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Some New Kind of Kick: A Memoir
Par Kid Congo Powers. 2022
An intimate, coming-of-age memoir by legendary guitarist Kid Congo Powers, detailing his experiences as a young, queer Mexican-American in 1970s…
Los Angeles through his rise in the glam rock and punk rock scenes.Kid Congo Powers has been described as a &“legendary guitarist and paragon of cool&” with &“the greatest resume ever of anyone in rock music." That unique imprint on rock history stems from being a member of not one but three beloved, groundbreaking, and influential groups—Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, the Cramps, and last but not least, The Gun Club, the wildly inventive punk-blues band he co-founded.Some New Kind of Kick begins as an intimate coming of age tale, of a young, queer, Chicano kid, growing up in a suburb east of East LA, in the mid-&‘70s, exploring his sexual identity through glam rock. When a devastating personal tragedy crushes his teenage dreams, he finds solace and community through fandom, as founder (&‘The Prez&’) of the Ramones West Coast fan club, and immerses himself in the delinquent chaos of the early LA punk scene.A chance encounter with another superfan, in the line outside the Whiskey-A-Go-Go to get into a Pere Ubu concert, changes the course of his life entirely. Jeffrey Lee Pierce, a misfit Chicano punk who runs the Blondie fan club, proposes they form a band. The Gun Club is born. So begins an unlikely transition from adoring fan to lauded performer. In Pierce, he finds brotherhood, a creative voice, and a common cause, but also a shared appetite for self-destruction that threatens to overwhelm them both.Quirky, droll, and heartfelt, with a pitch-perfect evocation of time and place, and a wealth of richly-drawn supporting characters, Some New Kind of Kick is a memoir of personal transformation, addiction and recovery, friendship and belonging, set against the relentless creativity and excess of the &’70s and &’80s underground music scenes.Peter Hince spent 13 years as head roadie for Queen. His collection of photographs and ephemera from the band&’s personal…
and public moments will finally see the light of day for the first time. It&’s a unique photographic record of one of the most celebrated rock bands of all time. From concerts in Munich to Japan, Hince follows Queen from studio to street to stage. Facsimiles of handwritten notes from recording sessions, photos of the band in the studio, images of cassettes given to Hince to debut at clubs, Freddie Mercury with and without a mustache . . . the list goes on. Along with many candid moments are great photos of the various items collected from more than a decade of tours: backstage passes, matchbooks, set lists, and more.We Are The Clash: Reagan, Thatcher, and the Last Stand of a Band That Mattered
Par Mark Andersen, Ralph Heibutzki. 2018
"The Clash's final chapter, after guitarist Mick Jones' 1983 departure, has largely been forgotten--until this book, in which authors Mark…
Andersen and Ralph Heibutzki argue that the punk pioneers were still creating vital music to the very end."--Rolling Stone, an RS Picks / New BooksA BookRiot Loved pick for July!"In We Are The Clash, Mark Andersen and Ralph Heibutzki...are more interested in Strummer's strain to re-harness the power of punk to ignite opposition in the cynical Thatcher-Reagan era."--The Current's Rock and Roll Book Club (Minnesota Public Radio)"The Clash may have not been the best example of integrity in the music world with their careerist opportunism but their message of hope and possibility, cribbed from Reggae and Soul music, is all too important."--Maximum Rocknroll"When you think of The Clash, what comes to mind? Their early days in the London punk scene, perhaps, or the triumphant release of London Calling. We Are The Clash focuses on a very different moment in the band's history: the point at which the group splintered in the early 1980s, and its members grappled with an onset of reactionary governments around the world."--Vol. 1 Brooklyn, included in the July 2018 Book Preview"One of the most rewarding music books you'll come across this year...By focusing as much on the politics that motivated the Clash, We Are the Clash becomes a vital political history as much as an account of an underdocumented portion of a band's career. Great music books catalyze critical reconsiderations; We Are the Clash does one better, inviting readers to consider what matters to them: the creative commodities that artists produce? Or the ideals, however complexly and clumsily human they may be, that often compel artists to create in the first place."--Johns Hopkins Magazine"A gripping tale of the band's struggle to reinvent itself as George Orwell's 1984 loomed. This bold campaign crashed headlong into a wall of internal contraditions and rising right-wing power."--Brooklyn Digest (blog)"Given the number of books out there about The Clash, this is, as I stated, the only one to take a genuine, unbiased and in-depth appraisal of this era of the band. Given the quality of the writing, this could also be the most essential book about the band."