Popular music Books

Book SynopsisThis book delves into a critical and comprehensive analysis of Mtukudzi’s legacy, as an outstanding musician who anchored his music on cultural identity specifically through the artistic manipulation of language. As a cultural worker, his remit extended beyond performance. This raised his stature to the levels of such African music icons as Fela Kuti of Nigeria, Salif Keita of Mali and Miriam Makeba/Hugh Masekela of South Africa, all towering giants in African musical performance. This volume examines how Mtukudzi artistically manipulated language to convey a timeless message of cultural identity, fighting for the respect of rights for women, children and all. It unpacks how Mtukudzi subtly uses language to put across political views that speak truth to power, harnessing Zimbabwean language to articulate and promote the nation’s cultural heritage and to advocate for societal development and the promotion of rights of vulnerable groups.The chapters in this volume are a mix of interdisciplinary Zimbabwean scholars of linguistics, performance studies, religion, history, communication and media studies, unravelling Mtukudzi as a fighter for human rights and justice who subtly critiqued political systems and practices. It concludes that Mtukudzi strove to be a cultural worker who used the power of language through music to contribute towards the rehabilitation of a battered African identity.​Table of ContentsChapter 1: Culture, Language, Human Rights and Politics in Oliver Mtukudzi’s MusicPart I: “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made”: Mtukudzi and African Cultural PrideChapter 2: “Dada Nerudzi Rwako”: Championing African Identities in Oliver Mtukudzi’s MusicChapter 3: Tuku Music as a Site of Cultural EmbodimentChapter 4: Exploring the Nhaka Concept in Oliver Mtukudzi’s MusicPart II: “Language as Identity”: Mtukudzi and the Language Question in AfricaChapter 5: A Stylistic Analysis of ‘Neria,’ a Song by Oliver MtukudziChapter 6: A Semantic Analysis of Metaphors Found in Selected Lyrics of Oliver Mtukudzi’s SongsChapter 7: An Exploration of Metaphoric Images in Oliver Mtukudzi’s Songs on HIV/AIDSChapter 8: A Stylistic Study of Figurative Language in Oliver Mtukudzi’s Selected SongsChapter 9: The ‘I’ in Oliver Mtukudzi’s Music: Autobiographical Memory and the Fragmented Self in Selected SongsChapter 10: “Pakare Paye”: Music as Media for Communicating Values in the Family Governance System—The Case of Oliver Mtukudzi’s SongsPart III: Mtukudzi as a Human Rights Defender and “Theologian”Chapter 11: Championing Marital Harmony Through Music: An Examination of Four Selected Songs by Oliver MtukudziChapter 12: Music and Human Rights in Zimbabwe: An Analysis of Oliver Mtukudzi’s MessagesChapter 13: Oliver Mtukudzi’s Theology: A Literary Analysis of Selected Gospel SongsPart IV: “Walking the Tightrope”: Playing Politics with Politics in a Challenging EnvironmentChapter 14: The Corpse as Political Capital: Oliver Mtukudzi’s Funeral and Political Contestation in Post-colonial ZimbabweChapter 15: Music and Politics in Mashava: An Analysis of Selected Songs by the Late Oliver MtukudziChapter 16: Stance Accounts of Political and Religious Identities in ‘Tuku’ Music

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Book SynopsisThe study develops a new theoretical approach to the relationship between two media (jazz music and writing) and demonstrates its explanatory power with the help of a rich sampling of jazz poems. Currently, the mimetic approach to intermediality (e.g., the notion that jazz poetry imitates jazz music) still dominates the field of criticism. This book challenges that interpretive approach. It demonstrates that a mimetic view of jazz poetry hinders readers from perceiving the metaphoric ways poets rendered music in writing. Drawing on and extending recent cognitive metaphor theories (Lakoff, Johnson, Turner, Fauconnier), it promotes a conceptual metaphor model that allows readers to discover the innovative ways poets translate “melody,” “dynamics,” “tempo,” “mood,” and other musical elements into literal and figurative expressions that invite readers to imagine the music in their mind’s eye (i.e., their mind’s ear).

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Book SynopsisMichael Rauhut is Professor of Popular Music at the University of Agder, Norway. He has written extensively on the history of popular music in the GDR. His most recent book is One Sound, Two Worlds: The Blues in a Divided Germany, 1945 1990 (2019).

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Book SynopsisMark Wilkerson is the the author of Who Are You: The Life of Pete Townshend (2008), and Tomas Young's War (2016), and Hollywood Dream: the Thunderclap Newman Story (2024), and co-author of the New York Times Bestseller Pearl Jam 20 (2011).

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Book SynopsisDavid Luhrssen is a music journalist, film critic, and managing editor of the Shepherd Express, Milwaukee's alternative news website and monthly newspaper.Michael Larson is an author, musician, songwriter, and attorney.

