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Carol Easton, who knew Jacqueline du Pré well, draws on this friendship to create a moving and insightful portrait of a singularly complex person. Jacqueline du Pré (the subject of the recent film Hilary and Jackie ) was the music world's "golden girl," with what appeared to many to be a fairytale career and storybook marriage to Daniel Barenboim. But away from her cello, du Pré was achingly human. As a child, she was isolated by her phenomenal talent. As an adult, she was confined to the rarefied, insular concert world. And during the last fifteen years of her life, she lived in the inexorably shrinking world of the invalid, as multiple sclerosis took its toll. The Baltimore Sun said, Carol Easton tells this extraordinary story "with feeling befitting du Pré's own."

'We were reflecting on our own career as it was happening. It’s not that we were trend-conscious, we were doing exactly what we would have been doing anyway.' - Jim Morrison'We didn’t sit down and have a meeting to say, ‘Hey, we want to change the minds of people.’ We didn’t say it but we enjoyed doing it.' - John Densmore'The Doors is bigger than any of us, and that only happens once in a lifetime and not to many people. It’s an honour to be one of The Doors.' - Robby Krieger'We were just a bunch of psychedelic guys trying to spread the word and the feel of what it was like to be high in Venice back in the mid-sixties. And boy, was it a good feeling to watch that sun set into the middle of the ocean and feel that peace, and to feel at one with the universe.' - Ray ManzarekNight Divides the Day is the definitive chronicle of The Doors, offering an intimate and richly illustrated exploration of the band’s legendary journey. Featuring interviews with Robby Krieger and John Densmore and meticulously sourced archival text from Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek, their 50,000-word manuscript comes to life with a treasure trove of rare, unpublished photographs, original recording and production notes and exclusive memorabilia – all drawn from The Doors’ private archives.In this first-hand account, The Doors narrate the band's story from their early days playing local clubs on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles to the iconic, and sometimes infamous, moments that defined their career. From the electrifying release of anthems like ‘Light My Fire’, ‘The End’ and ‘Riders on the Storm’, to the notorious Dinner Key Auditorium performance in Miami, Night Divides the Day captures the essence of The Doors’ meteoric rise and the reverberations they left in their wake.Featuring new and insightful contributions from a diverse array of artists, including Van Morrison, Nile Rodgers, Slash, Nancy Sinatra and more, the book is anchored by a foreword from Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and an afterword by maestro Gustavo Dudamel. These unique voices offer fresh perspectives on The Doors’ indelible cultural impact.Granted unprecedented access to the band’s archives, Night Divides the Day is a visual and narrative feast. The book showcases a stunning personal collection of historical artifacts – childhood photographs, handwritten song lyrics, poster art, movie stills and previously unseen album cover outtakes. Images of the band in the recording studio, along with work from celebrated photographers and trusted insiders, transport readers behind the scenes and on the road with The Doors. In addition, rare and invaluable items from the band’s history, including vintage instruments and recording equipment, are specially photographed to enrich this kaleidoscopic portrait of one of rock music’s most legendary bands.Night Divides the Day is the ultimate account of The Doors, capturing their incredible story and enduring legacy in a way that has never been seen before.

Nicholas Medtner (1880-1951) has always been a neglected figure in the history of Russian music, and yet his friend Rachmaninoff considered him the greatest of contemporary composers. He wrote three fine piano concertos, more than one hundred solo piano compositions, including a cycle of fourteen sonatas fully worthy to be set alongside those of Scriabin and Prokofiev, and many beautiful songs. He was also a great pianist. Leaving Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution, Medtner lived for a time in Germany and France before finally settling in London, where he passed the final sixteen years of his life. The present work is the first to tell the full story of his eventful life and to consider in turn each of his compositions. The author has drawn on Medtner’s own correspondence and writings and collected the reminiscences of those who knew him personally to build a comprehensive picture of a great, if still largely unrecognised, musician.

