Pro tip: If you’re going to go interview a bunch of rich old white guys for your next book and ignore women, people of colour and everybody else, don’t — let me repeat, DO NOT — talk to journalists about it. Or at least come up with less idiotic answers than Jann Wenner did. Assuming his book hasn’t been cancelled by next week, it’s one of a slew of new titles on the stands. Read all about ’em:
Goth: A History
By Lol Tolhurst
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Goth is an entertaining and engaging historical memoir, and a journey through goth music and culture, exploring creative giants and many more great bands that offered a place of refuge for the misfits of the ’80s and ever since. Written by Lol Tolhurst, co-founder of The Cure, this book offers a riveting retrospective of the genre’s iconic movers and shakers, infused with stories from Tolhurst’s personal trove of memories, as well as anecdotes about the musicians, magicians, and artists who made it all happen — the people, places, and things that made Goth an inevitable and enduring movement. Starting with the origins of goth, Tolhurst explores early art and literature that inspired the genre and looks into the work of T.S Eliot, Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath and Albert Camus, among others. He also outlines the path of Gothic Forebears and shows how many musicians played in punk bands before transitioning into goth endeavors. Next, he introduces readers to the Architects of Darkness — Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division and The Cure, the godfathers of goth who established the genre’s roots. Following these early bands, Tolhurst discusses a group he calls the Spiritual Alchemists, consisting of bands like Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins and more, who helped the darkness expand into the culture. He also tracks the expansion of the genre overseas, from England to New York, Los Angeles, and beyond. Gothic fashion was an important part of the movement as well, and Tolhurst discusses the clothing that accompanied and complemented the music. Finally, Tolhurst examines the legacy of goth music, and shows how its influence can still be seen to this day across music, film, TV, visual arts, social media, and more. As thoughtful and thorough as it is utterly bewitching, Goth is a timeless testament to why goth matters — and why it always will.”
The Masters: Conversations with Dylan, Lennon, Jagger, Townshend, Garcia, Bono, and Springsteen
By Jann S. Wenner
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “During 50 years of publishing Rolling Stone, Jann Wenner conducted a series of interviews that are now regarded among the most important historical documents of rock. Some of these conversations broke headlines — in 1970, his interview with John Lennon exposed the unvarnished tensions that led to the breakup of The Beatles. He gets up-close-and-personal with Bob Dylan, the most singular figure in music who revealed himself to Wenner more openly than to anyone else. And Mick Jagger only trusted one person to publicly interview him about his private life and his backstage account of the world’s greatest rock band. Including stunning photographs and an exclusive, never-before-seen interview with Bruce Springsteen, The Masters intimately profiles the extraordinary musicians who dominated rock ’n’ roll, from London and California to New York and L.A.. This is a primary source, cultural masterpiece, and must-have volume about the artists who changed history.”
Elvis Remembered: Intimate Interviews from the Elvis International Archives, With the People Who Knew Him Best
By Shelly Powers
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “When Shelly Powers was 7, she told her mother that she’d marry Elvis Presley when she grew up She did — though he was an impersonator, a tribute artist she met in Las Vegas. But over her 12 years living in Vegas, she joined an Elvis fan club After a few Elvis conventions she met Presley’s personal photographer Ed Bonja, and with him conducted her first interview about Elvis. What started as one interview became many more, and with them many more friendships with people in Elvis’s circle Each of the 11 Elvis intimates interviewed here has a good story to tell Each is accompanied by period photographs of Elvis and the friend, movie posters, concert memorabilia, and unusual memories that every fan or Elvis will want to read.”
Love & Pain: The Epic Times & Crooked Lines Of Life Inside & Outside Silverchair
By Ben Gillies & Chris Joannou
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This is the powerful, untold story of two of the three members of Silverchair, Australia’s most awarded musical act. From their beginnings in Ben Gillies’ garage, this trio of high school kids from Newcastle, New South Wales, became famous with their smash-hit single Tomorrow, setting them on a path to domination of the Australian charts, worldwide touring and fame. So much has been written about Silverchair over the years but very little has been said by the band’s members. In Love & Pain, childhood friends Gillies (drummer) and Chris Joannou (bass player) tell us tales about growing up across the road from each other and starting in Silverchair, wild stories from the peak of their days in the spotlight, and the ups and downs of how their lives have panned out since. While there are some funny, unforgettable rock ‘n’ roll stories, there is also all the love and pain that came with being in the band: The cost of fame and intense pressure on two teenagers who had no way of preparing for it; the navigation of their friendships with each other and their relationships with friends and family members; the mistakes they made and the successes they cherished. Gillies and Joannou write with vulnerability and raw and blistering honesty, making for an extraordinary account of a band adored by so many.”
My Greenwich Village: Dave, Bob and Me
By Terri Thal
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Terri Thal was very much a part of the folk music world in 1960s Greenwich Village. Few people know that she was 21-year-old Bob Dylan’s first manager prior to his contract with Albert Grossman and Columbia Records. She also managed musician Dave Van Ronk (who later became her husband), and others to include The Roches, Paul Geremia and The Holy Modal Rounders. She booked performances at coffeehouses, clubs and basket houses. On Sept. 6, 1961, she recorded a set from a young Bob at The Gaslight Café — a celebrated performance as it is one his first known live recordings, and the first known live recording to feature original songs. This concert became known to Dylan fans as the First Gaslight Tape. Terri took this ‘audition’ tape to clubs and concert producers, trying to get him gigs — and she still owns the original reel-to-reel tape. She had many friends in Greenwich Village including Suze Rotolo and a number of seminal 1960s folk musicians. This is a personal story of the world of folk music in 1960s New York written by a Jewish woman from Brooklyn who, although not a musician, was an intrinsic part of this scene.”
