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This is the authorized biography of Iggy And The Stooges as told by Jeffrey Morgan, the authorized biographer of Alice Cooper. Originally published in 2009 and long out of print, this new expanded edition features previously unpublished photographs and interviews, plus commentary by Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, and James Williamson.

"The FrankieMiller Story" is a vibrant biography that chronicles the life and careerof Scottish rock singer-songwriter Frankie Miller. Emerging from Glasgow’svibrant mid-1960s music scene, Frankie quickly gained recognition for hissoulful and passionate vocal style. Influenced deeply by artists such as RayCharles, Little Richard, and Otis Redding, Miller developed a powerful singingapproach that would eventually influence iconic musicians including Rod Stewartand Ray Charles himself. His career is a compelling tale of talent, tenacity,and resilience, marked by collaborations with top musicians and producers,extensive touring, and significant songwriting achievements. Despite a majorhealth setback—a brain haemorrhage in 1994 that dramatically altered hislife—Miller’s legacy as an extraordinary and underrated talent in rock historyremains strong.Discover theextraordinary life of Frankie Miller, Scotland’s hidden gem whose soulful voiceand heartfelt songwriting captivated audiences and inspired legends. Fromhumble beginnings in Glasgow to sharing stages with rock royalty, Frankie’sstory is filled with passion, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to hismusic. Featuring personal insights, rare photographs, and vivid memories fromthose who knew him best, this book paints a detailed portrait of a musicianwhose influence has resonated far beyond his era. A tale of triumph,heartbreak, and enduring spirit—this is Frankie Miller, the man who remindedthe world: true soul can never be silenced.

The only band member who remains synonymous with the Byrds is front man Roger McGuinn. The person closest to him, who witnessed the band's rise, glittering heyday, and tumultuous clash of wills-artistic and personal within the group-was his wife, Ianthe. Sharing tales of the Byrds' rise to fame from her unique vantage point as the only woman consistently involved with and at the center of the drama and success of the Byrds, Ianthe tells the story of the exploding rock music scene in 1960s Los Angeles. In the Wings is also Ianthe's memoir of being a young and beautiful Latina from Tucson getting a crash course in love, loss, sex and drugs, marriage, and motherhood while being immersed in the aureate and vagaries of celebrity. And of course, it is the love story of Ianthe and Roger, how that love was destroyed, and how she survived to find herself. The Byrds' worldwide hit songs from the 1960s, "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Turn! Turn! Turn!," and "Eight Miles High," are iconic. Today, the group is considered by rock critics one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. The Beatles called them their favorite contemporary American group.Rolling Stone magazine dubbed the Byrds one of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in1991.

Vienna, located at the heart of Europe was the city of choice for American, British, German and Russian spymasters in their merciless trade, to plot against one another and steal secrets. For the first time a book is dedicated to the secret stories of spymasters, their tradecraft and secret sources from the end of the World War I, the Interwar with the rise of Nazis to the Second World War and the Cold War.The rich of culture and music Vienna hid a labyrinth of spies and dissidents in the interwar period, and a powerful Gestapo presence during the war meant that the Office of Strategic Services and British intelligence could not deploy operatives in Austria in general.In post war, a few young American and British intelligence officers pitted their wits against hundreds of seasoned Russian operatives of the NKVD and their thousands of informers. and the secret truth was that both Russian and Allied intelligence services employed members of the Nazi intelligence services just upon the defeat of Germany in 1945 and the occupation of Austria.

Teddie was 16 years old in 1977, when she was asked to be the translator for the Norway leg of The Sex Pistols Scandinavian tour. The book tells the inside story of the romance between Teddie and Sid Vicious. Instead of the self-destructive caricature of popular myth, Teddie reveals a troubled, vulnerable and generous young man. She gives a first-hand account of four young men at the eye of an international media storm, labouring under the sudden weight of expectation at the height of their fame. We are given a closer look into the dynamics between all the band members and their associates. The last chapters are written in part by Eileen Polk (ex girlfriend of DeeDee Ramone) and Peter Gravelle, who were in New York at the time of Sids death.

