Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie describe how music affected and changed their lives and those of at least two generations, and how their own lives - and lifestyles - have in turn helped, or hindered, their music-making. The text, largely in the form of first-person narrative is, in turn, insightful, funny, sardonic, surprising, but above all very personal and intimate. A reference section including discography, gigography and chronology is shot through with the band's eye view of their history and punctuated by pithy comments and views on album and single releases on memorable or famed performances and other newsworthy events.
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The Rolling Stones, commonly referred to as the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band, epitomize everything that's excessive, lavish, exciting, and powerful about rock music. Here, founding member and bass player Bill Wyman presents an honest and humorous account that serves as a backstage pass to the band's history, from drug busts, to tax exile, to solo careers. Straight from Wyman's huge personal archive, "Rolling with the Stones" features previously unreleased letters, photographs, memorabilia, and personal journals. With over 2000 photographs, more than 45 beautifully designed tour spreads, song lists from every show, and biographies on each band member more>>

Darius has been in the public eye from his first appearance on "Popstars" through to being a "Pop Idol" finalist and then becoming a successful recording artist in 2002 with the number one "Colourblind" and his platinum album "Dive In". In this book, Darius reveals what really went on behind the scenes of both shows and promises a few surprises. He also shares some very private moments, giving insight into the man and his career. more>>

The final of the Pop Idol show was the most anticipated TV even of the year.
Over 13million people tuned in to see Will Young win the show with over 4.6 million votes - Will Young the middle-class University graduate with the looks of Robbie Williams and the voice of Sinatra consistently turned in a professional performance week after week and was finally crowned Pop Idol 2002.

Viewers only saw a fraction of Will on the show and this book completes the picture - detailing all the moments from the time he filled in that all important application form up until the winning moment and beyond.

Including 4 colour plate sections featuring photographs of Will from childhood through to Pop stardom.

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What's it like to be Gareth Gates?
Gareth's daily life takes him from the recording suite to the TV studio, from touring Britain to promoting his music abroad.

Everyday life is an extraordinary experience for this young man and to share that with him, in his own words, will give you an extraordinary read.

Now, in Gareth Gates: Talking Point, an intimate portrait of Gareth, he reflects on his life in the public eye, the press, the projects he enjoys, who and what has inspired him musically. How does he keep up with his mates? What are his long-term plans? All this and more revealed in his latest book.

From his number one singles to his appearance on Comic Relief, Talking Point is a unique glimpse of life through Gareth's eyes.

Packed with fantastic, exclusive, previously unseen photographs, Talking Point will leave you closer to Gareth than ever.

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Heat, 5 October 2002
'Plenty of nuggets of information that obsessives will delight in ... 4/5'
Mizz, 18 September 2002
'His story is enough to have you glued to every page ... this book is totally access all areas!'





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Heat Magazine
...the amazing life story of a genuine legend
Boyd Hilton
For once a wonderful life has been turned into a wonderful book




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An explosive behind-the-scenes inside account of the rock music world. Life changed for Michael Francis at the age of 21 when Paul McCartney walked into his father's boxing gym to watch his friend John Conteh preparing for a fight. Paul hired Michael as his security guard, beginning a thirty-year music business career in which he worked with such legendary names as Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, The Osmonds, Sheena Easton, Frank Sinatra, Bon Jovi, Cher and Kiss. As tour manager, Michael was responsible for every aspect of their safety and their comfort, from making sure they were not mobbed on stage to making sure they got paid. Whatever they wanted, he got hold of. To some of them he became close. He was best man at Jon Bon Jovi's wedding, and provided personal security for five years for Cher at her Malibu home. He shared their wildest excesses, their highs and their lows; he saw their fears and, all too often, their loneliness and paranoia. Sometimes hilarious, frequently shocking, always perceptive, Star Man is the outrageous, uncompromising and brutally honest story of one man's life with the biggest stars of rock. more>>

A portrait of a man who has become a rock legend. Jon Bon Jovi is Bon Jovi's focus and figurehead and this volume charts his relationship with the other band members who have their fair share of rock and roll stories. Laura Jackson explores the personality, character, drive and determination that has taken Jon Bon Jovi from playing the New Jersey clubs through all the groupie excess and glamorous indulgence to where the band is in 2003. She also examines Jon Bon Jovi's interest in acting and scoring music for Hollywood films.



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This is the story of three personalities who are so famous they are instantly recognised by their first names only. For many years, the three, individually, and together, have been the subjects of several miles of column inches in both newspapers and magazines. Here the inside story behind the drugs bust, the custodial battles, and deaths is told by someone who was very close to all three.
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Anthony Bozza gets up close and personal with the world's biggest selling male solo artist more>>

This book is an amazing read. You get to find out about eminem's struggle with drugs & the tour life also you get to see an insight of his family life along with his ego driven love life. The book also tell you about eminem's manager and the way in which there relationship runs. Although the book is a good read you must remember that it may be biast in the way that the authour (was the body guard) has written things. The book will tell yuo about Slim Shady's Life twisted with a glimpse of Marshall Mathers. The book will make you luagh, cry and you will be shocked by bits of it...
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With guitar-driven punk pop to rival top US groups like Blink 182 and Wheatus - Busted were a breath of fresh air when they burst onto the scene in 2002 with the catchy single "What I Go To School For", followed by "Year 3000". Busted aim to be the natural antidote to choreographed boy bands and this book offers a scrapbook of the group's personal rock'n'roll memorabilia, reflecting their rapid rise to fame. Surfing, shooting pool, football, gigging - a series of snapshots of life in young, bright, guitar-driven Britain in 2003. Every tale is told by the lively Busted 18-year-olds, Mattie, Charlie and James, oozing wit, style and charm. Added to the mix are exclusive photographs of the band in recording and television studios, on the road and live on stage during their first tour in May 2003. more>>

This is a truly inspirational book, Donny takes us through the joy and heartache of his childhood, growing up in the shadow of his famous brothers only to get caught up in the showbiz whirl, while still wanting to remain a child himself. To the heady days of the 70s when he was on nearly every teenage girls bedroom wall. He talks with great love and passion for his wife and his family and the anxiety of his social phobia during his triumphant return to acting in 'Joseph'. It really is a must for every Osmond fan, it shows a side of Donny we never knew existed more>>

This is a truly inspirational book, Donny takes us through the joy and heartache of his childhood, growing up in the shadow of his famous brothers only to get caught up in the showbiz whirl, while still wanting to remain a child himself. To the heady days of the 70s when he was on nearly every teenage girls bedroom wall. He talks with great love and passion for his wife and his family and the anxiety of his social phobia during his triumphant return to acting in 'Joseph'. It really is a must for every Osmond fan, it shows a side of Donny we never knew existed more>>

While the famous Osmond smile beamed for the camera, no one, not even Marie, fully realised the anguish and emptiness that loomed behind the smile. Marie is not alone; more than one-out-of-ten new mothers experiences post-partum depression (PPD) after childbirth. Yet few women seek help due to feelings of shame and guilt, or fear of isolation. After giving birth to her seventh child (four of her children are adopted), Marie became increasingly depressed. One night, she handed over her bank card to her babysitter, got in her car, leaving her family and husband, and drove north - with no intention of returning until she felt she had resolved the crisis. After she went public with her own experiences with PPD on Oprah, the response was overwhelming. Now, Marie shares with readers the fear and darkness of the depression she overcome, and, in collaboration with the doctor who helped her through her ordeal, offers the methods she learned for treating PPD more>>

The autobiography of David Cassidy traces his story from a starring role in "The Partridge Family" - one of the most successful shows in TV history - to his singing career, rivalling Elvis, Paul McCartney and Elton John.



