Welcome to The 27 Club! No, not that one. This one is named for the number of new music books coming out on the busiest week of the fall so far — until next week, anyway. Eddie Van Halen and Suzanne Vega, John McLaughlin and the Jonas Brothers, Bernie Taupin and Bob Dylan, Prince and John Prine; they’re just a few of the artists in print next week. Read all about ’em:
Unchained: The Eddie Van Halen Story
By Paul Brannigan
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Arriving in California as a young boy in the early 1960s, Edward Van Halen and his brother Alex were ripe for the coming musical revolution. The sons of a Dutch, saxophone-playing father, the brothers discovered The Beatles, Cream and other icons as they bound together as musical partners, forming identities for themselves in their adopted home along the way. From the moment their hugely influential 1978 debut landed, Van Halen set a high bar for the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, creating an entirely new style of post-’60s hard rock and becoming the quintessential rock band of the 1980s. But the high-flying success was fraught with difficulty, as Eddie struggled with alcohol and drug addiction while simultaneously battling David Lee Roth over the musical direction of the band, eventually taking the band in an entirely new direction with Sammy Hagar and scaling new heights, before that iteration of Van Halen disintegrated. Acclaimed biographer Paul Brannigan tackles the dramatic story with respect and affection for one of rock’s greatest musicians, pairing original interviews with meticulous research to bring the story of Eddie Van Halen completely up to date. Unchained: The Eddie Van Halen Story is a remarkable account of determination, genius, and single-minded commitment to the music.”
Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me
By Bernie Taupin
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This 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 candor, Scattershot 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 cowboy culture, 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. 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.”
Hercules!: The A to Z of Elton John
By Mick Wall
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Comprising a vivid and varied series of miniature biographies, revealing profiles, thought-provoking essays and a multitude of previously unknown anecdotes and quotes, Hercules!: The A to Z of Elton John is the perfect compendium for the casual fan or devoted connoisseur, providing a funny, comprehensive and fully alphabetised overview of the star’s life and music. Charting all the highs and lows, the major record releases and the significant tours, the strokes of genius and the bottoms of barrels, this insightful portrait will cover serious subjects such as Elton’s battle with the media, his highly publicised addictions, his route to sobriety, his tangled love life and his struggles to come to terms with his sexuality, hair loss and temper. But, as Elton himself always does so well in the hundreds of interviews he has given over the past half-century, his stories will also be told frankly and humorously, his demons now conquered and his success unrelenting. And at the heart of this book is a joyride through one of the all-time greatest musical catalogues from a brilliant, versatile, glamorous and universally loved pop superstar.”
John McLaughlin: From Miles and Mahavishnu to The 4th Dimension
By Matt Phillips
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Across dozens of official studio and live recordings encompassing solo albums, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti, and co-headlining group projects, Grammy winner John McLaughlin has consistently enthralled and surprised with boundary-pushing, genre-defying music. He revolutionized guitar playing with his virtuosic style, carving out one of the most critic-proof and prolific careers in modern times, and was also Miles Davis’s guitarist of choice on epochal albums In A Silent Way, A Tribute to Jack Johnson, Bitches Brew and Live-Evil. Drawing on hundreds of sources and interviews with key collaborators, Matt Phillips takes us on an exciting journey through McLaughlin’s entire career: His early years on the London pop scene; his flirtations with the European avant-garde; groundbreaking work with Davis and Tony Williams; electrifying fusion groups The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti; special projects with the likes of Chick Corea, Sting, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Carlos Santana and Jeff Beck; hugely popular acoustic collaborations with Paco De Lucia, Larry Coryell and Al Di Meola; and his 4th Dimension band. This is the first major book to illuminate McLaughlin’s entire output from 1980–2020. Including never-before-seen photographs, it’s a thrilling ride through the life of a master musician.”
