Popular music Books

Book SynopsisWhat was it about Bob Marley that made him so popular in a world dominated by rock'n'roll?How is that he has not only remained the single most successful reggae artist ever, but has also become a shining beacon of radicalism and peace to generation after generation of fans across the globe?On May 11, 1981, a little after 11.30 in the morning, Bob Marley died. The man who introduced reggae to a worldwide audience, in his own lifetime he had already become a hero figure in the classic mythological sense. From immensely humble beginnings and with talent and religious belief his only weapons, the Jamaican recording artist applied himself with unstinting perseverance to spreading his prophetic musical message.And he had achieved it: only a year earlier, Bob Marley and The Wailers'' tour of Europe had seen them perform to the largest audiences a musical act had up to that point experienced. Record sales of Marley''s albums before his death were spectacular; in the years since his death they have become phenomenal, as each new generation discovers afresh the remarkable power of his music.Chris Salewicz, who had a sequence of adventures with Bob Marley in Jamaica in 1979, offers us a comprehensive and detailed account of Bob Marley''s life and the world in which he grew up and came to dominate. Never-before-heard interviews with dozens of people who knew Marley are woven through a narrative that brings to life not only the Rastafari religion and the musical scene in Jamaica, but also the spirit of the man himself.Trade Review'Salewicz invades and illuminates Marley's privacy more effectively than previous biographers' - The Sunday Times 'Essential biography that also traces the evolution of rebel music. It's the author's owm conjuring of events - that make this book so valuable' - Mojo 'Where the veteran music journalist Chris Salewicz provides new insights is in his portrait of the musician's complex and troubled personality. Drawing on extensive interviews with those closest to Marley, he reveals a character afflicted by insecurity and instability' - Times Literary Supplement 'The definitive account of the man and the myth' - The Independent

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Book SynopsisIt seems excessive...but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Saul "Slash" Hudson was born in Hampstead to a Jewish father, an album cover artist, and a black American mother of Nigerian descent, who created David Bowie's look in The Man Who Fell to Earth. He was raised in Stoke until he was 11, when he and his mother moved to LA. Frequent visitors to the house were David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Ron Wood and Iggy Pop, . At this time Slash got into BMX bikes, and would eventually turn professional, winning won major awards and money, but at 15 his grandmother gave him his first guitar. Even though it had just one string he began teaching himself to play, and soon school was forgotten as he devoted up to 12 hours a day to honing his skills. Sessions with numerous local LA rock bands followed until a fateful meeting with singer W Axl Rose! and the rest was rock history.Trade Review‘Brilliant stuff’ **** News of the World ‘The most insane rock n’ roll autobiography you’ll ever read.’ Observer ‘A raucous rock yarn’, (Top 10 Rock Books) The Independent **** Q Magazine ‘A fitting monument… Slash’s memoirs are an unexpectedly intoxicating cocktail of irresponsibility and dedication.’ Independent on Sunday ‘Slash’s story is harrowingly compulsive reading, presenting the most graphically spot-on account of hardcore drug addiction since William Burroughs’ The Record Collector

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Book SynopsisThe living embodiment of The Beatles and a musical juggernaut without parallel, Paul McCartney is the patriarch of pop. Ahead of McCartney's 80th birthday and Glastonbury headline set, acclaimed author Howard Sounes creates the most accurate and extensive profile of McCartney ever built, leaving no stone unturned, and no shadow unexplored.He is the torch-bearer of the Beatles the greatest band in pop and one of the most closely studied stars in show business. But surprises and secrets still linger in the life of Sir Paul McCartney.In FAB, his full story is told for the first time.Acclaimed author Howard Sounes spent more than two years investigating every aspect of Sir Paul's life and work, including interviewing over 200 people. The result is the richest and more comprehensive biography of McCartney ever written.Uniquely, FAB pays equal attention to the story of Paul McCartney both in the Beatles and post-Beatles, creating a unique narrative spanning the arc of the artist's life. FAB culminates in the sensational human story of Sir Paul's calamitous marriage to Heather Mills, which is fully revealed for the first time. Sounes proves a judicious critic of the music of an iconic star while also delivering a superb psychological portrait of the man.Trade Review‘The best Beatles book since Revolution in the Head. Thumbs up’ Classic Rock ‘As an exhaustive account of McCartney’s life, FAB is unparalleled.’ Q Magazine ‘The definitive take on an extraordinary career’ Record Collector ‘Intrigues all the way through’ The Times ‘Difficult to put down’ Mojo

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable autobiography of the last great wartime icon.Born Vera Welch on 20 March, 1917 in the East End of London, Dame Vera Lynn's career was set from an early age - along with her father, who also did a turn', she sang in Working Men's Clubs from just seven years old. She had a successful radio career with Joe Loss and Charlie Kunz in the 1920s and 30s, but it was with World War II that she became the iconic figure that captured the imagination of the national public.Her spirit and verve, along with her ability to connect with the men fighting for their country and those left behind praying for their loved ones, made her the Forces' sweetheart'. Performing the songs that she will always be associated with, such as We'll Meet Again' and Yours', Vera toured Egypt, India and Burma to entertain the troops and bring them a sense of back home'.Her career after the war flourished, with hits in the US and the UK, but Vera was never able to leave behind her wartime role and was deeply a

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Book SynopsisA miracle of still-plentiful hair, raw sex-appeal, and strutting talent . The frontman of one of the most influential and controversial groups of all time. A musical genius with a career spanning over four decades. He is a testament to British glamour, the ultimate architect and demi-god of rock.Bestselling biographer Philip Norman offers an unparalleled account of the life of a living legend, Mick Jagger. From Home Counties schoolboy, to rebel without a cause to Sixties rock sensation and global idol, Norman unravels with astonishing intimacy the myth of the inimitable frontman of The Rolling Stones. MICK JAGGER charts his extraordinary journey through scandal-ridden conspiracy, infamous prison spell, hordes of female admirers and a knighthood while stripping away the colossal fame, wealth and idolatry to reveal a story of talent and promise unfulfilled.Understated yet ostentatious; the ultimate incarnation of modern man''s favourite fantasy: ''sex, drugs and rock ''n'' roll'', yet blTrade Review‘Commendable thoroughness, engaging wit and boundless energy, much as Jagger has shown over the decades’ Mail on Sunday ‘Hugely readable’ The Guardian ‘One of Norman’s triumphs in Mick Jagger is to chart the decade’s evolution as well as his progress within it’ Sunday Express ‘The most ambitious and comprehensive Jagger biography to date’ Rolling Stone 'Extremely well researched' Rolling Stone ‘Barnstorming…Norman has ploughed this terrain for much of his career, and brings to his subject both a deep fascination with the ecology of rock'n'roll plus a sharp eye for its absurdities’ The Observer ‘Norman’s book reads like a thrill ride. He captures as well as anybody that magical combination of youth, talent and low rent that would eventually become the Rolling Stones’ The New York Times