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Motley Crue was the voice of a barely pubescent Generation X, the anointed high priests of the power ballad, and the pioneers of Hollywood glam. Their sex lives claimed celebrities like Heather Locklear and Pamela Anderson as well as teenage groupies all over the world. When they weren't appeasing their voracious sexual appetites, Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Mick Mars cultivated their other interests - collecting automatic weapons, creating long and lurid rap sheets, doing every conceivable drug in every conceivable fashion and dreaming up backstage antics that would make Ozzy Osbourne blanch with modesty. Provocatively written and brilliantly designed, this book includes over 100 photos for the most insightful look ever into the Crue - the most infamous band in the world. The Dirt spent four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and sold over 13,000 copies in hardback in the UK more>>

If Johnny Rotten was the father of punk, then Siouxsie Sioux was its mother. One of the seminal bands of the punk era that have survived whilst contemporaries like The Clash and The Sex Pistols have ceased to record years ago, Siouxsie & The Banshees tell their story on their own terms. From the band's unsteady birth through to their creative high with 1991's "Superstition" album, "Siouxsie & The Banshees" is the complete authorized story told in each member's own words. Despite its official tag, no punches are pulled in discussions about the band's split in 1996, the years of in-fighting and arguments and the reasons behind their recent reunion to launch their "Best Of" album. Featuring photographs and memorabilia from Siouxsie and co's personal collections, the book should appeal to all music lovers and to anyone who was there in 1976. more>>

This is an amusing and irreverent memoir of keyboard legend Keith Emerson, the giant of popular music. He tells uproarious tales of life on the road with his bands The Nice and ELP; tales of the high-living lifestyles that goes with being one of the foremost rock stars in the world; and of course tales of the outrageous, keyboard-stabbing, barrier-shattering music he produced more>>

Since they hit the charts in 1997 with the "All Saints", the Appletons have lived, loved and squabbled in the full glare of the tabloids. Here they discuss the highs and lows they have experienced - and talk openly about the men in their lives, including Robbie Williams, Liam Gallagher and Jamie Theakston. Nicole and Natalie speak frankly, making no attempt to hide their mistakes - this is their story, the story of two sisters who landed on Planet Pop and how they survived thanks to each other. more>>

In 1978 Hot Press wrote the first ever article about U2. The band were championed by Bill Graham, a Hot Press writer who introduced their manager Paul McGuinness. Since that early involvement, Hot Press has enjoyed a close relationship with U2 and this is the third book they have published following on from the successful U2 File and U2: Three Chords & The Truth. This book contains interviews on each of the albums with all four members of the bamd. It gives detailed and intimate portraits, including interviews with Bono in 1997 and 2002. A Hot Press 'mixed grill' in which Larry and Bono answer the questions posed by fans from all over the world. Behind the scenes features on the Zoo TV, Popmart and Elevation world tours. A series of major articles published by Hot Press in 1993, 1995 and 2001. Indepth interviews of U2's albums from Achtung Baby, Zooropa, Pop, All That You Can't Leave Behind and both Greatest Hits albums. more>>

A wise drummer (Clem Burke of Blondie) once said, "The ultimate fan transcends fandom and does it himself." Although Beeaff, a freelance writer living in Tucson, AZ, has not founded a band in her heroes' names, she has provided an earnest, perceptive account of the Irish supergroup's last four tours, in diary form. Unlike Bill Flanagan's U2 At the End of the World and Carter Alan's U2: the Road to Pop, in which the authors enjoyed backstage/VIP status, Beeaff relates getting crushed in crowds, listening to soundchecks, dining at Denny's, waiting like a monk in the rain for autographs, admiring lead singer Bono's bonhomie (she meets him more than once), feeling Edge's "Bullet the Blue Sky" guitar solo snap her heartstrings again and again, and anticipating U2's next gestalt. Other fans will get vicarious kicks out of Beeaff's multiple pilgrimages to Dublin, the band's hometown. Recommended. more>>

"The Making Of The Joshua Tree" is the first in depth examination of U2’s epochal fifth album, the record which catapulted the Irish band to the apex of the stadium rock world. Accompanied by three stunning singles, "With Or Without You", "Where The Streets Have No Name", "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For", each with it’s own memorable video. "The Joshua Tree" was an instant number one album on both sides of the Atlantic. It spawned two chart-topping singles and is still U2’s biggest selling record almost a decade later. This exclusive book documents the recording of the album itself, a process born of both triumph and tragedy. A detailed track by track breakdown is illuminated with quotes from the group members, while a look into the world of record company promos unearths some of the rarest U2 records of all. Finally, a detailed study of the group’s 1987 world tour uncovers some of the finest in-concert recordings available of the tracks from this truly seminal album. 72 pp more>>

From the time when, as an eight-year-old girl, she saw the movie Fame, Victoria wanted to be a star. There was a line from the title song that stayed with her - 'I'm gonna live forever, I'm gonna learn how to fly'. With this extraordinary book she gives us the chance to follow her on her journey from lonely teenager to international star; to fly alongside her. This is a book about the reality of fame. About what it's like to be one half of the most watched couple in Britain. How it feels to be the target of so much adoration and envy. What it took for little Victoria Adams to become who she is today, and why she wanted it so much.

This is the real Victoria, standing up for herself, her husband David and their little boy Brooklyn. She is famous, beautiful, glamorous, yes - but also very human, vulnerable and funny. Setting the record straight about the controversies that have surrounded her, she reveals the truth behind, among other things, the beginnings of the Spice Girls, her wedding, her health and the terrifying kidnap and death threats.

Here too are the lessons that her extraordinary life has taught her. That it's good to have dreams and goals, and to achieve them is fantastic, but that getting what you want isn't all that matters; you have to get what you need -love, family and peace of mind
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Rolling Stone
'Moving, funny, appalling, disturbing... never been anything like it.'
Kerrang
'Marilyn Manson's autobiography is a sensational book'




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It was'nt until I picked up a Stevie wonder album and thought let's play that bass line on that track that I realised that whoever was playing that base line was Serious!! Then of course you find it was Jameson and you don't feel so bad not being able to play it first time you hear it...the book is a great insight into the man and his music plus it gives you the Base lines you've wanted to play for years on the CD's supplied with the book.extremely high recomend for all musicians who have appreciation of Motown (Black Music)in probably the most important decade for popular music....
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Between them these bands have sold over one million records world-wide and this is the first book on them. Each book is an individually numbered limited edition with photographs and original artwork, complete with a free previously unreleased CD more>>

Bruce Thomas was bassist with Elvis Costello and The Attractions at the height of the band's success with hits like Oliver's Army and Accidents Will Happen. The Big Wheel paints a vivid picture of life touring the world with a major rock band, sharing your life 24 hours a day with singer, drummer, keyboardist and a host of hangers on. The book is also excellent on portraying the endless highways of America, from city to city, with just a long long road ahead, while also vividly depicting scenes from the author's childhood and youth as they are recalled from the perspective of life on tour.Throughout all of this the author keeps getting drawn back to the image of a wheel - as time passes, and miles of continent are crossed, the author gets increasingly aware that he is back at the beginning - the journey "a circle in which nothing led anywhere except right back to itself." more>>

Told in his own inimitable style, the erstwhile maracas man from the infamous Happy Mondays, and the embodiment of the 1980s "Madchester" scene, recounts the highs and lows of his life with the band and numerous other adventures. more>>

OK! magazine
'Roach's pacey, entertaining account ... his story proves surprisingly fascinating'
Blush
'Fascinating ... gorge photos too!'
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When the body of rock icon Kurt Cobain was found in his Seattle home with a bullet through his head, the reverberations were felt across the world. His untimely death in 1994 was instantly labelled a suicide, and his millions of fans resigned themselves to the loss of their angst-ridden hero. But was it really the obvious suicide his fans accepted. Ian Halperin and Max Wallace reveal an alarming array of inconsistencies. They offer compelling reasons for reopening this suicide case, so that fans will know how their hero died more>>