Emerald: Thin Lizzy’s Golden Era
By Martin Popoff
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dublin’s Thin Lizzy have become one of the most revered cult acts of all time, studious and discerning fans of hard rock the world over revelling in the storytelling acumen of the legendary Phil Lynott and the craft and class of his band. Through numerous interviews with most of the principals involved and a mountain of painstaking research Emerald: Thin Lizzy’s Golden Era examines the band’s career up to 1976 culminating in the superlative and sparkling Jailbreak — home of such hits as Cowboy Song, Emerald, Jailbreak and The Boys Are Back In Town — followed by Johnny The Fox, which included the hit Don’t Believe A Word. Along the way, alcohol and drugs wreaked havoc between band members, producers and managers, but despite lineup changes and a mostly grinding, hardscrabble existence, Ireland’s favourite sons persevered, finally achieving the smash hit record they’d deserved for so long. Immerse yourself in Popoff’s celebrated record-by-record methodology and emerge a rejuvenated Lizzy fan, newly appreciative of the deep album tracks hiding within this singular band’s often forgotten early years. A revised and expanded version of Popoff’s previous book Dublin To Jailbreak, Emerald; Thin Lizzy’s Golden Era is based on interviews the author conducted specifically for the book with band members Eric Bell, Scott Gorham, Brian Downey, Gary Moore and Brian Robertson, along with managers, producers, label executives, roadies and others.”
Blood: A Memoir by the Jonas Brothers
By Jonas Brothers & Neil Strauss
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Since their formation in 2005, The Jonas Brothers have been critically adored and commercially celebrated — with over 22 million album sales, sold-out stadium tours, major film appearances, and seven performances at the White House. But behind the scenes, things weren’t always as they seemed. Now, for the first time, Kevin, Joe and Nick will share their complete story, from their Disney days through their contentious breakup and explosive reunion. Alternating between the perspectives of each brother (with occasional interludes from their youngest sibling Frankie), Blood is an epic narrative of the Jonas journey as each of them remembers it. In turns funny, irreverent, and eye-opening, it’s an unencumbered look at the ranks of fame and stardom, and a story of learning to find individuality within the blood ties of band and family. With over 70 photos — some exclusive and never-before-seen — Blood is a deeply personal portrait of one family’s survival in the high-stakes world of pop music as well as a feat of brother-to-brother storytelling.”
Drake: The Biography of an Influential Canadian Rap Musician and his Rockstar Lifestyle
By United Library
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This book about Drake delves into the extraordinary journey of Aubrey Drake Graham, the Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter who has left an indelible mark on contemporary popular music. From his humble beginnings as an actor on the teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation to his meteoric rise to becoming one of the biggest names in hip-hop, this comprehensive biography offers a captivating exploration of Drake’s life and career. Born on Oct. 24, 1986, Drake first gained recognition for his role as Jimmy Brooks in the hit TV series. However, it was his foray into music that propelled him to unprecedented heights. With his debut mixtape Room for Improvement in 2006, followed by Comeback Season and So Far Gone, Drake caught the attention of the music industry. Early albums including Thank Me Later, Take Care and Nothing Was the Same showcased his unique blend of rap and R&B sensibilities, setting him apart from his peers. Views broke records and featured global hits like Hotline Bling and One Dance, popularizing Afrobeats worldwide, while Scorpion produced chart-topping singles such as God’s Plan, Nice for What and In My Feelings. Beyond his music, Drake’s entrepreneurial ventures are also explored in detail. From founding the OVO Sound record label to his involvement with the Toronto Raptors, the book reveals Drake’s diverse interests and his role as a cultural influencer. This book is a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the life, music, and influence of Drake. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, this biography offers a deeper understanding of the man behind the music and the legacy he continues to build as one of the most prominent figures in contemporary popular culture.”
The Magic Border: Poetry and Fragments from My Soft Machine
By Arlo Parks
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From Arlo Parks, Grammy-nominated recording artist and “voice of a generation,” comes a stunning debut book of poetry and a world-building companion to her sophomore album My Soft Machine. “Poetry was my place, my little clearing in the forest, where I could quietly put everything I was holding,” Parks says. “I’m not sure what gave me the courage to open up that space to you but here I am, doing it. I am proud to show you this personal lens that life shimmers through. This book is no longer mine. It is yours.” This remarkable collection features Arlo’s handpicked original poems alongside exclusive photographs by friend and collaborator Daniyel Lowden in addition to the complete lyrics to her critically lauded album. A deeply personal literary tapestry, The Magic Border beautifully showcases the full breadth of Arlo’s singular artistry.”