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Book SynopsisIncludes scales and arpeggios and a CD comprising of over 70 backing tracks to make students feel like star performers.Table of ContentsAcapulco Bay; All Mixed Up; Au Clair De La Lune; Aura Lee; Austrian Holiday; Blowin’ In The Wind; Caribbean Dance; Celtic Lullaby; Chorale; Don’t Be Late; Edelweiss; Elegy; Flowing; Gallop; German Tune; Gliding; Here We Go; I Gave My Love A Cherry; I Saw Three Ships; LA Nitespot; Lasst Uns Erfreuen; Les Ballons; Little Donkey; Lullaby; March From Occasional Oratorio; Marching; Michael Row The Boat Ashore; My Favourite Things; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; Ode To Joy; Old Liza Jane; Old Spanish Town; Pattern; Pavance; Quadratone Pattern; Quaver Study; Quick March; Regal Fanfare; Rickshaws; Say Goodbye; Scottish Ballad; Simply Blue; Sling Hosanna; Slavic Slurs; Sleigh Ride; Slow Waltz; Sort ‘Em Out; St Anthony Chorale; Star Wars Main Theme; Stepping Out; Study In Bb; Study In C; The Centipede’s Masterpiece; The Cuckoo; The First Noel; The Lost Note; The Swinger; Theme From New World Symphony; Tied On The Slide; Tricky Tune; Victorian Ballad; Villikins And His Dinah; Waiting!; Walking; Watch Your Step; We Wish You A Merry Christmas; Welsh Tune; West Indian Carnival; When I First Came To This Land; When The Saints Go Marching In; Workin’ On The Rail Road; Yankee Doodle

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2010 Non-Fiction National Book Award Patti Smith''s definitive memoir is an evocative, honest and moving coming-of-age story of her extraordinary relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe.Sharp, elegiac and finely crafted'' Sunday TimesTerrifically evocative ... The most spellbinding and diverting portrait of funky-but-chic New York in the late ''60s and ''70s that any alumnus has committed to print'' New York TimesRender, harrowing, often hilarious'' VogueIn 1967, a chance meeting between two young people led to a romance and a lifelong friendship that would carry each to international success never dreamed of. The backdrop is Brooklyn, Chelsea Hotel, Max''s Kansas City, Scribner''s Bookstore, Coney Island, Warhol''s Factory and the whole city resplendent. Among their friends, literary lights, musicians and artists such as Harry Smith, Bobby Neuwirth, Allen Ginsberg, Sandy Daley, Sam Shepherd, William Burroughs, etc. It was a heightened time politically and culturally; the art and music worlds exploding and colliding. In the midst of all this two kids made a pact to always care for one another. Scrappy, romantic, committed to making art, they prodded and provided each other with faith and confidence during the hungry years--the days of cous-cous and lettuce soup. Just Kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. Beautifully written, this is a profound portrait of two young artists, often hungry, sated only by art and experience. And an unforgettable portrait of New York, her rich and poor, hustlers and hellions, those who made it and those whose memory lingers near.Trade Review‘The most beautiful, incredible autobiography - it will make you ache for a time and a place that you probably never knew, New York in the 1970s' * Nick Hornby *‘A sharp, elegiac and finely crafted tribute to their childlike, pre-fame romance, set against the thrilling back drop of New York's countercultural blast' * Sunday Times *‘Terrifically evocative ... The most spellbinding and diverting portrait of funky-but-chic New York in the late '60s and '70s that any alumnus has committed to print' * New York Times *‘A tender, harrowing, often hilarious portrait of young lovers forging their paths in an eccentric milieu of Beat poets, Warhol socialites, and transvestites, rock stars and artists ... Much has been written about that time, but Just Kids offers new insight' * Vogue *Just Kids is not just one of the great rock-star memoirs – and there are a few – but one of the all-time greats. Smith’s book is part youthful rapture, part elegy, part artists’ handbook. And entirely sublime * Guardian Australia: 15 Great Celebrity Memoirs *It’s a book about women, and desire, and not necessarily fitting in the box of sexuality. I really love reading stories by women that really understand the complexity and the messiness of women * Russh *

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Book SynopsisWith free audio samplerIn 2001 Will Young shot to fame as the first winner of Pop Idol. It was clear from the start that he would never be a typical pop star - and more than ten years later he has become one of our best-loved and most intriguing artists.From his dramatic experiences on Pop Idol; to coming out in the glare of the media spotlight; to his valiant struggles against depression; to the crazy reality of being famous, Will is open about both the highs and lows of his life. He also provides sound and practical advice on dealing with the DVLA helpline - something that has been woefully neglected by all other celebrity memoirs.If you have ever wondered what it''s like to attend a fashion show (and find yourself accidentally waving at Anna Wintour); how it feels to sing in front of thousands while fighting a catastrophic bout of low self-esteem; or be subjected to the terror that is a This Morning ''makeover'', then Funny Peculiar reveals a

