Brian Southall – författare

Here is the story of how the Sex Pistols shocked and shamed EMI - the UK's most revered and profitable record company - and ended up GBP40,000 the richer thanks to manager Malcolm McLaren's cunning business strategy.

An original telling of the Fab Four's story. This informative work tells the story of John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr from the band's formative days in Hamburg to the split in 1970. General Editor Brian Southall, a former Press Officer at EMI, has gathered a team of experts – including former Apple Records CEO Tony Bramwell, singer Steve Harley, Sir Tim Rice and producer Chris Thomas – to write about each of the band's record releases, from the simple, bouncy Please Please Me to the heavyweight double album Let It Be.Contributors include: • Tony Bramwell: Childhood friend of the Beatles who became CEO of Apple Records. • Ray Connolly: A British writer who was very close to the Beatles. • Tristan Fry: A drummer and percussionist, Fry played on Abbey Road. • Per Gessle: Singer/songwriter, lead singer of Swedish band Gyllene Tider and half of Roxette. • Graham Gouldman: English singer, songwriter and musician. • Steve Harley: English singer/songwriter who was frontman of Cockney Rebel. • Gered Mankowitz: High profile photographer of many famous musicians. • Diederik Nomden and Bart Van Poppel: Founders and performers in the band The Analogues. • Sir Tim Rice: English author and lyricist. • Paul Sexton: Journalist and broadcaster. • Tom Robinson: English singer/songwriter and presenter. • Chris Thomas: Co-producer of The White Album and Abbey Road. • Ken Townsend MBE: Sound engineer who worked at Abbey Road Studios. • Johnnie Walker MBE: A hugely popular and influential radio DJ. • Kenneth Womack: Professor of English and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University, N.J.

Electric and Music Industries Ltd (EMI) first saw the light of day in the UK in 1931. In a visionary move for the gramophone age, it manufactured both hardware (recording and playback equipment) and software (the records and tapes its machines would play). For over half a century, EMI dominated both sectors, it's music division eventually becoming the most successful in the world with a roster that at various times included "The Beatles", Maria Callas, Frank Sinatra, Cliff Richard, Pink Floyd, "The Beach Boys", "Queen", Robbie Williams, "The Spice Girls", Kate Bush and Kylie Minogue. Then in the 1990s, things started to go wrong.This title explores and investigates EMI's extraordinary decline from the greatness over two decades of rejected takeovers, unsuccessful mergers, executive changes, profit warnings, artist and staff cuts, press criticism and never-ending speculation. It includes interviews with many key players including former EMI Group/EMI Music executives Sir Colin Southgate, Jim Fifield, Eric Nicoli, Tony Wadsworth, David Munns, Rupert Perry, Ray Cooper and Jon Webster.He has also interviewed many managers, music journalists, financial analysists and rival record company executives. The result is the definitive account of a major international company's travails. It is also an eye-opening expose of the speed at which the music industry has changed.

Electric and Music Industries Ltd (EMI) first saw the light of day in the UK in 1931. In a visionary move for the gramophone age, it manufactured both hardware (recording and playback equipment) and software (the records and tapes its machines would play). For over half a century, EMI dominated both sectors, it's music division eventually becoming the most successful in the world with a roster that at various times included The Beatles, Maria Callas, Frank Sinatra, Cliff Richard, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, Queen, Robbie Williams, The Spice Girls, Kate Bush and Kylie Minogue. Then in the 1990s, things started to go wrong - This is the continuing saga of Britain's greatest music company as it faces an uncertain future under new ownership. Since 2009 EMI has broken new acts and sold millions of records BUT the massive debts incurred by its owners Terra Firma have finally taken it to the brink of a break-up. Music industry experts and executives, financiers and commentators plus artists' managers assess EMI's fortunes as the company celebrates its 80th birthday.Includes interviews with many key players including former EMI Group/EMI Music executives Sir Colin Southgate, Jim Fifield, Eric Nicoli, Tony Wadsworth, David Munns, Rupert Perry, Ray Cooper and Jon Webster. He has also interviewed many managers, music journalists, financial analysists and rival record company executives.