Music Press Books – serie

'James Hetfield is a guitarist of otherworldly ability... this book tries to understand, de-mystify and even humanise a rock legend who, for most of his career, has remained impenetrable.' Metallica's ascension from thrash metal obscurity to becoming arguably one of the greatest rock bands the world has ever known, can be directly attributed to its lead singer and guitarist, James Hetfield. Having sold 110 million records worldwide and with an impressive eight Grammy Awards to their name, Metallica is undoubtedly a commercial triumph, but what of the man behind the music? Of Metal and Man is the newly revised biography of this rock legend, offering an exclusive insight into the life and career of one of Metallica's founding members. Author Mark Eglinton charts the hidden complexities of the relationships within the band, exploring the effects that global fame has had on Hetfield and his cohorts. Eglinton sheds light on both the highs of worldwide success and the lows of addiction and alcohol abuse, giving details of exclusive first-hand interviews with key figures from the band's inner circle. Dramatic and compelling, and now with newly updated material, this is the definitive biography of James Hetfield - singer-songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of a band which has changed the face of rock, the world over.

Damon Albarn was the frontman of Blur and the face of Britpop. While his peers have gradually fallen by the wayside, Albarn has survived Britpop to completely re-invent himself as the mastermind behind the global phenomenon that is Gorillaz. With his eclectic solo projects - such as the currently much-revered The Good, The Bad and the Queen - and his work with legends like Soul music icon Bobby Womack, he has proven again and again that he is one of British music's most respected, innovative and important personalities. And in 2015, with the release of The Magic Whip, Blur's first album for over a decade, Damon Albarn will take his place once more as an iconic jewel in the crown of the British music scene. This fully up-to-date book - the only available dedicated biography of Albarn - covers his multiple musical personas in depth, with first-hand interviews by those close to Albarn in his formative years, as well as social and musical context that covers the Britpop era and Albarn's re-emergence as the Godfather to the i-Pod generation.

A human cartoon of hair, super-strength cigarettes and the world's most famous top hat, Slash is the epitome of Rock 'n' Roll. One of the most iconic guitarists of all-time, his staggering performance on Guns N' Roses' Appetite For Destruction heralded the arrival of a brand new superstar name in rock.His complex relationship with frontman Axl Rose and the phenomenal music that emerged from that band cemented his reputation in rock's history books; since leaving G N' R, however, Slash has masterfully plied his trade through a series of solo projects and high profile guest appearances.This is the first book to examine the complete story of Slash, from his humble roots in suburban London in the late Sixties, to his thunderous ride through the alleys and red carpets of California to his present day success with Velvet Revolver. The book also takes a fresh look at the Guns N' Roses saga and examines all of Slash's other projects in exhaustive detail.