Pennine Dragon tells the true story of the legendary King Arthur. On the 1500th anniversary of Arthur's greatest battle at Badon, his whole life, family history and exploits are finally identified with those of a real historic ruler. Arthur Pendragon was actually a ruler recorded in history as Arthwys of the Pennines. He and his father ruled from the old Roman garrisons of Hadrian's Wall and the City of York and his base was Camulod (Camelot) in the heart of what is now Yorkshire. Arthwys had his Merlin, his Mordred, his Lancelot and his beautiful Irish Queen. His battles were fought across what is now the north of England and lowlands of Scotland. Without the prejudice of placing Arthur in Wales or Cornwall, Pennine Dragon reveals that Arthur was always identified as a man of the north in the earliest historical references. Legendary Arthurian places like Badon, Camlann, Camelot, the Lady of the Lake, Asolat, Joyous Garde, Avalon and the Round Table are all identified in the north. The author, Simon Keegan has identified no fewer than 50 Arthurian characters in real historical figures.We meet Morgan, Gawain, Bedevere, Culhwch, Uther and Igraine - and each character fits in perfectly within the family tree and inner circle of the historic king.We find that Arthwys was at precisely the right time and place and is the only possible man who could have been the King Arthur of legend. This is the definitive work on the true King Arthur published exactly 1500 years after the historic king's final victory over the Saxons.

"I was the first rock'n'roll chick, lead singer, serious bass player, kicking ass with the guys in the band, and beating them at their own game" But when the lights go down and the leather catsuit comes off, there's another side of Suzi Quatro that only her closest friends know - a sensitive, soul-searching and philosophical woman who's been pouring her heart out in poetry since she was seven years old. Only no one's had the chance to read it...until now Through My Eyes is Suzi Quatro's first collection of poetry. It is a collection that is candid, thought-provoking, revealing and sometimes shocking. If you thought being an international rock star was all glamour and good times, Through My Eyes will take you on a rock'n'rollercoaster of a jouney through a life bedeviled by men who were often unsuitable, unspeakable or unattainable...not that Suzi was going to take any of that lying down! The poems reveal some of Suzi's deepest and most intimate feelings.They are predominantly about love, from the optimism and exuberance of a young singer about to launch her solo career, to the acrimony and disillusionment relating to various relationships - real, imaginary or longed for - that punctuated her subsequent life. Suzi has also included notes that reveal where she was and what she was doing at the time she was writing. Taking things on a stage from her autobiography, Unzipped, this is rhyme...with a reason!

This volume of memoirs chronicles the most exciting generation of British music the world has ever seen. Punk's initial firestorm kicked open the door for myriad other scenes. In rapid succession came Ska, New Mod, New Wave, anarcho-punk and Oi/street-punk.It was an explosion of madcap musical energy as incendiary as it was inspirational, created and performed by both geniuses and madmen. At the heart of this rock 'n' roll tsunami was SOUNDS magazine. And at the heart of SOUNDS was your narrator, Garry Bushell. Like his idols, Garry lived every day as if it was his last. Which it nearly was. Going to prison with the Angelic Upstarts, tripping into paranoid West Berlin with the Exploited before The Wall came down, fighting a world champion boxer...all in a day's work for our Garry. These were truly days of glory. Bushell joined The Specials and The Selecter as they toured the US for the first time. He covered befriended Debbie Harry, feuded with Crass, skanked away with Madness, championed Secret Affair and managed the Cockney Rejects.From John Cooper Clarke to Right to Work marches, from Squeeze in South London to seedy German brothels, this volume is a unique record of raw and exciting bands, giant characters and radical ideas - all told with a twinkle in the eyes and a smile on the lip. Sounds Of Glory is a brilliant new memoir from one of Britain's most daring and controversial rock journalists. It's a must-read for anyone who loved Sounds and lived through the golden years of British rock and pop.