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Book Synopsis**SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER INTERNATIONAL 2018**WHO IS VERNON SUBUTEX?An urban legend.A fall from grace.The mirror who reflects us all.Vernon Subutex was once the proprietor of Revolver, an infamous music shop in Bastille. His legend spread throughout Paris. But by the 2000s his shop is struggling. With his savings gone, his unemployment benefit cut, and the friend who had been covering his rent suddenly dead, Vernon Subutex finds himself down and out on the Paris streets.He has one final card up his sleeve. Even as he holds out his hand to beg for the first time, a throwaway comment he once made on Facebook is taking the internet by storm. Vernon does not realise this, but the word is out: Vernon Subutex has in his possession the last filmed recordings of Alex Bleach, the famous musician and Vernon''s benefactor, who has only just died of a drug overdose. A crowd of people from record producers to online trolTrade ReviewBold and sophisticated, this thrilling, magnificently audacious picaresque is about France and is also about all of us; how loudly we shout, how badly we hurt. It is the story of now. -- Eileen Battersby * Irish Times *An enthralling read. The story of one man, one city, it speaks of our entire world. A compelling, vital read, beautifully and vibrantly translated. -- Nell LeyshonDisturbing and compelling . . . I loved and hated Vernon but I couldn't leave him alone . . . Relentlessly brilliant. Reading it was like being on a runaway train - you know it will probably end in disaster but you might as well enjoy the thrill of the ride - it's unputdownable. -- Victoria HislopAn energetic, diverting romp . . . Brimming with sex, violence and deviant behaviour . . . [and] a multitude of sharply delineated characters . . . Often surprises us with its psychological acuity. -- David Mills * Sunday Times. *Vernon Subutex is a great novel because, quite simply, it disturbs you. Despentes is an extraordinary writer -- François Busnel * Express *Part social epic, part punk rock thriller, Vernon Subutex is a remarkable portrait of contemporary society... written with a fury that hits right to the bone -- Christine Ferniot * Télérama *Sex, drugs and 90s punk rock: Vernon Subutex is the Comédie Humaine for our time, produced by the furious talent of Virginie Despentes -- Laurence Houot * Culturebox *A masterful blending of characters, voices and plots with an undeniable sense of changing rhythms. This is not just a novel, it's an electrocardiogram -- Etienne de Montety * Figaro *A mind-blowing portrait of contemporary French society -- Nelly Kaprièlian * Les Inrocks *A vast mural of the world today. We all knew Despentes could write, but we were not expecting this -- Frédéric Beigbeder * Figaro magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe life of the Man in Black is revealed through his lyrics and by rare photographs and ephemera, in this beautifully illustrated official hardback edition, fully authorised by the Cash estate and featuring 125 of his most iconic songs. Johnny Cash is one of the most beloved and influential country stars of all time, selling more than ninety million records, blending country, rock, blues, and gospel in his music and having been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now, Cash''s fifty years of songwriting have been collected for the first time ever. An essential collectible that sheds new light on Cash''s life and work, this book includes rare visual material in addition to remembrances from Cash''s son, John Carter Cash, and family historian Mark Stielper. Released for the twentieth anniversary of the legendary musician''s passing, it is a landmark moment in music pu

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Book SynopsisOne Two Another is a collection of the very best lyrics by lead singer of The Charlatans, Tim Burgess, with added commentary and memoir.

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Book SynopsisThis is the powerful, detailed and enlightening biography of the iconic composer, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist - the inimitable Prince.Prince was an icon. A man who defined an era of music and changed the shape of popular culture forever. There is no doubt that he was one of the most talented and influential artists of all time, and also one of the most mysterious. On 21st April 2016 the world lost its Prince; it was the day the music died.This book will open a door to Prince''s world like never before - from his traumatic childhood and demonic pursuit of music as a means of escape, to his rise to superstardom, professional rivalries and marriages shrouded in tragedy, internationally bestselling music writer Mick Wall explores the historical, cultural and personal backdrop that gave rise to an artist the likes of which the world has never seen - and never will again.Mick, a lifelong Prince fan, was one of the first UK journalists

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Book Synopsis"AS ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHER, ADVENTUROUS FAN AND INSIDEREYE-WITNESS, KEVIN CUMMINS HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHERE THE CULTURALACTION IS. MIXING MEMORY & DESIRE WILL MAKE YOU SEE DAVID BOWIE INA SURPRISING AND STIMULATING NEW WAY." -PAUL MORLEY"DAVID BOWIE WAS ON A CREATIVE JOURNEY THROUGH MUSIC,FASHION AND ART. A JOURNEY UNPARALLELED IN POPULAR CULTURE.WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS FOR US THAT KEVIN CUMMINS WAS THERE TOCAPTURE THIS JOURNEY. HIS WONDERFUL BOOK SHOWS US EXACTLYWHY BOWIE WAS SO UNIQUE." -NOEL GALLAGHER"KEVIN BRILLIANTLY CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF THE GREAT MAN INTHESE REMARKABLE PHOTOGRAPHS. CUMMINS IS SO ADEPT AT BREAKINGDOWN THE BARRIER OF THE CAMERA, YOU SENSE BOWIE IS COMPLETELYAT EASE WHEN THEY WORKED TOGETHER" -GOLDIE'Whether you know him as Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom, or just David Jones, there is a David Bowie for everyone. Through Cummins's photos, each of these iconic personas is brought before our eyes.' DAILY MAILThe career of celebrated photographer Kevin Cummins began on 29th June 1973 when, as a nineteen-year-old photography student, he photographed David Bowie. That image is now in the renowned photography collection of the V&A Museum and marked the beginning of Kevin Cummins' four-decade-long visual chronicle of David Bowie's remarkable career. David Bowie: Mixing Memory & Desire includes some of the best portraits of Bowie ever taken, the majority of which have never been published until now. From those legendary Bowie gigs in the early 1970s, through to a poignant image taken outside his apartment in New York in 2016, Cummins has captured the many faces of Bowie and created a book that is essential for Bowie fans everywhere.