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Book SynopsisFrom original Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler comes a tale of sex, drugs, excess, hairspray and and intense 20-year struggle with addiction.Guns N'' Roses is one of the world's most successful rock bands, with estimated sales of 90 million albums worldwide. Steven Adler is the original drummer, with an infamous past of sex, drugs, and rock ''n roll that led to his removal from the band.And here, for the first time, Steven Adler tells it all. In My Appetite for Destruction, he reveals with wit and candour his personal struggles with drug addiction, including the financial ruin he faced after being kicked out of Guns N' Roses and the health problems that almost claimed his life several times - two heart attacks, a suicide attempt, and a debilitating stroke, as well as an epic 20-year addiction to crack and heroin.Now clean and sober, Steven sets the record straight on his life and his time with Guns N'' Roses, during the rise and collapse of one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

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Book SynopsisStephen Davis’s brilliantly written personal account of criss-crossing America with Led Zeppelin on their 1975 tour. A warts-and-all snapshot of the world’s biggest hard-rock band at their peak.Trade Review‘Timely tales of rock star excess’ LA Times ‘"LZ-'75" is a must read for all Led Zeppelin fans as well as anyone interested in the reality of rock stars and the lives they lead.’ Metal Underground Praise for ‘Hammer of the Gods’: 'The biggest surprise success of the year . . . the Led Zep tale, drenched in sex, drugs and psychic abuse, demonstrated the validity of all the old adages about talent, power and corruption. Stephen Davis's grimy homage to imperial excess and demonic influence had fans slavering for more' Rolling Stone

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of Alex James's transition from a leading light of the Britpop movement in the 1990s, to gentleman farmer, artisan cheese-maker and father of five.I was hanging around the pigsty in the way I'd previously hung around at The Groucho Club. I felt wonderfully connected, grounded in the real world, standing in pig muck'Following fifteen years in Blur, Alex James did two wild, unexpected things. He fell in love and he bought a farm.Moving into a rambling, chaotic farmstead in the beautiful Cotswold countryside, he decides the best way to learn about farming is the same way he learned most about music: by jumping in and doing it. As his family settles in, he discovers the unexpected joys that country life abounds in: finding the first egg from your very own chicken, coming across a bramble bush laden with blackberries, roasting home-grown pears on an open fire, before stumbling on a new venture making cheese.Wonderfully warm, witty and perfectly observed, this is the storyTrade Review‘James’s prose is clean and poetic. His childlike wonder at the simple things – from herons to heaps of rubble – can be infectious’ DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘A joy to read. Prose flows and weaves and curls itself into pleasing rhythms…(Alex James) can write like a god’ SPECTATOR ‘The upbeat tone matches that of his Blur-era autobiography A BIT OF A BLUR, treating his downsize from rock heart-throb to cockerel-throttling country gent as if cheese contests were Britpop orgies. Riding bikes, the smell of berry bushes, piles of cow dung: all brilliant’ NME

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Book SynopsisAmy Winehouse needs no introduction. A critically acclaimed recording artist, she touched millions with her music during her short but extraordinary life.Following her tragic death in July 2011, Mitch Winehouse wants to tell her incredible story in full. Amy, My Daughter will take the reader through her mischievous early years, her rise to stardom and to her much publicised struggles with addiction. The book will bring the many layers of her life together the personal, the private and the public to create a fitting tribute to his much loved daughter.Using exclusive extracts from his personal diary, Mitch discusses shocking and concerning events in his daughters life that will tug at the heartstrings of Amy's fans across the globe.Featuring never-before-seen photos of Amy, taken from the family album, Amy, My Daughter promises to be the definitive account of an iconic figure who, although tragically taken at an early age, has left a musical legacy that will enthral audiences for many years to come.All proceeds from the book will be donated to The Amy Winehouse Foundation, the charity that Mitch has established in Amy's name to help children and young adults facing difficulty and adversity in their lives.Trade Review‘Can’t fail to move.’ The Sunday Times ‘An unsparing portrait of addiction … refreshingly free of rose-tinting.’ The Times ‘Mitch does a fine job of fleshing out his daughter in all contradictory glory.’ Observer ‘An unflinchingly honest memoir.’ Independent ‘The inside story of a pop tragedy … Told with courage, clarity and warmth.’ Q magazine ‘A fitting tribute to her incredible story.’ Now magazine ‘An intimate account’ Look magazine ‘A tender portrait of Amy.’ Camden New Journal

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Book SynopsisThe definitive account of Whitney Houston's astonishing life, ground-breaking career and tragic death complete with never-before-seen photographs from the only one who truly knows the story behind the headlines: her mother, Cissy Houston.Cissy has said little publicly about Whitney's heart-breaking death. Now, for the first time, she opens up and shares the unbelievable story of her daughter's life, as well as her own, and addresses Whitney's brightest and darkest moments.A legendary Grammy Award-winning gospel singer in her own right, Cissy Houston shows how the lessons from her own musical journey helped to shape Whitney's career from teaching Whitney to use her voice, to keeping her level-headed throughout her meteoric rise to fame.With candour and respect, she sets the record straight about Whitney, exploring both her turbulent marriage and her misunderstood struggles with drug abuse. Cissy goes behind the tabloid headlines to show fans around the world the true, human side of a strong, successful yet flawed musical icon who died much too young.Includes a Foreword by Dionne Warwick.Trade Review‘Essential reading for anyone who wants the inside angle on one of the greatest musical careers of the 20th Century.’ Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisGeorge is the story of two extraordinary lives the private man and the public legend.Georgios Panayiotou was just eighteen when he decided to adopt the stage name of George Michael. Sometimes his two worlds would collide with shattering consequences.Bestselling biographer Sean Smith has gone back to the neighbourhoods of North London to trace the astonishing journey of a sensitive but determined boy who grew up to be one of the biggest British pop stars of all time.Along the way, he talks to those close to George, revealing the real man funny, articulate, intelligent and generous spirited who hid behind the powerful image he created.He reveals the complex relationship with his high-achieving Greek-Cypriot father; the unconditional love of his mother; his teenage relationships with girls; and his first tragic love affair with another man.George's career began falteringly with a schoolboy band, exploded with Wham! before he became a solo phenomenon. But at the height of his fame, theTrade ReviewPraise for George: ‘A celebration of his life, as well as his music. Brill.’ Closer ‘Incredibly moving insight into a man who is without doubt part of the soundtrack to my childhood’ – Shelley Fallows at Lovereading Praise for Adele: ‘Fans will be engrossed’ OK Magazine Praise for Kim: “A kind but astute biography. Four stars.” Mail on Sunday “An honest account offering a unique insight on the Krazy world of the Kardashians." The Sun Praise for Tom Jones: “Jaunty and well-researched … the most complete and entertaining portrait of the Welsh superstar to date” – The Mail on Sunday (Event Magazine) “A lavishly appointed, no-holds-barred biography.” – MailOnline