--Scanner ZineThe Clash was a paradox of revolutionary conviction, musical ambition, and commercial drive. We Are The Clash is a gripping tale of the band's struggle to reinvent itself as George Orwell's 1984 loomed. This bold campaign crashed headlong into a wall of internal contradictions, and rising right-wing power.While the world teetered on the edge of the nuclear abyss, British miners waged a life-or-death strike, and tens of thousands died from US guns in Central America, Clash cofounders Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, and Bernard Rhodes waged a desperate last stand after ejecting guitarist Mick Jones and drummer Topper Headon. The band shattered just as its controversial final album, Cut the Crap, was emerging.Andersen and Heibutzki weave together extensive archival research and in-depth original interviews with virtually all of the key players involved to tell a moving story of idealism undone by human frailty amid a climatic turning point for our world.Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton and Me
Par Bernie Taupin. 2023
'This is the most glorious of books. I am besotted by the life I never knew he had.' -Elton John'Orgasmic.…
Every page of Scattershot is a delight, a joy, a name-dropper fan's delight. Divine. I couldn't put it down.' -Pete Townshend'In Bernie Taupin's miraculous memoir Scattershot you'll meet legends, cowboys, geniuses, unforgettable faces in the night, shady purveyors of outrageous fortune, warriors of the heart, and most of all, Taupin himself. Hilarious and so emotionally true, Scattershot is like a letter from a cherished friend. You'll want to keep it close, so you can read it again and again.' -Cameron Crowe'Touching. Charming. Humble. Witty. And exquisitely written. Taupin's words need no musical accompaniment. They sing with a poets voice.' -Gary Oldman'Eloquent and inspiring, Scattershot is a freewheeling memoir that is as warm and evocative as Bernie Taupin's most memorable lyrics. A born storyteller, Taupin gives us the life of an artist whose outlook was shaped by a rare but fascinating blend of lifelong innocence and endless intellectual curiosity.' -Robert Hilburn, author of Johnny Cash: The LifeThis is the memoir music fans have been waiting for. Half of one of the greatest creative partnerships in popular music, Bernie Taupin is the man who wrote the lyrics for Elton John, who conceived the ideas that spawned countless hits, and sold millions and millions of records. Together, they were a duo, a unit, an immovable object. Their extraordinary, half-century-and-counting creative relationship has been chronicled in biopics (like 2019's Rocketman) and even John's own autobiography, Me. But Taupin, a famously private person, has kept his own account of their adventures close to his chest, until now.Written with honesty and candour, Scatterhot allows the reader to witness events unfolding from Taupin's singular perspective, sometimes front and center, sometimes from the edge, yet always described vibrantly, with an infectious energy that only a vivid songwriter's prose could offer. From his childhood in the East Midlands of England whose imagination was sparked and forever informed by the distinctly American mythopoetics of country music and cowboys, to the glittering, star-studded fishbowl of '70s and '80s Beverly Hills, Scattershot is simultaneously a Tom Jones-like picaresque journey across a landscape of unforgettable characters, as well as a striking, first-hand account of a creative era like no other and one man's experience at the core of it.An exciting, multi-decade whirlwind, Scattershot whizzes around the world as we ride shotgun with Bernie on his extraordinary life. We visit New York with him and Elton on the cusp of global fame. We spend time with him in Australia almost in residency at an infamous rock 'n' roll hotel in an endless blizzard of drugs. And we spend late, late night hours with John Lennon, with Bob Marley, and hanging with Frank Sinatra. And beyond the world of popular music, we witness memorable encounters with writers like Graham Greene, painters like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, and scores of notable misfits, miscreants, eccentrics, and geniuses, known and unknown. Even if they're not famous in their own right, they are stars on the page, and we discover how they inspired the indelible lyrics to songs such as "Tiny Dancer," "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and The Jets," and so many more.Unique and utterly compelling, Scattershot will transport the reader across the decades and around the globe, along the way meeting some of the greatest creative minds of the 20th century, and into the vivid imaginings of one of music's most legendary lyricists.SHOT! by Rock: The Photography of Mick Rock
Par Mick Rock. 2021
Born in 1948 in Hammersmith, London, Michael Rock became a photographer after graduating from college, and developed his visual style…