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Book Synopsis'Daniel Rachel imagines what the next Beatles album might have been like, with painstaking detail and great stories' - David Hepworth, The Guardian'A fantastical journey through what might have been... Exciting and compelling.' - Chris Hawkins, BBC 6 Music'Daniel Rachel's forensic investigation makes a strong case for looking afresh at the evidence... a fascinating detailed read' - Mojo'In this meticulously crafted book, Rachel offers an extraordinary peek behind the curtain of one of the most celebrated music groups in history...a must-read for any music aficionado' - Music Devotee'A detailed researcher and writer... Ingenious.' - Record Collector'Full of enthralling details about the highs and lows of the band's last year... it's like the DNA in a crime scene.' - David Hepworth, Word in Your Ear'A book that is religiously detailed and yet manages to create tantalising glimpses of what might have been' - Louder Than War***This is the story of the great lost Beatles album.The end of the Beatles wasn't inevitable. It came through miscommunication, misunderstandings and missed opportunities to reconcile.But what if it didn't end? What if just one of those chances was taken, and the Beatles carried on? What if they made one last, great album?In The Lost Album of The Beatles, Daniel Rachel - winner of the prestigious Penderyn Music Book Prize - looks at what could have been. Drawing on impeccable research, Rachel examines the the Fab Four's untimely demise - and from the ashes compiles a track list for an imagined final album, pulling together unfinished demos, forgotten B-sides, hit solo songs, and arguing that together they form the basis of a lost Beatles masterpiece.Compelling and convincing, The Lost Album of The Beatles is a daring re-write of the group's history, and a tantalising glimpse of what might have been.Trade ReviewDaniel Rachel imagines what the next Beatles album might have been like, with painstaking detail and great stories -- David Hepworth * The Guardian *A book that is religiously detailed and yet manages to create tantalising glimpses of what might have been -- Craig Campbell * Louder Than War *Daniel Rachel's forensic investigation makes a strong case for looking afresh at the evidence... a fascinating detailed read * Mojo *

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Book SynopsisDo you stop for PopMaster?Get ready to take on the ultimate PopMaster challenge from the minds behind BBC Radio 2's iconic quiz. Every weekday morning over eight million people across the nation stop what they're doing, fix themselves a cuppa and settle in to listen to the PopMaster quiz on The Ken Bruce Show. Now it's your turn to join the throng and pit your musical knowledge against expert question setters Phil Swern and Neil Myners.Ultimate PopMaster is an endlessly entertaining collection of brainteasers, featuring a foreword from the Pop Master himself, Ken Bruce, and 1,500 brand new questions that get progressively harder as you work your way through the book. Discover a surprise twist when you reach the final quiz, in which you'll get the chance to become ultimate PopMaster champion.Covering music from 1958 to 2020, this official quiz companion has something for everyone. So, whether you're a pop anorak or incidental music fan, get stuck in on your own or with friends and family, and watch the hours fly by. Who had a top 10 hit in 1997 with 'The James Bond Theme' as featured in the movie Tomorrow Never Dies? Which legendary soul singer was the subject of the 2015 number one hit by Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor? Which group of comedians had a Top 10 hit in 1975 with Black Pudding Bertha (The Queen Of Northern Soul)?

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Book SynopsisSunday Times Bestseller'I can't rewrite history; all I can do is be honest and wear my heart on my sleeve. It's really the only way I know. I want to show people the real me. Or perhaps remind them. Because, somewhere - amongst the nightclubs, the frocks and hairdos, the big chart hits, and the glamour of being a popstar - the other Sarah Harding got utterly lost. She's the one who's been forgotten. And all I want is for you to hear her out.'Sarah Harding is best known as the wild member of Girls Aloud, whose reputation for partying, drinking and dating made her a tabloid favourite. But where does the celebrity Sarah Harding end and the real Sarah begin? Faced with a devastating cancer diagnosis that turned her life upside down, Sarah has decided that now is the time to write her story. Her truth.This is Sarah Harding in her own words.

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Book SynopsisLondon 1968:The Unstable Boys are the name on every music insider''s lips and tipped to follow in the footsteps of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. This is their chance to hit the bigtime. They don''t know they''re about to be obliterated by a series of tragedies and a chaotic breakup that puts paid to the band''s starry-eyed dreams of stratospheric success. One day you''re the dog''s bollocks; the next day you''re a nobody - fame is a fickle friend.London 2016:Bestselling crime writer Michael Martindale has reached breaking point. Estranged from his wife and children following the very public fallout of his disastrous affair, he is alone, with only his self-pity to keep him warm at night. Until he makes the mistake of publicly declaring his admiration for his teenage musical obsession, the Unstable Boys. When the band''s twisted and feral frontman, the Boy, turns up on his doorstep, Martindale quickly learns that sometimes you should be careful whaTrade ReviewEntertaining * Mail on Sunday *Enjoyable * The Times *A wistful black comedy . . . Nick Kent's sardonic first novel is full of in-jokes about the music business, publishing and the media in London -- Mark Sanderson * The Times Crime Club *

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Book SynopsisLondon 1968:The Unstable Boys are the name on every music insider''s lips and tipped to follow in the footsteps of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. This is their chance to hit the bigtime. They don''t know they''re about to be obliterated by a series of tragedies and a chaotic breakup that puts paid to the band''s starry-eyed dreams of stratospheric success. One day you''re the dog''s bollocks; the next day you''re a nobody - fame is a fickle friend.London 2016:Bestselling crime writer Michael Martindale has reached breaking point. Estranged from his wife and children following the very public fallout of his disastrous affair, he is alone, with only his self-pity to keep him warm at night. Until he makes the mistake of publicly declaring his admiration for his teenage musical obsession, the Unstable Boys. When the band''s twisted and feral frontman, the Boy, turns up on his doorstep, Martindale quickly learns that sometimes you should be careful whaTrade ReviewEntertaining * Mail on Sunday *Enjoyable * The Times *A wistful black comedy . . . Nick Kent's sardonic first novel is full of in-jokes about the music business, publishing and the media in London -- Mark Sanderson * The Times Crime Club *

