynopsisImmerse yourself in the vibrant world of Latin Jazz guitar improvisation with Contemporary Latin Jazz Guitar Vol 2: Solos by Neff Irizarry. This comprehensive guide is designed for musicians and enthusiasts eager to enhance their improvisational skills and infuse their playing with the distinctive Sabor characteristic of Latin Jazz. In this volume, Irizarry builds upon the foundational knowledge established in Volume 1, diving deeper into the advanced rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic techniques that defi ne the soloist's role in Latin Jazz. With this book, you will gain invaluable insights into the improvisational tools used by some of the most infl uential Tres, Cuatro, Requinto, and Guitar players. The meticulous analysis of these elements-note choices, articulation, phrasing, and sound-reveals the unique aspects of each player's style and highlights the common threads that bind traditional and contemporary players in shaping Latin Jazz Guitar and even Latin Rock. Comprehensive Transcriptions: Delve into 54 meticulously transcribed solos from legends such as Steve Khan, George Benson, Bruce Forman, Peter Bernstein, Arsenio Rodriguez, Yomo Toro, Carlos Emilio Morales, and Edgardo Miranda, among others. In-Depth Analysis: Gain a deeper understanding of the note choices, articulation, phrasing, and sound that defi ne each solo, providing a clear path to incorporating these techniques into your own playing. Play-Along Compositions: Practice with specially designed compositions that allow you to apply the insights and techniques learned from the transcriptions in a practical, engaging manner. By studying the transcriptions and analyses in this volume, you will be able to incorporate the soulful and vibrant Sabor of Latin Jazz into your own improvisations. Learn from the masters and elevate your playing with the authentic sounds and techniques that have shaped Latin Jazz Guitar.Contemporary Latin Jazz Guitar Vol 2: Solos by Neff Irizarry is more than just a book; it's a journey into the heart of Latin Jazz improvisation. Whether you are a seasoned guitarist or an enthusiastic learner, this volume offers the tools and inspiration you need to master the art of Latin Jazz Guitar. Don't miss the opportunity to enrich your musical repertoire with the wisdom and expertise of some of the greatest guitarists in the genre.

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Book SynopsisThe most helpful beginner's guide to walking bass lines ever published! A must' for teachers and students! Concentrates on C minor only!Each exercise introduces one new advancement to help you learn how to create your own bass lines. The book progresses step-by-step from simply playing roots, all the way up to complete blues choruses in the style of 18 bass legends - from Pops' Foster to Ron Carter!Choose from four different, professionally recorded backing tracks: 1 piano, drums; 2 guitar, drums; 3 B3, drums; 4 drums only.Exercises include concepts of approach notes, enclosures, passing tones, and forward motion. Access to detailed explanations of each concept, plus how to practice, playing with spirit, how to deepen your groove and much more! TAB included for beginning electric bassists. Range limited to high C (1st 5 frets for electric players).

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Book Synopsis'I was raised with an artist’s mentality; my first 25 years were spent as somebody who wanted to live among graphics and artwork and illustration, and then for the next 30 years it was all music. Recently, I’ve reverted into the arts, combining all these elements in my work, still trying to change the world. This is truly what I want to do.' – Chuck DIn Livin’ Loud, Public Enemy founder, hip-hop pioneer and revolutionary activist, Chuck D, presents a body of art, each piece reflective of the man behind the music, alongside a biographical commentary tracing his musical and artistic trajectory. From his early roots and the central figures that critically shaped him and his voice, to the formation of Public Enemy, from his Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction through to his time with Prophets of Rage and current day world affairs.Chuck D has been creating musical and cultural observations that challenge public opinion since 1985 and his visual compositions continue to interpret and question the world around us. Chuck D pays homage to his musical influences and peers from James Brown and Woody Guthrie to Def Jam labelmates Run-DMC and Beastie Boys; a host of the most influential hip-hop artists from Ice Cube to Run the Jewels; his twin passions of baseball and basketball; creating a collection of landscapes on tour with Prophets of Rage, and a range of sociopolitical pieces that explore the issues continuing to shape our culture.With a foreword by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello and featuring over 250 of Chuck D's paintings, sketches and drawings, Livin' Loud includes a commentary of over 13,000 words in which he offers unprecedented insight into his life and work.