with photos of the local rock music scene in England. Soon thereafter his photography career took off, going higher and higher with each new musician he shot for. His work is embodied in this text, full of luscious, color-saturated photography of some of the most dynamic and enthralling musical acts and stars in rock history—and likewise filled with amazing and amusing behind-the-scenes stories of musicians from Mick Jagger to Miley Cyrus and beyond. A sure-fire hit with rock and musical history fans!Punk Paradox: A Memoir
Par Greg Graffin. 2022
From the legendary singer-songwriter of Bad Religion comes a historical memoir and cultural criticism of punk rock&’s evolution. Greg Graffin…
is the lead vocalist and songwriter of Bad Religion, recently described as &“America's most significant punk band.&” Since its inception in Los Angeles in 1980, Bad Religion has produced 18 studio albums, become a long-running global touring powerhouse, and has established a durable legacy as one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time. Punk Paradox is Graffin's life narrative before and during L.A. punk's early years, detailing his observations on the genre's explosive growth and his band's steady rise in importance. The book begins by exploring Graffin&’s Midwestern roots and his life-changing move to Southern California in the mid-&’70s. Swept up into the burgeoning punk scene in the exhilarating and often-violent streets of Los Angeles, Graffin and his friends formed Bad Religion, built a fanbase, and became a touring institution. All these activities took place in parallel with Graffin's never ceasing quest for intellectual enlightenment. Despite the demands of global tours, recording sessions, and dedication to songwriting, the author also balanced a budding academic career. In so doing, he managed to reconcile an improbable double-life as an iconic punk rock front man and University Lecturer in evolution. Graffin&’s unique experiences mirror the paradoxical elements that define the punk genre—the pop influence, the quest for society&’s betterment, music&’s unifying power—all of which are prime ingredients in its surprising endurance. Fittingly, this book argues against the traditional narrative of the popular perception of punk. As Bad Religion changed from year to year, the spirit of punk—and its sonic significance—lived on while Graffin was ever willing to challenge convention, debunk mythology, and liberate listeners from the chains of indoctrination. As insightful as it is exciting, this thought-provoking memoir provides both a fly on the wall history of the punk scene and astute commentary on its endurance and evolution.Still Alright: A Memoir
Par Kenny Loggins. 2022
Enjoy the stories behind Kenny Loggins' legendary five-decade career as a celebrated songwriter, chart-topping collaborator, and &“The Soundtrack King&” with…
this pop icon&’s intimate and entertaining music memoir. In a remarkable career, Kenny Loggins has rocked stages worldwide, released ten platinum albums, and landed hits all over the Billboard charts. His place in music history is marked by a unique gift for collaboration combined with the vision to evolve, adapt, and persevere in an industry that loves to eat its own. Loggins served as a pivotal figure in the folk-rock movement of the early &’70s when he paired with former Buffalo Springfield member Jim Messina, recruited Stevie Nicks for the classic duet &“Whenever I Call You &‘Friend,&’&” then pivoted to smooth rock in teaming up with Michael McDonald on their back-to-back Grammy-winning hits &“What a Fool Believes&” and &“This Is It&” (a seminal moment in the history of what would come to be known as yacht rock). In the &’80s, Loggins became the king of soundtracks with hit recordings for Caddyshack, Footloose, and Top Gun; and a bona fide global superstar singing alongside Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson on &“We Are the World.&” In Still Alright, Kenny Loggins gives fans a candid and entertaining perspective on his life and career as one of the most noteworthy musicians of the 1970s and &’80s. He provides an abundance of compelling, insightful, and terrifically amusing behind-the-scenes tales. Loggins draws readers back to the musical eras they&’ve loved, as well as addressing the challenges and obstacles of his life and work—including two marriages that ended in divorce, a difficult but motivating relationship with the older brother for which &“Danny&’s Song&” is named, struggles with his addiction to benzodiazepines, and the revelations of turning seventy and looking back at everything that has shaped his music—and coming to terms with his rock-star persona and his true self.A Song For Everyone: The Story of Creedence Clearwater Revival
Par John Lingan. 2022
The definitive biography of Creedence Clearwater Revival, exploring the band's legendary rise to fame and how their music embodied the…