Sounds of Glory Volume One is packed with brilliant stories from the biggest names in rock and metal.The New Wave of British Heavy Metal erupted in the late 70s. Iron Maiden conquered the world, Def Leppard conquered the USA...and alongside them rock gods like Ozzy Osbourne and Ritchie Blackmore enjoyed unexpected revivals.At the heart of this rock 'n' roll tsunami was Britain's SOUNDS magazine. And at the heart of SOUNDS was Garry Bushell. Like his idols, Garry lived every day as if it was his last. Which it nearly was. Fed heroin in India by Hanoi Rocks, being raided by the C.I.D. in a Motorhead related incident, getting his eyebrows shaved off by Ozzy...Garry recalls it all in this funny, fast-moving memoir which also takes in Thin Lizzy, UFO, Gary Moore, Status Quo, Twisted Sister, Rose Tattoo, ZZ Top and more.All raw, exciting, world-beating talents whose heritage endures to this day.This is a laugh-out-loud road trip through the glory years of Sounds and the golden years of rock music...when Rock Gods ruled the earth.

Alison Meridith Heart is a different kind of female: not masculine, not feminine, but somewhere right in between, a 'one off'. She thinks like a man but has the emotions of a woman - a deadly combination. Long brown hair, hazel eyes, lanky, t-shirted, blue jeaned, cowboy booted, and a guitar player in a band of guys who call themselves The Rough Edges - a band she would quickly surpass in talent. Alison takes us through her life from Cleveland, to New York, to London, to Miami, from marriage to affair, from great happiness to great tragedy. It is a journey through the music business, and a journey through her heart - too much heart if the truth be known. Follow her through the emotional upheaval her life represents. She is a stranger in her own body, who unwittingly discovers 'why' she has always felt this way. The Hurricane blows in...'and nothing will ever be the same again'.

Big Beat was once one of the biggest, but ironically, perhaps most misunderstood musical movements of the Mid-Late 1990's, lead by some of the biggest artists the Electronic Dance Music scene has ever seen, such as Fatboy Slim (AKA Norman Cook), The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy. It's loud, eclectic sound with it's syncopated beats was a smash around the world, leading to nights of boozy (but good natured) hedonism, and it was the soundtrack to the advertising world of the late 1990's and early 2000's. But, somewhere along the way, the genre got a massive backlash from critics, leading to a very quick and painful death, and became the very victim of it's own success. Where did it go wrong and is there a chance for the scene to experience a revival? With new and exclusive interviews with Rory Hoy from 120 of those who were in the thick of it (including Fatboy Slim and Liam Howlett and Keith Flint from The Prodigy) - this is a celebratory (and sometimes humorous) look at a music scene that was short lived . . but had a very big impact.

"It's Bedlam here tonight. You'll wish you'd rung in sick."So starts Sergeant Nick Toft's night shift, an eight hour rollercoaster of crisis and tragedy that threatens to throw him right out of the safe, sensible life he's carefully crafted for himself. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Rose Olding is trying to solve a shocking suburban murder with very little evidence, plenty of blood and three suspects all blaming each other... Sarah Healey worked for ten years as a criminal defence lawyer before becoming a writer. She now uses all her experience of working in police stations big and small, at all hours of the day and night, to create a gritty and atmospheric police drama.

Lied about and hounded by his ex inlaws, his ex wife and her new boyfriend, Social Services and The Family Courts, Garry Johnson was close to being destroyed, mentally, physically and financially. He stood alone and nobody believed his side of a very bad break up and messy divorce. When children are involved it always makes is so much worse. How do you stand up to lies and bullying when no one believes you, and everyone believes your ex wife? Made out to be the villain, maltreated by the family courts and social services, Garry Johnson finally found the strength to fight back. Ironically his custody battle lasted twice as long as the Second World War, and nearly cost Garry his life when his heart stopped - twice, due to the stress and harrassment he had to suffer from the very people who are meant to help families. Garry Johnson's true story of one mans fight to expose the secretive Family Courts and social services and get access to his children is indeed a tale of courage in the face of persecution. Dont miss this compelling tale of one fathers fight for his right to be a father to his children.