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Book SynopsisConceived in 2017 from a conversation with Roger Daltrey, Words ofLove by Genesis Publications is the definitive celebration of musician,songwriter and rock and roll trailblazer Buddy Holly. Created inpartnership with Maria Elena Holly and the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, this seminal volume offers an intimate look at Buddy''s life,music, and lasting legacy, revealing the man behind the timeless music.Words of Love features over 400 rare and archival items, includingphotographs, personal letters, handwritten notes, clothing, iconicglasses, guitars, tour posters, recording agreements, and press cuttings,and much more?many of which are previously unpublished. Throughthese artifacts and an extensive collec:on of rare and never-before-seenphotographs, Words of Love charts the unusual rise of a musical pioneerwho defied conventions and shaped the future of rock and roll.With forewords by Maria Elena Holly and Paul McCartney, and afterwordby Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, Buddy?s legacy is recountedthrough the voices of those who knew him best. Bandmates Jerry ''JI''Allison and Sonny Curtis, as well as friends like Paul Anka, Dion, DuaneEddy, and Don Everly, share their memories alongside insights from over80 influential musicians, including David Gilmour, Emmylou Harris, VanMorrison, Dolly Parton, Robert Plant, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and BrianWilson.From his Texan roots, to his work with the Crickets, to his final months ofinnovation preceding his tragic death, Words of Love unravels thecomplexities of Buddy Holly?s life and celebrates his enduring influenceon music history.?Buddy was playing the lead guitar, which we loved, but he was alsosinging it, which we loved, and he?d wriSen it, which we loved. So on anumber of levels he was very inspirational. He became a hero for us andgave us the idea to go and do it ourselves.? ? PAUL McCARTNEY?You could learn from Buddy Holly how to write songs, the way he putthem together. He was a beau:ful writer. The greatest. And I mean that ?the greatest.? ? MICK JAGGER?I?ve worked with so many people in music and I just know we?d havecollaborated if things had been different. You can hear Buddy?s musicalideas across the whole spectrum of music. Everybody is inspired bysomething he did!? ? NILE RODGERS?I play Buddy Holly every night before I go on. It keeps me honest.?? BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

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Book SynopsisRead & Burn is the first serious, in-depth appraisal of Wire, one of the most influential British bands to emerge during the punk era. If Wire were briefly a punk band, however, it was largely by historical accident. Despite the fact that they had complicated and transformed that category almost before they''d begun, they seem never to have quite escaped the label. Be it punk, post-punk, or art-punk, critics have clung onto the p-word in an attempt to capture the essence of Wire''s innovative uniqueness. But their story - which honours punk''s original yet quickly forgotten commitment to the new - is one of constant remaking and remodelling, one that stubbornly resists reduction to a single identity. As a result, the group''s projects have always balanced uneasily between artistic endeavour and the need for commercial sustainability, played out against the backdrop of the musicians'' perennially complex creative relationships. Tracing Wire''s diverse output from 1977 up until

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Book SynopsisOn the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles in 1965 and 1966 an electrifying scene appeared out of nowhere, exploded into creativity, and then, just as suddenly, vanished. So much remarkable music, art, and social revolution came from one place at one time, it's difficult now to grasp how it all happened. This book tells the story of the astonishing time when rock'n'roll displaced movies as the centre of action in Hollywood. From the moment The Byrds debuted at Ciro's on March 26th 1965-with Bob Dylan joining them onstage-right up to the demonstrations of November 1966, Sunset Strip nightclubs nurtured and broke The Doors, Love, Buffalo Springfield (featuring Neil Young and Stephen Stills), Frank Zappa's Mothers Of Invention, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, The Turtles, The Mamas and The Papas, and many others. The Strip was a hotbed for garage punk bands such as The Standells, The Electric Prunes, and The Leaves. Folk-rock and psychedelia were born there, while it was also a favourite hangout and inspiration for The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Velvet Underground. Republished to coincide with the 50th anniversary of these incredible times, Riot On Sunset Strip: Rock'n'Roll's Last Stand In Hollywood captures the excitement of this great artistic awakening, telling how the scene came together and then fell apart at the Monterey Pop festival, the tragic grand finale of the Summer of Love. It serves as a startling evocation of the social and artistic revolution that was the 60s.

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Book SynopsisA Matter Of Fact is the perfect companion to Deep Purple's music. Full of bizarre, obscure and amazing facts that have surrounded the band throughout its career of over forty years. If you have ever had disagreements with fellow fans about various facts or want to test the biggest fan on just how good their Deep Purple knowledge is, then this is the book for you. * How did Ian Paice and Rod Evans end up supporting Deep Purple? * Why did Ritchie Blackmore's country and western guitar playing save him from a beating? * Why did Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler review a Purple gig? * Who first recorded versions of several Deep Purple songs, complete with an orchestra? * Did Deep Purple's explosive performance at Plumpton really prevent Yes from performing? * Who did Deep Purple sue for selling bootlegs? * Which big rock star did the band get in a spat with at Knebworth? * Why did the Bee Gees receive Purple's lifetime achievement award? * What was Deep Purple's involvement with a film about a sixteenth century naval explorer that never got produced? * Why were some of Deep Purple's recent gigs illegal? The answers to all these questions, and many more amazing facts are revealed in this captivating book. Based on interviews with band and road crew members, contemporary press articles, and drawing on management files, A Matter Of Fact helps to clarify the truth behind several stories. It also dispels some untruths once and for all, as well a few previously un-revealed new stories that will appeal to even the most diehard fans.Trade ReviewJerry Bloom does an amazing job of collecting a collage of information and stories of the band members when they were in and out of their various bands before, during and after Purple. The stories will keep any Deep Purple fan enthralled. As anyone in showbiz will tell you there's always a whole lot more going on than it appears. This book is not just about the rock 'n' roll lifestyle but an insight in to the tough day to day grind of a group of amazingly talented artists all with differing personalities. Pat Cash (Foreword writer)

