Music & Musicians

The funny, revealing, highly original and Sunday Times bestselling memoir from Jarvis Cocker. The Sunday Times bestselling hit memoir from Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker. “It's real gold... its storytelling first class” — Sunday Times What if the things we keep hidden say more about us than those we put on display? We all have a random collection of the things...

The New York Times bestselling book which examines how humans experience music and unravels the mystery of our perennial love affair with it. Using musical examples from Bach to the Beatles, Levitin reveals the role of music in human evolution, shows how our musical preferences begin to form even before we are born, and explains why music can offer such...

This is the first spellbinding volume of the three-volume memoir of one of the greatest musical legends of all time. In Chronicles Volume 1, Bob Dylan takes us back to the early 1960s when he arrived in New York to launch his phenomenal career. This is Dylan's story in his own words—a personal view of his motivations, frustrations, and remarkable...

Steven Patrick Morrissey was born in Manchester on May 22nd 1959. Singer-songwriter and co-founder of The Smiths (1982-1987), Morrissey has been a solo artist for twenty-six years, during which time he has had three number 1 albums in England in three different decades. Achieving eleven Top 10 albums (plus nine with The Smiths), his songs have been recorded by David...

In Scar Tissue, Anthony Kiedis, charismatic and highly articulate frontman of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, recounts his remarkable life story, and the history of the band itself. Raised in the Midwest, he moved to LA aged eleven to live with his father Blackie, purveyor of pills, pot, and cocaine to the Hollywood elite. After a brief child-acting career, Kiedis...

Swifties everywhere will enjoy hours of colouring and other fun activities in this book packed full of dynamic Eras Tour scenes featuring their favourite musician! Experience Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour anytime, anywhere! Colour in 36 inspiring illustrations of Taylor performing her most popular hits. Solve a variety of word searches, quizzes, word scrambles, mazes, and spot-the-difference puzzles, all with...

In Your Area and In Our Hearts – this is the world of BLACKPINK! August 2016: stars are born. A decade later, BLACKPINK are still shooting to dazzling heights, redefining the music landscape globally with no end in sight. Come along and party as we dance through ten years of breaking records, unforgettable tours, play on repeat hits and drop...

Be inspired by the affirmations, wit and wisdom of Rock & Roll royalty. For Ozzy Osbourne fans around the world. Go back to the beginning with the perfect gift for Ozzy and Black Sabbath fans 'Looking back on my life, I don't know how I got here... I've lived a hell of a life' - Ozzy Godfather of heavy metal,...

Music From Big Pink is a moving book that succeeds not just in vividly evoking its time and place but in distilling one young man's cliched and minor destiny into something approaching tragedy. This well-written first novel captures not just some of the dreams of that bygone era, but the way those dreams died. - Greg Kamiya, The New York...

Released in 1979, AC/DC's Highway To Hell was the infamous last album recorded with singer Bon Scott, who died of alcohol poisoning in London in February of 1980. Officially chalked up to "Death by Misadventure," Scott's demise has forever secured the album's reputation as a partying primer and a bible for lethal behaviour, branding the album with the fun chaos...

Pavement wrapped up at Easley Recording in Memphis. They mixed the tracks and recorded overdubs in New York. They took a step back and assessed the material. It was a wild scene. They had fully fleshed-out songs and whispers and rumours of half-formed ones. They had songs that followed a hard-to-gauge internal logic. They had punk tunes and country tunes...

In 1991, Metallica released their fifth studio album that would become known and beloved around the world as The Black Album. Since its release, it has sold 30 million copies and become a towering monument in the pantheon of rock’s greatest records. Readers will get unprecedented insight into the story behind an iconic album from one of the world’s most...

Black Sabbath's Master of Reality has maintained remarkable historical status over several generations; it's a touchstone for the directionless, and common coin for young men and women who've felt excluded from the broader cultural economy. John Darnielle hears it through the ears of Roger Painter, a young adult locked in a southern California adolescent psychiatric centre in 1985. Deprived of...