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Book SynopsisDon Black is the man behind some of the late twentieth century's greatest musical numbers and one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's frequent collaborators - this is his memoir.Trade ReviewAmong the brilliant stories and wonderful behind-the-scenes glimpses of a life and career in show-business is some great advice, the best of which is don't use fifty words when you can use five. So I won't. Here's what I think of Don's book . . . It's bloody brilliant . . . Read it! * Michael Ball *Warm, unpretentious and never lacking in humour * Mojo *One of the joys of Black's memoir is his close-up view of the abnormality of the people he has worked with. He has a sharp eye and turn of phrase . . . Black may well be one of the sanest guys in the room. He's one of the kindest too * Herald *Remarkable life story . . . entertaining new memoir . . . Refreshingly for a showbiz autobiography, the book is as economical and fat free as his lyrics * Waitrose Weekend *Emotional and poignant * Jewish Telegraph *. . . a compelling memoir. Breezy and unpretentious, The Sanest Guy in the Room is a delightful collection of memories, insider information and after-dinner anecdotes * The Times *Somewhere between a memoir and an extended love letter to his late wife, Shirley - who died in 2018, after a marriage that lasted 60 years - it details his remarkable career as a songwriter . . . as down-to-earth and charming as the book's title suggests * Guardian *Breezy memoir . . . good, fast read * Jewish Chronicle *Deeply moving * Radio Times *He sprinkles his memoir with warm reminiscences and self-deprecating anecdotes . . . you'll come away fromthis entertaining book with a new appreciation for a craft that's too often overlooked * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisAn intimate, vulnerable, and insightful portrait of the bond that grew between two iconic and starkly different American women, Carly Simon's Touched by the Sun is a chronicle, in loving detail, of the late friendship she and Jackie shared.Trade ReviewSimon's book is full of . . . glimpses of the late Mrs Onassis you wouldn't get anywhere else * The Times *Searingly frank * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisIrish Independent Music Book of the YearGuardian Book of the WeekAfter discovering a derelict record plant on the edge of a northern English city, and hearing that it was once visited by David Bowie, Karl Whitney embarks upon a journey to explore the industrial cities of British pop music.Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, Glasgow, Belfast, Birmingham, Coventry, Bristol: at various points in the past these cities have all had distinctive and highly identifiable sounds. But how did this happen? What circumstances enabled those sounds to emerge? How did each particular city - its history, its physical form, its accent - influence its music? How were these cities and their music different from each other? And what did they have in common?Hit Factories tells the story of British pop through the cities that shaped it, tracking down the places where music was performed, recorded and sold, and the peoTrade ReviewThe book's a joy. I wanted to move to Hull while reading that chapter and - almost - wanted to listen to Black Sabbath for the first time since 1974 . . . I love the way Whitney makes such creative use of a good walk and I admire the way he makes the people who created the music we love seem like such nice, bright men and womenBook of the Week * Guardian *An extremely important addition to modern music writing * The Irish Times *A fine document of a golden era for music in the UK's regions * Financial Times *An interesting, sharp, swift overview of the UK's pop music history * Times Literary Supplement *Insightful and provocative * What Hi-Fi? Magazine *There are sounds here for everyone * MOJO *[Whitney's] curious compass leads this book on numerous worthwhile diversions. A trip * Q *