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Book SynopsisFor a time, the Isle of Wight Festivals transformed a sleepy English island into the rock'n'roll capital of the world. From promoting a one-nighter in 1968, to raise funds for a local swimming pool, the young Foulk brothers were able to out-perform Woodstock, by signing the world-exclusive appearance of rock's poet laureate, Bob Dylan. The de facto leader of the counterculture had been hidden away in the artist-town of Woodstock, rarely seen after a motor cycle accident three years earlier. He turned his back on the eponymous festival, put there to persuade him to come out and play, but Dylan left for Europe on the day their event began. For the Foulk brothers - lacking experience, resources and time - the coup and ensuing public response was almost overwhelming, but with audacious bravado and steely determination they delivered the most awaited event of the era. Devotees from hippies to celebrities flocked to the Island from mainland Britain, Europe, the Americas and as far away as Australia. As well as changing the lives of Ray and his brothers the phenomenon played its part in a highly transformative period for Bob Dylan, in which the Isle of Wight remained his one and only full concert appearance in seven-and-a-half years.

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Book SynopsisEvelyn Dove embraced the worlds of jazz, musical theatre and, most importantly, cabaret, in a career spanning five decades from the 1920s through to the 1960s. A black British diva with movie star looks, she captivated audiences and admirers around the world, enjoying the same appeal as the 'Forces Sweetheart' Vera Lynn throughout the Second World War.Refusing to be constrained by her race or middle-class West African and English backgrounds, she would perform for infamous Russian leader, Joseph Stalin; become a regular vocalist for the BBC and a celebrated performer across continental Europe, India and the US.At the height of her fame in the 1930s, she worked with the pioneers of black British theatre, replacing Josephine Baker as the star attraction in a revue at the Casino de Paris and scandalizing her family by appearing on stage semi-nude.This is a celebration of an extraordinary career punctuated with vertiginous highs and profound lows, and places Dove in historical context with artists of her time, such as Adelaide Hall, Dame Cleo Laine and Dame Shirley Bassey.

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Book SynopsisThe untold story behind one of the most controversial album releases in modern music history, for fans of the Wu-Tang Clan, hip-hop music, and all those interested in the music industry. Take a kid with a dream. A legendary hip hop group. 6 years of secret recordings. A casing worthy of a king. A single artifact. Hallowed establishment institutions. An iconoclastic auction house. The world's foremost museum of modern art. A bidding war. Endless crises of conscience. An angry mob. A furious beef. A sale. A villain of Lex Luthor-like proportions. Bill Murray. The FBI. The internet gone wild. In 2007, the innovative Wu-Tang producer, Cilvaringz, feeling that digitisation increasingly supported the perception of music as disposable, took an incendiary idea to his mentor, hip hop legend, RZA: create a unique physical copy of a secret Wu-Tang album, to be encased in silver and sold through auction as a work of contemporary art. The plan raised a number of complex questions: Would selling one album for millions be the ultimate betrayal of music? How would fans react to an album that's sold on condition it could not be commercialised? And could anyone justify the ultimate sale of the album to the infamous pharmaceutical mogul Martin Shkreli? "An epic battle between colorful, creative maniacal heroes and one of the blandest beta-villains of our time. Couldn't put it down."Patton Oswalt, comedian and bestselling author of Silver Screen FiendTrade Review“An epic battle between colorful, creative maniacal heroes and one of the blandest beta-villains of our time. Couldn’t put it down.”Patton Oswalt, comedian and bestselling author of Silver Screen Fiend"[An] utterly candid work...Bozorgmehr's stirring account gives readers the insider's view of musical outlaws who possessed the best intentions of elevating hip-hop from its street moorings to more stylish, chic surroundings, and whose efforts exploded in a crisis of bad media coverage and soulless pharmaceutical drug merchants."Publishers Weekly

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A creative analysis of the band's fifth album Very, "Smile If You Dare" examines topics as diverse as technological paradise, sexual paranoia and representations of class in British pop music. As well as a keen critical edge, itis equipped with an undisguised mad love for the source material, a sense of passionate abandon induced by the tragic/ecstatic synth-pop that pours out of the speakers.