Lenny Kravitz has been at the top of the music world for over 30 years, showing no signs of slowing down. A multi instrumentalist, songwriter, actor, and record producer his signature retro sound has incorporated all of the unique style's of the very best in music history, rock, blues, soul, R&B, funk, jazz, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, pop, folk, and ballads. Lenny Kravitz more than any other musician has seamlessly blended these styles into his own, creating a musical fusion, a melting pot of past influences that he continues to efficiently MASTER and PRODUCE with every album.A multiple Grammy award winner Lenny won the Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance four years in a row from 1999 to 2002, breaking the record for most wins in that category. He also set the record for the most consecutive wins by a male. He has been nominated for and won numerous other awards ranging from American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Radio Music Awards, Brit Awards, and Blockbuster Entertainment Awards. He has achieved sales in excess of 40 million records and counting and continues to create UNIQUE albums in his own sound, a sound created and nurtured over 3 decades developing 11 studio albums producing hits all over the world. He has written and produced alongside Mick Jagger, Madonna,Michael Jackson, Prince and many others. Lenny Kravitz stands as one of only a handful of individual Rock Stars that CONTINUOUSLY tourS with sell out concerts in Arenas all over the world. A truly global rock star with a talent for writing, producing and performing that is extremely rare in modern day music. THIS book examines his rise to fame and his constant successes', his albums, his tour's and his incredible musical ability. James Court brings the second book in the series following on from Prince The Life The Genius The Legend in 2018. Lenny Kravitz, The Life, The Genius, The Legend leaves no stone unturned and follows the life of this extraordinary Rock Star who first came to our attention in 1989 and has remained on the Music scene, producing quality songs and albums ever since. Through his own individual talent Lenny Kravitz has risen to become one of the most esteemed, admired, illustrious and respected Musicians in Rock music over the past 30 years. The Book highlights and reveals every part of this unique musical Genius, his rise to the top of Rock and Roll prominence, his life within music, his countless achievements on and off the stage, and ultimately, his legend.

Harry Chapin never reached sixty-five years-old. In fact, he never even reached forty. But in the all-too-brief time he was allowed, he achieved a great deal and left such an indelible mark that now, almost four decades on since his tragic death, it seems only fitting we should re-evaluate and celebrate the life and career of a man who devoted all of his time and energy to help eradicate what for him was the "ultimate obscenity" - world hunger.But there was also another side to Harry Chapin. First and foremost, he was an incredibly gifted singer-songwriter, who, in a successful career lasting a little over ten years, carved for himself a place in music history that, even to this day, is hard to define. Few artists of his generation came close to his intimate style of writing thought-provoking, soul-searching and heart-breaking story-songs, such as Cat's in the Cradle and Taxi, now well embedded in American lore.This book delves into the fascinating life of this truly great man, focusing mainly on his music, but also celebrating his tireless campaigning for that better world. It is a life that began with no direction or great ambition, but which, in due course, made him realise that of all the roads he could have taken, his destiny had already been defined, and, for Harry Chapin, there had always only been one choice.

I turned 70 on June 3rd, 2020, and my bucket list looms large. Doing a lyric book was always on that list so, here it is. Through my Words, is an illustrated informative diary of my life, told through the lyrics of my songs. Creation has always been my salvation. Enjoy! -Suzi Quatro

The Award-Winning television series "Profiles with Mickey Burns", filmed in Times Square in the heart of New York City - Rocks the Coffee Table World with intimate images in and around the set of Profiles over the last two decades that feature some of the entertainment world's most popular and loved celebrities.The pages of this book showcase photos of iconic Singers, Actors, Musicians, Comedians and Athletes from their appearances on "Profiles". Included are interview quotes and fun facts on the featured celebrities, that include: Smokey Robinson, Susan Lucci, Kenny G, Tony Orlando, Robert Wagner, Misty Copeland, Kandi Burress, Jesse Ventura, Deepak Chopra, Mayim Bialik, Cheech Marin, Gloria Gaynor, Stacy Keach, Dog the Bounty Hunter, George Foreman, Chrissy Metz, Tia Carrere, Don McLean and many more."Inside Celebrity Profiles: A Visual Journey" gives readers a tantalizing peek into the world of "Profiles" and the process of interviewing celebrities with hundreds of never seen before images of the show's famous guests - before, during and after their interview on "Profiles". We hope you enjoy your visit!