Prine on Prine: Interviews and Encounters with John Prine
By Holly Gleason
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Curated by a critic who knew him across five decades, Prine on Prine distills the essence of an iconic American writer: unguarded, unfiltered and real. In his own words, in his own time — on the road, in the kitchen, the Library of Congress, radio shows, movie scripts, and beyond. Prine hated giving interviews, but he said much when he talked. Embarrassed by fame, delighted by the smallest things, the first songwriter to read at the Library of Congress, and winner of the Pen Award for Literary Excellence, Prine saw the world unlike anyone else. The songs from 1971’s John Prine remain spot-on takes of the human condition today, and his writing only got richer, funnier, and more incisive. The interviews in Prine on Prine trace his career evolution, his singular mind, his enduring awareness of social issues, and his acute love of life, from Studs Terkel’s radio interviews from the early ’70s to Mike Leonard’s Today Show packages from the ’80s, Cameron Crowe’s early encounter to Ronni Lundy‘s Shuck Beans, Stack Cake cookbook, and Hot Rod magazine to No Depression’s cover story, through today. Editor Holly Gleason enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Prine and his longtime co-manager, and she often traveled with him on tours in the late 1980s and represented him in the 2000s.”
Playin’ Possum: My Memories of George Jones
By Nancy Jones & Ken Abraham
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ask anyone who knows country music, “Who was the greatest of all time?” and the answers will inevitably lead to George Jones. Millions of people know the name of the iconic country music artist, but few know that behind the man and his golden voice was a strong, feisty woman who not only saved his life from cocaine addiction, alcoholism and other abusive and self-destructive behaviors, but also was instrumental in saving his soul. Married for more than 30 years to the greatest country music singer who ever lived, the man Frank Sinatra whimsically referred to as “the second-greatest singer in America,” Nancy Jones knew George better than anyone else — the good and the bad, the horrendous, and the hilarious. George and Nancy married March 4, 1983, and with her help and encouragement, he quit his wild and wicked ways — for a while. Nancy soon learned, however, that the demons held a strong grip on the man she loved, and they were not about to release him without a fight. But Nancy is a tenacious fighter, and most people who knew Jones credit Nancy with saving his life and rebuilding his career. Although Tammy Wynette sang Stand By Your Man, it was actually Jones who stood by George. Together, they brought joy and light to millions of people.”
Where I’m From: Past Iz History
By Supreem Da Rezarekta’
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Where I’m From: Past Iz History takes a deep dive into the vibrant and transformative world of Philadelphia’s hip-hop scene. Follow the compelling journey of an MC named Supreem as he navigates the ups and downs of chasing his dreams to create the music he passionately loves. From his initial discovery of the burgeoning genre to his various artistic pivots to find and fulfill his unique voice within it, Supreem transitions from being a fan to learning the business and eventually emerging as a major player in hip-hop. Experience the evolution of music, technology, and Supreem’s personal journey from the ’80s through 2004. This engaging narrative offers a snapshot of a pivotal period in the hip-hop industry, inviting readers to share Supreem’s passion, perseverance, and love for the genre.”
Statesman of the Piano: Jazz, Race, and History in the Life of Lou Hooper
By Sean Mills, Eric Fillion, Désirée Rochat
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ontario-born jazz pianist Lou Hooper (1894–1977) began his professional career in Detroit, accompanying blues singers such as Ma Rainey at the legendary Koppin Theatre. In 1921 he moved to Harlem, performing alongside Paul Robeson and recording extensively in and around Tin Pan Alley, before moving to Montreal in the 1930s. Prolific and influential, Hooper was an early teacher of Oscar Peterson and deeply involved in the jazz community in Montreal. When the Second World War broke out he joined the Canadian Armed Forces and entertained the troops in Europe. Near the end of his life Hooper came to prominence for his exceptional career and place in the history of jazz, inspiring an autobiography that was never published. Statesman of the Piano makes this document widely available for the first time and includes photographs, concert programs, lyrics, and other documents to reconstruct his life and times. Historians, archivists, musicians, and cultural critics provide annotations and commentary, examining some of the themes that emerge from Hooper’s writing and music. Statesman of the Piano sparks new conversations about Hooper’s legacy while shedding light on the cross-border travels and wartime experiences of Black musicians, the politics of archiving and curating, and the connections between race and music in the 20th century.”