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Book SynopsisIn this intimate and revealing memoir, Lou Reed s first wife finally tells the full story of her five-year relationship with the legendary New York singer and songwriter. Bettye met Lou in 1968 as a nineteen-year-old Columbia University student; they were married, briefly, in 1973. Their relationship spanned some of the most pivotal years of his life and career, from the demise of The Velvet Underground to the writing and recording of his seminal solo masterpieces Transformer, for which Lou wrote 'Perfect Day about an afternoon they spent together in the park, and Berlin, which draws on tales from Bettye s childhood. Here, Bettye looks back on their initially idyllic life together on the Upper East Side; Lou s struggle to launch a solo career after leaving perhaps the most influential rock band of all time; his work and friendships with fellow stars David Bowie and Iggy Pop; and his descent into drink and drug abuse following the success of Transformer, which sent him spinning out from gentle soul to rock n roll animal and brought a swift and calamitous end to their relationship. A powerful and poignant meditation on love, loss, and music, Perfect Day offers a fascinating new perspective on the life and legend of one of rock n roll s finest sons.

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Book SynopsisRadio 2's PopMaster quiz has been thrilling listeners to the Ken Bruce Show for 20 years. Now you can enjoy the pop quiz in your own time at home, in the pub, or at a party with your family and friends. This new giant quiz-book is packed with over 3800 questions to keep you entertained, amused, and informed for hours. Written by PopMaster's expert quiz-setters Phil Swern and Neil Myners, this book is a must for pop trivia fans, music lovers and quiz addicts alike!

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Book Synopsis Praise for the Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die exhibition: "A fascinating look at how punk and new wave music met the eye" New York Times "An absolute joy" Financial Times The largest unique collection of printed memorabilia from the punk and post-punk movements. Andrew Krivine began collecting punk memorabilia in 1977 when punk exploded onto the scene. Since then, Andrew has amassed one of the world s largest collection of punk graphic design and memorabilia. This book features a carefully curated selection of over 650 posters, club flyers, record covers and adverts from the collection. Together they represent the prime years of punk which changed the world of graphic design forever with its do-it-yourself aesthetics. The artworks are put into context by graphic design experts, academics and commentators. Among them former art director of New York Times Steven Heller, reader in graphic design at the London College of Communication Dr Russ Bestley, graphic design writer Rick Poynor, designer Malcolm Garrett and Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Michael Wilde. The book spans the growth and evolution of punk on both sides of the Atlantic including The Clash, The Buzzocks, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Television, The Ramones, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Devo, Blondie, Flying Lizards, Public Image Ltd, The Only Ones, The Slits, New Order, REM and Joy Division. A collectable item itself, the book is beautifully produced with front and back cover artwork by Malcolm Garrett and Peter Saville, the designers behind some of punk s most memorable album covers. Arguably the most essential and final work on the graphic design revolution within the punk and post-punk movements of the UK and America, Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die will appeal to punk fans and graphic designers alike. Part of Andrew s collection is currently touring the world as the Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die exhibition and has been on display at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York among other museums.Trade Review'A heaven-sent gift to all dedicated followers of punk' * Morning Star *'Truly a sight for the eyes' * The Irish Times *'Filled to the brim with iconography that begins with the Velvet Underground in the ‘60s and ends with the Smiths in the ‘80s' * Style Zeitgeist (US) *'If you have even a passing interest in the period, then you should sell your dog (or dog collar) to buy a copy.' * GQ *

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Book SynopsisThe Songs The Beatles Gave Away' was inspired by the 2009 BBC Radio 2 documentary of the same name on which Colin worked with/for Bob Harris and his wife, Trudie Myerscough-Harris. For his book, Bob and Trudie have kindly given Colin permission to access the interviews they conducted in 2008/9 with Sir Paul McCartney, Sir George Martin, Cilla Black, Mary Hopkin, Jackie Lomax, Billy Hatton and others. Previously only small extracts from these exclusive interviews have ever been available but now, for the first time, these gems are accessed in full. Among the last interviews they gave, Sir George and Cilla spoke candidly about their work and experiences. To read their words is a moving reminder not only of their individual talents but of a period in recent musical history, the impact of which, still resonates to this day. Since making the original Radio 2 documentary Colin has been able to speak to artists who did not contribute directly to the programme such as Billy J. Kramer, Peter Asher, Megan Davies of The Applejacks and John Clay who played with the Black Dyke Mills Brass Band in 1968 when Paul McCartney visited Saltaire, in Yorkshire, to record 'Thingumybob', an instrumental tune, he had written especially for a brass band to play. For extra background detail, and to further contextualise the songwriting of John, Paul and George, Colin has unearthed extensive interviews he conducted with Astrid Kirchherr and Klaus Vormann before he became custodian of the Lennon house in Liverpool in 2004. He has also spoken with eye-witness, and former member of the Plastic Ono Band, Alan White who played on many Apple recording sessions. 'The Songs The Beatles Gave Away' is illustrated with photographs of records culled from Colin's private collection of original 45rpm vinyl singles, together with photographs kindly donated to the project by his friends, some of his own personal photographs as well as many promotional photographs from the period. While encompassing the origins of the Beatles as a group and the emergence of John, Paul, and George as composers, the central focus of 'The Songs The Beatles Gave Away' is on tunes John, Paul and George wrote for other artistes rather than just for The Beatles themselves. As such the stories featured here are not about 'covers' of songs the Beatles had already released. It is about songs The Beatles did not release commercially or even record at all during the active lifetime of the group. Such 'giveaways' were unique and each song and its singer are discussed in detail and side stories and background explored. This is the first time a book focusing on this aspect of The Beatles' legacy has been attempted.