'Cognitive Dissident is an evocative, often sad, but properly fascinating story' Bob Stanley, Saint EtienneCognitive Dissident may begin in the music biography tradition, but it quickly becomes something deeper. Borne out of years of conversation and collaboration between Matt Johnson (the creative force behind THE THE) and writer Jason Wood (Executive Director at the BFI), it expands into a work that is philosophical, cultural, and socio-political in scope.The story traces Johnson's childhood growing up above one of East London's most famous pubs, his early international success in music, followed by his sudden disappearance for decades. Then in 2017, The Inertia Variations project brought about an extraordinary creative rebirth, leading to THE THE's return: The Comeback Special World Tour, live album and film, the release of Ensoulment - their first new album in 25 years - and the acclaimed Ensouled World Tour. Along the way, it illuminates Johnson's evolution from the post-punk DIY scene to his many collaborations with producers, musicians, and cultural icons, as well as the influence of literature, art, and cinema that has always shaped his vision.Through these conversations with Matt Johnson - a working-class auto-didact who achieved success and ultimately career control on his own terms - this book by extension is also a meditation on family, friendship, creativity, conservation, gentrification, geopolitics, love and loss.'Matt Johnson will always be the intrepid London boy with a music soul & and the man of many worlds with a writer's heart' Johnny Marr

THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERLONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONSHORTLISTED FOR THE PENDERYN MUSIC PRIZE'A triumph.' Deborah Levy, New Statesman'Tremendous.' Alwyn Turner, The Times'Revelatory.' Simon Schama, Financial Times'The gold standard of Beatles books.' Anthony Quinn, Observer'As enthralling and astonishing as their music.' Jon Dennis, Sunday Telegraph'A masterpiece.' Dylan Jones, Evening Standard'[Ian Leslie] reframes the whole relationship for me . . . He roots it in a kind of love. It's so moving, so moving. I was crying so much.' Paul Mescal'I so loved John and Paul. I found it completely absorbing and painfully moving . . . It has rather turned me into a bit of a Beatles person.' Nigella Lawson'The first new Beatles story in decades - and the one that will make your heart burst.' Caitlin Moran'The most moving and revelatory book on Lennon and McCartney I have ever read. So joyful, so sad.' Tom Holland---We think we know John & Paul. We really don't.At the centre of The Beatles was the volatile, madly creative chemistry between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. This is the story of how two young men merged their souls and multiplied their talents to produce one of the greatest bodies of music in history. It is also a love story, full of longing, laughter, pain and joy.'John & Paul is a masterpiece, a classic, and a book that should be read by anyone who wants to really understand how the Beatles worked.' Dylan Jones, Evening Standard**Readers are raving about John & Paul:'I've never been so into a book.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A surprising fresh take on this relationship, after so much has been written.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'The Beatles book I've been waiting for.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Thoroughly enjoyable, insightful and delightfully written.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I can't listen to another Beatles song in the same way ever again.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Such a fantastic book - really insightful and charming.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I read this book in more or less one go . . . Incredibly moving.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Rekindled my interest in The Beatles. A masterful work.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Full of love . . . A very worthwhile addition to the library of even the most jaded Beatles reader.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I cannot recommend this book highly enough.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Excellent. Just buy it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐**Ian Leslie's book John & Paul was a Sunday Times Bestseller w/e 29-03-2025 through w/e 19-04-2025