Suzanne Vega: Every Album, Every Song
By Lisa Torem
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In 1985, Suzanne Vega released her debut, garnering platinum status in the U.K and this New York-based singer-songwriter’s self-titled album claimed the No. 80 spot on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Best Albums of the ’80s. Vega began her career as an ambitious ‘second wave’ folk singer in Greenwich Village. Since the inception of that 40-year career, however, she has explore, not only neo-folk music, but electronica, blues, new wave, musical theater, pop and Latin-flavored ballads. The original songs of her extensive discography highlight heartfelt and humorous narratives drawn from urban glitz and glitter, Greek mythology, and 20th-century literary and cinematic celebrity, but ‘the mother of the mp3’ also observes people navigating the slings and arrows of everyday life. Much of her catalogue, including the a cappella hit, Tom’s Diner and socially conscious Luka, have been covered by contemporary artists, but guided by multiple influencers, Vega, herself, has covered songs by Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed and Laura Nyro. With excerpts from the author’s own interviews with Ms. Vega, plus insights from renowned producers, American singer-songwriters, label executives, filmmakers, composers and session musicians, Suzanne Vega: Every Album, Every Song brings this profound artist’s vivid discography to life.”
Why Mariah Carey Matters
By Andrew Chan
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “When it comes to Mariah Carey, star power is never in doubt. She has sold hundreds of millions of albums and cut more chart-topping hits than any other solo artist — ever. And she has that extraordinary five-octave vocal range. But there is more to her legacy than eye-popping numbers. Why Mariah Carey Matters examines the creative evolution and complicated biography of a true diva, making the case that, despite her celebrity, Carey’s musicianship and influence are insufficiently appreciated. A pioneering songwriter and producer, Carey pairs her vocal gifts with intimate lyrics and richly layered sonic details. In the mid-1990s, she perfected a blend of pop, hip-hop, and R&B with songs such as Fantasy and Honey and drew from her turbulent life to create the introspective masterpiece Butterfly. Andrew Chan looks beyond Carey’s glamorous persona to explore her experience as a mixed-race woman in show business, her adventurous forays into house music and gospel, and her appeal to multiple generations of queer audiences. He also reckons with the transcendent ideal of the voice that Carey represents, showing how this international icon taught artists around the world to sing with soul-shaking intensity and a spirit of innovation.”
Why Willie Mae Thornton Matters
By Lynnée Denise
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Born in Alabama in 1926, raised in the church, appropriated by white performers, buried in an indigent’s grave, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton’s life events epitomize the blues — but Lynnée Denise pushes past the stereotypes to read Thornton’s life through a Black, queer, feminist lens and reveal an artist who was an innovator across her four-decade-long career. Why Willie Mae Thornton Matters “samples” elements of Thornton’s art — and, occasionally, the author’s own story — to create “a biography in essays” that explores the life of its subject as a DJ might dig through a crate of records. Denise connects Thornton’s vaudevillesque performances in Sammy Green’s Hot Harlem Revue to the vocal improvisations that made Hound Dog a hit for Peacock Records (and later for Elvis Presley), injecting music criticism into what’s often framed as a cautionary tale of record-industry racism. She interprets Thornton’s performing in men’s suits as both a sly, Little Richard–like queering of the Chitlin Circuit and a simple preference for pants over dresses that didn’t have a pocket for her harmonica. Most radical of all, she refers to her subject by her given name rather than “Big Mama,” a nickname bestowed upon her by a white man. It’s a deliberate and crucial act of reclamation, because in the name of Willie Mae Thornton is the sound of Black musical resilience.”