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Book Synopsis“The Beatles will be remembered, and rightly so, as the sociological phenomenon of the Sixties…but if you’re talking about music, it has to be Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. That’s who they’ll be studying.” (anonymous fan) The Beach Boys are one of the most celebrated bands in the history of pop music. In a career that began before the Beatles and lasted long after their demise, they were responsible for almost single-handedly spearheading a new music genre, and along the way creating what is still referred to as one of the greatest albums of all time, and another cited as one the greatest albums that never was. Over the subsequent years, the band has been the subject of countless books and essays by some of the most esteemed writers in the business, with both words and music scrutinised in the most finest of detail. But what of the stories behind the songs? This is a book that tells you all you need to know about what I consider to be their finest recordings - their inspiration; the writing and recording; the squabbles and controversies, and their ultimate success or failure. But most of all, it takes you inside the mind of one man, the band’s legendary leader, Brian Wilson, and a journey that began a little over half a century ago and now, and forevermore, is rightly acknowledged as a genius of his chosen art, and a man who truly “just wasn’t made for these times.”

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Book SynopsisGarry Bushell was there when the new era of British Heavy Metal kicked off and his essays from the front line convey the excitement and fervour with the arrival of bands like Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Rainbow, Saxon and Def Leopard. This is the first time these reports have been published in book form.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Run to the hills/ The new wave of British metal; Motorhead / A Disgrace to the Label; Iron Maiden / Unleashed With the Beast; Def Leopard / Seventies Boys; Ozzy / So Cool; Saxon / Days of Change; Rainbow / Millions Like Us; Gary Moore; UFO; Thin Lizzy / Frustration; UGC; Status Quo/ Three Bands Tonight; Slade; Blackmayne; Tank; Oral; Venom; Top 10 New Wave of British Heavy Metal albums

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Book SynopsisThis long-awaited treatise on Montrose and Gamma is first and foremost the story of the five Montrose and four Gamma records, their making and baking, the hirings and firings, the superlative delivery live. Within the detailed analysis, one of course gets to celebrate with the author Montrose classics like `Rock the Nation’, `Make it Last’, `Rock Candy’, `Bad Motor Scooter’, `I Got the Fire’, `Matriarch’ and `Jump on It’, along with the entirety of the Gamma years, including the top-shelf Gamma 2, an album Popoff considers the equal to the earth-shattering first Montrose album of 1973. But there’s a darker turn to this extensive tribute as well, as we look at Ronnie’s shocking suicide in 2012, before we correct the record, so to speak, looking at his legacy as articulated by those who played with him and knew him best. All told, it’s a rough ride, with unsettling doses of negativity, but once our tale winds down, there are more than enough lessons on creativity to satisfy any lover of the arts, particularly those centred around the type of six-string mayhem cooked up by the hero of our story, Ronnie Montrose.

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Book SynopsisIron Maiden first appeared at the Reading Rock Festival in 1980 when Paul Di'Anno was fronting the band and Dennis Stratton was on guitar. They appeared second on the bill to UFO on the second night. Undoubtedly for Maiden's Steve Harris there was nothing but respect for the headliners with UFO's Pete Way being one of Harris's biggest bass guitar influences. Also on the bill that day were two future Iron Maiden members - Bruce Dickinson, then the lead singer with Samson, and guitarist Janick Gers of White Spirit, who were brought in as a replacement band. By 1982 when Maiden returned to Reading it was naturally as the headlining act on the Saturday evening. The band had gone through significant changes to the line-up, most notably with Bruce Dickinson now fronting them, which coincided with their rise in popularity. Incredibly it would be another twenty-three years before Maiden returned to Reading, by which time they were in their third decade and had become the undisputed giants of metal. Their longevity also stood out as most of the other major acts that performed over the three days had only appeared on the scene over the previous few years and none could boast a back catalogue quite like Maiden's. With a large collection of photos by Alan Perry and memorabilia from the gigs plus narrative from Iron Maiden biographer Neil Daniels, this book is a wonderful celebration of Maiden's unforgettable appearances at this British institution.