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Book SynopsisI was spotty, wore an anorak, had biro-engraved flared blue jeans with purple and Sabbath written on the thighs, and rode an ear-splittingly uncool moped. Oh yes, and I wanted to be a drummer'Bruce Dickinson Iron Maiden's legendary front man is one of the world's most iconic singers and songwriters. But there are many strings to Bruce's bow, of which larger-than-life lead vocalist is just one. He is also an airline captain, aviation entrepreneur, motivational speaker, beer brewer, novelist, radio presenter, film scriptwriter and an international fencer: truly one of the most unique and interesting men in the world.In What Does this Button Do? Bruce contemplates the rollercoaster of life. He recounts in his uniquely anarchic voice the explosive exploits of his eccentric British childhood, the meteoric rise of Maiden, summoning the powers of darkness, the philosophy of fencing, brutishly beautiful Boeings and firmly dismissing cancer like an uninvited guest.Bold, honest, intelligentTrade Review‘A chatty and anecdote-filled autobiography… There is much fun to be had, such as trying to put a certain part of his anatomy in the ear of the singer in rival band Quiet Riot (clue:not his finger) Sunday Times Books of the Year ‘The entertaining chronicle of a spotty anorak who escaped his grey existence into the absurd drama of life as Iron Maiden’s frontman’ Daily Telegraph Books of the Year ‘What Does This Button Do? is a genuinely fascinating and funny look back at Dickinson’s life. From his early days growing up in the Nottinghamshire mining town of Worksop (where he was raised by his grandparents until the age of six) to his roller-coaster 40-year music career, it paints a candid picture of a life well lived.’ Classic Rock Magazine ‘If you only read one book this year, it absolutely must be Bruce Dickinson’s new autobiography, What Does This Button Do? … The book is every bit as entertaining and bursting with energy as you might expect.’ Metal Hammer ‘Whether you are a Maiden fanatic, an aviation enthusiast, a fencing aficionado or none or even all of the above, you will most definitely get something from this extremely well written and entertaining book, such is the calibre of the man, his philosophies and the level of his accomplishments.’ Metaltalk

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Book SynopsisA GUARDIAN AND INDEPENDENT BEST MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEARAt last an expert classicist gets to grips with Bob Dylan' Mary BeardThomas's elegant, charming book offers something for everyone not just the super-fans' IndependentWhen the Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Bob Dylan, the literary world was up in arms. How could the world's most prestigious book prize be awarded to a famously cantankerous singer-songwriter in his Seventies, who wouldn't even deign to make an acceptance speech?In Why Dylan Matters, Harvard Professor Richard F. Thomas answers that question with magisterial erudition. A world expert on Classical poetry, Thomas was initially ridiculed by his colleagues for teaching a course on Bob Dylan alongside his traditional seminars on Homer, Virgil and Ovid. Dylan's Nobel prize win brought him vindication. This witty, personal volume is a distillation of Thomas's famous course, and makes a compelling case for moving Dylan out of the rock n' roll Hall of Fame and into tTrade Review A GUARDIAN AND INDEPENDENT BEST MUSIC BOOK OF 2017 ‘At last an expert classicist gets to grips with Bob Dylan. Richard Thomas takes us from Dylan's high school Latin club to his haunting engagement with Ovid and Homer in recent albums. He carefully argues that Dylan's poetry deserves comparison with Virgil's – and Thomas, senior professor of Latin at Harvard and author of some of the most influential modern studies of Virgil, should know!’ Mary Beard ‘A poignant blend of memoir, literary analysis through a classical lens, musicology and, above all, love. [Thomas] loves Dylan with a passion so selfless and so intense that it’s impossible to emerge from the book untouched’ Guardian ‘Accessible and enjoyable … Richard F Thomas’s elegant, charming book offers something for everyone – not just the super-fans’ Independent ‘The book joyously bounces from topic to topic, mixing anecdotes about Dylan's creative process, historical concerts, and wry press conferences with penetrating literary critique — and no shortage of Thomas' own personal recollections of bonding with Dylan's music. A highly informed, yet intimately personal celebration of one of our most important living writers — not despite, but because of the medium in which he writes’ NPR ‘Secures Dylan’s place in a pantheon of literary heroes from Virgil to Eliot. A critical breakthrough that makes a masterful case for why Dylan is the bard of our times’ Andrew McCarron, author of Light Come Shining: The Transformations of Bob Dylan ‘Thomas’ outstanding, eminently readable, and beautifully bound work, answers that question in relation to his subject with a resounding ‘Yes’. Dylan matters. Emphatically’ Tribune ‘Listen to Bob Dylan in performance. But read this book for help on how to hear his lyrics’ Irish Examiner

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Book SynopsisAndrea Corr’s Barefoot Pilgrimage is a compelling and honest memoir.