In this large, full colour, hard cover book by James Court, yu can read about guitarist, drummer, bass player, pianist, keyboardist, song writer, producer, programmer, arranger, vocalist, business entrepreneur, actor, director, dancer and choreographer Prince.James Court has been an avid collector, writer and follower of Prince and his work for more than thirty years. Upon Prince's death in April 2016, James set about the colossal task of revealing every part of this fascinating ever-changing musician, leaving no stone unturned. The Biography tackles the issue's that plagued the Superstar, his fight for Musical freedom and his constant need to write record and perform without restriction or filter.Often described as the greatest Musician of his generation Prince remained at the very top of the game, a multi-instrumentalist with the ability to write cutting edge songs at will, his talent ability and influence were simply unmatched.The results make this the most comprehensive, detailed and exhaustingly accurate depiction of one of the most popular, misunderstood and illusive musicians in modern day music....

"Music is part of my oxygen, Without it I would dry up"Mention the name Carly Simon to some people and they will probably think of one song in particular, maybe two or three at a push, while others may remember her for being one half of the "golden couple" of the Seventies' pop landscape.But this is a little unjust for an artist whose career has spanned over fifty years and counting, and during that time has amassed a catalog of over thirty groundbreaking albums and scores of hit singles; has composed music for theatre, movies and television; has written not only an opera, but a series of acclaimed children's books, and two best-selling memoirs.And we should not forget she is also the recipient of two Grammys, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar, as well as having countless honours bestowed on her for her accomplishments.Carly Simon is truly a musical phenomenon. Few female artists have achieved such a magnificent body of work; even fewer have been involved in so many facets of the music business; and no one has written so candidly to create an audio diary for the whole world to hear. From the moment her mother sang lullabies to her, that musical journey takes you from a childhood fraught with anxieties and phobias, having to conquer discrimination, stage fright, and life-threatening illness, to becoming one of the most glamorous, photographed, interviewed, and successful female artists of her generation.Not bad for a little girl who once saw herself asan ugly "left-over sister."But this is Carly Simon, and nobody has done it better.

Soul music remains the biggest 'underground' music scene in the world with each weekend, pre-Covid19, seeing countless soul nights and weekenders fill the diaries. Records, on often obscure labels, change hands regularly for four figure sums, while many artists come to Britain countless years after they first stepped into a recording studio to sing tracks that they had to re-learn the words to as it had been so long since they last sung it to an appreciative audience.But for many to learn about those 'four-figure' tracks and those who recorded them, they have had to rely on countless diehards on the scene, the 'anoraks' so to speak. Those who seek out details of an artist's career and compile discographies of the labels on which they recorded and then take the time to put it all into print in the form of a fanzine, or if finances allow, a fully-fledged magazine.Some of those publications failed to last beyond one issue, others slightly longer, and although they do not command the same monetary value as the records, many will fetch considerably more than the music publications found on magazine shelves today.There have been books on the artists, the record labels and the venues and now 'Soul In Print' fills a gap, covering the fanzines and magazines which did much to keep the scene alive and maintain the interest which continues today?