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Book SynopsisRock City, Narita, Fire Down Under, Restless Breed, Born in America... These are the pioneering, superlative heavy metal records that represent the classic first decade of Brooklyn’s Riot’s, before the band would break up, eventually storming back with Thundersteel and The Privilege of Power, existing to this day as Riot V after the shocking death from Crohn’s disease of guitarist and leader Mark Reale. Riot’s is a tale of opportunities missed, of a band ahead of the curve, and of a band from which both its classic era lead singers — Guy Speranza and Rhett Forrester — are now dead, as is, of course, Mark Reale, a quiet man who, fatefully, wanted to leave the business to others and just play his heavy metal. But this book is not just about the ’75 to ’85 period of the band that spawned one of the finest metal records of all time, 1981’s Fire Down Under. Even if the classics framed by those ten years get the full, dedicated chapter, track-by-track Popoff treatment, the subsequent rich and substantial catalogue of the band is discussed as well, right up to the present day where Riot shines on. But still, the focus is on songs like `Warrior’, `49er’, `Road Racin’’, `Outlaw’, `Don’t Hold Back’, `Altar of the King’, `Violent Crimes’, `Vigilante Killer’ and of course the insanely anthemic `Swords and Tequila’, as we celebrate a New York institution that is perhaps the shining example of the term, “honorary New Wave of British Heavy Metal” band.

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Book SynopsisThe year 1972 saw the release of Jethro Tull's iconic album, Thick As A Brick. A song spanning two whole sides of the LP with no gaps in between, Thick As A Brick was unusual even by so-called progressive rock standards at the time. Ironically, even though band leader Ian Anderson joked that the album was intended as "a bit of a spoof", it has gone on to be remembered as a masterpiece of the genre nearly fifty years later. In this book, music author Laura Shenton MA LLCM DipRSL offers an in depth perspective on Thick As A Brick from a range of angles including how the album came to be, how it was presented and received at the time (live as well as on record), and what it means in terms of Jethro Tull's legacy today. As the author explains: "Basically, the book covers how the album was made, what was going on with the music in terms of the artist's intentions, how it did musically and commercially and what happened next." The narrative is essentially driven by contemporary interviews with the artists with small bits of music theory where relevant... in some cases they delve into the structure / key signatures / time signatures, based on the original sheet music without straying away from being an engaging read for non-musicians.

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Book SynopsisIn 1983, Tears For Fears' debut album, The Hurting, was released after the success of their iconic single, 'Mad World'. Whilst embracing the popularity of synth pop, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith created an album that had a darker edge to it. Commercially it was a bold move but with memorable melodies and catchy rhythms, it paid off - all whilst making reference to the work of psychologist Arthur Janov. In this book, music author Laura Shenton MA LLCM DipRSL offers an in depth perspective on The Hurting from a range of angles including how the album came to be, how it was presented and received at the time (live as well as on record), and what it means in terms of Tears For Fears' legacy today. As the author explains: "Basically, the book covers how the album was made, what was going on with the music in terms of the artist's intentions, how it did musically and commercially and what happened next." The narrative is essentially driven by contemporary interviews with the artists with small bits of music theory where relevant... in some cases they delve into the structure / key signatures / time signatures, based on the original sheet music without straying away from being an engaging read for non-musicians.

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Book SynopsisFor Kate Bush, and indeed many in her strong fanbase, The Kick Inside is the album that started it all. Her 1978 debut was certainly attention grabbing; it propelled her to fame and got the ball rolling for a phenomenal career as a much appreciated musician and admired female talent. With the iconic 'Wuthering Heights', the young Kate had captured people's imagination with her original songwriting style and of course, her unique voice. In this book, music author Laura Shenton MA LLCM DipRSL offers an in depth perspective on The Kick Inside from a range of angles including how the album came to be, how it was presented and received at the time (live as well as on record), and what it means in terms of Kate Bush's legacy today. As the author explains: "Basically, the book covers how the album was made, what was going on with the music in terms of the artist's intentions, how it did musically and commercially and what happened next." The narrative is essentially driven by contemporary interviews with the artists with small bits of music theory where relevant... in some cases they delve into the structure / key signatures / time signatures, based on the original sheet music without straying away from being an engaging read for non-musicians.

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Book SynopsisWhen Kate Bush shot to fame in 1978, her public image was that of a sweet young woman who sang about Cathy out on the windy moors, full of melancholy and yearning for Heathcliff. It was charming, inoffensive and, although eccentric, subtle enough to come across as endearing or at least, not challenging. When Kate’s fourth studio album, The Dreaming, was released in 1982, all of that changed. It is an album that some critics loved to hate — and that’s why it matters. In this book, author Laura Shenton MA LLCM DipRSL offers an in-depth perspective on The Dreaming from a range of angles including how the album came to be, how it was presented and received at the time, and what it means in terms of Kate Bush’s legacy today.

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Book SynopsisWhen Peter Gabriel left rock royalty Genesis in 1975 for personal reasons, his musical future was full of uncertainty. But within 18 months he returned in style with his debut solo album and a hit single ‘Solsbury Hill’. It set him on a path that has allowed his talent to blossom through the decades. Never one to stand still, Gabriel has constantly reinvented himself, never afraid to experiment and explore new musical avenues. His willingness to collaborate with all manner of people has also resulted in film scores and joint projects with a diverse range of artists from Kate Bush to Martin Scorcese, as well as Sinead O’Connor, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp and Coldplay’s Chris Martin. His passion for World Music has seen his long-standing commitment to the WOMAD Festival and outside of music political activism and humanitarian issues have played a big part in his life. With Gabriel now in his seventh decade A Life In Vision is a chronological, visual biography of his extraordinary and colourful career. From the early days of Genesis through to the present day it is crammed full of glorious photography, much of which is previously unpublished, along with a timeline narrative by Genesis aficionado Alan Hewitt.