Few artists have accomplished what Prince Rogers Nelson has: he has topped the R&B, pop and dance charts, he has overwhelmed musicians and critics with his seemingly endless wealth of talent, he has outraged, and he has inspired. This is a pop culture history and biography of Prince. Recollections and opinions from friends, employees and industry insiders are presented in order to place the reader right in the middle of some of Prince's recording and song writing sessions. They also relate countless and sometimes shocking details about Prince's most publicised relationships (with Kim Basinger, Carmen Elektra, Vanity and many others). more>>

Including many photographs from Kylie's own personal archive and photoshoots, this is a study of the separation between the pop icon's public and private personas. It's also a celebration of friendship and fashion. more>>

This is an enjoyable read tracking the history of every song, but more interestingly acting as a sort of band biography and giveing the story of each track and albumn, which proves both interesting and often laugh out loud funny, as the author details some recording sesion or other and the antics of Morrissey and the rest more>>

Volumes one and two of Pete Frame's "Rock Family Trees" are bound together in this edition. Among others, he traces the development and history of Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Madness, Genesis, T-Rex and The Police.
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Aaliyah Dana Haughton was that music business rarity: a teen idol who transformed herself into a critically acclaimed hip-hop soul artist, a singer who successfully made the transition to actress, and beatiful woman who never let the trappings of celebrity go to her head. Following her impressive debut at age 14 with the album "Age ain't Nothing but a Number", Aaliyah raised the bar with the influential and bestselling follow-up "One in a Million". She then took her talents to Hollywood, starring in the action thriller "Romeo Must Die" and the highly anticipated horror film "The Queen of the Damned". But soon after the release of her third album in the summer of 2001, Aaliyah's life was cut short in a tragic plane crash. This book tells her story more>>

This biography of Led Zepplin, updated to include details of the Plant/Page reunion, is an account of the band's career. It includes encounters with groupies in hotel bedrooms, the narcotic, alcoholic and psychotic wreckage they wreaked, the disturbing influence of Aleister Crowley on lead guitarist Jimmy Page, and the death of John Bonham. Above all, their music and its effects on Led Zepplin fans is examined. more>>

"I'm gonna dress what's me, I'm gonna act what's me and I'm gonna sing what's me." Still only 18 years old, Avril Lavigne has shot to fame with her own unique blend of teenage attitude and rebellious songwriting. Her debut album, "Let Go", hit the UK number one slot in January 2003, after spawning the massive hits "Complicated", "Sk8er Boi" and "I'm With You". Avril started singing as a child in her church's gospel choir in her small home town of Napanee, Canada. She was plucked from these unlikely surroundings by Arista Records boss L.A. Reid at the age of 16 and moved first to New York, then Los Angeles to work on her music. Her raw energy and songs proved the perfect combination for a generation of kids enthused by nu-rock bands like Blink-182. She has become one of the biggest female rock stars to come out of Canada since Alanis Morrisette. Illustrated with photographs of Avril herself in action, and filled with all the information her fans could want, this book looks at one of the most exciting rock stars on the scene. more>>

From the author of KYLIE CONFIDENTIAL, comes the first ever in-depth biography of one of Britain's biggest pop icons This first full length major biography of one of pop's biggest stars addresses the questions millions of fans have always wanted to ask. The answers will surprise and delight as ROBBIE CONFIDENTIAL chronicles the triumphs and disasters of an unlikely lad from Stoke on Trent on the rocky path to his unrivalled position as the nation's number one entertainer Despite his celebrity profile, the real Robert Peter Williams has remained an enigma. Using exhaustive research and exclusive interviews, author Sean Smith examines the many stages in Robbie's life and career and reveals how he became the superstar he is today. ROBBIE CONFIDENTIAL, fully illustrated, will be the must have music book of the year.




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He has just signed a multi-million pound record deal. He attracts millions of adoring fans and has been associated with glamorous female celebrities. He is the undisputed king of pop and is never out of the limelight. This book reveals the inside information on the real Robbie Williams.



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Cliff Richard has been a musical icon for more than four decades, indeed it is impossible to think of any British entertainer who has spanned the years and the generations and had more hits all over the world than this unique and much-loved man.

In this colourful celebration of his first forty years at the top - now updated to include the events and photographs from his fortieth year celebrations - Sir Cliff tells his story. From the very early years of Cliff and the Drifters, the young Cliff knew that he wanted to be a singer with a difference. The first true British rock'n'roll star, fame was as sudden as it was unexpected for the young teenager, but the excitement and joy that it brought with it has never left him - and neither have his millions of fans worldwide.

Born Harry Webb in Lucknow, India, in October 1940, Cliff Richard signed his first record contract in 1958 and quite simply never looked back. In a few short years he had become every young girl's dream, quickly rising to become a film star in such classics as Expresso Bongo and Summer Holiday. Television brought him into the living rooms - and hearts - of millions more fans, and his tours and shows have been hits the world over.

In Cliff Richard: A Celebration, he talks movingly about those early days and the influences that shaped him. He talks about how his deep faith has made him even as the years go by and he talks about his fans and the strength they give him at his consistently sold-out concerts all over the world.

A consummate entertainer, in this unique book, lavishly illustrated with fabulous colour and black and white photographs, Cliff answers the questions that all his fans want to ask him. It is an extraordinary celebration of a brilliant career.




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"Shang-A-Lang" is the personal story of the rise and fall of the Bay City Rollers. A no-holds-barred account of Rollermania and beyond, the book provides a candid insight into the less savoury aspects of the music industry. In 1973, at the age of 18, Les McKeown became the lead singer of the Bay City Rollers, at that stage a one-hit-wonder pop group on the verge of giving up. His charismatic personality transformed the Rollers into an international super-group and, over the next few years, they consistently reached Number 1 all over the world, selling an estimated 300 million records and gaining a massive following. McKeown was the catalyst for worldwide mass hysteria not witnessed since the days of Beatlemania. By 1975 he was the most adored man on the planet. Four years later he was all washed up, homeless and penniless after quitting the band. "Shang-A-Lang" reveals the fascinating story of the lad from the back streets of Edinburgh whose dream came true, and how that dream was shattered. It tells the truth about the scandalous behaviour of the boy band marketed as squeaky clean, the wrangles that led to Les leaving the band, and traces his subsequent solo career. Les McKeown's life has been one of contrasting extremes: immense wealth followed by near destitution; mass adoration on the one hand and contempt on the other. He lived in a world where fantasy and reality come together and it is sometimes hard to distinguish one from the other. "Shang-A-Lang" takes a revealing journey through the many ups and downs in the life of one of the music industry's bona fide survivors. more>>

From Spice Girl to one half of the most glamorous couple in the world - this is the unauthorized biography of Victoria Beckham. It reveals secrets from old boyfriends to wild nights. more>>

This title collects together Marilyn Manson's thoughts on everything from drugs to religion, makeup to glam rock, using his own words to portray a complex personality whose fans are willing to defy convention and parental authority to follow him more>>

Scotland on Sunday·
‘...sensational: burning ambition, clashing egos, onstage epileptic seizures, deranged groupies, great albums, the birth and death of Sixties idealism.
Noel Gallagher - NME
'I've been reading this biography of Neil Young called Shakey and it's changed my life, man.'
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This title draws on unpublished information and rare photographs of the legendary band that outsold all others. The book features analysis of the careers of Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham as well as transcripts of conversations recorded in the studio. Also included is a full international discography, bibliography and complete concert listings. more>>