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe definitive anthology of Jim Morrison's writings with rare photographs and numerous handwritten excerpts of unpublished and published poetry and lyrics from his 28 privately held notebooks.You can also hear Jim Morrison’s final poetry recording, now available for the first time, on the CD or digital audio edition of this book, at the Village Recorder in West Los Angeles on his twenty-seventh birthday, December 8, 1970. The audio book also includes performances by Patti Smith, Oliver Ray, Liz Phair, Tom Robbins, and others reading Morrison’s work. Created in collaboration with Jim Morrison’s estate and inspired by a posthumously discovered list entitled “Plan for Book,” The Collected Works of Jim Morrison is an almost 600-page anthology of the writings of the late poet and iconic Doors’ front man. This landmark publication is the definitive opus of Morrison’s creative output—and the book he intended to publish. Throughout, a compelling mix of 160 visual components accompanies the text, which includes numerous excerpts from his 28 privately held notebooks—all written in his own hand and published here for the first time—as well as an array of personal images and commentary on the work by Morrison himself.  This oversized, beautifully produced collectible volume contains a wealth of new material—poetry, writings, lyrics, and audio transcripts of Morrison reading his work. Not only the most comprehensive book of Morrison’s work ever published, it is immersive, giving readers insight to the creative process of and offering access to the musings and observations of an artist whom the poet Michael McClure called “one of the finest, clearest spirits of our times.”  This remarkable collector’s item includes: Foreword by Tom Robbins; introduction and notes by editor Frank Lisciandro that provide insight to the work; prologue by Anne Morrison ChewningPublished and unpublished work and a vast selection of notebook writings The transcript, the only photographs in existence, and production notes of Morrison’s last poetry recording on his twenty-seventh birthday The Paris notebook, possibly Morrison’s final journal, reproduced at full reading sizeExcerpts from notebooks kept during his 1970 Miami trialThe shooting script and gorgeous color stills from the never-released film HWYComplete published and unpublished song lyrics accompanied by numerous drafts in Morrison’s handEpilogue: “As I Look Back”: a compelling autobiography in poem form Family photographs as well as images of Morrison during his years as a performer

‘The closest we’ll ever get to a straight up Bowie autobiography — but who’d ever want anything straight-up from Bowie?’ – Rolling StoneIn 2002, David Bowie and Mick Rock created Moonage Daydream, the defining document of the life and times of Ziggy Stardust. Twenty years later, it remains the closest readers will get to understanding Bowie through his own words.Alongside over 600 photographs taken by Mick Rock, Bowie’s personal and often humorous commentary gives unprecedented insight into his work and the creation of his most memorable persona. Readers can see how Bowie singlehandedly challenged and elevated 1970s culture through his style, his inspirations ranging from Kubrick to Kabuki, and his creative spirit, which endures through the decades. Moonage Daydream is the essential David Bowie book.First published as a signed limited edition, Moonage Daydream sold out in a matter of months and became lore among David Bowie fans. Now, on the 50th anniversary of Bowie’s acclaimed album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, the book is available again. Published in a new larger format, this uncut edition keeps to Bowie and Rock’s original vision, allowing us to explore Moonage Daydream the way the authors intended.‘This is a book of extraordinary photographs. Ziggy Stardust blazed briefly but intensely, and I am delighted to see his life and times as a rock’n’roll star immortalised in this book.’ – David Bowie

Dive into the saga of Deep Purple and unravel the untold stories behind the legendary band, from their groundbreaking albums to their tumultuous journey through rock history to the present. Seven Decades of Deep Purple tells the electrifying story of one of the most iconic bands in rock history. From the band’s explosive formation in 1968 to the classic Mk. II lineup—Gillan, Blackmore, Glover, Lord, and Paice—and through all the iterations to the present day, this book delves deep into the band that brought the world unforgettable hits like “Hush,” “Speed King,” “Child in Time,” “Smoke on the Water,” “Highway Star,” “Burn,” and “Perfect Strangers.” Through nearly 50 interviews by the author with Purple alumni, plus dozens more with others who are part of this story, readers will journey through the group’s formation, lineup changes, album sessions, and live performances, with the narrative emerging as the story of creativity itself, a tale enhanced by the use of over 450 images. Album by album, it’s Deep Purple’s music that gives this book its solid-rock foundation. Starting with 1968’s Shades of Deep Purple, the book discusses all their genre-defining albums, including In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head, Burn, Purpendicular, Whoosh!, and 2024’s =1. Seven Decades of Deep Purple captures the essence of a band whose influence transcended generations and shaped the sound of modern rock. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to their music, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to explore the legacy of one of rock’s most enduring and relentlessly vital and creative forces.

