Backbeat Books – förlag

Room 100 chronicles the tragic story of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, punk rock’s very own Romeo and Juliet. Through a wealth of archival material, plus new and exclusive interviews from rock luminaries such as Television guitarist Richard Lloyd, iconic photographer Robert Bayley, and PUNK magazine co-creator John Holmstrom, critically acclaimed true-crime writer Jesse P. Pollack’s book is the first to be solely devoted to popular music’s darkest hour—the murder of Nancy Spungen. Did Sid kill the love of his life in a drug-induced stupor, or had Nancybe en the victim of a robbery gone wrong? Was there a death pact? Did the police ignore crucial evidence? This comprehensive journalistic account will be the definitive book on one of rock ‘n roll’s most intriguing and enduring mysteries.

Best known for co-founding the early punk duo Suicide, Alan Vega lived a complex and labyrinthine life, driven by a desire to express himself uncompromisingly through art. From his first sketch in art class at Brooklyn College to the 2021 release of the album Mutator five years after his death, Vega continues to shock and inspire.This first-ever biography of Vega tells the story of the man’s life and art, beginning with his early attempts to live a “normal” life and his epiphanic encounter with Iggy Pop in 1969. Although becoming a performer on stage had been at the bottom of Vega’s list of lifetime ambitions, Iggy changed his mind: he needed music to truly express his vision. Infinite Dreams goes on to describe Vega’s many experiments across a variety of media, including the partnership with Marty Rev that became Suicide, which challenged audiences to look deep inside themselves and to not settle for distractions.A raw but engaging exploration of a man whose artwork, music, and philosophy inspired thousands, written by award-winning author Laura Davis-Chanin together with Liz Lamere, Alan Vega’s wife and long-term creative collaborator.

To many vintage guitar fans, it seems inconceivable that Gibson dumped the Sunburst Les Paul in 1960 and, during the following year, introduced a completely new design, the one that we know now as the SG (“solid guitar”).At the time, however, it made good business sense. Sales of the Les Paul were faltering, and Gibson decided to blow a breath of fresh air through its solidbody electric guitar line. The company described the result as an “ultra-thin, hand-contoured, double-cutaway body.” The modernistic amalgam of bevels and points and angles was a radical departure, and this new book tells the story of all the SG models that followed: the Junior, Special, Standard, Custom, and more.There are interviews with and stories about Gibson personnel through the years, and all the major SG players, including Pete Townshend, Frank Zappa, Eric Clapton, Angus Young, George Harrison, Gary Rossington, Tony Iommi, and Derek Trucks.In the tradition of Tony Bacon''s bestselling series of guitar books, The SG Guitar Book is three great volumes in one package: a collection of drool-worthy pictures of the coolest guitars; a gripping story from the earliest prototypes to the latest exploits; and a detailed collector''s database of every production SG model ever made.

The volume on a standard amp goes to 10. But, sometimes, that’s just not high enough. Sometimes, you need to rock even harder than that—all the way to 11. Goes to 11 books are short, opinionated introductions to the catalogs of major musical acts through 11 essential songs. Because going over the top is the only answer when it comes to good music.====From the band’s early days in the Toronto music scene to their multiple Grammy wins to the aftermath of drummer Neil Peart’s death, Rushremains one of the most beloved rock bands of all time. Renowned for their stylistic range, integrity, and legendary technical skill, the band’s wry sense of humor and humility have also resonated with fans internationally. After more than four decades and nineteen studio albums, they''ve produced a rich body of work that continues to enthrall millions of listeners, new and old. From “Xanadu” to “Time Stand Still” and beyond, Cranking Up Rush provides a whirlwind tour of 11 essential Rush tracks. It covers every era of their output—from their teenage years to their final tour in 2015—and highlights what truly makes Rush the Spirit of Radio.