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Book SynopsisA page turnerand then some!' Chris EvansAn absorbing memoir.' Classic Rock MagazineA very enjoyable rock-n-roll memoir that is not just for fans, but for anyone interested in this classic era of the British rock scene' The AfterwordA fascinating insight into the golden-age of 1970s and 80s rock and roll told through the eyes of music legend Bernie Marsden and, most notably, his role in establishing one of the world's most famous rock bands of all time Whitesnake.A compelling journey in the company of a masterful (and mercifully ego-free) musician. I saved it like a cherished slab of vinyl.' Ian RankinTouring with AC/DC. Befriending The Beatles. Writing one of the world's most iconic rock songs.This is the story of a young boy from a small town who dreamt of one day playing the guitar for a living and ended up a rock n' roll legend.It follows Bernie Marsden's astonishing career in the industry from tours in Cold War Germany and Franco's Spain, to meeting and befriending George HarrisTrade ReviewA page turner…and then some!’ Chris Evans ‘An absorbing memoir.’ Classic Rock Magazine ‘A rollicking memoir by one of the prime exponents of Seventies and Eighties British hard rock, full of the kind of bad behaviour and back-stabbing you’d expect but written with a real sense of fun’ Choice Magazine ‘A very enjoyable rock-n-roll memoir that is not just for fans, but for anyone interested in this classic era of the British rock scene, and that highlights the fact that, as well as being a first-class guitarist, the author is first and foremost a music fan’ The Afterword ‘Fabulous anecdotes and stories…a fascinating, affectionate and humorous account of the crazy, creative life of a great musician.’ Bob Harris ‘Bernie Marsden is a musical treasure…I don't think people know ALL he has done and just how much he was a part of the early British rock scene to present day. It's all in here. READ THIS BOOK!’ Steve Lukather, Toto ‘Guitar hero, rock legend, and mega-hit songwriter…a true living legend. This memoir gives a fascinating personal look into one of Britain’s most brilliant musicians, and some of the greatest rock music ever created.’ James Jared Nichols ‘Hugely entertaining.’ Paul Jones ‘One of the iconic musicians of his generation.’ Pat Cash

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Book Synopsis''A roadmap for a new generation'' VOGUE''Radical, funny and fearless' VANITY FAIRGripping' NYLONRaw'GUARDIANAn electric, searing memoir by the original Riot Grrrl and legendary frontwoman of Bikini Kill and Le TigreHey girlfriend I got a proposition, goes something like this: Dare ya to do what you want.Kathleen Hanna's rallying cry to feminists echoed far and wide through the punk scene of the 1980s, '90s, and beyond. Her band, Bikini Kill, embodies this iconic time, and today their gutsy, radical lyrics of anthems like Rebel Girl' and Double Dare Ya' are more powerful than ever. But where did this transformative voice come from?In Rebel Girl, Hanna's raw and insightful new memoir, she takes us from her tumultuous childhood home, to her formative college years in Olympia, Washington, and on to her first years on tour, fighting hard for gigs and for her band. As Hanna makes blindingly clear, being in a girl band', especially a punk girl band, in those years was not a simple or a safe

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Book Synopsis**THE PERFECT GIFT FOR BILLIE EILISH FANS**A celebration of Billie Eilish''s refreshing outlook, creativity and independence. We all want a bit more Billie in our lives!Billie Eilish isn''t up for conforming to others'' expectations of what a young woman should look and sound like. This multi-award-winning artist lays down her own beat and refuses to be labelled, restricted or dismissed. She uses her platform to advocate openness around mental health and to work towards positive change in the world around her.With chapters on learning to be yourself, standing up for what you believe and dealing with haters, Be Bad, Be Bold, Be Billieexplores Billie''s incredible journey to stardom, providing hints and tips on how to adopt her poise and no-nonsense attitude to get to where you want to be.

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Book SynopsisA celebration of Harry Styles we Adore You!Harry Styles is a global superstar and fashion icon who has broken records, won awards and was the first solo man to grace the cover of Vogue, but he is also grounded, humble and down to earth. He doesn't care what other people think, isn't afraid to be vulnerable and truly loves his fans. We could all do with being a bit more like Harry.With chapters on finding your style, building confidence and supporting charities, The Book of Harry explores Harry's incredible journey to stardom and the lessons we can take from his music, career and wider approach to life. Learning from his example, it will arm readers with tips, tricks and wisdom to empower them to be fearless, be themselves and above all, Treat People With Kindness.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing forewords from bandmates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, this is the official and fully authorised biography of the world's most revered and celebrated drummer.Mid-1962. The newly formed Rolling Stones are on the hunt for a permanent drummer. Their sights are set on Charlie Watts, a jazz musician already well-known within London's rhythm and blues clubs. Fortunately for future Stones fans the world over, they persuade him to take on the job. Once installed at the drum seat, Charlie would not miss a beat for the rest of his life. He was there throughout the swinging sixties as the Stones reached superstardom and for the well-documented debauchery of the 1970s, typified by the iconic album Exile on Main St. Battling his own demons by the eighties, Charlie emerged unscathed, cementing his reputation as the thoughtful, cultured but no less compelling counterpoint to his more raucous bandmates.For almost 60 years through all the band bust-ups, bereavements and changes in personneTrade Review‘An affectionate portrait, one that recognises Watts as musician, colleague, family man, obsessive collector and immaculate dresser.’ Sunday Times ‘Sexton, a longtime Stones chronicler, tells Watts’s story with warmth and diligence’ Observer ‘Exhaustively researched… crammed with telling incidental information’ Telegraph ‘The book that every Stones fan will want to read this Christmas, largely because, like its subject, it’s sharp, straightforward and blessed with significant dry wit … an essential purchase’ Classic Rock ‘A book as gentle, fascinating and companionable as the man himself’ Mojo ‘Favours substance over flash, presenting an affectionate account of a devoted family man and friend, a particularly British type of eccentric, who just happened to play drums for the Rolling Stones.’ Irish Independent

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Book SynopsisFeaturing forewords from bandmates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, this is the official and fully authorised biography of the world’s most revered and celebrated drummer.Trade Review‘An affectionate portrait, one that recognises Watts as musician, colleague, family man, obsessive collector and immaculate dresser.’ Sunday Times ‘Sexton, a longtime Stones chronicler, tells Watts’s story with warmth and diligence’ Observer ‘Exhaustively researched… crammed with telling incidental information’ Telegraph ‘The book that every Stones fan will want to read this Christmas, largely because, like its subject, it’s sharp, straightforward and blessed with significant dry wit … an essential purchase’ Classic Rock ‘A book as gentle, fascinating and companionable as the man himself’ Mojo ‘Favours substance over flash, presenting an affectionate account of a devoted family man and friend, a particularly British type of eccentric, who just happened to play drums for the Rolling Stones.’ Irish Independent