Before launching the iconic Texas blues-rock trio ZZ Top, a young Billy Gibbons was hustling through the Lone Star State with a band named the Moving Sidewalks. The small-time band had the chance of a lifetime when they opened for legendary rock guitar maestro Jimi Hendrix, who took the teenage Gibbons and took him under his wing. Over 50 years later, Gibbons is one of the most recognizable rock musicians in American history. From ZZ Top’s early work in creating classic rock radio staples like “La Grange” and “Tush” in the 1970s to becoming a global phenomenon with innovative music videos in the early years of MTV, Gibbons has been the guiding hand behind ZZ Top’s evolution from the “Little Ol’ Band from Texas” to pop culture behemoth with the 1983 album Eliminator, which has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. As the guitarist and main singer of ZZ Top, Gibbons has led the band to popularity and has gained immense respect among other music luminaries with guest appearances and collaborations with legends like B.B. King, Les Paul, John Mayall, and Sammy Hagar before releasing two solo albums, Perfectamundo (2015) and The Big Bad Blues (2018), the latter being named Blues Rock Album of the Year by the Blues Music Awards. He has continued to lead ZZ Top in the aftermath of the death of longtime bandmate Dusty Hill in 2021 and shows no signs of slowing down from bringing his unique brand of Texas blues to the world.

An updated edition of the most comprehensive account of the Rolling Stones' work yet published, with the full story of every recording session, every album, and every single released during their nearly 60 year career.The Rolling Stones have been recording and touring since 1963, selling more than 200 million records worldwide. While much is known about this iconic group, few books provide a comprehensive history of their time in the studio. In The Rolling Stones All the Songs, authors Margotin and Guesdon describe the origin of every song the band has released, details from the recording studio, what instruments were used, and behind-the-scenes stories of the great artists who contributed to their tracks.Organized chronologically by album, this massive, 760-page hardcover begins with their 1963 eponymous debut album recorded over five days at the Regent Studio in London; through their collaboration with legendary producer Jimmy Miller in the ground-breaking albums from 1968 to 1973; to their later work with Don Was, who has produced every album since Voodoo Lounge. Packed with more than 500 photos, All the Songs is also filled with stories fans treasure, such as how the mobile studio the group pioneered was featured in Deep Purple's classic song "Smoke on the Water" or how Keith Richards used a cassette recording of an acoustic guitar to get the unique riff on "Street Fighting Man."

'Mark Lewisohn knows the Fab Four better than they knew themselves' The GuardianThis extended special edition of Mark Lewisohn's magisterial book Tune In is a true collector's item, featuring hundreds of thousands of words of extra material, as well as many extra photographs. It is the complete, uncut and definitive biography of the Beatles' early years, from their family backgrounds through to the moment they're on the cusp of their immense breakthrough at the end of 1962.Designed, printed and bound in Great Britain, this high-quality edition consists of two beautifully produced individual hardbacks printed on New Langely Antique Wove woodfree paper, with red-and-white head and tail bands and red ribbon marker. The two books will sit within a specially designed box and lid featuring soft touch and varnish finishes. The whole product comes shrinkwrapped for extra protection.Mark Lewisohn's biography is the first true and accurate account of the Beatles, a contextual history built upon impeccable research and written with energy, style, objectivity and insight. This extended special edition is for anyone who wishes to own the complete story in all its stunning and extraordinary detail. This is genuinely, and without question, the lasting word from the world-acknowledged authority.'Mark Lewisohn is the world's leading Beatles historian and writer' Nothing is Real - A Beatles Podcast'An absorbing and enthralling account of the lives of all the leading players, written with integrity and honesty' thecavernclub.com