Colour In Taylor invites fans to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of the multi-talented artist. From her country roots to her pop superstar status, each page features intricate illustrations inspired by Swift’s iconic tours, music videos, and iconic fashion moments. Whether adding their own touch to the scene from "Love Story" or adding a splash of colour to the...

A superbly engaging guide to music around the world, from prehistory to the present Music excites and moves us perhaps more than any other art form. From a Neanderthal's bone flute to the festivals of Glastonbury and Coachella, human beings have always made and enjoyed music. Covering a remarkable range, including Indian raga, Javanese gamelan, medieval chant, jazz and K-pop,...

The definitive biography of one of music history's most beloved, versatile, unforgettable icons—Roy Orbison, the singer-songwriter of legendary hits including "Only the Lonely," "Crying," and "Oh, Pretty Woman"—from his chart-topping highs and tragic lows to his momentous comeback. He didn't look, move, or sound like his contemporaries, but Roy Orbison, king of the emotionally charged, slow-burning, drama-ballad, struck a worldwide...

Celebrate the incredible career of pop music’s biggest star in this sparkling biography. We’re all living in the Taylor Swift Era. Since her 2006 debut album, she’s sold more than 200 million records, sold out countless arenas, and become one of the most influential artists of her generation. Her Eras Tour is on track to gross more than $1 billion...

A raw, fearless memoir from the Grammy Award–winning artist, actor, and designer Kid Cudi about a kid from Cleveland who found purpose in the darkness and became a guiding light for a generation. Cudi: The Memoir is Scott Mescudi’s most personal work yet. Across a trailblazing career, he’s turned pain into poetry with anthems like “Day ’N’ Nite,” “Pursuit of...

1991: XXX years ago, a trailblazing trio made music history blending East Coast hip-hop fundamentals with West Coast chicano swagger to form a sound all their own. Before they became icons, Louis and Senen were just a couple of teenage cholos from around the way, trying to stay out of trouble—until a series of chance encounters with both sides of...

More than any other publication, Guitar World magazine has followed Metallica's rise from underground phenomenon to mainstream metal giant. Guitar World Presents Metallica features every one of the facts and figures, interviews and stories about the band ever to have appeared in the magazine in one self-contained package. Presented in the chronological order in which they appeared in the magazine,...

This book charts the emergence of Kate Bush in the early-to-mid-1980s as a courageous experimentalist, a singularly expressive recording artist and a visionary music producer. Track-by-track commentaries focus on the experience of the album from the listener’s point of view, drawing attention to the art and craft of Bush’s songwriting, production and sound design. It considers the vast impact and...

A LOUDER THAN WAR BOOK OF THE YEAR 'A unique insight... An excellent companion for both the casual and obsessive Bowie fan' Louder Than War The life of an icon, in his own words. David Bowie had a unique relationship with the BBC, making more appearances on 'the beeb' than any other broadcaster throughout his career. An anonymous pre-fame teenager,...

If You're Feeling Sinister shows how Belle & Sebastian transformed themselves over the space of a decade, from a slightly shambolic cult secret into a polished, highly entertaining, mainstream pop group. Along the way, the book shows how the internet has revolutionised how we discover new music—often at the cost of romance and mystery.

From the award-winning, bestselling author of classic histories of the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, a groundbreaking reckoning with the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band. What left is there to say about the Stones? A hell of a lot, it turns out... You think you know the story? Think again. Shorn of dulling layers of myth, an irresistible, clear-eyed portrait...

This limited printing, hardcover 40th anniversary edition includes: An exclusive new interview with lead singer Simon Le Bon A Rio timeline A newly designed book cover by Rio album sleeve designer, Malcolm Garrette Vintage Duran Duran photos and ads And much more... In the '80s, the Birmingham, England, band Duran Duran became closely associated with new wave, an idiosyncratic genre...

Funny You Should Ask meets Almost Famous in this second chance, fake NOT dating, spicy, rockstar rom-com, from the author of the celebrated Unromance! 'When I tell you this man YEARNS. He's giving Conrad Fisher a run for his money' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Sloane and Dax are the perfect harmony of playful, heartfelt and always so, so hot' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'What a freaking...