ROCK CRITIC CONFIDENTIAL is the profusely illustrated anthology of rock 'n' roll writing and photography by veteran CREEM Magazine editor Jeffrey Morgan, who is also the authorized biographer of both Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop & The Stooges.This full colour hard cover coffee table size book draws from an extraordinary wealth of Jeffrey Morgan's innovative CREEM Magazine pieces. Discovered in 1974 by influential journalist Lester Bangs, Morgan ended up being CREEM's longest-serving rock critic. Morgan's writing appeared in every single issue of America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine from October 1975 to November 1988, for a grand total of 158 consecutive monthly issues lasting more than thirteen years, plus another seven years writing for the magazine's original website, resulting in a CREEM rock writing reign of over twenty years.ROCK CRITIC CONFIDENTIAL'S centerpiece is Jeffrey Morgan's extensive and definitive interviews, many of which have never been published before in their complete uncensored form. Morgan is well known for taking command of an interview and getting his subjects to open up in a way that they never would for anyone else, as evidenced by his close encounters with heavyweight sparring partners, further enhanced by the added inclusion of dozens of rare, never before seen rock photographs taken by Morgan during the '70s and '80s, including previously unpublished portraits of The Who, Bob Dylan, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Jeff Beck, Freddie Mercury, KISS, Miles Davis, Paul McCartney, and many others-all captured in their youthful prime.ROCK CRITIC CONFIDENTIAL regenerates the genre by being the first book by a rock critic published in a copiously illuminated paradigm-defining hardcover coffee table edition that sets new nonpareil standards of excellence against which all other rock writing books will forever be gauged. That's not hyperbole, that's a fact because it ain't bragging if you can back it up. Compromising Photos. Third Degree Interrogations.If there's a safe space for rock stars... This isn't it."Jeffrey, you're a smartass-watch it!"- Iggy Pop, embittered Godfather of Punk"Lies! Lies! Lies!"- Alice Cooper, embittered living legend"Tell Jeffrey from me if he comes to see me personally some time,I'll return the compliment."- Pete Townshend, embittered founding guitarist of The Who"I cordially invite Jeffrey to join us at our Tae Kwan-Do classany day of the week just to say hello to all the guys up here."- Bob Ezrin, embittered record producer ofPink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, KISS"One of the finest music writers on Earth."- RocksBackpages.com, embittered online library of rock 'n' roll

2022 Winner of the Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research - Association of Recorded Sound Collections ARSC It has long been acknowledged that Berry Gordy Jr and his Motown Empire put Detroit on the International musical map but it was the creative genius of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland who would take the sound into uncharted territory.In this book Howard Priestley explores in depth the story of the three friends, their meteoric rise to fame and their fall from the heights. How they helped to put Detroit Soul on the map and the series of events that saw the collapse of not only the recognised sound of Detroit but Soul in general as the 70s gave way to a more collective sound away from the diversity of Memphis, Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami and, of course, Detroit.Priestley writes in both an entertaining and analytical way that reminds us just how many songs the trio have composed that have become an important and enduring part of the soundtrack to so many of our lives.

There is no denying that the last couple of years have been tough for all of us. Life has changed drastically due to the Covid 19 pandemic, and this includes rock icons. Suzi Quatro has never had a regular job. Being a rock and roll musician is what she has been doing her whole life. Then suddenly, everything changed, and instead of constantly being on tour, she found herself at home. Suzi is never one to sit around idling her time and the pandemic produced an album that has done very well indeed. It has also produced her third hardcover coffee table book, sharing her thoughts as the days and the weeks passed. Full to the brim with private photographs in colour, Suzi lets us in to her life in this window of time when the world changed. Her thoughts about the state of life as she sees it is meant as an inspiration to us all."The third in my series of illustrated coffee table books, 1 year in lockdown,1 year on this roller coaster called life, 1 year where you can go through every single emotion you have in 5 minutes. Sometimes you smile, sometimes you cry, many times you just hit the wall. I faithfully did my instagram posts every morning sharing my feelings and tribulations, trying to lift people's spirits. It helps to share. It helps to know you're not alone. Enjoy my moods! ( I blame being a Gemini!!) Suzi Quatro"

Here is a different take of The Beatles story, which includes the more obscure, rare and unseen appearances and references worldwide, through the wonderful art of film, television and video; some of which will make you gasp in disbelief! It's full of unfinished projects and little known facts: did you know that The Quarrymen (the proto-Beatles) apparently appeared in a Liverpool City Police Recruitment Film in 1958, or that The Beatles had a film release before A Hard Day's Night that only came out in Australia? Also featuring the many projects The Beatles turned down, such as 'The Yellow Teddy Bears' AKA 'The Gutter Girls' and the weird and wonderful shelved projects such as Joe Orton's 'Up Against It' and McCartney's sci-fi movies of the 1970s. McCartney did however make experimental films, George did sing with Carole King on a novelty record, Ringo did duet with Carrie Fisher, and John and his wife Yoko did make Did Britain Murder Hanratty?It all goes to show that The Beatles were never idle during their time together and as solo artists. In this book, we will look at the history of the lesser-known films and TV shows that are associated with The Beatles, as well as their well-known canonical movies, such as the fictionalised documentary of A Hard Days Night, to the animated masterpiece of Yellow Submarine; to documentaries about them, biopics, parodies, and other projects that involved the Fab Four in some capacity. The Beatles didn't just revolutionise pop music, they revolutionised pop culture as a whole!