This is a great book for fans of the greatest prog rock band ever. by collecting excerpts from various interviews down the years, the book gives insights into the making of each of the band's albums, plus thoughts about live performance, and what the band members have said about each other. digs deeper than the authorised biography - plenty of amusing/interesting stuff more>>

The career of Genesis is covered from the late 60s up to the present day. There is a great deal of background information about the groups songs (who was responsible for what etc..) Comprehensive details about recording sessions and the live shows are also included as well as set lists for each tour. I have read a couple of other books about the group but, much to my surprise, I still found out quite a number of facts which were new to me. For instance, I think this is the first book to go into detail about Mick Barnard (the guitarist between Ant Phillips and Steve Hackett) The photographs of record sleeves and memorabilia add to the attractiveness and interest of this book. In conclusion, an extremely enjoyable read which is to be recommended for any Genesis fan.
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Released to coincide with Jethro Tull's 35th Anniversary (2003), this pocket-sized reference book looks at this legendary rock band and analyses its place in pop music history. Looking at each and every Jethro Tull album from a comprehensive perspective, plus concert trivia and biographical information and a look at the solo careers of band members past and present, this book for both the casual and hard-core fan offers insights that will enhance one's listening pleasure. more>>

Since childhood, Jewel has turned to her own short stories, vivid narratives, and starkly honest writings to revisit the past, chronicle the many characters she's encountered, and trace the intricate, unpredictable patterns of her days. In CHASING DOWN THE DAWN, recording artist, actress, and best-selling author Jewel opens her intimate journals to create a vivid montage of the people, places, relationships, and passages that coloured the life she came from and marked the last magical, turbulent, and ultimately transformational year. Drawn from her remarkable chronicle of life on the road during the Spirit World Tour, this unforgettable collection of freeze-frames captures unusual images from Jewel's childhood in Alaska, her beginnings as a struggling artist, and her challenges as a daughter, sister, and woman. Jewel paints an unblinkingly honest picture of the exceptional journey that carried her to the world's stage. Here, as if pulled from a stack of snapshots, are Jewel's moment-by-moment observations on life as she now lives it: the pleasure of sold-out performances and the pressures of her industry...the sweetness of love and bitterness of loss...friendship, freedom, and the small miracles we ourselves create. And here - in a book that allows the reader a rare glimpse of life's turning points as if viewed from over the author's shoulder - are Jewel's deeply personal insights on the events that shaped her understanding: her parents' divorce, her experience of poverty, the healing of her difficult relationship with her father, and the development of her unique talent.



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Vivian Stanshall, artist, musician, comic, broadcaster and all-round oddball, was a genuine English eccentric. Lucian Welsh and Chris Randall's Ginger Geezer: The Life of Vivian Stanshall is an attempt to unravel the tragic story of this enigmatic and idiosyncratic man. Stanshall, blessed with a forest of red hair, an excess of energy and an urge to shock, formed the Bonzo Dog Band just after art school. The band, who began life as a humorous trad jazz combo, evolved into the perfect vehicle for his many talents. Combining the best elements of cabaret, jazz, rock, performance art and musical hall comedy, the Bonzos gained critical acclaim and commercial success. The pressures of touring and the usual personal differences caused the band to implode at the end of the 1960s. Although they reformed intermittently, Stanshall never produced a consistent body of work again. Flashes of brilliance did occur: solo albums, a comic radio masterpiece Sir Henry at Rawlinson's End (later unsuccessfully filmed) and several songs co-written with Stevie Winwood all bear witness to this. Unfortunately alcohol, valium and his own mercurial nature prevented him from realising his full potential. Much of the 1970s were spent in a haze, often creating questionable drunken mayhem with fellow boozer Keith Moon of the Who--the pair once paraded through Soho dressed as Nazis.
His dulcet tones however, were much in demand. Eloquently described here by friend and admirer Stephen Fry as "a Dundee Cake of a voice, astoundingly deep, rich and fruity", Stanshall graced Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and the Damned's Lovely Money. In later life voiceover and advertising work provided him (briefly) with a lucrative income. Vivian was never able to stay of the bottle for long and the offers slowly dried up. With friends and family alarmed by his drinking, Stanshall sought the company of street drinkers near his Muswell Hill flat. These new friends robbed him of many of his prize possessions and enjoyed drinking at his expense. In 1995, after one such session he died in a fire at his home. Randall and Welsh clearly love Stanshall but their book never quite gets to grip with their flamboyant subject. It is shoddily arranged--details are confused and there are many infuriating repetitions. Much of the writing is workmanlike at best. They seem torn between creating an oral history from the reminiscences of his many friends and writing a proper "authorial" biography. Despite this, in celebrating his unique genius they do succeed in reminding us what a sorry loss his premature departure was
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This is the tragic true story of Michael Hutchence by the women who knew him best. Since the November day in 1997 when Michael's death in a Sydney hotel room became world-wide news, his mother and sister have read tales spun by journalists, lovers and business associates, people who only knew him for a fraction of his 37 years, if at all. These stories tell of the notorious highs and lows of Michael the superstar, and of the doting, but unconventional, father of Tiger Lily. This intimate biography aims to set the record straight, introducing the reader to Michael the talented child, the gifted teen, and the young adult, whose glamorous girlfriends - including Kylie Minogue, Helena Christensen and Paula Yates - confided in his mother and sister. more>>

Everything you want, need, hope and need to know. The ups and downs the rights and wrongs. The book is put together excellently with various contributors (all employees or ex-employees of VIBE Magazine.) Get an insight to tupac's thoughts and predictions find the true meaning behind his songs. Some love him, some hate him. Whether you love or hate, this book is still a great addition to your shelf. Along with the great writings of the book there are also many great pictures of 2pac. Holla if you hear me!
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'A classic tale of sex, drugs, rock 'n'roll and more drugs ... amusing, entertaining and compelling' more>>

The story they tried to ban from the courts can now be told. In the second edition of this book, Wolfgand Flur, the drummer in seminal electronic band Kraftwerk, recounts the complete story of his musical life. The original edition had to be drastically cut at the 11th hour due to legal action from the other members of the band, but having won this legal dispute, Wolfgang can at last tell the complete story of Kraftwerk and the major part he played in the band's worldwide success. more>>

John Peel
The Nice will be here when all the others are in Pantomime in Wolverhampton ... Their influences are many, but they are indebted to no one.
Virgin Encyclopedia of 60s Music
Much of what Emerson later achieved with the huge success of Emerson, Lake and Palmer should be credited to the brief but valuable career of The Nice




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A collection of the author's writings from 1989 to 1991, including "124 Worlds," "Exhaustion Blues," "Monster," and "61 Dreams". more>>

This excellent book offers a biography of Blondie from the best possible perspective - through the eyes of Debbie Harry herself. As well as charting the band's rise to fame in great detail, it is full of annecdotes which add real depth and authenticity to the text, such as the one about Debbie's car nearly being towed away early one morning. Many other early New York punk bands are mentioned, and it is interesting to read about Blondie's friendships and rivalries with them. As well as fantastic text, the book boasts a huge number of great photos, some of which are in full colour. more>>

Emerging from the potent musical legacy of Nirvana and the emotional fallout of Kurt Cobain's suicide, the Foo Fighters established themselves - against all the odds - as one of the most popular rock bands in the world. Deflecting early critical disdain, Dave Grohl has single-handedly reinvented himself and cemented his place in the rock pantheon. This is his story, from his pre-Nirvana days in hardcore band Scream to his current festival-conquering status as grammy-winning, platinum-selling grunge legend reborn. Across the five Foo Fighters albums, the whole sordid yet legendary Nirvana tale, the pre-history in the nascent Seattle scene and right up to date via Grohl's flirtations with bands such as Queens of the Stone Age, this is a comprehensive chronicle of Dave Grohl's remarkable life. more>>

