I couldn’t read music if you put a gun to my head. But I have no trouble reading about music. Here are the biographies, memoirs and other music-related books due this week:
Then It Fell Apart
By Moby
SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “What do you do when you realize you have everything you think you’ve ever wanted but still feel completely empty? What do you do when it all starts to fall apart? The second volume of Moby’s extraordinary life story is a journey into the dark heart of fame and the demons that lurk just beneath the bling and bluster of the celebrity lifestyle. In summer 1999, Moby released the album that defined the millennium, PLAY. Like generation-defining albums before it, PLAY was ubiquitous, and catapulted Moby to superstardom. Suddenly he was hanging out with David Bowie and Lou Reed, Christina Ricci and Madonna, taking ecstasy for breakfast (most days), drinking bottles of vodka (every day), and sleeping with super models (infrequently). It was a diet that couldn’t last. And then it fell apart. The second volume of Moby’s memoir is a classic about the banality of fame. It is shocking, riotously entertaining, extreme, and unforgiving. It is unedifying, but you can never tear your eyes away from the page.”
Nothing’s Bad Luck: The Lives of Warren Zevon
By C. M. Kushins
SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “As is the case with so many musicians, the life of Warren Zevon was blessed with talent and opportunity yet also beset by tragedy and setbacks. Raised mostly by his mother with an occasional cameo from his gangster father, Warren had an affinity and talent for music at an early age. Taking to the piano and guitar almost instantly, he began imitating and soon creating songs at every opportunity. After an impromptu performance in the right place at the right time, a record deal landed on the lap of a teenager who was eager to set out on his own and make a name for himself. But of course, where fame is concerned, things are never quite so simple. Drawing on original interviews with those closest to Zevon, including Crystal Zevon, Jackson Browne, Mitch Albom, Danny Goldberg, Barney Hoskyns, and Merle Ginsberg, Nothing’s Bad Luck tells the story of one of rock’s greatest talents. Journalist C.M. Kushins not only examines Zevon’s troubled personal life and sophisticated, ever-changing musical style, but emphasizes the moments in which the two are inseparable, and ultimately paints Zevon as a hot-headed, literary, compelling, musical genius worthy of the same tier as that of Bob Dylan and Neil Young. In Nothing’s Bad Luck, Kushins at last gives Warren Zevon the serious, in-depth biographical treatment he deserves, making the life of this complex subject accessible to fans old and new for the very first time.”
No Walls and the Recurring Dream: A Memoir
By Ani DiFranco
SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “In her new memoir, No Walls and the Recurring Dream, Ani DiFranco recounts her early life from a place of hard-won wisdom, combining personal expression, the power of music, feminism, political activism, storytelling, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and much more into an inspiring whole. In these frank, honest, passionate, and often funny pages is the tale of one woman’s eventful and radical journey to the age of thirty. Ani’s coming of age story is defined by her ethos of fierce independence–from being an emancipated minor sleeping in a Buffalo bus station, to unwaveringly building a career through appearances at small clubs and festivals, to releasing her first album at the age of 18, to consciously rejecting the mainstream recording industry and creating her own label, Righteous Babe Records. In these pages, as in life, she never hesitates to question established rules and expectations, maintaining a level of artistic integrity that has inspired and challenged more than a few. Ani continues to be a major touring and recording artist as well as a celebrated activist and feminist, standing as living proof that you can overcome all personal and societal obstacles to be who you are and to follow your dreams.”
The Way Of The Zen Cowboy: Fireside Stories From A Globetrotting Rhythmatist
By Barrett Martin
SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “The Way Of The Zen Cowboy: Fireside Stories From A Globetrotting Rhythmatist is a new collection of 35 short stories from Grammy-winning percussionist, composer, and storyteller Barrett Martin. These stories are based on personal experiences around the world, as well as wisdom tales heard from indigenous people, grandparents, and some of the cowboys and veterans he was mentored by. The stories are built around themes important to the development of a human being, particularly as we become wiser stewards of the Earth and each other, those being: the cultivation of a spiritual practice; the development of one’s character; the appreciation of music; a deep reverence for the environment; the importance of an astute political mind; the honoring of ancient wisdom; and the beautiful, ephemeral essence of the human soul. The book also comes with a digital download of the new double album from the Barrett Martin Group, Songs Of The Firebird, which are 20 instrumental songs that serve as a soundtrack to the stories.”