THE SENSATIONAL, INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: READERS ARE CALLING IT 'FROM THE HEART, HONEST AND REVEALING'; 'PERFECT'; 'A BRILLIANT BOOK'Pop legend Lulu looks back over her astonishing life with fresh eyes, reflecting on all she has learnt. From the tenements of Glasgow to the Royal Albert Hall and the glittering lights of Hollywood: Lulu's journey to fame and fortune is...

The compelling story of the second half of Bowie's life, exploring the untold story of these latter years when Bowie moved from commercial failure to his final masterpiece. When David Bowie died on 10 January 2016, aged sixty-nine, his death was greeted with the greatest display of public mourning since Princess Diana three decades before. Politicians and fellow musicians alike...

An Independent Book of the Month “A superb biography” William Boyd “(A) bold and enlightening exploration of Bowie's later career. Sensitive, witty and often very affecting” The Times “A genuine must buy, as rich in critical appraisal as it is in personal history *” Classic Pop “An engrossing, entertaining and informative read” Classic Rock A major new biography of David...

Collected and annotated lyrics from one of music's most visionary bards, John Darnielle. A work of rapturous beauty, This Year - 365 songs annotated celebrates the creative life and the musical genius of John Darnielle through his most meaningful songs. From his early days recording on a boom box, through the evolution of the Mountain Goats from a solo project...

Pop visionary, trendsetter and boundary-pushing artist, Charli XCX has redefined modern pop with her genre-blurring sound and fearless creativity. From her groundbreaking solo work to chart-topping collaborations with stars like Icona Pop, Troye Sivan and Lizzo, she has become the voice of a new generation. She defined the summer of 2024 with her BRAT album, and her influence and popularity...

From Nickelodeon’s Cat Valentine and subsequent teen idol status to her chart-topping music career and acting prowess, Ariana has marked herself as an all-time great solo super-talent and an artistic collaborator. This unofficial and unauthorized celebration of Ari is packed with facts and stats on her childhood and family, her film, Broadway, and TV appearances, her songs, albums, and tours...

ABBA The Official Photo Book is the only authorised and official book about one of the greatest pop groups of the 20th century. Covering their entire career, with a foreword and captions from Björn, Benny, Frida, and Agnetha, the book features never-seen-before pictures spanning the band's entire career. With unprecedented behind-the-scenes access and first-hand accounts, this is the perfect gift...

Join Petroc Trelawny on a journey through the rich world of classical music, where great composers, fun facts and clever puzzles bring its stories to life. Written by the renowned BBC broadcaster Petroc Trelawny, with puzzles by Dr Gareth Moore and Laura Jayne Ayres, this stylish and entertaining book is the perfect blend of classical music knowledge and puzzle-solving fun....

Strum a tune on your ukulele—no Hawaiian shirt required! Picture it now: the sun sets over the shimmering sea, and, as the beach bar falls quiet, you begin strumming Queen Liliuokalani's "Aloha 'Oe" to a mesmerised crowd. ... Okay, while this doesn't happen every day for ukulele-players, you'll still have a lot of fun learning your favourite tunes on your...

Experience the 140BPM beating heartbeat of grime exclusively told by a pioneer of the scene – not just as a music genre, but as a living, breathing culture that continues to thrive, inspire, and boldly challenge the status quo. ‘There are very few better placed than Roony to document the Grime scene – and he does so perfectly’ – ROMESH...

Vic Tandy was a level-headed scientist, but there was no denying it: at this late hour in his lonely lab at Coventry University, he kept seeing a grey apparition out of the corner of his eye. Bathed in a cold sweat, his heart pounding in his chest, he questioned his own rational mind—could this really be a supernatural encounter? What...

When Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason’s eldest daughter, Isata, made her solo debut at the BBC Proms in 2023, she could not have been prouder. Watching years of hard work transform into a transcendent performance was profoundly moving, both as a music-lover and parent. All fractured when her younger daughter came to her in tears a few days later, having read online abuse...