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Book Synopsis''A true testimonial and epic love letter to the soul saving power of rock & roll . . . Read it and be inspired, as I was'' Bobby Gillespie''Lenny Kaye has illuminated ten facets of the jewel called rock and roll from a uniquely personal and knowledgeable perspective. He draws from a lifetime of inspiration and experience. A youth plugging in his first electric guitar, a fan taking the dance floor, a propelling player, a humble guardian of history, and the writer I have always known him to be'' Patti SmithMemphis, 1954. New Orleans 1957. Philadelphia 1959. Liverpool, 1962. San Francisco 1967. Detroit 1969. New York, 1975. London 1977. Los Angeles 1984 / Norway 1993. Seattle 1991.Rock and roll was birthed in basements and garages, radio stations and dance halls, in cities where unexpected gatherings of artists and audience changed and charged the way music is heard and celebrated, capturing lightning in a bottle. Musician and writer LennyTrade ReviewI first knew him as a writer. Then guitarist, lifelong friend and collaborator. We have performed side by side on the global stage through half a century and shared his love of the evolution of our mutual vocation. In Lightning Striking, Lenny Kaye has illuminated ten facets of the jewel called rock and roll from a uniquely personal and knowledgeable perspective.He draws from a lifetime of inspiration and experience. A youth plugging in his first electric guitar, a fan taking the dance floor, a propelling player, a humble guardian of history, and the writer I have always known him to be -- Patti Smith * Patti Smith *Lightning Striking is a true testimonial and epic love letter to the soul saving power of rock & roll. Lenny Kaye writes with a guitar player's rhythm and the image strewn fevered prose of a beat poet, sharing arcane knowledge of the joy of a true believer. Read it and be inspired, as I was -- Bobby GillespieLenny Kaye - music scribe, record hound, Patti Smith guitarist, all around good guy - has always been the role model for all us young punk rock pups to get on the good foot and to fight the good fight. Lenny knows that "Hail Hail Rock 'n' Roll" would of been writ by Shakespeare if the bard had hung out at CBGB in '76. And Lenny is the one rock writer who actually knows how to ROCK! No jestering - God bless Lenny Kaye -- Thurston MooreWritten with a historian's precision and a musician's sense of improvisation, this is a joyful celebration of rock music written by someone who witnessed much of it first hand, as both fan and participant. Tracing roots mined and routes traveled, spotlighting dozens of long forgotten classics along the way, via interstates and back roads, from seedy stages, basements and backroom bars to major venues across the world, the energy and excitement of the music jumps off every page. This is a vivid and wonderful book -- Lee RanaldoWhether or not he was physically present, Lenny Kaye was there for every major shedding of rock and roll's skin, and in Lightning Striking he takes you there with him. The book chronicles episode after episode of mounting excitement, unexpected breakthrough, wild-hair epiphany, triumphant unveiling--followed by the comedowns and consequences. He has a great eye for settings and a great ear for jokes and scuttlebutt in addition to the sounds themselves, which he makes three-dimensional. His knowledge is unparalleled, his writing is evocative and often inspired, his sympathies are broad and his understanding is deep. You could not hope for a better tour guide -- Luc SanteLenny Kaye's passion and experience precedes him. Lightning Striking is both personal discovery and potted history of the scenes, and the winners and losers around which rock music's most important developments formed . . . an illuminating account of rock history from birth to resurrections * Record Collector *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER & A ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022SHORTLISTED FOR THE PENDERYN MUSIC BOOK PRIZE''The story of a band that''s always on the brink: of stardom, of madness, of brilliance, of disgrace'' Miranda Sawyer, Observer''You begin to wonder why more biographies aren''t tackled with such invention'' Record Collector''This book is a rarity'' Mark Lanegan''One of the finest music books in aeons'' Kevin Barry''A bruising, exhilarating read, which captures the nihilistic energy of this strange and brilliant band'' Independent''Destined to become a classic of the genre'' Louder Than War''A fastidious portrait of chaos, displacement and bad acid'' Mojo''Music book of the year? Already? Don''t bet against it'' Crack Magazine''Read it and writhe'' Spider StaceyFrom the mountains of Algeria to the sTrade ReviewThe story of a band that's always on the brink: of stardom, of madness, of brilliance, of disgrace . . . The excess disguises the true heart of Ten Thousand Apologies which is a sort of yearning, a search for enlightenment, a way to live but especially for a home -- Miranda Sawyer * Observer *A jaw-dropping rollercoaster of tragi-comic mishaps and gargantuan drug consumption * Rolling Stone UK *A bruising, exhilarating read, which captures the nihilistic energy of this strange and brilliant band * Independent *A fastidious portrait of chaos, displacement and bad acid * Mojo **** *The tale is told by award-winning writer Adelle Stripe in a striking third-person prose that gives Ten Thousand Apologies a novelistic tone, interspersed with frontman Lias Saoudi's raw, dark, mocking recollections that are also very, very funny at times . . . you begin to wonder why more biographies aren't tackled with such invention . . . There's no great redemption but it offers a quietly triumphant denouement that's more palatable than boring atonement * Record Collector **** *From Algeria to London and everywhere in between, Ten Thousand Apologies makes most books about the artist as a young man, the music biz and being in a band just a little bit pallid. Music book of the year? Already? Don't bet against it * Crack Magazine *Destined to become a classic of the genre * Louder than War *This book is a rarity, the kind I hold near and dear to my heart. The story of The Fat White Family is equal parts high comedy and deep tragedy, just like life itself -- Mark LaneganA unique concoction, full of beautiful lies and ecstatic truths - one of the finest music books in aeons -- Kevin BarryRead it and writhe -- Spider StaceyDestined to become a classic of the genre * Louder than War *

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Book SynopsisA ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023A GUARDIAN MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023The Cure are arguably the biggest alternative rock band in the world. Between 1985 and 2000 every album they released went to at least Gold in the UK, the US or both. In America they have earned four Platinum albums, and they are estimated to have sold 30 million albums worldwide. Their iconic status as elder statesmen of Alternative Rock remains undiminished - if anything, their tireless touring has ensured that it has grown with every passing year - and lead singer Robert Smith is an endlessly fascinating figure to successive generations of fans. The Cure''s influence reverberates through genres including Emo, Goth, Industrial and Indie Rock.The book is an encyclopaedic A-Z of The Cure examining and riffing on miscellaneous trivia, biographies of the band members past and present, summaries of each album and selected songs, details of the band''s various tours and filmTrade ReviewA ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023A GUARDIAN MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023It will be hard to find a more all-encompassing repository of Cure wisdom than this one * Record Collector *Simon Price is a goth aficionado, and his encyclopaedic knowledge of The Cure was a pleasure to study and absorb - highly recommended for superfans or anyone with an interest in one of our most treasured bands of the past four decades * Tim Burgess *An extraordinary piece of work * Elis James *Price's immersion in their story is impressive, and his writing is always lively... a goldmine of information * Irish Times *Beautifully written and meticulously researched, Price's passion for his subject is obvious... a stunning tribute to the alt-rock icons * Classic Pop *An essential compendium of Cure-lore * MOJO *Simon Price is a goth aficionado, and his encyclopaedic knowledge of The Cure was a pleasure to study and absorb - highly recommended for superfans or anyone with an interest in one of our most treasured bands of the past four decades * Tim Burgess *