A year-by-year visual record of the group Queen, updated to the death of their lead singer Freddie Mercury. more>>

Ozzy Osbourne has always been able to give as good as he gets, seemingly oblivious to nasty band break-ups, rip-offs, alcoholism and even a reputation for eating live animals in public. Yet somehow Ozzy, ever invincible, comes up smiling. Nowadays, he's a hero to millions of metal boys, the patron of Ozzfest, and miraculously, still standing tall and proud. Here's Ozzy's own take on everything, from the Birmingham slaughterhouse through Black Sabbath to his solo career and Ozzfest, in his own inimitable words. more>>

The legendary Frank Zappa, one of the most influential, innovative and controversial musical artists for the past 20 years, takes us on a wild, funny trip through his life and times. Along the way, Zappa offers his inimitable views on many things such as art, politics and beer more>>

As lead singer of Australian pop and folk group The Seekers, Judith Durham was one of the most famous people in the music world in the mid 60s. Through her solo career and more recently the world tour of the reunited group, she maintains a successful career as she enters her 60th year. "Hey There Georgy Girl" reached number one in both the UK and the USA and The Seekers had four more massive hits in the UK with "I'll Never Find Another You", "A World Of Our Own", "The Carnival Is Over" and "Morningtown Ride". They were voted "Best New Group Of 1965" by the readers of the New Musical Express, and Judith made national headlines when she left the group to go solo. More than a straightforward music biography, Judith tells the story of her ultimately tragic marriage to her fellow musician Ron Edgeworth and how amid the euphoria of her public life she lived with the knowledge that he was fatally ill with motor neurone disease. Although Ron lost his battle against the disease in December 1994, he will always be, for Judith, a symbol of immense strength and courage. Since his death, Judith has spent hours and days of her life dedicated to raising money to fight this illness and for this as much as her musical success she was rewarded in the Queen's New Year Honours List of 1995. Meantime her career has gone from strength to strength both in the UK and in Australia more>>

Will Self
'Like a plangent wah-wah guitar chord, this book bends the Syd myth in new and exciting ways.'
Tatler
'The best evocation of the sixties I've ever read.' more>>

The inspirational autobiography by one of the most fascinating figures in the music industry. This is the unconventional and inspirational autobiography reflecting the many facets of Goldie's life. Cult-status graffiti artist, hip-hop icon, DJ, actor and producer, Goldie is a total original who succeeded in nurturing an extraordinary talent despite a highly damaged childhood. Brought up in a series of foster homes and institutions in the west Midlands, Goldie was neglected and abused for years. He turned to a life of crime in his teenage years, and became a burglar and safe-cracker with a serious drug problem. But he was also an artist on the rise, instinctively tapping into his unrestrained creativity. Through his own label he has produced and mixed bands such as the Fugees, Garbage, the Stone Roses and Pat Metheny. Madonna chose him to DJ at her comeback gig in London in November 1999. Goldie is now also an actor, appearing in a Bond film, Guy Ritchie's 'Snatch' and 'EastEnders'. This book is written in collaboration with Paul Gorman, a highly respected music journalist. more>>

Featuring an in-depth study of how Sylvian formed the group Japan and how the band broke up at the height of their career, this biography features full album reviews and 16 pages of photographs. Revised and updated it also provides an overview of Sylvian's philosophical views. more>>

When the young Keith Moon was beating the tar out of his drum-kit in Shepherd's Bush in 1964 it would have been unthinkable that this sparky little mod kid would have been the subject of a door- stopping 500-page biography. But young Keith soon mutated into Moon the Loon and joined the pantheon of legendary rock and roll wild men who lived fast and died young and 500 pages now seems the minimum space needed to cover his many excesses.
Tony Fletcher has drawn heavily on interviews with Moon's wife, his sister and his girlfriend for the last eight years of his life. Oliver Reed, Alice Cooper, and Larry Hagman also have their say and the picture that emerges is of a man whose outrageous antics sprung from an absurdly over- generous personality. The drink, the drugs and the trashed hotel rooms are all splendidly chronicled as is the music. His drug-fuelled demise is not a pretty sight but Moon had always walked the walk and so the fact that, unlike the other members of The Who, he actually did die before he got old, ultimately comes as no surprise
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Anyone who loves Jewel is going to love this book because it give so many facts about her life and it shows that not everyone starts out with a road paved in gold.you have got to take chances to get where you want to go.

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This unique, bestselling series now incorporates over 25 titles. Features quotes gathered over the years from family, friends and the artists themselves giving the reader a personal insight into their music and world. Fully illustrated throughout with black and white photographs.



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The biography of the late, great self-made Essex lad, Ian Dury. For this book Dury co-operated with author Richard Balls who has produced a vivid portrait, illustrated with many photographs from private collections. more>>

While the Mick Jagger of today drips with millions and seems to have become a member of the aristocratic establishment, there was once a time when he and his fellow Rolling Stones were rebels every bit as anti-establishment as the Sex Pistols. Jailed for drug possession and demonized by the very establishment that now claims Mick as one of their own, the Stones have let slip their true feelings on many occasions, and this book aims to catch these off guard moments, unearthing statements and interviews long forgotten. It examines history as it was being made, rediscovering unguarded and often indiscreet comments and frank opinions that might later have been denied altogether. This is verbal documentary laced with the authentic flavour of the rebellious Rolling Stones in their heyday, the craziness that surrounded Mick and Keith and their disintegrating companion Brian Jones, the Stone who died from overexposure to everything the Sixties could offer. more>>

The relationship between Freddie Mercury and Jim Hutton evolved over several months in 1984 and 1985. Even when they first slept together Button had no idea who Mercury was, and when the star told him his name it meant nothing to him. Hutton worked as a barber at the Savoy Hotel and retained his job and his lodgings in Sutton, Surrey, for two years after moving in with Mercury, and then worked as his gardener. He was never fully assimilated into Mercury's jet-setting lifestyle, nor did he want to be, but from 1985 until Mercury's death in 1991 he was closer to him than anyone and knew all Mercury's closest friends: the other members of Queen, Elton John, David Bowie, Phil Collins to name a few. Ever present at the countless Sunday lunch gatherings and opulent parties, Hutton has a wealth of anecdotes about as well as a deep understanding of, Mercury's life. He also nursed Mercury through his terminal illness, often held him throughout the night in his final weeks, and was with him as he died. No one can tell the story of the last few years of Mercury's private life - the ecstasies and the agonies - more accurately or honestly than Jim Hutton. more>>

As pop culture spirals into a banal, self-replicating, self-referencing morass, we seem increasingly to look back to the days when it meant something--when a new LP (ask your parents) might not only mean 30-odd minutes of music, but a whole new way of looking at the world and at yourself. Those were the days of David Bowie, whose near five-decade career is now the subject of David Buckley's new "definitive story".
Strange Fascination started life as a PhD, but it happily lacks the professionalised jargon that might bring with it. Where its critical credentials show is in Buckley's careful attempt to separate out the media "fictive" version of David Bowie--a version which, as he rightly claims, has been wilfully conflated with what Bowie's "really like" by past biographers. Mind you, that's hardly the biographers' fault: Bowie was, and remains, one of the most adept of self-inventors, whose legacy of fully formed personae reveals Madonna's much-vaunted image changes for what they are--"looks", superficial fashion tweakings that never aspired to the wholesale self-fashioning Bowie went in for. (Buckley is strangely unfascinated by recent rumours that Bowie's latest remodelling is more than skin-deep).