Ultimately, The Superstar Chronicles is a lighthearted and joyful narrative that documents important moments in rock history. Its colorful stories and collection of personal photographs evoke memories of youth, concerts with friends, turbulent times of social change, and the delight of hits that mark unforgettable moments in of our lives. Take a first-hand look into the wonderful, often insane world of music through the eyes of a lifer, a musician who has found success and fulfillment by wending his way through a lifetime among Rock Royalty.

The great singer, Paul Robeson was born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA on 9 April 1898. His father, William was a Presbyterian minister and a former slave; his mother, Maria was also descended from slaves. For Robeson as an African-American, the 'American Dream' was a nightmare. At Rutgers College he was subjected to deliberate violence on the football field; his concerts were disrupted by the Ku Klux Klan; he was hounded by the government on account of his communist sympathies. And yet, it is difficult to think of any human being in the whole of history who was more multi-talented. At Rutgers he was admitted to the very highest academic societies: he subsequently played football in the newly-created NFL; he became acquainted with more than 40 languages, and played the piano. He played 'Othello' at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon, and 'Joe' in the film, Show Boat.Yet it was his voice, arguably the finest bass baritone ever to be possessed by a human being, and the message contained in his songs and speeches that echoed right around the world. Here was a message of hope for the poor and underprivileged everywhere, of whatever colour or creed. They too could bring down the 'Walls of Jericho'; gain access to the 'Promised Land'; and finally, be carried to Heaven on a 'Sweet Chariot'!As an author, the challenge for me was to see if I could make contact with any of Paul's descendants and any descendants of his slave owner, who might have unique information about the Robeson family, and to find out where exactly his father, William and mother, Maria had been enslaved. The search was a fruitful one; beyond my wildest dreams, as the reader will discover!

Imagine a time before the whole world knew The Beatles - you are in 1960s Liverpool, standing in an overcrowded, dark, sweaty cellar, waiting for John, Paul, George and Pete to take to the stage - about to witness the face of popular music, and your own life, changing forever. This is the story of Mike and Bernadette Byrne's amazing and uniquely personal journey. They not only witnessed music history being made but they went on to build The Beatles Story, the most successful Beatle exhibition in the world. With no money of their own, little experience, and hardly any support from the city, they succeeded.Bernadette was a Cavern regular who went on to date George and Paul, while Mike was a fellow Merseybeat musician and acquaintance of The Beatles. Like scenes in a Beatles film yet to be made, Bernie was caught with her hair in rollers by George Harrison, Paul McCartney nearly burned her parents' house down and Mike was backed by a 21-year-old Ringo while playing at Butlins Holiday Camp. From escaping screaming fans in George Harrison's car and organising 14 labourers to carry Ringo's customised Mini up an escalator in a Dallas mall, to secret meetings with senior Beatle bosses in a London crypt, this journey is packed with unseen pictures and many untold stories about The Beatles - and how a Liverpool couple helped Liverpool fall in love with the Beatles again.The book is a large, coffee table size hardcover with full colour interior, full of rare and magnificent images.

In the early 1960s a new 'Star' appeared on the pop music scene and burned brightly in the firmament. This was the enchantingly beautiful, French singer-songwriter ('chanteuse'), Francoise Madeleine Hardy.Today, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Francoise can be resurrected, at any moment of her singing career, simply with a flick of a switch on the television's remote control. And there she is, the epitome of French elegance and style!With Francoise, unlike with many of the popular musicians of the time, there was no blaring music or wild gesticulations. She had no need of devices such as these. Her songs are captivating in their own right, particularly those which tell of love, loneliness, and loss. In fact, she has been described as 'the patron saint of the dispossessed and heartbroken'.By why this focus on personal sadness? Could it be that this French icon, beloved by millions throughout the world and who apparently had the world at her feet, was permanently troubled? And if there was something troubling Francoise, could it be love, or to be more precise, unrequited love?