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Book Synopsis''A great writer'' Paul Weller''A music journalist of integrity'' Billy Childish''There''s only one Ted Kessler!'' Liam GallagherPAPER CUTS is the inside story of the slow death of the British music press. But it''s also a love letter to it, the tale of how music magazines saved one man''s life. Ted Kessler left home and school around his seventeenth birthday, determined ''to be someone who listened to music professionally''. That dream appeared forlorn when he was later arrested for theft behind the counter of the record shop he managed during acid house''s long hot summer of love. Paper Cuts tells how Kessler found redemption through music and writing and takes us on a journey alongside the stars he interviewed and the work-place dramas he navigated as a senior staffer at NME through the boom-time ''90s and on to the monthly Q in 2004, where he worked for sixteen years before it folded with him at its helm as eTrade ReviewPaper Cuts is a wonderfully funny and moving book about a life devoted to music and music magazines. With all the ensuing chaos that that creates. And the heartbreak and salvation of a life lived in song. Artists notoriously have a fractious relationship with music journalists. Hate them even. But I was always happy to see Ted -- Florence WelchI read Paper Cuts in two sittings, over 24 hours. It's fucking brilliant. The stories! The telling! Ted Kessler's unmistakable voice. The spirit. The heart. Also rattled my consciousness, man -- Terri White, author of Coming UndoneI love how Ted writes: incisive, relatable, funny and sad but shot through with optimism and wise good humour. I'm maybe the perfect audience for his memoir, since I've been harassed in public for having a stupid haircut, experienced the ridiculousness of the interview set-up and also worked in the sitcom-silly world of magazine publishing myself. But it's also a great document of a time when you could find an entry into music journalism with just raw talent and enthusiasm, headed nowhere and having fucked up your life before it's properly begun. Why writing about music could often be a brilliant job, despite the humiliations and disappointments, the pressures and frustrations, and what happens when the twats eventually take over. Ted's encounters with famous names show both sides' vulnerabilities without any bullshit point-scoring ego getting in the way of the story. Which is rare for a music journalist, and what makes him a rare gem -- Miki BerenyiThe world I once inhabited - the world of print, vinyl and face-to-face interviews - vanished in a blast of broadband. It happened so quickly and so silently I almost forget that world had ever existed. Ted Kessler's restless eye for detail conjures it back to boozy, smoky, noisy life. Then he turns it all around and points it into the future. Not just a good book, but an important one -- Frank Cottrell-Boyce, bestselling author and screenwriterTed Kessler is one of the last great swashbuckling music journalists and this account of the crazy boom years to the slow collapse of the print press is fascinating. He is from the from a similar broad minded nest of Bohemians that I was forged and those lines about his upbringing resonated the most. A masterclass of effortless writing about something he genuinely loves -- Baxter DuryPaper Cuts is a rollicking good read. A searingly honest self-appraisal that charts Kessler's turbulent formative years, before hurtling forward into a morass of drugs, dysfunction, dead end jobs, under-achievement and, eventually, petty larceny. There are two rich seams that run through Kessler's life however; the love of music and his innate talent as a writer (and editor). Those talents, and his ability to survive adversity and hardship, are vividly highlighted in this most entertaining book -- Jah WobbleTed Kessler and all the music writer crew that cut their teeth under indie's golden age are as much the songs from that era as the songs themselves. Paper Cuts humanises Ted and his peers whilst taking you back to the largely unsurpassed musical utopia of a late 1980's England. I always thought Ted was posh: clearly not. From disgraced Till Dipper to the gobbyist music writer I know, I found so many parallels with this story. It's really, really good -- Jason Williamson, Sleaford ModsThis is such a brilliantly absorbing and entertaining book about the joys of a life lived in music. As good a left-field guide to the last few decades of alternative pop as you'll find, too. A special book by one of the very best music writers -- Felix White, author of It's Always Summer SomewhereFor 30 years Ted Kessler was in the music press's front row. His hair-raisingly honest, helter-skelter memoir tells you how it all went wrong and why it was worth it anyway. Paper Cuts moves like a great band biography - struggle, triumph, chaos, collapse - only the band is the British music press -- Dorian Lynskey, author of The Ministry of Truth and 33 Revolutions Per MinuteFrom unemployable petty criminal with 'low morals' and a fright-wig, to NME staffer barrelling through the 90s, to editor of the good ship Q (with an iceberg on the horizon), Paper Cuts is a rollicking, deftly-told inside story: of how music can save your life, how magazines really work, how mad The Stars are and how big-wigs ruin everything. Compelling, passionate, bracingly honest, Kessler takes aim at...mostly himself -- Sylvia Patterson, author of I’m Not With The BandTed's funny, knows his stuff. A great writer -- Paul WellerA fabulous, important book, which documents the end of a culturally rich era beautifully... some of the very best music writing I've ever read * Irvine Welsh *