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Book SynopsisA history of Riot Grrrl, a group of extraordinary young women coming of age angrily, collectively, and publicly. It tells the story of a time when America thought feminism was dead, and feminism seemed to buy into the slacker myths of Generation X, but a generation of noisy girls rose up to prove everybody wrong.Trade Review"For a Second Wave feminist like myself, Girls to the Front evokes wonderfully the way the generation after mine soaked up the promise and the punishment of feminist consciousness: all in all, a richly moving story." -- Vivian Gornick "Compelling... A brash, gutsy chronicle of the empowering music and feminist movement of the early 1990s... Marcus enthusiastically tracks the 'scattered cartographies of rebellion' and captures the combustible excitement of this significant if short-lived moment." -- Publishers Weekly "Marcus has done a commendable job of telling the little-known history of an important social and cultural movement... A compelling history." -- Booklist (starred review) "Original, witty, idealistic and down-to-earth, Girls to the Front is a chronicle of women, girls, music, sexism-and, best of all, what it means to be alive. Reader take heart: Feminism is not dead." -- Brenda Wineapple, author of White Heat "Sara Marcus's Girls to the Front is a great & true & real history. Thank God. At last." -- Eileen Myles, author of Chelsea Girls and Inferno (A Poet's Novel) "Feminism seems to change every five years. It's hard to grasp the movement... Girls to the Front is not just a keeper of the flame but brings you to yr own fire." -- Kim Gordon "Stirring... Eloquent... Like Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain did in Please Kill Me... Sara Marcus's Girls to the Front tells the story of riot grrrl, one person at a time." -- Bitch Magazine "Ambitious and convincing... Girls to the Front makes narrative sense out of events that had so far been recorded only in mythic, unverified, and fragmentary form." -- Johanna Fateman, Bookforum "A historical rockument of the revolutionary 90s counterculture Riot Grrrl movement... A rousing inspiration for a new generation of empowered rebel girls to strap on guitars and stick it to The Man." -- Vanity Fair "Girls to the Front is more than just a historical account of the riot grrrl movement. It is a reliving. For those who missed the happenings of that era, this book will make you feel as though you were right there." -- Venus Zine "One hell of an empowering read... A scorching history of the Riot Grrrl movement... There's inspiration here. Read this book and feel it-a renewed energy, in talking about the roles women play in the scenes that we live in today." -- HTMLGIANT "A painstakingly researched and well thought-out tribute to a punk feminist era Sara Marcus clearly holds dear... It should be heralded as an uncannily insightful revelation of the motivations and inner-workings of Riot Grrrl." -- Allison Wolfe, New York Press "Exhilarating... Girls to the Front is the well-documented history Riot Grrrl deserves... Marcus writes with the empathy, grace, and balance of a good war correspondent... Her book will undoubtedly prompt a whole new generation of teenage girls." -- The Los Angeles Times "A fascinaqting social history... In her impassioned study, Marcus focuses on the girls in the crowd as much as stars like Bikini Kill, placing the story in the context of liberalism's post-Reagan crisis and mapping a civilization of Xeroxed jeremiads." -- Rolling Stone

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Book SynopsisSammy Hagar—legendary lead singer of Van Halen, founder of the Cabo Wabo Tequila brand, and one of rock music’s most notoriously successful performers—tells his unforgettable story in this one-of-a-kind autobiography of a life at the top of the charts. From his decade-long journey alongside Eddie Van Halen to his raucous solo career with Chickenfoot and everything in between—the drugs, groupies, and excesses of fame, the outrageous stadium tours, and the thrill of musical innovation—Hagar reveals all in this treasure trove of rock-and-roll war stories. Red is a life-changing look at one of music’s biggest talents—an essential read for music fans and anyone dreaming of becoming rock’s next number one star.Trade Review"Sammy's no bullsh*tter. If Sammy says it happened, it did. There's nobody else anywhere like him." -- Michael Anthony "Sammy has maintained his all-star success no matter where his Red Rocker career has taken him. He still can't drive fifty-five, but hey, he's the one driving the Mustang. So site back and ride." -- Toby Keith "Nobody had to explain the American dream to Sammy. He knew in his gut that there was a better life available to him if he refused to accept the status quo. It's all here in Sammy's new book." -- Ted Nugent "I'll admit it: I've been a Sammy Hagar wannabe since I heard his voice on a Montrose album...I'm proud to call him a rock star hero, a friend, and a brother in the sun. Rock on, Red Rocker!" -- Kenny Chesney "Sam's the man. Tequila, fast cars, rock 'n' roll-my kind of guy." -- Jimmie Johnson, five-time NASCAR champion "There are not a lot of people I would drop whatever I'm doing to go and see, but Sammy Hagar is one of thouse people...The man rocks his ass off, and vicariously through him so do I. My man-Sammy Hagar." -- Whoopi Goldberg "Over the many years I've known Sammy, his Red Rocker passion in music has always inspired me. But it's also his love of cooking great food and sharing a good bottle of wine that has been at the core of our friendship for so long. -- Emeril Lagasse "There are tell-all books. And then there are tell-all books written by Sammy Hagar. The 63-year-old ex-Van Halen frontman holds back nothing -- and I mean absolutely nothing -- in his autobiography...the Red Rocker's life look-back doesn't skimp on the details." -- Associated Press

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Book SynopsisFrank Cascio was a close friend of tragic superstar Michael Jackson for more than twenty-five years. In My Friend Michael, Cascio offers a deeply personal, behind-the-scenes look at the Michael Jackson he knew. Filled with never-before-told stories and intimate details, My Friend Michael is the most candid, moving, and provocative portrait of the “King of Pop” to date—a fair and loving portrait of a true American pop music icon and of a remarkable friendship that endured through triumph and struggle, scandal and controversy.