Buckley's passion for the man is undeniable, and perhaps misleads him on occasion. While there's no doubting Bowie's past popularity and influence, Buckley might not find many takers for his pronouncements that "Bowie is once again one of the most revered artists in contemporary music" and "nothing short of the first anti-hero of the 21st century". In fact, what comes across most strongly from Buckley's own account is the sheer length of Bowie's career, which means that his most marked influence was on a generation of artists who are themselves now approaching middle-age.

Nicely illustrated, and with some useful "documents" to encourage further study, Buckley's book won't please all Bowie fans, but it's an intelligent and thorough addition to a field that will grow and grow; Serious Bowie Studies.
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Published to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Elvis' death, this 608 page book is a pictorial tribute to this rock and roll legend. It features archive images, news photographs, movie stills and rare memorabilia from the Elvis Presley Estate in Graceland. more>>

The definitive biography of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards more>>

The story of Eric Clapton, the million-selling, Grammy award-winning blues guitarist and singer. This biography looks at the tragedy underlying the acclaim in Clapton's life, exploring his heroin addiction in the 1970s, alcoholism in the 1980s, his divorce from Pattie Boyd and the death of his son.
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The only definitive biography of Jeff Beck - the groundbreaking guitarist who changed the sound of rock music in 1965 and still pushes its boundaries today. Jeff Beck has been reinventing psychedelic rock, heavy metal, jazz-rock, and more for 35 years. In fact, it was Beck's pioneering guitar work in the mid-'60s that yielded effects and techniques usually associated with such legends as Jimi Hendrix: feedback, distortion, modal scales, two-handed fretting, the voice box, and creating melody with harmonics and the whammy bar. This well-researched portrait reflects Beck's astonishing achievements within the musical landscape of the times, and explains his renowned disregard for artistic trends and stylistic conventions. Exploring his incarnations before and with the Yardbirds, the Jeff Beck Group and beyond, the book reveals Beck's relationships with Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Rod Stewart, the Rolling Stones, and many other great musicians. An in-depth musical and personal exploration, it describes Beck's favorite guitars and uncanny techniques, passion for hot rods and rockabilly, collaborations ranging from Donovan to Tina Turner, landmark solo and instrumental work, love of animals, and more.



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Select Magazine
"With the fifth anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death just weeks away, The Cobain Dossier reminds you why we've bothered keeping count." 4 out 5
Heat Magazine
"Editor Martin Clarke has selected each article with care: they're biographical, factual, theoretical, even extreme. Each piece is like a jigsaw - by the end of the book you have a bigger picture"




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Yes: Perpetual Change: Thirty Years of Yes is a visual documentary, illustrated with over 300 pictures and photographs, which traces Yes’ history from 1968 to the present day. Originally producing 60s pop/rock, their music has evolved over the years, introducing electric and classical influences to produce the unique prog rock sound of Yes. Combining biography, memorabilia, a complete list of tour dates, set lists, album details and bootleg information, this is the most complete book ever published on the band.



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Anne Hoppus, sister of bassist Mark Hoppus, has got together with rock band Blink-182 and produced their official biography - Blink-182: Tales From Beneath Your Mom. The biography spans from the band's early days jamming in Tom's garage, to becoming MTV favourites and touring the globe. It is packed with candid, previously unseen photos of the band day to day, plus accounts of their antics behind the scenes, and their own take on life and success. Nu-Metal is part of a new wave of music storming the charts. And Blink-182, prime exponents of this antidote to contrived boy bands and sugar-sweet pop, are riding the crest of the wave. Their music, combined with a skate-punk demeanour and a resoundingly juvenile sense of humour, has endeared the self-professed 'loserkids' to millions across the world. Blink-182: Tales From Beneath Your Mom will delight the band's many legions of fans, while providing an insight into an unprecedented musical phenomenon.1



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It's all here: the council estate childhood, the formation of the Spice Girls, the early months being groomed for stardom, the subsequent global domination, Geri's departure, the marriage - and acrimonious divorce - to Jimmy Gulzar, the birth of Phoenix Chi, the solo career and the leap into TV presenting. Not bad for the rebellious, mixed-up girl from Leeds who is still only in her mid-20s. Born to a working-class mixed-race family from Leeds (her mother took extra work cleaning toilets to pay for her dancing lessons), Melanie B grew up feeling different from her schoolfriends. Her hyperactive energy was channelled into drama school, and in 1994 the Spice Girls were formed. The rest is history.




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Provides a chronology of the career progression and biographical information about the members of the alternative metal band from Southern California more>>

A track-by-track assessment of all of Harrison's work as a Beatle and a solo artist. This is both a celebration and a fitting memorial to the consummate musician who lay so long in the shadow of activist Lennon and entertainer McCartney. Includes a complete Harrison discography more>>

This biography delves beneath the myth to reveal story of "The Byrds". It features interviews with all the original members, plus producers, managers, publicists, groupies and scene setters. Songs released by the band include "Mr Tamborine Man" and "So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star". more>>

So much has now been said and written about the life and career of Michael Jackson that it has become almost impossible to disentangle the man from the myth. Rumours abound; his own statements often fail to clarify controversial issues. The truth may be stranger than any fiction, such is the uniqueness of the world in which he lives, and his vision of the world. Recent revelations are of course only the latest instalments of a saga that began decades ago, and simply add more twists to an already-tangled family epic. This book is the fruit of over 30 years of research and intimate knowledge, and hundreds of interviews, including some with Jackson himself, provide access to the very closest circles of the Jackson family and their associates. Cutting through tabloid rumours and innuendo, J. Randy Taraborrelli traces the real story behind the Michael Jackson we see and hear today, from his drilling as a child star through the blooming of his talent to his ever-changing personal appearance and bizarre publicity stunts. This biography includes the behind-the-scenes story to many of the landmarks in Jackson's life: his legal and commercial battles, his marriages, his passions and addictions, his children more>>

"We believed anything worth doing was worth overdoing." Those words are spoken from the famous mouth of the ever talkative, ever charismatic Steven Tyler, frontman of the East Coast rock band, Aerosmith. Indeed, that seems to be the underlying current of thought running through the pages of the recently released autobiography, Walk This Way. Overindulgence is an understatement for these Boston Bad Boys. Why then, should their ever faithful "Blue Army" of fans be any different? Aerosmith is a potent drug themselves. They keep you wheedling for more, whether it be a dying thirst for their exciting, blues-influenced brand of rock, to the ache of withdrawal you feel when they're not breezing into your nearest town with one of their awesome live shows. Once you get hooked, you can't even pick up their massive autobiography and be able to put it down, even when going back for seconds.

Walk This Way is a surprising expose from five guys who knew the story best -- Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, and Joey Kramer -- the guys who lived through it. To fill in the gaps of consciousness are wives, ex-wives, managers, roadies, friends, and peers from the entertainment field.

The journey of Walk This Way takes you back to Tallahassee, sort to speak. It starts where it should: from the beginning, from the childhood years of all five guys in the band, their family background, and their influences that helped pave the way for their musical direction. It portrays their struggles, their frustrations, their hopes and ambitions, and even their starry-eyed dreams. Even Steven Tyler, as a young lad, had his idols as he sat for hours in front of hotels to meet the members of The Rolling Stones -- much like his fans do today. The journey called Aerosmith is one full of clouds, full of bumps, full of fights, full of brotherhood, full of triumph, and full of ideals and goals. The book takes you through the pages of history when Aerosmith got their first record deal with their self titled album, and through their second, Get Your Wings, as a band trying to make their mark in the rock and roll universe. It takes you through their countless determination in building a following by playing club after club, and being persistent. It takes you through their first big taste of success when their next two albums, Toys In The Attic and Rocks hit the public smack in the head. Suddenly they were somebody and success, money and fame walked right into their door.