Blood In The Tracks: The Minnesota Musicians behind Dylan’s Masterpiece
By Paul Metsa & Rick Shefchik
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “When Bob Dylan recorded Blood On The Tracks in New York in September 1974, it was a great album. But it was not the album now ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 10 best of all time. “When something’s not right, it’s wrong,” as Dylan puts it in You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go — and something about that original recording led him to a studio in his native Minnesota to re-record five songs, including Idiot Wind and Tangled Up in Blue. Six Minnesota musicians participated in that two-night recording session at Sound 80, bringing their unique sound to some of Dylan’s best-known songs — only to have their names left off the album and their contribution unacknowledged for more than 40 years. This book tells the story of those two nights in Minneapolis, introduces the musicians who gave the album so much of its ultimate form and sound, and describes their decades-long fight for recognition. Blood In The Tracks takes readers behind the scenes with these “mystery” Minnesota musicians: Mandolin virtuoso Peter Ostroushko; drummer Bill Berg and bass player Billy Peterson, the house rhythm section at Sound 80; progressive rock keyboardist Gregg Inhofer; guitarist Chris Weber, who owned The Podium guitar shop in Dinkytown; and Kevin Odegard, whose own career as a singer-songwriter had paralleled Dylan’s until he had to take a job as a railroad brakeman to make ends meet. A rare look at the making — or remaking — of an all-time great album, and a long overdue recognition of the musicians who made it happen, Blood In The Tracks brings to life a transformative moment in the history of rock ’n’ roll, for the first time in its true context and with its complete cast of players.”
Bob Dylan: 1962 to 1970
By Opher Goodwin
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Bob Dylan is the magician who sprinkled poetic fairy dust on to the popular music of the early sixties and his songwriting sparked a revolution and changed rock music forever. The diminutive poet/singer claimed he was merely a ‘song and dance man,’ but Dylan altered popular music from intellectually bereft teenage rebellion into a serious adult art form worthy of academic study. Dylan headed for the ’60s as a Little Richard rock ’n’ roller but soon turned acoustic folkie and after absorbing the music and words of Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson and Bertolt Brecht, he became a vagabond social troubadour. Basking in Rimbaud, he transformed into a poetic symbolist before later immersing himself in lysergic beat surrealism. The chameleon of Dylan in the ’60s was bewildering to his followers. His first album was a raw debut folk-blues. Then followed three acoustic poetic gems, three ground-breaking surreal, electric wonders and four that were more mundane and country-tinged. But by the mid-’60s he was a strung-out polka-dotted rock star. He crashed (physically and mentally) before ending the decde as a clean-cut country crooner. Dylan had mutated more times than a trilobite. Dylan’s ground-breaking music changed the world and his amazing story is revealed by exploring the 11 albums that he released between 1962 and 1970.”
Prophets of Love: The Unlikely Kinship of Leonard Cohen and the Apostle Paul
By Matthew R. Anderson
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Leonard Cohen and the Apostle Paul might be imagined as brothers with wildly different characters but a strong family resemblance. Paul, the elder sibling, was awkward, abrasive, and zealous. Leonard, the successful younger brother, was a smooth-talking romantic, prone to addiction and depression. Paul died a martyr, not knowing his words would have any effect on the world. Leonard could see his canonization within his lifetime. Yet each became a prophet in his own time, and a poet for the ages. In Prophets of Love, Matthew Anderson traces surprising connections between two Jewish thinkers separated by millennia. He explores Leonard’s and Paul’s mysticism, their Judaism, their fascination with Jesus, their countercultural perspectives on sex, their ideas about love, and how they each embodied being men. Anderson considers their ambiguous relationships with women, on whom they depended and from whom they often profited, as well as how their legacies continue to evolve and be re-interpreted. This book emphasizes that Paul was first and foremost a Jew, and never rejected his Judaism. At the same time, it sheds new light on the biblical worldviews and language underlying and inspiring every line of Cohen’s poetry. Prophets of Love alters our views of both Cohen and Paul, re-introducing us to two poetic prophets of divine and human love.”