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES and INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERIn Face the Music, Paul Stanley—the co-founder and famous “Starchild” frontman of KISS—reveals for the first time the incredible highs and equally incredible lows in his life both inside and outside the band. Face the Music is the shocking, funny, smart, inspirational story of one of rock’s most enduring icons and the group he helped create, define, and immortalize.Stanley mixes compelling personal revelations and gripping, gritty war stories that will surprise even the most steadfast member of the KISS Army. He takes us back to his childhood in the 1950s and ’60s, a traumatic time made more painful thanks to a physical deformity. Born with a condition called microtia, he grew up partially deaf, with only one ear. But this instilled in him an inner drive to succeed in the most unlikely of pursuits: music.With never-before-seen photos and images throughout, Stanley’s memoir is a fully realized and unflinching portrait of a rock star, a chronicle of the stories behind the famous anthems, the many brawls and betrayals, and all the drama and pyrotechnics on and off the stage. Raw and confessional, Stanley offers candid insights into his personal relationships, and the turbulent dynamics with his bandmates over the past four decades. And no one comes out unscathed—including Stanley himself.“People say I was brave to write such a revealing book, but I wrote it because I needed to personally reflect on my own life. I know everyone will see themselves somewhere in this book, and where my story might take them is why I’m sharing it.” —Paul StanleyTrade Review"Paul Stanley proves himself as an artist in music and on canvas and now with a great book." -- Jimmy Page "Both honest and inspirational. Amazing tales from one of rock's great frontmen." -- Sir Elton John "Paul is a great man who has achieved great things. From the Popcorn Club all the way to the Hall of Fame, his story is inspiring and motivating for anyone who dreams big." -- Dave Grohl "An entertaining yet piercingly honest journey from self-conscious child to the world's most visually famous rock band, to, finally-with the makeup wiped away-a place of peace as a father and a man. Paul Stanley's story is both ordinary and extraordinary, which makes it inspiring." -- Mitch Albom, author of The First Phone Call From Heaven and Tuesdays With Morrie "For years the members hid their true identities behind cartoon personas and hard rock anthems... After years of carefully maintaining his Starchild superhero identity, Stanley lets down his guard and unleashes a torrent of pent-up feelings that erupt and flow over 400 pages like molten lava." -- Guitar World Magazine "KISS' flamboyant "Starchild" unplugs his high-wattage amps and introduces fans to an even more intriguing character: Stanley Harvey Eisen... [Face the Music is] an indispensable part of KISStory." -- Kirkus Reviews "Elegantly and thoughtfully, Stanley takes us behind the mask of Starchild, his KISS persona, and shares intimately his own insecurities about his physical appearance and his emotional life." -- Publishers Weekly "Most people will probably not associate sensitivity with the flamboyant heavy-metal rock band KISS, and yet in his memoir, front man, rhythm guitarist, and cofounder Paul Stanley succeeds in making a connection with the reader, KISS fan or not." -- Booklist

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Book SynopsisNPR Best Books of 2017NOW IN GLORIOUS PAPERBACH AND FEATURING NEW PHOTOS18 And Life on Skid Row tells the story of a boy who spent his childhood moving from Freeport, Bahamas to California and finally to Canada and who at the age of eight discovered the gift that would change his life.Trade Review"In the hedonistic new memoir 18 and Life on Skid Row, Sebastian Bach is brutally frank in his description of life on the road and exploits...Written in a funny, everyman style, 18 and Life finds Bach as one of rock's most affable frontmen." -- Rolling Stone "The soulfulness of Sebastian Bach's new memoir caught me off-guard...The book's personal stories are compelling...they're what make 18 and Life on Skid Row a captivating read." -- LA Weekly "[a] ribald and freewheeling memoir...often a delightfully trashy and salacious read. The overall impression one gets of Bach is of an outgoing and genial person...it works because of Bach's puppyish enthusiasm-for music, yes, but also for booze, for drugs, and for sex in unusual places. Rock it up!" -- AV Club "a wild ride of a memoir" -- The Houston Press "the rock book that's going to be hard to beat" -- Las Vegas Weekly "give the gift of Baz this holiday season and get the Skid Row scoop via one of rock's greatest frontmen." -- Vanyaland

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Book SynopsisTravis Barker’s soul-baring memoir chronicles the highlights and lowlights of the renowned drummer’s art and his life, including the harrowing plane crash that nearly killed him and his traumatic road to recovery—a fascinating never-before-told-in-full story of personal reinvention grounded in musical salvation and fatherhood.After breaking out as the acclaimed drummer of the multiplatinum punk band Blink-182, everything changed for Travis Barker. But the dark side of rock stardom took its toll: his marriage, chronicled for an MTV reality show, fell apart. Constant touring concealed a serious drug addiction. A reckoning did not truly come until he was forced to face mortality: His life nearly ended in a horrifying plane crash, and then his close friend, collaborator, and fellow crash survivor DJ AM died of an overdose.In this blunt, driving memoir, Barker ruminates on rock stardom, fatherhood, death, loss, and redemption, sharing stories shaped by decTrade Review"(A) riveting, brutally honest memoir." -- Billboard "Written with ROLLING STONE contributor Gavin Edwards, Can I Say is a fascinating look into the life of a talented, hard-partying musician who has beaten the odds several times." -- Rolling Stone

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“[A] powerful and substantial memoir… The book is more than a chronological tale of a career; it’s a quest for meaning… The memoir captures a life of determination, positivity, and success tempered by depth and humility.” — Publishers Weekly “My Life with Earth, Wind & Fire is the candid and intimate odyssey of a man whose music and ideology continues to have an immeasurable influence on artists and audiences worldwide.” — Philadelphia Inquirer “[The] musical elements [of Earth, Wind & Fire] would not have existed without the singular drive of Maurice White. And his words here provide one magical, mystery tour.” — Houston Press “White’s book is practically a how-to manual for leading a band… Aspiring musicians could certainly learn a lesson or two.” — New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Epic.” — Rolling Stone “A treasure trove for any fan of the four-stringed (and occasionally more) instrument.” — Billboard “Geddy’s book is beautiful. . . . What the title does not reveal is that the Rush bassist’s book is also a gas to read.” — Psychobabble