A number 1 bestseller, this definitive biography of Michael Jackson is now completely updated to include the events leading to the untimely death of the star. J. Randy Taraborrelli is the expert on Michael Jackson, having known him since they were both teenagers and having interviewed the singer and his family many times.So much has been written about the life and career of Michael Jackson that it has become almost impossible to disentangle the man from the myth. J. Randy Taraborrelli cuts through the tabloid rumours and innuendo, the conflicting stories and lurid accusations, to reveal the real man. From his drilling as a child star through the blooming of his talent, from his ever-changing personal appearance to his marriages, from his addictions to his love for his children, we see what motivated one of the greatest performers of all time. Objective and revealing, this book combines impeccable research, brilliant story-telling and a clear-sighted understanding of the forces that shaped Michael's life and his death.'The most authoritative book ever written about Michael Jackson' Daily Mail 'A superbly researched investigation' heat

Winner of the 2010 Non-Fiction National Book Award Patti Smith's definitive memoir is an evocative, honest and moving coming-of-age story of her extraordinary relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe.‘Sharp, elegiac and finely crafted' Sunday Times‘Terrifically evocative ... The most spellbinding and diverting portrait of funky-but-chic New York in the late '60s and '70s that any alumnus has committed to print' New York Times‘Render, harrowing, often hilarious' VogueIn 1967, a chance meeting between two young people led to a romance and a lifelong friendship that would carry each to international success never dreamed of. The backdrop is Brooklyn, Chelsea Hotel, Max's Kansas City, Scribner's Bookstore, Coney Island, Warhol's Factory and the whole city resplendent. Among their friends, literary lights, musicians and artists such as Harry Smith, Bobby Neuwirth, Allen Ginsberg, Sandy Daley, Sam Shepherd, William Burroughs, etc. It was a heightened time politically and culturally; the art and music worlds exploding and colliding. In the midst of all this two kids made a pact to always care for one another. Scrappy, romantic, committed to making art, they prodded and provided each other with faith and confidence during the hungry years--the days of cous-cous and lettuce soup. Just Kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. Beautifully written, this is a profound portrait of two young artists, often hungry, sated only by art and experience. And an unforgettable portrait of New York, her rich and poor, hustlers and hellions, those who made it and those whose memory lingers near.

**THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Roxy Music's iconic first album with this collection of Bryan Ferry's evocative lyrics of aspiration and romantic longing, introduced by the author.'Lyrics is a book any Roxy fan would be proud to have on their shelf' The TelegraphBryan Ferry's work as a singer and songwriter, both as a solo artist and with Roxy Music, is legendary.Lyrics collects the words written for music across seventeen albums, from the first iconic Roxy album of 1972 via the masterpiece of Avalon to 2014's reflective Avonmore, introduced by the author, and with an insightful essay by James Truman.All the classic Roxy anthems are here - 'Virginia Plain', 'Do the Strand', 'Love is the Drug' - songs in which the real and the make-believe blend in a kaleidoscopic mix, shot through with cinematic allure.Also included are the evocative lyrics of romantic longing and lost illusions for which Ferry is rightly revered: 'Slave to Love', 'Mother of Pearl', 'More Than This'. As he writes in his preface, 'The low points in life so often produce the most keenly felt and best-loved songs.' And, it might be added, some of the best poetry.Discover this unforgettable collection of Bryan Ferry's work today.

Appearing in early 70s New York City as primal prototype street punks, Suicide are now hailed as one of the most important and influential groups of the 20th century, inspiring that decade's major musical movements but too feared and shunned to be awarded their rightful acclaim at the time. Confronting shocked audiences with their electronic "New York blues", singer Alan Vega and instrumentalist Martin Rev fearlessly mirrored the city's sleazy underbelly and decay on blood-freezing gutter-scapes such as 'Ghost Rider' and 'Frankie Teardrop' while invoking doo-wop purity on timeless love songs like 'Cheree' and 'Dream Baby Dream'.The book charts Suicide's uncompromising roller coaster from formative days in performance art and avant garde experimentation to chaotic early shows at drug-infested downtown hotbed the Project of Living Artists.Along with detailed accounts of Suicide's influences, contemporaries and environment which spawned them, the book will position the duo as one of New York's most pivotal but derided outfits as the story moves through their pioneering first album, 1978's shockingly violent UK tour supporting The Clash and subsequent recordings, live sorties and respective parallel solo careers, going up to the present day.The author's eye witness accounts and extensive first-hand interviews with Alan Vega and Martin Rev are joined by conversations with producers Craig Leon, Marty Thau and Bob Blank, contemporaries including Blondie, Jayne County and the New York Dolls and fans such as Nick Cave, Bobby Gillespie and The Clash; adding to a definitive account of this most unique group. With an introduction by Lydia Lunch