cultural landscape of the late '60s and early '70sFrom 1969 to 1971, as the United States convulsed with political upheaval and transformative social movements, no band was bigger than Creedence Clearwater Revival. They managed a two-year barrage of top-10 singles and LPs that doubled as an ubiquitous soundtrack to one of the most volatile periods in modern American history, and they remain a staple of classic rock radio and films about the era. Yet despite their enduring popularity, no book has ever sought to understand Creedence in conversation with their time. A Song for Everyone finally tells that story: the thirteen-year saga of an unassuming suburban quartet's journey through the wilds of 1960s pop, and their slow accrual of a sound and ethos that were almost mystically aligned with the concerns of decade's end. Starting in middle school, these Californian friends and brothers cut a working-class path through the most expansive decade in American music, playing R&B, country, and rock 'n' roll under a variety of names as each of those genres expanded and evolved. When they finally synthesized those styles under a new name in 1968, Creedence Clearwater Revival became instantly epochal, then fell apart under the weight of personal grievances that dated back to adolescence. As musicians and as men, they embodied the contradictions and difficulties of their time, and those dimensions of their career have never been explored until now.Drawing on wide-ranging research into the social and musical developments of 1959-1972, extensive original interviews with surviving Creedence members and associates, and unpublished memoirs from people who knew the group closely, A Song for Everyone is the definitive account of a legendary and still-beloved American band. At the same time, it is also a cultural history of those same years—from Elvis to Altamont, Eisenhower to Watergate—seen through the eyes of four men who encapsulated them in song for all time, told by one of the rising figures in contemporary music writing.Soulside: Washington, Dc, 1986-1989
Par Alexis Fleisig. 2019
A photographic history of the DC-based 1980s punk rock band that recorded for Dischord Records. "If you know and love…
the band, this is a must, if you like DC punk bands, also." --Trust (Germany) Soulside, a band from the mid-1980s Dischord Records punk rock scene in Washington, DC, grew into maturity in a few short years, goinCSNY: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Par Peter Doggett. 2019
An engaging and illuminating biography focused on the formative and highly influential early years of &“rock&’s first supergroup&” (Rolling Stone)…
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young—when they were the most successful, influential, and politically potent band in America.After making their marks in popular bands such as the Hollies and the Byrds, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash released their first album in May 1969. By the time they arrived at Woodstock a few months later, Neil Young had joined their ranks and together, their transcendent harmonies and evocative lyrics channeled all the romantic idealism and radical angst of their time. Now, music journalist Peter Doggett chronicles these legendary musicians and the movement they came to represent at the height of their popularity and influence: 1969 to 1974. Based on interviews with the band and colleagues, along with exclusive access to CSNY&’s archive, Doggett provides new insights into their incredible catalog, from their delicate acoustic confessionals like &“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes&” to their timeless classics such as &“Our House.&” Doggett also uncovers plenty of new stories and perspectives on the four tenacious and volatile songwriters&’ infamously reckless, hedonistic, and often combative lifestyles that led to their continuous breakups and behaviors—extreme even by rock star standards. &“A must for CSNY fans and anyone who remembers the era when it ruled the pop charts&” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), CSNY is a quintessential and definitive account of one of the biggest bands of the Woodstock generation.Kurt Cobain and Nirvana
Par Andrew Earles, Charles R. Cross, Gillian G. Gaar, Bob Gendron, Todd Martens, Mark Yarm. 2013
Now updated, the first complete illustrated history of the band: “A feast for fans’ eyes.” —SpinKurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, and…
Krist Novoselic comprised Nirvana, the band that unintentionally tore the music world asunder with the 1991 album Nevermind, which continues to rattle speakers today. This book tells the fully illustrated story of the band that spoke for Generation X in the ‘90s.Kurt Cobain and Nirvana reveals the history with fresh eyes, telling the tale of a group that instigated a return to punk-inspired rock. This updated edition features the writing of a talented team of prominent music journalists. It also includes performance and backstage photography, as well as handbills, singles, ticket stubs, gig posters, and other memorabilia that complement the narrative, as well as album reviews, gear breakdowns, and mini-synopses of Cobain’s fifty all-time favorite albums. Nirvana’s ride was a wild one—and all too brief. In these pages, it’s recalled in vivid, poignant detail.“Emphasizes the visual ephemera of Nirvana’s career: photographs, concert posters, ticket stubs, t-shirts, infant onesies, even a casting call for the ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ video.” —PitchforkSaxophone Colossus: The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins
Par Aidan Levy. 2022