For the first time ever, Melanie C, aka Sporty Spice, tells her amazing life story in her own words and gives a full and honest account of what life was really like in The Spice Girls. THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ___________ 'What a woman and what a book!' Elizabeth Day 'Fabulous ... There is so much I really relate to,...

The intimate biography of the iconic DJ who was lost too soon. Tim Bergling was a musical visionary who, through his sense for melodies, came to define the era when Swedish and European house music took over the world. But Tim Bergling was also an introverted and fragile young man who was forced to grow up at an inhumanly fast...

'Nobody owes us anything, but the Simple Minds story has been too condensed. After Live Aid and "Don't You (Forget About Me)" there hasn't been quite the credit for those first few records. I think they contain some really special music. I can hear the flaws but there's something about the spirit and imagination in them that feels good. They...

Taylor Swift's stratospheric rise to mega stardom is the story of the century. Charming fans straight out the gate as a teen country music sensation, Swift has gone on to dominate the music industry as a pop titan. She is the first woman to have four albums in the Billboard chart's Top Ten at the same time, is the recipient...

What is the secret code behind so many musical compositions? How do you substitute chords to create greater musical complexity? Why is music so good at playing with people's emotions? In this compact book, composer and pianist Jason Martineau presents the elements of music in clear and comprehensible terms. Packed with superb diagrams and a wealth of fascinating, hard-to-come-by musical...

From the ashes of Nirvana, Dave Grohl rose as a one-man band with a self-titled album: The Foo Fighters. Now, 25 years on and with a rock-solid outfit that includes Nate Mendel (bass), Taylor Hawkins (drums), Chris Shiflett (guitar), Pat Smear (rhythm guitar), and the latest addition, Rami Jaffee (keyboards) — The Foo Fighters are revelling in the success of...

Get your lines word-perfect with Wicked: The Complete Screenplay, which features the complete script of the first film and full-colour stills, celebrating the movie magic that brought the story from page to screen. This stunning hardcover features the complete script to director Jon M. Chu’s smash-hit movie, including the full lyrics to each of the unforgettable songs, from “No One...

Celebrate Wicked and the magical places of Emerald City, Shiz University, Munchkinland, and more with this deluxe stationery set inspired by Wicked. Embark on a journey through the Land of Oz with this deluxe stationery set featuring 20 sheets of letterhead and coordinated envelopes with four different designs; an Emerald City-inspired pen; a set of four postcards; 20 wax stickers...

What was it like to be Elvis Presley? What did it feel like when impossible fame made him its prisoner? As the world's first rock star, there was no one to tell him what to expect, no one with whom he could share the burden of being himself – of being Elvis. On the outside, he was all charm and...

Chords, chords, and (almost) nothing but chords Guitar Chords For Dummies is full of, well, guitar chords. This indispensable reference is a must-have for guitarists of every ambition, skill level, and musical genre, providing a key to the simplest and most complex guitar chords—over 600 in all. Each chord is illustrated with a chord diagram and a photo, with guitarist’s...

The Ultimate Celebration of the Midwest Princess From hometown Missouri girl to the Midwest Princess and global FEMININOMENON we stan today, Chappell Roan is on an extraordinary journey. Dive into the stories, fun facts, and defining moments that shot this shining star into orbit. Packed with dazzling inspiration and empowering wisdom, this book is your guide to living boldly, flourishing...

In 2022, Lisa Marie Presley asked her daughter to help finally finish her long-gestating memoir. A month later, Lisa Marie was dead, and the world would never know her story in her own words, never know the passionate, joyful, caring, and complicated woman that Riley loved and grieved. Riley got the tapes that her mother had recorded for the book,...

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY BILLY BRAGG Over the last seven decades, some of rock 'n' roll's most celebrated figureheads have flirted with the imagery and theatre of the Third Reich. From Keith Moon and Vivian Stanshall kitting themselves out in Nazi uniforms to Siouxsie Sioux and Sid Vicious brandishing swastikas in the pomp of punk, generations of performers have associated...