The page-turning, definitive guide to beloved ska musician Mike Park and his iconic indie label Asian Man Records.Sourced from over a hundred hours of interviews with musicians, producers, booking agents, label owners, writers, fans, employees, volunteers, friends and family, Elvis is Dead, I’m Still Alive tells the singular story of Asian Man Records.In its first thirty years, Asian Man Records released over 400 albums, all from the garage at Mike Park’s parents’ house. Founded when Park was in his early twenties, the label has started and supported the careers of musicians across many generations, all free from the pressures of the larger music industry. It seemed things could even stay that way forever, until an unexpected email arrived…Spanning early releases by breakout artists like Less Than Jake and Alkaline Trio, to albums that went viral on TikTok, every record has its own story. All of them connect back to Mike Park, the record label founder, who went from struggling with racism as a Korean American in an overwhelmingly white town, to his current status as international underground inspiration.Written by Mike Huguenor, a musician who has seen the label from inside and out, this music biography documents thirty years in the life of a record label unlike any other—the one and only Asian Man Records.

On the occasion of Blondie's fortieth anniversary, Chris Stein shares his iconic and mostly unpublished photographs of Debbie Harry and the cool creatures of the '70s and '80s New York rock scene. While a student at the School of Visual Arts, Chris Stein photographed the downtown New York scene of the early '70s, where he met Deborah Harry and cofounded Blondie. Their blend of punk, dance, and hip-hop spawned a totally new sound, and Stein's photographs helped establish Harry as an international fashion and music icon. In photos and stories direct from Stein, brilliant writer of hits like Rapture and Heart of Glass, this book provides a fascinating snapshot of the period before and during Blondie's huge rise, by someone who was part of and who helped to shape the early punk music scene-at CBGB, Andy Warhol's Factory, and early Bowery. Stars such as David Bowie, the Ramones, Joan Jett, and Iggy Pop were part of Stein's world, as were fascinating downtown characters like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Richard Hell, Stephen Sprouse, Anya Phillips, Divine, and many others.As captured by one of its greatest artists and instigators, and designed by Shepard Fairey, this book is a must-have celebration of the new-wave and punk scene, whose influence on music and fashion is just as relevant today as it was four decades ago.

Every album and every song ever released by the Beatles - from "Please Please Me" (U.S. 1963) to "The Long and Winding Road" (U.S. 1970) - is dissected, discussed, and analyzed by two music historians in this lively, fully illustrated work.All the Songs delves deep into the history and origins of the Beatles and their music. This first-of-its-kind book draws upon decades of research, as music historians Margotin and Guesdon recount the circumstances that led to the composition of every song, the recording process, and the instruments used.Here, we learn that one of John Lennon's favorite guitars was a 1958 Rickenbacker 325 Capri, which he bought for £100 in 1960 in Hamburg, Germany. We also learn that "Love Me Do," recorded in Abbey Road Studios in September 1962, took 18 takes to get right, even though it was one of the first songs John and Paul ever wrote together. And the authors reveal that when the Beatles performed "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, John's microphone wasn't turned on, so viewers heard only Paul singing.The hundreds of photographs throughout the book include rare black-and-white publicity stills, images of Beatles instruments, and engaging shots of the musicians in-studio.All the Songs is the must-have book for the any true Beatles fan.