**Winner of the American Book Award (2023)** **Longlisted for the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award (2023)** The long-awaited first full biography of…
legendary jazz saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins Sonny Rollins has long been considered an enigma. Known as the &“Saxophone Colossus,&” he is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz improvisers of all time, winning Grammys, the Austrian Cross of Honor, Sweden&’s Polar Music Prize and a National Medal of Arts. A bridge from bebop to the avant-garde, he is a lasting link to the golden age of jazz, pictured in the iconic &“Great Day in Harlem&” portrait. His seven-decade career has been well documented, but the backstage life of the man once called &“the only jazz recluse&” has gone largely untold—until now. Based on more than 200 interviews with Rollins himself, family members, friends, and collaborators, as well as Rollins&’ extensive personal archive, Saxophone Colossus is the comprehensive portrait of this legendary saxophonist and composer, civil rights activist and environmentalist. A child of the Harlem Renaissance, Rollins&’ precocious talent landed him on the bandstand and in the recording studio with Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, or playing opposite Billie Holiday. An icon in his own right, he recorded Tenor Madness, featuring John Coltrane; Way Out West; Freedom Suite, the first civil rights-themed album of the hard bop era; A Night at the Village Vanguard; and the 1956 classic Saxophone Colossus. Yet his meteoric rise to fame was not without its challenges. He served two sentences on Rikers Island and won his battle with heroin addiction. In 1959, Rollins took a two-year sabbatical from recording and performing, practicing up to 16 hours a day on the Williamsburg Bridge. In 1968, he left again to study at an ashram in India. He returned to performing from 1971 until his retirement in 2012. The story of Sonny Rollins—innovative, unpredictable, larger than life—is the story of jazz itself, and Sonny&’s own narrative is as timeless and timely as the art form he represents. Part jazz oral history told in the musicians&’ own words, part chronicle of one man&’s quest for social justice and spiritual enlightenment, this is the definitive biography of one of the most enduring and influential artists in jazz and American history.Society's Child: My Autobiography
Par Janis Ian. 2008
Janis Ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of fifteen, when her soul-wrenching song Society's Child…
became a hit. An intimate portrait of an interracial relationship, Society's Child climbed the charts despite the fact that many radio stations across the country refused to play it because of its controversial subject matter. But this was only the beginning of a long and illustrious career. In this fascinating memoir of her more than forty years in the music business, Ian chronicles how she did drugs with Jimi Hendrix, went shopping for Grammy clothes with Janis Joplin, and sang with Mel Tormé all the while never ceasing to create unforgettable music. In 1975, Ian's legendary At Seventeen earned two Grammy awards and five nominations. Her next two albums brought her worldwide platinum hits. But after seven albums in as many years, she made a conscious decision to walk away from the often grueling music business. During this period, she struggled through a difficult marriage that ended with her then husband's attempt to destroy her, and a sudden illness that very nearly cost her her life. The hiatus from music lasted for close to a decade until, in 1993, Ian returned with the release of the Grammy-nominated Breaking Silence. Now, as she moves gracefully into her fifth decade as a recording artist and writer, Ian continues to draw large audiences around the globe. In Society's Child, Janis Ian provides a relentlessly honest account of the successes and failures?and the hopes and dreams?of an extraordinary life.Chuck Berry: An American Life
Par Rj Smith. 2022
The definitive biography of Chuck Berry, legendary performer and inventor of rock and roll Best known as the groundbreaking artist…
behind classics like &“Johnny B. Goode,&” &“Maybellene,&” &“You Never Can Tell&” and &“Roll Over Beethoven,&” Chuck Berry was a man of wild contradictions, whose motives and motivations were often shrouded in mystery. After all, how did a teenage delinquent come to write so many songs that transformed American culture? And, once he achieved fame and recognition, why did he put his career in danger with a lifetime&’s worth of reckless personal behavior? Throughout his life, Berry refused to shed light on either the mastery or the missteps, leaving the complexity that encapsulated his life and underscored his music largely unexplored—until now. In Chuck Berry, biographer RJ Smith crafts a comprehensive portrait of one of the great American entertainers, guitarists, and lyricists of the 20th century, bringing Chuck Berry to life in vivid detail. Based on interviews, archival research, legal documents, and a deep understanding of Berry&’s St. Louis (his birthplace, and the place where he died in March 2017), Smith sheds new light on a man few have ever really