Along with that fame and success came a slow destruction that was caused by the excesses of life: drugs, drinking, women, and endless touring and being on the road. The devil of drugs started to play puppet master with the band, causing what appeared to be a slow and imminent death of a band that had the chance to be destined for greatness. This cancer took hold when Draw The Line was made, and escalated during the making of Night In The Ruts. A wedge was finally driven between the two soul brothers of the band, Steven Tyler, and guitarist Joe Perry. Joe left in the middle of recording NITR. The fighting, the drugs, and the band members significant others, pried the band apart, leaving their fans wondering if rock and roll would ever be the same.

Joe Perry branched out on his own, forming the Joe Perry Project, and releasing two cult hit records, Let The Music Do The Talking and I've Got The Rock 'N' Rolls Again. Aerosmith plunged on and started recording Rock In A Hard Place when Brad Whitford decided to leave the fold. The band continued to crash and burn, losing money, cars, their homes, and their relationships.

Aerosmith hit bottom and seemed to be continuing on their path of destruction when the members of the band seemed to get brought together again. Joe Perry and Brad Whitford returned, along with a new manager, Tim Collins. Trying to clean up their act, they recorded their next album, Done With Mirrors, which didn't make as much noise as it should have.

It wasn't until the release of Permanent Vacation and a commitment to a sober lifestyle by all parties involved that caused Aerosmith to rise from the ashes. They were back with a vengeance with the biggest album of their career, and continued thereafter to hit the concert trails and reach even higher numbers on the charts with the release of their next two albums, Pump and Get A Grip. There was a new Aerosmith on the rise, and they were going to steamroll anyone who got in their way. The born-again Boston Bad Boys were newly sober and loving life, and the world embraced them. The last chapter winds up at the present, with their current tour and release of Nine Lives, as they continue their successful jaunt.

This book is more than a book about the drugs and the women. It is more than a book about the fame, the money, and losing it all. It digs deeper than the tantrums, the in-fighting, the "business" part of the entertainment field, and the distrust. This book covers all of that, but it has a deeper message. The pain, the struggle, the love for music that brought these five very different personalities together like brothers, and the inspirations that drove them first to the top of the world, and then to the bottom of hell, then back up to an even higher plateau . . . all of that is here in black and white. It's a frank, honest, sometimes amusing, and sometimes painful story about how each member thinks and what makes each of them tick. It is written in such a way that their personalities burn through each page. It lets you peek in on their hopes and dreams. Most of all, it is a book about survival. Aerosmith survived when others didn't. While they indeed fell as many of their peers had, it wasn't a final fall for them, and they got back up. Today, they are still standing, while others didn't get a second chance once they fell. That, I believe, is the crux of what makes Aerosmith tick. Not many lived through what they have and still be around to tell their story. With a nod of thanks in having nine lives, these five men are still on their journey, meeting their destinations a little at a time, but never stopping too long to miss the train. May they continue down that road of magic called music for a long time to come, continuing to win the smiles of millions along the way who have felt some happiness because of them.
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This is an account of the fascinating and troubled life of Pete Townsend, the innovative guitarist of The Who. In the book, Giuliano interviews fellow musicians and Townshend himself, who describe the excesses and indulgences of the rock star's life. From Townshend's early childhood as the son of a sexually voracious mother to his devotion to the Indian mystic Meher Baba, this is the story of a man of a man looking back, forward and in the mirror.



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MOON is the best way to understand what the wildest man in rock did, and why. Fletcher's account of Moon's day-to-day life, which includes a history of the WHO, is very entertaining, and is the kind of book, that once you start it, you won't want to put it down...it also makes you want to get all the video and music of WHO to listen and see for yourself what you're reading about!!! Great book!
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A fantastic book for anybody who loves Justin Timberlake. Filled with loads of brilliant facts about him, his past and his future. It also gives detailed accounts of when he was younger and growing up with the other guys of N Sync since he was 14. It includes lots of gorgeous pictures of him on his own and is definitely worth the money. A treat for anybody who wants to learn more about the star.
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Richard Barnes, close friend of the Who for over 30 years, presents an intimate story of the group. A polychromatic pictorial joyride, it includes over 400 photographs, press cuttings, and posters, as well as complete US and UK discographies. This fully updated edition now runs from the bands earliest days up to the recent Broadway and London stagings of rock opera Tommy. With a new introduction by Pete Townsend more>>

The life and music of Iceland's Björk Gudmundsdottir, from her origins as a burgeoning child star and her days spent training on the battleground of Iceland's notoriously seditious punk scene to her eventual emergence as one of pop music's pioneering figures, are explored in this comprehensive biography. Punk extremist, teenage mother, fashion iconoclast, fierce independent, emotional conduit, feminist antihero, reluctant actress, unabashed music geek, and lover-no side of the complex artist is left unexamined. Described are Björk's merging of naturalism with technology, self-empowerment with unflinching vulnerability, and elements of avant-garde and experimental music with her own irrefutably unique sensibilities. Containing a detailed songbook and more than 30 exclusive interviews with close family members, past band mates, and frequent collaborators, this is an exhaustive and revealing look at the life, music, and philosophy of one of modern music's most compelling innovators. more>>

This book begins with an honest declaration that this work is not meant to serve as an authoritative biography about Björk, but more about the author's recent discovery and apprecitation of her music... this turns out to be far more interesting.
What emerges is a wonderfully warm and personal account of why Björk is such an influencial and necessary part of our collective musical landscape.
A re-occurring emphasis on spontaneity over procedure and emotion over reason is immediately evident in the writer's style, as it is in Björk's music and life-philosophy.
By the end of the book the author seems to have found in Björk a true soul-mate, someone else who is willing to sound a war-cry against all that is mediocre and bland. A real recognition that 'Good taste is the enemy of creativity'. more>>

"Bruce Springsteen: Two Hearts" is the definitive biography of one of the most important songwriters and performers of the last three decades. Critic Dave Marsh has traced Springsteen's career from its beginning, and has earned the singer's respect through his careful documentation and critical description of his work. This biography brings together for the first time Marsh's two previous biographies, "Born To Run" (which covered Springsteen's early career through the mid-1970s) and "Glory Days" (which took him through the mid-1980s). Both were widely praised for their insightful and near definitive coverage of Springsteen's life and music. For this book, Marsh has written a new chapter covering major developments in Springsteen's career to 2003, particularly focusing on his album "The Rising" and its impact on American culture. more>>

With the release of their third album this autumn, Blue will firmly cement themselves as the nation's favourite band. A sell-out tour will commence in November and the band will be seen by over 300,000 people.
With album sales now in excess of 2.5million copies in the UK alone, numberous Top 10 singles and multiple awards including two Brits, Blue have more than proved themselves to be something more than a fleeting boy band phenomenon.
This book follows the boys thougout their 2003 promotional tour around the world. Featuring exclusive interviews, new photographs and behind the scenes interviews and information, this book will please all the many fans they have.
This behind-the-scenes guide to life on the road with Blue will show just what goes into a live performance, how they gear up for their latest 2004 tour with exclusive access to their rehearsals and what they really talk about on the tour bus!