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Book Synopsis''A great writer'' ''A music journalist of integrity'' ''There''s only one Ted Kessler!''Paul Weller Billy Childish Liam GallagherPaper Cuts is the inside story of the slow death of the British music press. But it''s also a love letter to it, the tale of how music magazines saved one man''s life. Ted Kessler left home and school around his seventeenth birthday, determined ''to be someone who listened to music professionally''. Paper Cuts tells how Kessler found redemption through music and writing and takes us on a journey alongside the stars he interviewed and the work-place dramas he navigated as a senior staffer at NME through the boom-time ''90s and on to the monthly Q in 2004, where he worked for sixteen years before it folded with him at its helm as eTrade ReviewPaper Cuts is a wonderfully funny and moving book about a life devoted to music and music magazines. With all the ensuing chaos that that creates. And the heartbreak and salvation of a life lived in song. Artists notoriously have a fractious relationship with music journalists. Hate them even. But I was always happy to see Ted -- Florence WelchI read Paper Cuts in two sittings, over 24 hours. It's fucking brilliant. The stories! The telling! Ted Kessler's unmistakable voice. The spirit. The heart. Also rattled my consciousness, man -- Terri White, author of Coming UndoneI love how Ted writes: incisive, relatable, funny and sad but shot through with optimism and wise good humour. I'm maybe the perfect audience for his memoir, since I've been harassed in public for having a stupid haircut, experienced the ridiculousness of the interview set-up and also worked in the sitcom-silly world of magazine publishing myself. But it's also a great document of a time when you could find an entry into music journalism with just raw talent and enthusiasm, headed nowhere and having fucked up your life before it's properly begun. Why writing about music could often be a brilliant job, despite the humiliations and disappointments, the pressures and frustrations, and what happens when the twats eventually take over. Ted's encounters with famous names show both sides' vulnerabilities without any bullshit point-scoring ego getting in the way of the story. Which is rare for a music journalist, and what makes him a rare gem -- Miki BerenyiThe world I once inhabited - the world of print, vinyl and face-to-face interviews - vanished in a blast of broadband. It happened so quickly and so silently I almost forget that world had ever existed. Ted Kessler's restless eye for detail conjures it back to boozy, smoky, noisy life. Then he turns it all around and points it into the future. Not just a good book, but an important one -- Frank Cottrell-Boyce, bestselling author and screenwriterTed Kessler is one of the last great swashbuckling music journalists and this account of the crazy boom years to the slow collapse of the print press is fascinating. He is from the from a similar broad minded nest of Bohemians that I was forged and those lines about his upbringing resonated the most. A masterclass of effortless writing about something he genuinely loves -- Baxter DuryPaper Cuts is a rollicking good read. A searingly honest self-appraisal that charts Kessler's turbulent formative years, before hurtling forward into a morass of drugs, dysfunction, dead end jobs, under-achievement and, eventually, petty larceny. There are two rich seams that run through Kessler's life however; the love of music and his innate talent as a writer (and editor). Those talents, and his ability to survive adversity and hardship, are vividly highlighted in this most entertaining book -- Jah WobbleTed Kessler and all the music writer crew that cut their teeth under indie's golden age are as much the songs from that era as the songs themselves. Paper Cuts humanises Ted and his peers whilst taking you back to the largely unsurpassed musical utopia of a late 1980's England. I always thought Ted was posh: clearly not. From disgraced Till Dipper to the gobbyist music writer I know, I found so many parallels with this story. It's really, really good -- Jason Williamson, Sleaford ModsThis is such a brilliantly absorbing and entertaining book about the joys of a life lived in music. As good a left-field guide to the last few decades of alternative pop as you'll find, too. A special book by one of the very best music writers -- Felix White, author of It's Always Summer SomewhereFor 30 years Ted Kessler was in the music press's front row. His hair-raisingly honest, helter-skelter memoir tells you how it all went wrong and why it was worth it anyway. Paper Cuts moves like a great band biography - struggle, triumph, chaos, collapse - only the band is the British music press -- Dorian Lynskey, author of The Ministry of Truth and 33 Revolutions Per MinuteFrom unemployable petty criminal with 'low morals' and a fright-wig, to NME staffer barrelling through the 90s, to editor of the good ship Q (with an iceberg on the horizon), Paper Cuts is a rollicking, deftly-told inside story: of how music can save your life, how magazines really work, how mad The Stars are and how big-wigs ruin everything. Compelling, passionate, bracingly honest, Kessler takes aim at...mostly himself -- Sylvia Patterson, author of I’m Not With The BandTed's funny, knows his stuff. A great writer -- Paul Weller

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Book SynopsisThe final word on the world's greatest rock band, Led Zeppelin, from esteemed rock journalist and author Mick Wall, bestselling author of the seminal WHEN GIANTS WALKED THE EARTH

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Book Synopsis''Insightful and provocative'' What HiFi''An extremely important addition to modern music writing'' Irish TimesAfter discovering a derelict record plant on the edge of a northern English city, and hearing that it was once visited by David Bowie, Karl Whitney embarks upon a journey to explore the industrial cities of British pop music.Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, Glasgow, Belfast, Birmingham, Coventry, Bristol: at various points in the past these cities have all had distinctive and highly identifiable sounds. But how did this happen? What circumstances enabled those sounds to emerge? How did each particular city - its history, its physical form, its accent - influence its music? How were these cities and their music different from each other? And what did they have in common?Hit Factories tells the story of British pop through the cities that shaped it, tracking down the places where music was performed

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Book Synopsis''Entertaining, affectionate and righteous'' Guardian''Says so much about being a woman'' Cosey Fanni TuttiA TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEARIn 1983, backstage at the Lyceum in London, Tracey Thorn and Lindy Morrison first met. Tracey''s music career was just beginning, while Lindy, drummer for The Go-Betweens, was ten years her senior. They became confidantes, comrades and best friends, a relationship cemented by gossip and feminism, books and gigs and rock ''n'' roll love affairs.Morrison - a headstrong heroine blazing her way through a male-dominated industry - came to be a kind of mentor to Thorn. They shared the joy and the struggle of being women in a band, trying to outwit and face down a chauvinist music media. In My Rock ''n'' Roll Friend Thorn takes stock of thirty-seven years of friendship, teasing out the details of connection and affection between two women who seem to be either complete opposites

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