understood. By placing his life within the context of the American culture he made and eventually withdrew from, we understand how Berry became such a groundbreaking figure in music, erasing racial boundaries, crafting subtle political commentary, and paying a great price for his success. While celebrating his accomplishments, the book also does not shy away from troubling aspects of his public and private life, asking profound questions about how and why we separate the art from the artist. Berry declined to call himself an artist, shrugging that he was good at what he did. But the man's achievement was the rarest kind, the kind that had social and political resonance, the kind that made America want to get up and dance. At long last, Chuck Berry brings the man and the music together.David Bowie: Mixing Memory & Desire
Par Kevin Cummins. 2023
David Bowie: Mixing Memory & Desire includes some of the best images of Bowie ever taken, the majority of which…
have never been published until now. A then 19-year old photography student from Manchester, Kevin Cummins, who photographed Bowie as Ziggy Stardust in 1973, caught the singer's attention with his impressive images that soon became iconic. Bowie allowed him personal access and they made history together, spanning four decades. The photographs capture the amazing metamorphosis of Bowie through his various personas such as Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, and The Thin White Duke. This collection illuminates the singer's brilliance, creativity, and personality, capturing him in rare and intimate moments. David Bowie: Mixing Memory & Desire is a remarkable opportunity to see Bowie's contribution to music, fashion, and culture, making it a keepsake for fans everywhere. Kevin Cummins went on to photograph some of the best acts in the U.K. music scene and has had photos displayed in museums, on many album covers, and on book jackets. AN INTIMATE LOOK AT DAVID BOWIE: A special photographic journey capturing the iconic singer on stage, outside, and in more quiet, personal moments. 200 PHOTOS, SOME NEVER BEFORE SEEN: Kevin Cummins' incomparable collection of images shows Bowie and his alter egos in exciting ways. PERFECT GIFT FOR MUSIC FANS: Just in time for the holidays, a great gift for the music lover and a wonderful package to behold. BEHIND THE SCENES STORIES: Photographer Kevin Cummins shares moments from his time with Bowie, including the photo of Bowie that launched Kevin's career at just 19 years old.Bruce Springsteen: An Illustrated Biography
Par Meredith Ochs. 1204
A biography of the Boss from the streets of Freehold to rock stardom to the Broadway stage, loaded with performance…
and candid photos.Through story, images, and memorabilia, Bruce Springsteen: An Illustrated Biography chronicles the life of The Boss—one of America’s favorite rock stars and one of the biggest-selling artists in history. Springsteen’s monolithic music career spans over a half-century, from 1968 to the present, and has included dozens of tours and awards including twenty Grammys. Incredibly, his stage presence, star power, and musicianship is as strong as ever as he consistently sells out live performances. This book showcases his life both on and off the stage.This edition includes a new chapter covering Springsteen on BroadwayThe Doors Unhinged: Jim Morrison's Legacy Goes On Trial
Par John Densmore. 2023
Legendary drummer and founding member of The Doors, John Densmore, unpacks the intersection of art and commerce in this deeply…
principled middle finger to greed "The Doors drummer Densmore rockets through his tumultuous six-year lawsuit against former bandmates Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger in this no-holds-barred account . . . Throughout, the author's initial question—at what point does money cheapen art's original message?—remains salient, even if he hammers it home a bit repetitively. Devoted fans will be eager to get their hands on this deep dive." —Publishers Weekly "Densmore's concerns about his band's legacy and its meaning in today's society are thought-provoking and worth pondering. Also impressive is his continued respect for his former bandmates' creativity and musicianship, despite the in-fighting, philosophical differences, and court battles. Not a typical rock memoir, but something more interesting to those who want to look past the hit songs and off-stage antics." —Kirkus Reviews "Part courtroom drama, part morality tale, The Doors Unhinged reminds us what happens when greed and deception get in the way of teamwork and the creative process." —Booklist IN THE DOORS UNHINGED, NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR and legendary Doors drummer John Densmore offers a powerful exploration of the "greed gene"—that part of the human psyche that propels us toward the accumulation of more and more wealth, even at the expense of our principles, friendships, and the well-being of society. This is the gripping account of the legal battle to control The Doors's artistic destiny. In it, Densmore looks at his conflict with his bandmates over the right to use The Doors's name, revealing the ways in which this struggle mirrors