With a voice that Pitchfork has called "as scratchy as a three-day beard yet as supple and pliable as moccasin leather," former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age vocalist Mark Lanegan draws frequent comparisons to wounded masters of doom like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, and Leonard Cohen. But Lanegan's talents aren't limited to his vocal skills. His lyrics are on par with the best of them, exploring with Blakeian insight the stark and scorched emotional terrain that exists somewhere beyond sadness, addiction, trauma, and spiritual longing. Now, for the first time ever, the reclusive singer presents a comprehensive look at his lyrics, the stories behind them, and the making of his albums as well as photos, insights, and ephemera from a long career in rock 'n' roll, I Am the Wolf gives fans a rare and candid glimpse into the inner workings of a living-and singular-rock legend.

SUNDAY TIMES MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEARROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEARMOJO BOOK OF THE YEARIn 1975, Viv Albertine was obsessed with music but it never occurred to her she could be in a band as she couldn't play an instrument and she'd never seen a girl play electric guitar.A year later, she was the guitarist in the hugely influential all-girl band the Slits, who fearlessly took on the male-dominated music scene and became part of a movement that changed music.A raw, thrilling story of life on the frontiers and a candid account of Viv's life post-punk - taking in a career in film, the pain of IVF, illness and divorce and the triumph of making music again - Clothes Music Boys is a remarkable memoir.

Chris O'Dell has packed a lot in a small amount of time and is probably surprised that she made as far as she has, considering the life she have lived. Hanging around with the Beatles, Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones and managing tours for George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Santana, Earth, Wind & Fire and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. In the early 1980s she worked with Led Zeppelin, Phil Collins, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, The Grateful Dead, and The Band. During all those years, drugs were everywhere. She smoked marijuana, popped black bombers, dropped LSD, and drank endless Scotch and cokes (the Beatles' favourite drink). Getting deep into cocaine while touring with the Stones by the end of the tour in New York she was shooting up the drug. Now sixty years old and with a full life she reflects back on her past.

Franz Schubert (1797–1828) hann under sitt korta liv komponera ett imponerande antal musikverk. Själv hade han ingen aning om det vi idag benämner som marknadsföring, men där ryckte många personer ur hans stora vänkrets in. Utan dem skulle vi förmodligen gått miste om stora delar av all den hans underbara musik som nu finns bevarad.

Många av dessa vänner har också i skrift skildrat honom, och ur denna samling av sådana berättelser framtonar en fängslande bild av människan och tonsättaren Schubert.

Forty years ago, armed with tape, scissors and a hefty dose of wit, Yello—aka Boris Blank, Dieter Meier and, initially, Carlos Perón—, set out to write their very own chapter of music history. In no time at all they found themselves playing The Roxy club in New York, marveling at the seething sea of bodies dancing themselves into ecstasy to the beat of Yello’s seminal single Bostich. Today, thanks to albums like Solid Pleasure, You Gotta Say Yes To Another Excess and Flag, and singles like Oh, Yeah and The Race, Yello are enshrined amongst the pantheon of electropop pioneers. Blank and Meier recently released their 14th studio album, Point, proving once again that age is no obstacle to musical daring and adventure. Yello owe their enduring success to a steadfast refusal to follow the rules of the music industry. This book celebrates the days when “sound painter” Blank and word wizard Meier first set out to create their Yello world. So, naturally, it doesn’t stick to the beaten track of glossy pop music biographies either. Meier had already displayed a keen eye for pointedly nonsensical aesthetics as an experimental filmmaker and conceptual artist before delving into music. And Blank, tinkering away in the music studio, was also hip to the power of visual representation. For Oh Yeah / Yello 40, the two artists dug deep into their souvenir boxes to come up with an intriguing haul of Polaroids, posters, letters, fanzine reviews, sketches, pictures of their trip to Cuba—and even the handwritten sheet music to Bostich. Oh Yeah / Yello 40 is more than a scrapbook from the days when we were all young. The book harks back to the gleefully playful zeitgeist of the post-punk era in a city which, as only fools may have forgotten, was the cradle of Dada. — Hanspeter “Du?si” Kuenzler