A stunning, full-colour special edition of the #1 bestselling memoir from the much-loved Australian legend, featuring never-before-seen photographs and a brand-new chapter. Growing up in London and Melbourne, music was always part of John Farnham's world. But the young John never dreamed of what was to come: pop stardom in the 1960s, the release of Whispering Jack - the critically...

Songs from the Shaky Isles provides a vivid account of how popular music arose in our far-flung island nation. From early songs that could only be heard in person through to modern hits which spread digitally to all ends of the earth. It's a fast-paced, big picture account that shows how wider society influenced, and was itself impacted by, the...

‘As memorable as it is moving.’ The Times ‘A marvellous coming of age novel.’ ROBERT FORSTER ‘His most personal work to date . . . poignant but also darkly humorous.’ Irish Times, Lauren Murphy From the West Coast of Scotland to the West Coast of America, the life-affirming debut by the Belle & Sebastian frontman. Glasgow, early 1990s, and Stephen—music-loving...

A downright revolutionary 30th-anniversary deluxe edition of the iconic bestselling biography of Nirvana, updated with exclusive new content exploring the personal and cultural forces that inspired the music, the author’s friendship with Kurt Cobain and why multiple generations remain fascinated by the 1990s. “Just tell the truth. That’ll be better than anything else that's been written about me.” — Kurt...

Gen X icon Ione Skye bares all in an achingly vulnerable coming-of-age memoir about chasing fame, desire, and true love in the shadow of her famous, absent father. "Yep, Ione Skye wrote a memoir. I gobbled it up." – MIRANDA JULY In 1987, sixteen-year-old Ione Skye landed the breakout role of Diane Court, the dream girl who inspires John Cusack’s...

The autobiography of the fabulous, rule-breaking, one-of-a-kind Josephine Baker, published in English for the first time. This is the iconic Josephine Baker in her own words. Funny, candid, and unconventional—the wildly famous but elusive Josephine Baker tells her own story in this enchanting memoir. Baker took Paris by storm in the 1920s, dazzling audiences with her humour, beauty, and effervescence...

The joyous and electric, Women's Prize for Non-Fiction-longlisted memoir from beloved music icon Neneh Cherry. A SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, NEW STATESMAN, EVENING STANDARD, UNCUT AND ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 Top of the Pops, December 1988. The world sat up as a young woman made her debut—gold bra, gold bomber jacket, and proudly, gloriously, seven months pregnant. This...

Robert Plant is one of the few genuine living rock legends. Frontman of Led Zeppelin, musical innovator and seller of millions of records, Plant has had a profound influence on music for over four decades. But the full account of his life has barely been told … until now. Robert Plant: A Life is the first complete and comprehensive telling...

The self-made musical artist follows his bestseller IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD with this second inspirational book for everyone who’s looking for answers in all the wrong places. It’s a book about self-empowerment, self-awareness, and ultimately self-love. Independent rapper, songwriter, singer, and producer Russ sells out concerts across America and around the globe, collaborating with top artists, such as Snoop...

Selected and arranged by the author, How To Be Invisible presents the lyrics of Kate Bush in a beautiful new paperback edition featuring a new cover by illustrator Jim Kay. 'The greatest singer-songwriter of the past 40 years, whose work is complex, ethereal and filled with so many secrets that one can listen to the albums for decades and still...

Weaves together the definitive story of the Seattle music scene through a series of interviews with the people who were there. Taking the form of an oral history, Grunge is Dead contains over 130 interviews along with essential background information from acclaimed music writer Greg Prato. Digging deeper than the average grunge history, Grunge is Dead starts in the early...

With an introduction by Craig Brown, bestselling author of One Two Three Four Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison may have fronted the Beatles, but behind the stage stood their remarkable manager, Brian Epstein, who took them from a small Liverpool club band to global fame and fortune. Within two years of making their first record, they...

FULLY UPDATED AND REVISED, INCLUDING TWO NEW CHAPTERS TO BRING THE STORY UP TO DATE 'Someone called and said Kurt died. I just f*g lost it.' He has sold over 50 million albums. He’s been in bands that have changed popular music forever. He saw his best friend commit suicide. He starts supergroups. He’s the nicest guy in rock. From...