and reflects a much larger societal issue: that no amount of money seems to be enough for even the wealthiest people. The Doors continue to attract new generations of fans, with more than one hundred million albums sold worldwide and counting, and nearly twenty million followers to the band's social media accounts. As such, Densmore occupies a rarefied space in popular culture. He's beloved by artists across the decades for his fierce, uncompromising dedication to art. His writing consistently earns accolades and has appeared in a range of publications, such as the Los Angeles Times and Rolling Stone. As his friend and American novelist Tom Robbins recently said to him, "If you keep writing like this, I'll have to get a drum set." This is an incredibly timely and important volume in a contemporary world that is increasingly consumed by an insatiable profit motive. John Densmore has given us a blueprint for an approach to life and culture that is not driven by greed.Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard On You?: A Memoir
Par George Clinton. 2014
**ONE OF THE BEST MUSIC BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY ROLLING STONE**The captivating memoir from &“the emperor of intergalactic funk&”…
(NPR) and most influential pop artists of our time—known for over forty R&B hit singles—George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic.George Clinton began his musical career in New Jersey, where his obsession with doo-wop and R&B led to a barbershop quartet—literally, as Clinton and his friends also styled hair in the local shop—the way kids often got their musical start in the &’50s. But how many kids like that ended up playing to tens of thousands of rabid fans alongside a diaper-clad guitarist? How many of them commissioned a spaceship and landed it onstage during concerts? How many put their stamp on four decades of pop music, from the mind-expanding sixties to the hip-hop-dominated nineties and beyond? One of them. That&’s how many. How George Clinton got from barbershop quartet to funk music megastar is a story for the ages. As a high school student, George traveled to New York City, where he absorbed all the trends in pop music, from traditional rhythm and blues to Motown, the Beatles, the Stones, and psychedelic rock, not to mention the formative funk of James Brown and Sly Stone. By the dawn of the seventies, he had emerged as the leader of a wildly creative musical movement composed mainly of two bands—Parliament and Funkadelic. And by the bicentennial, Clinton and his P-Funk empire were dominating the soul charts as well as the pop charts. He was an artistic visionary, visual icon, merry prankster, absurdist philosopher, and savvy businessmen, all rolled into one. He was like no one else in pop music, before or since. Written with wit, humor, and candor, this memoir provides tremendous insight into America&’s music industry as forever changed by Clinton&’s massive talent. This is a story of a beloved global icon who dedicated himself to spreading the gospel of funk music.Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah
Par Kathy Iandoli. 2021
In a definitive and &“excellent homage to a star who left this planet too soon&” (Questlove), the life, career, tragic…
death, and evolution of Aaliyah into a music legend are explored—now updated with new material featuring in-depth research and exclusive interviews.By twenty-two years old, Aaliyah had already accomplished a staggering amount: hit records, acclaimed acting roles, and fame that was just about to cross over into superstardom. Like her song, she was already &“more than a woman&” but her shocking death in a plane crash prevented her from fully growing into one. Now, two decades later, the full story of Aaliyah&’s life and cultural impact is finally and lovingly revealed. Baby Girl features never-before-told stories, including studio anecdotes, personal tales, and eyewitness accounts on the events leading up to her untimely passing. Her enduring influence on today&’s artists—such as Rihanna, Drake, Normani, and many more—is also celebrated, providing Aaliyah&’s discography a cultural critique that is long overdue. &“There&’s no better way to pay your respect to R&B&’s true angel than to lose yourself in the pages&” (Kim Osorio, journalist and author of Straight from the Source) of this &“dazzling biography&” (Publishers Weekly) that is as unforgettable as its subject. This book was written without the participation of Aaliyah&’s family/estate.The Rolling Stones All the Songs Expanded Edition: The Story Behind Every Track
Par Philippe Margotin, Jean-Michel Guesdon. 2016
Comprehensive visual history of the "World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band" as told through the recording of their monumental catalog,…
including 29 studio and 24 compilation albums, and more than a hundred singles.Since 1963, The Rolling Stones have been recording and touring, 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 their 340 released songs, 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, 704-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 they 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."