Let Love Have the Last Word: A Memoir
By Common
SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Common—the Grammy Award, Academy Award, and Golden Globe–winning musician, actor, and activist—follows up his New York Times bestselling memoir One Day It’ll All Make Sense with this inspiring exploration of how love and mindfulness can build communities and allow you to take better control of your life through actions and words. Common believes that the phrase “let love have the last word” is not just a declaration; it is a statement of purpose, a daily promise. Love is the most powerful force on the planet and ultimately, the way you love determines who you are and how you experience life. Touching on God, self-love, partners, children, family, and community, Common explores the core tenets of love to help others understand what it means to receive and, most important, to give love. He moves from the personal—writing about his daughter, to whom he wants to be a better father—to the universal, where he observes that our society has become fractured under issues of race and politics. He knows there’s no quick remedy for all of the hurt in the world, but love—for yourself and for others—is where the healing begins. Courageous, insightful, brave, and characteristically authentic, Let Love Have the Last Word shares Common’s own unique and personal stories of the people and experiences that have led to a greater understanding of love and all it has to offer. It is a powerful call to action for a new generation of open hearts and minds, one that is sure to resonate for years to come.”
The Big Book of Rock & Roll Names: How Arcade Fire, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Vampire Weekend, and 532 Other Bands Got Their Names
By Adam Dolgins
SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “The Big Book of Rock & Roll Names tells the behind-the-scenes stories of how the world’s most popular and influential rock and pop acts got their names. By turns fascinating, funny, and bizarre, the pages offer insight into the peculiar choices and idiosyncratic psychologies of hundreds of top musicians from the 1960s to the present. Originally published more than two decades ago to great success, it’s been out of print for years and has now been completely updated and expanded to feature dozens of exclusive interviews including conversations with groups like The Black Keys, The Killers, Twenty One Pilots, Coldplay, Cage the Elephant, and Vampire Weekend. From Arcade Fire to ZZ Top, this diverting and handsome collection reveals the often overlooked but defining histories of hundreds of the biggest names in rock and pop.”
Revenge of the She-Punks: A Feminist Music History from Poly Styrene to Pussy Riot
By Vivien Goldman
SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “As an industry insider and pioneering post-punk musician, Vivien Goldman’s perspective on music journalism is unusually well-rounded. In Revenge of the She-Punks, she probes four themes—identity, money, love, and protest—to explore what makes punk such a liberating art form for women. With her visceral style, Goldman blends interviews, history, and her personal experience as one of Britain’s first female music writers in a book that reads like a vivid documentary of a genre defined by dismantling boundaries. A discussion of the Patti Smith song Free Money, for example, opens with Goldman on a shopping spree with Smith. Tamar-Kali, whose name pays homage to a Hindu goddess, describes the influence of her Gullah ancestors on her music, while the late Poly Styrene’s daughter reflects on why her Somali-Scots-Irish mother wrote the 1978 punk anthem Identity, with the refrain “Identity is the crisis you can’t see.” Other strands feature artists from farther afield (including in Colombia and Indonesia) and genre-busting revolutionaries such as Grace Jones, who wasn’t exclusively punk but clearly influenced the movement while absorbing its liberating audacity. From punk’s Euro origins to its international reach, this is an exhilarating world tour.”
Woodstock: 50th Anniversary Edition: Three Days that Rocked the World
By Mike Evans & Paul Kingsbury
SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Woodstock defined a generation and exemplified an era: the three-day concert that took place on Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, New York, from August 15–17, 1969, was unlike anything that happened before or since. Now, thanks to this special 50th-anniversary edition, you can relive the moment and go “back to the garden” with this day-by-day, hour-by-hour account of everything that happened on Yasgur’s farm—including a rundown of each of the 33 acts, in the order they appeared. With interviews and quotes from those who were there and a wealth of photographs and graphic memorabilia, Woodstock is the ultimate celebration of a landmark in modern cultural history and its enduring legacy. This updated edition has a refreshed cover and features four pages of new images and updates on Woodstock today, Where They Are Now, and the Museum at Bethel Woods.”
The Beatles A to Z: The Iconic Band – from Apple to Zebra Crossings
By Steve Wide & Chantel de Sousa
SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “This book looks at the life, art, collaborations, films, friendships, and fun surrounding the Fab Four–all in a brilliantly illustrated A to Z format. From their early days playing all-night sets in Hamburg and Liverpool, through the mop-top era and the height of the British Invasion, to experimentation in India and elevating pop music into an art form, the Beatles remain unrivalled in their effect on music and culture. This book is a glimpse into the lives of John, Paul, George, and Ringo: iconic and psychedelic albums; the hit singles; the producer George Martin’s contributions to the music industry; and the eternal phenomenon of Beatlemania.”
David Bowie
By Isabel Sanchez Vegara & Ana Albero
SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “New in the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of David Bowie, the starman who dazzled audiences with his music.As a child, young David had a head full of songs and ideas. He was inspired by the pop and mod scenes in Britain to pick up the saxophone. After earning his stripes in some of the coolest bands in London, David splashed onto the solo scene. His songwriting talent and musical skill made him one of rock and roll’s all-time greatest artists. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the musician’s life.”