Art Pepper was described as the greatest alto-saxophonist of the post-Charlie Parker generation. Straight Life, originally narrated on tape to his wife Laurie, is an explosive work chronicling his work amidst a life dealing with alcoholism, heroin addiction, armed robberies, and imprisonment. The result is an autobiography like no other, a masterpiece of the spoken word, shaped into a genuine...

From his allegiance to punk rock in his adolescence to becoming an essential voice on music and culture, Kelefa Sanneh makes a deep study of how popular music unites and divides us. Distilling a career's worth of knowledge, he explores the tribes music forms, and how its genres, shape-shifting across the years, give us a way to track larger forces...

A ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR There are few artistic acts more mysterious than writing a song. But what if a shift in perspective—and some practical guidance—could overcome that mystery? Anyone wanting to experience more creativity and mindfulness will be inspired to do just that after reading How to Write One Song. Why one song? The difference between one...

It seems excessive…but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. The mass of black curls. The top hat. The cigarette dangling from pouty lips. These are the trademarks of one of the world’s greatest and most revered guitarists, a celebrity musician known by one name: Slash. Saul “Slash” Hudson was born in Hampstead to a Jewish father and a black American...

Discusses the life and influences of the gothic/death metal musician, and includes a tour diary from his band's controversial "Dead to the World" tour. Long Hard Road Out Of Hell delves into the provocative life and career of one of music's most contentious figures. Through revealing insights and raw honesty, the book explores the deeply personal and often tumultuous journey...

Jungkook is one of the world's biggest stars, period. His first album, Golden, sold more than 2 million copies on the day of its release and stayed on the Billboard 200 for twenty-four consecutive weeks. How did a young prodigy from South Korea make music history? The Meaning of Jungkook is an unofficial kaleidoscopic exploration of the forces that made...

The long-awaited and lovingly told story of Andrew, George, and their time together as Wham! The Sunday Times Bestseller For the first time, Andrew Ridgeley—one half of one of the most famous bands in the world—tells the inside story of Wham!, his life-long friendship with George Michael, and the formation of a band that changed the shape of the music...

The definitive and most entertaining book on the cult of the rockstar over the last 40 years from one of Britain's leading music writers. As heard on BBC 6 Music with Shaun Keaveny, BBC Radio 5 Live and Talk Radio with Eamonn Holmes. The age of the rock star, like the age of the cowboy, has passed. Like the cowboy,...

Michael Jackson's former bodyguards reveal the amazing truths of the late superstar's last years—his life with his children, his financial crises, and the weeks leading up to his shocking death. Hounded by the tabloid media, Michael Jackson spent his final years moving from city to city, living with his three children in virtual seclusion—a futile attempt to escape a world...

A memoir in a hundred songs - classy storytelling from Australia's most prodigious singer-songwriter. Paul Kelly is a uniquely gifted storyteller. For thirty years he has written songs of uncommon directness about everything from love and land rights to cricket and cooking. 'Before Too Long', 'To Her Door', 'Leaps And Bounds', 'Don't Start Me Talking', 'Dumb Things', 'From Little Things...

Meet the world's greatest composers - face to face. This stunning visual celebration of the world's most celebrated composers tells the fascinating stories of their lives and works. Lavishly illustrated with portraits of each composer, alongside photographs of their homes and studios, and original musical scores and personal correspondence, Composers Who Changed History offers a unique window into the personalities...

In this personal memoir looking back over 65 years in music, Cliff Richard tells his own stories behind the songs and sounds that have stayed in his heart, and defined his life and times. Foreword by Bob Stanley On a sunny Saturday morning in May 1956, a fifteen-year-old, then called Harry Webb, was mooching down Waltham Cross High Street. He...

Published to coincide with Leonard Cohen's exclusive show at London's The O2 on Friday, 21 June 2013, this book contains exclusive material and interviews, making it the biography to buy on Leonard Cohen - singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and novelist. With a new afterword by the author The definitive biography of the late Leonard Cohen - singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and novelist....