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Book SynopsisFor Jethro Tull, 1975 would prove to be a fascinating year. With Aqualung and Thick As A Brick behind them, and with A Passion Play and War Child having been met with a mixed critical reception, their next album, Minstrel In The Gallery is the product of a band who kept on going and who weren't afraid to explore. Minstrel In The Gallery is abundant in innovative musical ideas and insightful lyrics. Recorded in sunny Monte Carlo and described by Sounds as "a pleasant surprise", the album is a fascinating combination of acoustic and heavy rock teamed with a strings section, and of course, flute. In this book, author Laura Shenton MA LLCM DipRSL offers an in-depth perspective on Minstrel In The Gallery from a range of angles including how the album came to be, how it was presented and received at the time (live as well as on record), and what it means in terms of Jethro Tull's legacy today.

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Book SynopsisTime marches on: by 2022 it will have been fifty years since the release of the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. and the epic, infamous American tour the band undertook to promote that album. 2022 also marks the 60th anniversary year of the formation of the band. The Rolling Stones In America is published in time to mark both of these anniversaries. Why were the Stones so successful in the States when so many other English bands failed to make their mark? Why was the band so drawn towards American blues music? What was their relationship with the burgeoning American counter-culture? What really happened at Altamont, and why? It could be argued that a marker for the end of the Sixties era might be the Stones' infamous 1972 American tour. So much had changed in the three years since their last American tour that the 1972 tour might deserve deeper attention than it had previously been given; perhaps it might even be as significant as other events that cultural historians traditionally identify to mark the end of the long 1960s - such as Richard Nixon's re-election for a second Presidential term in November 1971, the Watergate scandal and impeachment of 1973 that ended Nixon's presidency, or the American military withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973, with the war ending in defeat in 1975. This hugely detailed tome addresses those questions, making this a unique addition to the Rolling Stones' bibliography.

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Book SynopsisA glorious pictorial celebration of the band's full career. This visual biography timeline acts as a reference book, including the side-projects, and documents the parallel career paths of UFO and Michael Schenker since 1980, along with Waysted. Covering it all in one mighty tome, crammed full of stunning visuals including many previously unpublished photos.

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Book SynopsisThe album that made a huge star out of David Bowie in 1972 and introduced his Ziggy Stardust persona, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars is iconic for many reasons. Featuring the much-loved ‘Starman’, ‘Moonage Daydream’ and ‘Five Years’, the story of Bowie’s fifth studio album is one that needs to be told in detail. In this book, author Laura Shenton MA LLCM DipRSL offers an in-depth perspective on The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars from a range of angles including how the album came to be, how it was presented and received at the time (live as well as on record), and what it means in terms of Bowie’s legacy today.

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Book SynopsisYes: A Visual Biography II: 1982 – 2022 documents the progressive rock pioneer’s career from the eighties to the present day. Popoff takes you on a journey built around his interviews with Anderson, Bruford, Howe, Squire, Wakeman, Downes, White and many others, the tale unfolds via an exhaustive chronology designed to satisfy the most knowledgeable of Yes fans. Not content with charting the band’s history, Popoff covers the major projects outside of the Yes umbrella, such as Asia, GTR and Rick Wakeman’s extravaganzas, to paint the whole picture. If you’ve been moved by albums such as Fly from Here and Heaven and Earth, you’ll love this book, which perfectly captures the spirit of progressive rock’s first and biggest and best act of crack musicians bent on bending your perceptions of what rock can be. Throughout the book Popoff draws on his own interviews conducted with various band members throughout the last two decades, leaving much of the story to be told in their own words, along with a smattering of album reviews by the author and others. This large format coffee table book is fully illustrated throughout, documenting the story visually from 1982. As well as an abundance of concert images the stunning photographic content is topped off with many off stage shots.Yes A Visual Biography II: 1982 – 2022 will augment any Yes fan’s collection.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisCrash, Bang, Wallop! charts the development of drums and their effect on the UK rock and pop music scene, during the second half of the twentieth century. A central thread running through the book is Ivor Arbiter’s influence on the British drumming scene. The book describes the various marques that he imported, marketed and, in three notable cases, created. Descriptions and potted histories of some of the other key brands available over the period are provided, even where they were bitter competitors with Ivor’s businesses. Bob’s dual qualifications of having been a pro drummer since rock was born, plus having sold the things, has given him a unique insight into the development of the modern drum set. Crash, Bang, Wallop! shares his knowledge and experiences in a highly readable package that even non-drummers will appreciate. Enjoy the ride, seen through the eyes of a professional drummer with over 50 years on the stool, who has also retailed them, developed them and written about them.