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Authoritative biography of Robbie Williams telling the definitive story of his phenomenal journey to the top covering his childhood in Stoke-on-Trent, his boy band years with Take That, his battle with drink and drugs, his often-troubled love life and how he continues to be tormented by the demons that have shaped and driven him, to his current position as the undisputed King of Pop with a record-breaking [pound]80 million deal with EMI, the biggest ever in British recording history. This will be a must-have book for all Robbie fans worldwide. more>>

"Having been a songwriter most of my life, condensing my ideas and emotions into short rhyming couplets and setting them to music, I had never really considered writing a book, but upon arriving at the reflective age of fifty,I found myself drawn, for the first time, to write long passages that were as stimulating and intriguing to me as any songwriting I had ever done. And so 'Broken Music' began to take shape. It is a book about the early part of my life, from childhood through adolescence, right up to the eve of my success with the Police. It is a story very few people know. I had no interest in writing a traditional autobiographical recitation of everything that's ever happened to me. Instead I was drawn to exploring specific moments, certain people and relationships, and particular events which still resonate powerfully for me as I try to understand the child I was, and the man I became." STING more>>

Sting is one of the biggest rock stars in the world. Revered by fans, loved by critics, his albums sell in their millions and he has been assured a place in the list of rock music all-time greats. This biography gets straight to the heart of the man behind the public image of this secretive man, revealing aspects of his life that are seldom glimpsed in the media - his difficult relationship with actress Trudi Styler and his acting pursuits. It also reveals the truth about his high profile passion for the environment. more>>

A good insight into the music industry and how tough it is not just as an artist but behind the scenes as well.simon comes across as a decent bloke not as Mr Nasty ,and theres
comments on all aspects of the pop idol process .A thoroughly good read,you will want to read it in one go.

Heat
"zesty account of his life...it's got all the fun stuff"
Daily Mirror
"It's impossible not to be engrossed...(he)comes across as you'd expect - arrogant, egotistical, opinionated...and totally magnetic"





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Daniel O'Donnell bestselling autobiography is now fully revised and updated with the wealth of new information his fans have been waiting for - including a spectacular account of his star-studded wedding in 2002, and his remarkable success worldwide, breaking Australia and the USA.

From humble origins in the small Irish fishing village of Kincasslagh, County Donegal, to his painful breakdown, subsequent recovery, marriage and now worldwide success, Daniel charts his ups and downs with distinctive charm, modesty and candidness.

Dedicated to bringing happiness to his hundreds of thousands of loyal fans, Daniel shares his most intimate thoughts on real life behind the headlines, his unchanging faith, charity work and love for his new wife.

Daniel O'Donnell is one of the best-loved singers in the world. Sky Television even went 'live' to the church for 15 minutes to cover his wedding ceremony! Hardworking as ever, he has added to his popularity not only in the UK where he has just had huge success with his album 'Daniel In Blue Jeans', but now in Australia and the USA.

Daniel O'Donnell is a very special kind of artist and a true superstar. This latest edition will appeal to both the fans who bought the first time around and the multitude of friends he has made over the last four years.
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A unique authorised celebration of the life and work of John Lennon with a CD and rare removable memorabilia more>>

Keith Richards is the legendary rock'n'roll survivor of our time. He's the shy, half-educated boy from Dartford; the player and writer of timeless rock classics like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "Ruby Tuesday" and "Brown Sugar", among scores of others; the titanic abuser of every conceivable drug; a cultural icon to three generations of fans; and latterly a contented family man who continues, nonetheless, to be rock's most indomitable living practitioner. The man who was confidently expected never to reach 30 celebrates his 60th birthday in December 2003 and the Rolling Stones' touring machine is creaking into gear once more. But who is the real Keith behind the kohl-eyed image? In this penetrative and entertaining portrait, Sandford reveals a life of brilliant invention, of talent, self-destruction, drugs, sex and lurid excess, and above all the glorious rush of the music. more>>

An account of the life and career of Rod Stewart. Since turning 50, life has been as turbulent for him as ever: marriage to Rachel; two children; divorce; a serious cancer scare; more albums released and concerts given; singing for the Queen at the Jubilee concert; and a new blonde on his arm, Penny Lancaster. Tim Ewbank and Stafford Hildred have been tracking Rod's life for many years, right from the early days of Faces. For this biography they have spoken to many of the important influences in his life, including past loves Bebe Ruell, Britt Ekland and Rachel Hunter. more>>

Set against the backdrop of the mid-1970s, with Britain in crisis, this biography revisits the life and times of The Faces, and the rise and fall of one of the greatest British bands of all time. Born of the ashes of the legendary 60s band, the Small Faces, they were truly a people's band.
Jim Melly is lecturer in pop culture and modern British culture at the University of North London. After acting as an advisor to the Irish Labour Party he moved into sports journalism in the mid-90s as editor of Inside Edge magazine. He has written for the New Statesman and has had his work included in two sport anthologies Nothing Sacred (1995) and Through The Covers (1996). He was also a minor pop star in his own right as lead singer in indie group My Jealous God. more>>

A lavishly designed and produced collector’s item, this will reveal the real Martine McCutcheon, told in her own words and pictures.

This title should provide a unique insight into Martine's world. Her career has gone from strength to strength in the last few years and this book should reflect its blossoming as she records a new album and stars in the next Richard Curtis film, co-starring Hugh Grant. A mixture of text, photos, diary entries and faxes, this large-format book should be both intimate and revealing. From paparazzi pictures, to Martine's own Polaroids, to shots by cutting-edge photographer McVirn Etienne, the photographs should be unique.




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'Who does she think she is?' is something Martine has heard people say about her all her life. Born into the poorest and least-promising background and with only a loving mother's support to help her, Martine has dared to follow her dreams of stardom and has achieved more in her twenty-four years than most of those who turned their noses up at her achieve in a lifetime. It's a story that includes a life on the run from a violent father, drink, drugs and even an attempted murder that filled her childhood with fear; her early attempts at pop stardom and first loves, plus dates with Matt Goss and Mick Hucknall; her big break in EastEnders, and the shocking story of how she really came to leave the series. Martine's story ends with today's triumphs over the tragedies of her life: the number one and platinum-selling singles and album, the starring roles in a new television series, a feature film and in My Fair Lady at The National Theatre. The British public have taken Martine McCutcheon to their hearts - she is 'one of us' - and her life story is an inspiration to anyone born without any apparent advantages.
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In this wickedly funny and deeply sacrilegious portrait, Morrissey isn't quite so enigmatic as he might first appear. To understand this most private and sexually ambivalent of stars and his seemingly erratic behaiviour, one needs only to do one thing. Listen to him. Mark Simpson offers the finest phsychological profile to date of England's most intelligent, most misunderstood, most charming and most alarming pop star more>>

Meat Loaf is a living legend and this is his story, as bizarre as it is spectacular. He describes a cruel childhood; his experiences of success with the third best-selling album of all time; drink, drugs, bankruptcy and a nervous breakdown in the 1980s; and his triumphant return as a musical star.
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The memoir of the small girl (5 foot 1 inch tall) with the huge voice. At the age of 15, in 1964, Lulu - born Marie Lawrie in Glasgow - was already a star with her international hit song "Shout". At 18 she stole hearts as an English schoolgirl to Sidney Poitier's teacher with the movie hit "To Sir With Love". At 21, she married a Bee Gee, Maurice Gibb, and tied as winner of the Eurovision Song Contest with "Boom-Bang-a-Bang". Yet in 1993 she reached No.1 with "Relight My Fire" (with Take That). Nearly 40 years at the top of the showbiz tree, Lulu has never been afraid to experiment with new trends, and her book reflects the daring that took a girl from a Glasgow tenement to international stardom - or as "To Sir With Love" says, "from crayons to perfume". "I Don't Want to Fight" (the title of a song Lulu wrote and Tina Turner recorded) is the candid autobiography of a singer who has never shirked from facing anything. more>>

K.J. really knows Metallica pretty well. This book is filled with the most and the best info on the bands any fan would want. Most of this info you wouldn't even hear from the band that much. This boook is for the littlest Metallica fan to the Die Hard long time Metallica fan. After reading this book I have found out a lot of stuff about Metallica and thier roots. Coming from the town where the first Fan club had come from and where somewhat the beginning of Metallica's history h