Queer Blues: The Hidden Figures of Early Blues Music
By Darryl W Bullock
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From the very beginning, the blues has had a close connection with the LGBTQ community. There is a long and decorated history of so-called ‘dirty blues’ songs, stretching back beyond the earliest attempts to capture the blues on record. The 1920s and ’30s saw the release of dozens of raunchy, bawdy blues recordings aimed at a knowing LGBTQ audience. Queer Blues tells the story of the pioneering LGBTQ composers and entertainers that wrote, performed, and recorded these wonderfully outlandish, life-affirming songs and chronicles, including: Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Josephine Baker to Frankie ‘Half-Pint’ Jaxon and many more. This is the definitive account of the LGBTQ trailblazers of early blues and a fascinating consideration of the intersection between music and LGBTQ history, from the award-winning Darryl W. Bullock.”
Punk Perfect Awful: Beat: The Little Magazine that Could …and Did.
By Hanna Hanra
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Known for shedding new light on legends of popular culture and championing revolutionary voices, Beat Magazine reflects the depth and breadth of a playlist — bringing together high with low, mainstream with the underground, and mixing genres and styles with a few surprises thrown in. Structured around themes drawn from artists’ own insights — from the fortune of being in the right place at the right time to the hustle and passion required to make it — the book reflects the eclecticism of pop’s new generation, where indie heroes like Devonté Hynes and St. Vincent sit alongside pop megastars such as Lil Nas X and Neneh Cherry, and icons such as Debbie Harry and Nick Cave rub shoulders with Mykki Blanco and Charli XCX. Beat has always ensured that it focuses on music to feel excited about, whatever that sounds like. The magazine published both Lizzo’s and Grimes’ first photo shoots, and the last piece of press David Bowie ever did. With a parallel narrative by Hanna Hanra on a lifelong relationship with music and the inspiration behind founding Beat, the book supplements portraits and interviews from the magazine’s archives with unpublished images — including photography by Alasdair McLellan, Ryan McGinley, Tyrone Lebon, Rosie Marks, Jack Davison, Clare Shilland and Sue Webster — that illuminate the power of pop and the importance of meeting your heroes.”
The Cambridge Companion to Metal Music
By Jan-Peter Herbst
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Since its beginnings more than 50 years ago, metal music has grown in popularity worldwide, not only as a musical culture but increasingly as a recognised field of study. This Cambridge Companion reflects the maturing field of ‘metal music studies’ by introducing the music and its cultures, as well as recent research perspectives from disciplines ranging from musicology and music technology to religious studies, classics, and Scandinavian and African studies. Topics covered include technology and practice, identity and culture, modern metal genres, and global metal, with reference to performers including Black Sabbath, Metallica and Amon Amarth. Designed for students and their teachers, contributions explore the various musical styles and cultures of metal, providing an informative introduction for those new to the field and an up-to-date resource for readers familiar with the academic metal literature.”
Ultimate Heavy Metal Guitars: The Guitarists Who Rocked the World
By Pete Prown
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From metal pioneers like Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore to today’s hottest shredders, thrashers, and riffers, Ultimate Heavy Metal Guitars is your guide to the instruments and musicians that made metal. Author and guitar journalist Pete Prown presents his subjects by metal-defining eras and subgenres, including early metal, hard rock and arena rock, prog rock, Euro metal, hair metal, shred, thrash, and more. Prown’s knowledgeable discussions examine specific noteworthy guitars each player made famous, as well as effects pedals, amplifiers, and career overviews that include the players’ first-person revelations and insights. Illustrated with photos of the guitarists in action, the book features an early chapter on influencers who set the stage for the genre (think Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Jeff Beck), plus sidebars so you don’t miss out on any of metal’s nooks and crannies, touching on grunge, math metal, nu metal, doom metal, and the genre’s roots in blues and early rock.”