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Book SynopsisOpen Book is Jessica Simpson using her voice, heart, soul, and humor to share things she’s never shared before.First celebrated for her voice, she became one of the most talked-about women in the world, whether for music and fashion, her relationship struggles, or as a walking blonde joke.Trade Review"Achingly honest. . . [Open Book] is a thoughtful and intimate portrait of what it means to be a celebrity, and Simpson is unafraid to share the sometimes harrowing truths that often go undiscussed." — Time magazine "Mesmerizing. . . In 2017, something awoke in Simpson. She can speak honestly now. Is there anything else she wants to say?" — The New Yorker Open Book explains what happened. . . It just feels nice that one of the pop stars from our teendom has delivered on the twenty-year-old promise they're just like us." — New York Times In her honest new memoir, Jessica Simpson strips away the glamour associated with the blond hair, the clothing empire, and the early 2000s radio hits. . . You'll see Jessica Simpson at her most authentic, relatable, and, yes, intelligent. — Glamour Powerful. — People memoir that spares no one, not even herself. . . Simpson breaks open the dam that is her personal history and the gossip surrounding her life, from the sexual abuse she experienced as a child to her alcohol addiction. — Los Angeles Times You may think you know Jessica Simpson. . . but it turns out there was a whole lot more going on than any of us knew. [Open Book] is a raw look into the lesser-known troubled side of her life, and how she still manages to see the positive side of everything. — Cosmopolitan I kind of feel like we all owe her an apology. — Ronan Farrow Captivating. . . In Open Book, Simpson's interior life is accessible and far more complex than her public performance as a relatable pp star. — Jezebel Her excellent memoir is everything you could want. . . By the end, you marvel at her hard-won wisdom. — Rolling Stone Written with considerable hindsight. . . so revealing. — Buzzfeed Jessica Simpson gets very real. — Refinery 29 A no-holds-barred memoir. . . A journey through the thirty-nine-year-old's most challenging moments. — O, the Oprah Magazine The singer, actress, and entrepreneur reveals struggles her fans never knew about. Simpson shares her truth like never before. — TODAY [Simpson] makes a point of reflecting on her mistakes but is cognizant of the pressures and expectations that other put on her. — Washington Post She's honest, genuine, unabashedly vulnerable, and she exhibits the same qualities in her writing. — Hoda Kotb, excerpt from NYT bestseller This Just Speaks to Me Simpson's memoir contains plenty of personal and professional moments for fans to savor. An eye-opening glimpse into the attempted self-unmaking of one of Hollywood's most recognizable talents. — Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisIn this first of a groundbreaking multivolume set, THE MCCARTNEY LEGACY, VOL 1: 1969-73 captures the life of Paul McCartney in the years immediately following the dissolution of the Beatles, a period in which McCartney recreated himself as both a man and a musician.Trade Review"Volume 1 of The McCartney Legacy by Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair, arrives like a well-planned encore a year after the publication of The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present by Paul McCartney. Influenced by the methods of Mark Lewisohn, the exacting Beatles historian currently at work on the second volume of a trilogy about the group (the first was 900 pages, and that was an abridgment)... in a way The McCartney Legacy out-Lewisohns Lewisohn, taking almost 700 pages to cover only five years." — The New York Times Book Review “This is the comprehensive, painstaking, dazzling and definitive chronicle of rock’s strangest story: how Paul McCartney refused to go quietly after the Beatles, and how he kept his genius moving forward into another day. An amazing, inspiring trip.” — Rob Sheffield, author of Dreaming the Beatles “No maybe – I’m plain amazed at this real reveal of Paul McCartney with his decades of artful creativity. Through these pages is the accurate biography of a universal explorer.” — Mark Lewisohn, world renowned Beatles expert "Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair's The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1, 1969-73 is a triumph... their masterful study of the artist's spectacular rise from the ashes of the Beatles, Kozinn and Sinclair bring McCartney's comeback story vividly to life." — Salon "Anybody in the future who wants to know anything about the subject will find the information here. Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair, a former New York Times music critic and a documentary maker respectively, have entirely succeeded in the task they set themselves — to find out and inform the reader of everything there is to know about the life of Paul McCartney between 1969 and 1973." — The Times (UK) "If the devil is in the detail the The McCartney Legacy is positively satanic." — The Mail on Sunday Book Review "Setting the story between The Beatles’ demise and 1973 offers Kozinn and Sinclair a compelling redemptive narrative arc... Choosing to tell their story without foreknowledge, the authors allow it to unfold as if it’s happening in real time and without looking ahead to the outcome of any particular actions. It’s an often breathless and riveting read." — Reader's Digest "One thing that really sets this book apart is Kozinn and Sinclair’s unprecedented amount of detail on every single Paul McCartney solo recording session: dates, places, songs worked on, remembrances from those in the room, and lots of equipment detail." — Houston Press Book Review "A gold mine for avid fans." — Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisAcompleteand truly unique biography of Robert Smith and company, The Cure, chronicling their 40+ year history with hundreds of entries in A to Z fashion.Definitive and deeply researched,Curepedia will surprise and inform fans everywhere as they await The Cure''s highly anticipatednextalbum release.The Cure remain, 40 plus years into their career, one of the biggest rock bands in the world. With 12 studio albums, tours that pack stadiums all over the world?including their recent sold out series across North America in Spring/Summer 2023?they were the first alternative band to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 2019 by Trent Reznor. Their influence is heard in bands as wide ranging as Twilight Sad to Interpol to My Chemical Romance.Amidst the record-settingShows of a Lost World Tourwinding down, acclaimed music journalist Simon Price has crafted a first of its kind history of this band that will satisfy legion of fans eagerly awaiting The Cure?s new album.Curepediais a career-spanning and in-depth biography of Robert Smith and company, chronicling their 40 plus year history with hundreds of entries organized in an A-to-Z fashion.Presented in a two-color format, with four-color endpapers designed by long-time Cure collaborator Andy Vella,Curepediais a full-scale look at the long list of members, current and past, unknown facts, tours, descriptions of every album, song, films, as well as entries on the image of the band, their influence, their style, and their enduring legacy. This beautifully packaged book, celebrating one of the most enduring and beloved rock bands,Curepediawill be the perfect introduction for new fans, and a must-have for the obsessive as well.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Music journalist Azerrad provides an electric revision to his 1993 account of the defining band of the grunge movement. (...) The band’s myriad fans will be rapt." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) Thirty years after its original publication, rock writer Azerrad (Our Band Could Be Your Life) updates and nearly doubles the number of pages of his groundbreaking Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. The author intersperses hundreds of new, detailed paragraphs throughout the original text to amplify and clarify the earlier material. Most satisfying, he adds a lengthy epilogue which deals with events that happened after the 1991 release of the album Nevermind, including Kurt Cobain’s last months and tragic death in 1994. New material includes the Nirvana tours and practice sessions that Azerrad attended; Cobain’s meeting with one of his heroes, William Burroughs; the telltale signs that pointed to Cobain’s self-destructive impulses and his eventual death; and the utter remorse that Azerrad and other insiders felt after Cobain’s suicide at age 27. VERDICT (...) Nirvana fans will want to read it. — Library Journal (starred review) "Michael Azerrad has always demonstrated a passionate feeling for the ideas, the ambitions, that drive the notable moments of recent musical history. But this annotated edition of his earlier book, which was already a very successful biography, breaks out even further into high art. He's the perfect narrator, now, for a very important question, perhaps increasingly forgotten: why was punk important and how do we talk about it now? The urgencies of this question are everywhere in this powerful, uncertain, and profoundly human work. Azzerad's restless plunging onward, represents the further entanglement in deep, fraught, endangered wisdom." — Rick Moody, bestselling author of The Ice Storm and Hotels of North America “Enriched with new anecdotes, insights and info-morsels, this super-expanded Michael Azerrad classic is a great story made even more gripping. Nirvana’s underground-overground arc becomes a prism for understanding an entire era of rock music and pop culture.” — Simon Reynolds, author of Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-84 "Essential for Nirvana fans." — Kirkus Reviews "A fascinating examination of a band's rise and demise; life and death, personality flaws and mistakes and the ways in which someone in the public eye deals with them" — Culture Catch “Veteran music scribe Michael Azerrad’s absorbing, admirable and deeply personal sequel to his acclaimed 1993 bio Come As You Are: The Story Of Nirvana. (...) [This] might be the most fully rounded portrait of the artist to date” — Tinnitist