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Book SynopsisThe Beatles brought colour, joy, freedom and love to a grey, post-war world. But the most successful group in popular music history also harboured hidden, sometimes darker worlds and influences that are often downplayed by their biographers. In their career, the Fab Four were to cross paths with many spiritual movements, religious groups, esoteric philosophies and mystical teachings. Inevitably, their thinking was affected by the ideas they encountered. These ideas in turn helped shape their music and – given their vast popularity – the public consciousness. Behind the Wall of Illusion examines the spiritual inspirations that the Beatles brought to the changing cultural landscape of the 1960s. --- From the popularization of the new religion of rock ‘n’ roll, Beatlemania (the ‘new Cult of Dionysus’) and John Lennon’s explosive statement that the Beatles were ‘bigger than Jesus’, Sean MacLeod takes us on a tour of Indian ashrams, questionable gurus and hallucinatory drugs. He also studies the secreted ‘clues’ in the Beatles’ album covers and films; the growing rumours that Paul had been killed in a car crash and covertly replaced; and the tragic assassination of John Lennon and the unknown perpetrators behind the crime. This is an indispensable book for any lover of the Beatles.Table of ContentsChapter 1, In the Beginning...: The Birth of the Beatles – Chapter 2, A Shot of Rhythm and Blues: The New Religion of Rock ‘n’ Roll – Chapter 3, Yeah Yeah Yeah: Beatlemania and the Cult of Dionysus – Chapter 4, Nothing Is Real: Esoteric Beatles – Chapter 5, Christ You Know it Ain’t Easy: Bigger than Jesus – Chapter 6, I’d Love to Turn You On: LSD and the Mystic Tradition – Chapter 7, Here’s Another Clue for You All: Album Covers, Films and Videos – Chapter 8, He Blew His Mind Out in a Car: Paul is Dead – Chapter 9, Ja Guru Deva: India and Spiritual Regeneration – Chapter 10, The Dream Is Over: Assassinations, Murder and Mind Control – Conclusion, And in the End... The Beatles Legacy – Notes – Bibliography

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Book SynopsisRichard and Fred Fairbrass, better known as Right Said Fred, scored a global Number 1 hit in 1991 with their debut single 'I'm Too Sexy', selling 30 million albums, being showered with industry awards, and earning plaudits from admirers such as Madonna and Prince. Before that breakthrough, though, the brothers spent over a decade in London and New York, trying to make it in the music industry. Fred played guitar with Bob Dylan and Richard played bass in several David Bowie videos, with the brothers appearing on stage with Joy Division and Suicide, and on film with Mick Jagger. Once fame hit, the good times rolled, the substances mounted up and the groupies formed an orderly queue, but it wasn't long before the brothers realised that fame and fortune is not for everyone. Still Too Sexy is their story, with a foreword by the legendary stunt motorcyclist Eddie Kidd, OBE.Trade Review'Salacious, candid, funny and shocking. The book captures the anarchy of sudden celebrity' The Independent

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Book Synopsis"Unfortunately making the greatest rap album of all time was to be put on hold as the insidious Job Centre advisors had finally had enough of my shit. I would be forced to sign up to one of the town's two recruitment agencies, or I would be starved of weed money." Leonard Swanson lives in an obscure north-western town — the kind that "has a knack for swallowing you whole". He is supposed to be making the greatest rap album of all time, Swan Songs, but instead is forced to work in one of the town's factories, "picking things up and putting them down for twelve hours in a giant white room". Swan Songs follows Leonard as he works, quits, signs on, and travels the country, playing in small capacity venues for even smaller capacity audiences, for which he gets "paid in booze, drugs and a night on a bed bug-ridden mattress somebody dragged in from the street", all the while making the album he thinks will change hip-hop forever. Part Alan Sillitoe and part William Burroughs, UK rapper Lee Scott's debut novel, partially based on his own experiences of becoming a rapper in Runcorn, is an experimental and humorous modern satire about the perils of being a hip-hop visionary far from the beaten track...

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Book SynopsisMensah’s work challenges dominant modes of masculinity, and disrupts the elitism of poetry through its accessible, honest, raw and intimate language and rhythms. Free from the constraints of convention, Mensah writes in his own, unique voice, layered with rhythm and surreal imagery, unified by its fearless commitment to emotional honesty and its openness about the power and cost of creativity.Safe Metamorphosis explores the transformations experienced in everyday life and the unspoken traumas caused by the uprooting of self as we are thrusted from one identity-building state to another. The trauma of leaving school, ‘growing up’, the demise of a romantic relationship, the loss of faith in a purpose: common, formative experiences too often dismissed. The poems in this striking and original collection explore metamorphoses at different points of our journey into adulthood, addressing the ways in which the associated upheaval of change and lost identity alters our sense of self and relationships with others.For Mensah, poetry and hip hop are a stimulus for philosophical reflection and introspection, and the poems in Safe Metamorphosis welcome us into the imaginative and highly observant mind of an artist committed to the healing and unifying power of communication.

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