Rickenbacker: Pioneers of the Electric Guitar
By Martin Kelly & Paul Kelly
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Electric guitars are not simply musical instruments At their best they are iconic works of art, a marriage of form and function that has come to symbolize the very essence of 20th-century pop culture. While Fender and Gibson maintain their positions as brand leaders in an industry that has helped shape popular music, Rickenbacker, a small family-run business with roots stretching back to the very invention of the electric guitar, remains one of the most important makers almost 100 years from inception This book charts the company’s history from its founding in 1931 to the present day. The authors traveled the world to bring together more than 350 original instruments — including all seven Beatles-owned Rickenbackers — photographing them beautifully for this all-encompassing study of a unique brand New interviews with legendary players, including Roger McGuinn, Peter Buck, Susanna Hoffs, Johnny Marr, Geddy Lee and Paul Weller, make this book the most comprehensive history of the brand to date and a must for all guitar enthusiasts.”
Night Train to Nashville: The Greatest Untold Story of Music City
By Paula Blackman
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In another time and place, E. Gab Blackman and William Sousa “Sou” Bridgeforth might have been as close as brothers, but in 1950s Nashville they remained separated by the colour of their skin. Gab, a visionary yet opportunistic radio executive, saw something no one else did: a vast and untapped market with the R&B scene exploding in Black clubs across the city. He defied his industry, culture, government, and even his own family to broadcast Black music to a national audience. Sou, the popular kingpin of Black Nashville and a grandson of slaves, led this movement into the second half of the 20th century as his New Era Club on the Black side of town exploded in the aftermath of this new radio airplay. As the popularity of Black R&B grew, integrated parties and underground concerts spread throughout the city, and this new scene faced a dangerous inflection point: Could a segregated society ever find true unity? Taking place during one of the most tumultuous times in U.S. history, Night Train to Nashville explores how one city, divided into two completely different and unequal communities, demonstrated the power of music to change the world.”
Harlem World: How Hip Hop’s Super Showdown Changed Music Forever
By Jonathan Mael
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “July 3, 1981, was a pivotal night for the future of America’s newest art form: Hip-hop. In New York’s Harlem World Club, The Fantastic Romantic Five and the Cold Crush Brothers competed, with an unprecedented $1,000 — and their reputations — on the line in a highly anticipated rap battle. The show drew hundreds of fans to settle a question that still dominates hip-hop circles: Who’s the best? In Harlem World, journalist Jonathan Mael chronicles this fateful night of rivalry and shares a new look at how Harlem helped ignite a musical revolution. The two crews put on the best shows in a world where hip hop was still a strictly live art form. Even as acts like the Sugarhill Gang and Kurtis Blow became commercially successful, New York’s top two crews strove to claim the ultimate spot atop the city’s hip hop scene. The battle blew the roof off Harlem World that night, and bootlegged cassette tapes of the match-up sent aftershocks around the city as more fans listened to the legendary performances. Set in the New York of the 1970s and ’80s, this book shares dozens of new, exclusive interviews and a treasure trove of previously unpublished archival material to tell the story of Cold Crush and Fantastic’s rivalry, documenting one of the most important stories in hip-hop history.”
Prince in Comics!
By Nicolas Finet & Tony Lourenco
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Prince Rogers Nelson aka Prince was a complete artist, all at once author, composer, performer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. A real showman on stage, songs like 1999 or Purple Rain made him an international star. With his tormented life, sulfurous relationships, sex and drugs, he was above all a genius artist with a very distinctive original style who sold more than 80 million records around the world. Here is his extraordinary destiny in a mix of colorfully illustrated articles and comics!”
Becoming Ninja Sex Party: The Graphic Novel Pt. 2
By David Calcano, Dan Avidan & Brian Wecht
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Picking up from the exciting cliffhanger of Part 1 (NSP: Origins) this fully colored hardcover graphic novel documents the gripping and hilarious journey of the band’s origin. Written based on in-depth personal interviews with band members Dan Avidan and Brian Wecht, this graphic novel continues the tale of Ninja Sex Party’s saga. Part 2 delves further into the relatable struggles and joys of a rising band, exploring the (then) uncharted waters of YouTube, and learning a creative, collaborative process–all while juggling family, work and life’s unexpected detours. Expect to laugh, cry, and celebrate the story of one of the greatest comedy bands of the last 20 years as they become Ninja Sex Party.”