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Book SynopsisNOW A LIMITED SERIES DIRECTED BY DANNY BOYLE_____________________Foreword by Chrissie HyndeWithout the Sex Pistols there would be no punk rock, and without Steve Jones there would be no Sex Pistols.It was Steve who formed Kutie Jones and his Sex Pistols, the band that eventually went on to become the Sex Pistols, with his schoolmate Paul Cook and who was its original leader. As the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of Punk - the influence and cultural significance of which is felt in music, fashion and the visual arts to this day - Steve tells his story for the very first time.Rising from the streets of Hammersmith, Steve Jones was once a lonely, neglected boy living off his wits and petty thievery. Given purpose by the glam art rock of David Bowie and Roxy Music, he became one of the first generation of punks taken under the wings of Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood. For the very first time Steve describes theTrade ReviewLonely Boy is often eye-wateringly funny … Jones is good at puncturing myth … His book’s a delight. * Observer, 'Music Book of the Day' *The Sex Pistols guitarist details his life – an impoverished Sixties childhood, sexual abuse and dalliances with crime – in a way that is both moving and candid. * Telegraph, 'Top 50 Books of the Year' *The Pistols’ story, retold refreshingly and with added rumpage … What’s special about this book is its story arc, which will make the most hardened punk well up … A poignant, honest, drily humorous rump-fest from a lost soul found. * Mojo *[An] absolute riot of revelation…[Jones] owns up to his failings with a colourful candour that is moving. -- Neil McCormick * Telegraph *It can be harrowing, hilarious, and often touching, but above all, Lonely Boy is life-affirming. Thank you, Steve Jones. * Sex-pistols.net *

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Book SynopsisRod Stewart was born the working-class son of a Scottish plumber in North London. Despite some early close shaves with a number of diverse career paths, ranging from gravedigging to professional football, it was music that truly captured his heart - and he never looked back. This title tells his story.Trade ReviewHe is enjoyably gossipyabout friends such as Elton John and about his many exes — including Britt Ekland, who loved making eggy bread for his bandmates, and his former wife Rachel Hunter, the only one to have broken his heart. Written in a cheery, faintly ironic style (there’s even a chapter devoted to his haircut), this is a very enjoyable romp. * DAILY MAIL *…amiably and self-knowingly told... the tone pitched right and the jokes good…He writes articulately about music: where a drummer sits on the beat, or what makes a song bombproof. It's the work of someone who really knows his craft, and loves it. * Guardian *Behind the rock'n'roll persona, vividly portrayed in his new memoir, is a self deprecating man of manners...highly entertaining. * The Sunday Times *Quite the life you've led... the stories in here, I mean, I blushed a little * Graham Norton *It really is a rollercoaster ride...It’s a proper book. It’s not frothy. It’s not candy flossy...It is no holds barred. You wrote it yourself, it’s so obvious. It’s your voice all the way through * Chris Evans *

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Book SynopsisThe only way to appreciate the legendary Mark E Smith is to encounter the man in his own words.''Ranting, raging, burning...relentlessly splenetic, a long and sustained rant... may also be the funniest music book ever written'' - Observer''Unutterably funny... a riot of aimings and blamings and score-settlings. Smith manages to have a right laff, and reveal himself as a figure of dazzling sociological import'' - Independent on SundayThe Fall are one of the most distinctive British bands ever, their music - odd, spare, cranky and repetitious - an acknowledged influence on The Smiths, The Happy Mondays, Nirvana and Franz Ferdinand. And Mark E. Smith IS The Fall - 66 members came and went over the years yet he remained its charismatic leader until his death in 2018.''If it''s me and yer granny on bongos, it''s The Fall.'' - Mark E. SmithMark was a professional outsider and all-round enemy ofTrade ReviewRanting, raging, burning...relentlessly splenetic, a long and sustained rant...may also be the funniest music book ever written * Observer *Unutterably funny...a riot of aimings and blamings and score-settlings. Smith manages to have a right laff, and reveal himself as a figure of dazzling sociological import * Independent on Sunday *Remarkable, brilliant. A provocative joy. Smith's rant gushes like a furious fountain of razor-sharp invective over his childhood and the early days of The Fall, relationships/ marriage, the record industry/ musicians and his views on everything from football to mobile phones, from drinking and drugs to driving, from books to bankruptcy, from Paul Morley to pubs. Unbeatable' Time OutEngrossing, exhausting, dense with fascinating detail. As both memoir and cultural history, Renegade is a remarkable achievement * Daily Telegraph *A hoot * Hot Press *Stuffed with crazy wisdom * London Lite *Hilarious * Scotland on Sunday *A wide-ranging, eccentric set of fugitive opinions, a smart marshalling of numerous rambling pub conversations * The Times Literary Supplement *Vicious, funny, always contrarian * Daily Telegraph *Smith's about as reliable a narrator as the members of Motley Crue were in their depraved memoir The Dirt. And just as entertaining. Delving into Renegade is like listening to Smith hold court down the pub...it contains far too many astute, poetic observations to be dismissed as colourful ramblings from a committed curmudgeon * Scotsman *Unutterably funny...a riot of aimings and blamings and score-settlings. Smith manages to have a right laff, and reveal himself as a figure of dazzling sociological import * Independent on Sunday *

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