Time Has Come Today
By Harold Bronson
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Completing a trilogy that began with The Rhino Records Story (2013) and continued with My British Invasion (2017), this 40-year diary documents Harold Bronson’s progress from student musician and journalist to label executive, where his fandom, wit and wildly creative imagination augmented and altered the course of many brilliant careers. Time Has Come Today contains accounts of significant events and meetings with noted hitmakers and reveals fascinating details that have never before been made public.”
Dots On Paper: Philip Glass
By Andreas H. Bitesnich
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The magnificent coffee table book Philip Glass — Dots on Papers by Andreas H. Bitesnich is about the life and work of the famous pianist. He is one of the most important pioneers of American minimal music and composed the film music for well-known films such as The Illusionist, The Truman Show, Fantastic Four and Cassandra’s Dream. In 2010, the Austrian photographer Bitesnich met the composer Glass together with the conductor and long-time friend Dennis Russel Davies and was immediately fascinated by the musician. A close friendship developed between the three. For five years he accompanied the composer on concerts and tours and recorded these journeys and performances in his photographs. During this time, he was also a guest in Glass’s private New York flat and was allowed to photograph the composer in his most private surroundings. The result is an intimate portrait of Glass as a musician.”
Happy Trails: Andrew Lauder’s Charmed Life and High Times in the Record Business
By Andrew Lauder & Mick Houghton
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Andrew Lauder is one of British record business’s most significant and highly influential figures but outside the music industry few people will probably know his name. He’s always retained a fan’s perspective which, combined with an exceptional knowledge of music, meant he was at ease around musicians and never happier than spending time with them. During the later ’60s and throughout the ’70s in particular (working at the legendary United Artists), he had a knack of being one step ahead of the next trend. In hindsight it’s easy to identify the changing eras in music but underground music, pub rock and punk in Britain, for example, evolved quite seamlessly and it was visionaries like Andrew who, instinctively, saw what was coming and helped bring about those transitions. He was ahead of the game in other ways too; pioneering a more creative way of marketing and promoting records and revolutionising the way catalogue was organised and presented. This is his story.”
Song: A History in 12 Parts
By John Potter
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Songs can be intensely personal (whether you hear them or sing them) and none of us would choose the same twelve songs as anyone else. My choices are based on decades of performing experience in many different genres, but I hope they will reveal aspects of our common humanity as the story evolves from the Middle Ages to the present.” In this celebratory account, author and singer John Potter tells the European story of song. The form has captivated audiences and excited performers for centuries, from the music of the troubadours and the Christian liturgy through classical composers such as Bach and Schumann up to Britten, Berio and the rise of popular music. Choosing 12 key works, Potter offers a personal tour through this vital tradition, from John Dowland’s Flow My Tears to George Gershwin’s Summertime. Throughout, he reveals who wrote and sang these joyful masterpieces — and what they mean to singers and audiences today.”
British Rock Guitar: The First 50 Years, the Musicians & Their Stories
By Mo Foster
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A renowned bass player, Mo Foster has played his guitar with the greats, and with their backing, contributions and memories has written an insightful, passionate and very humorous book. British Rock Guitar is illustrated with original advertisements, memorabilia and photographs, many from many artist’s private collections. Foster, draws upon his own recollections and those of some of the greatest exponents of the rock guitar, from Hank Marvin to Eric Clapton and Brian May. Foster has written the definitive history of the importance of the guitar in the development of British music over the last 50 years. British Rock Guitar describes the rise of the London studio session scene: an insider’s view of this creative world and the wonderful musicians in general. These guitar heroes and top session players were once mere mortals struggling to buy or build their first guitar. The guitar has become the most emotive musical instrument of the last 50 years of rock ’n’ roll. From the early days when wannabee stars fashioned homemade guitars out of old tea chests, to today’s sophisticated instruments, the impact has been phenomenal.”
Lou Reed 1972-1986: Every Album, Every Song
By Ethan Roy
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This book examines the work of the first decade-and-a-half of Lou Reed as a solo artist. It would be easy to paint these years with a broad brush; with the ghost of The Velvet Underground in its aftermath slowly yet gradually gaining cultural influence, this slow-burning legacy would both tether and liberate its key participant. Between the years of 1972 and 1986, Reed would seek, achieve, reject, lament, and once again pine for professional success while the excesses and extremities of a life lived in public wielded their own unruly impact. While this book seeks to maintain its focus on the music first and foremost, with an artist like Reed, it seems impossible for the personal to stay divorced from the product. We will see a tentative, crestfallen Lou begin to emerge from his parental Long Island cocoon to test the waters for a solo career. There is worldwide stardom and success, then banishment, followed by the embracement and rejection of various commercial enterprises, to midlife revision and rejuvenation. Multiple partners of influence, both professional and personal, would be accumulated and jettisoned, all leaving lasting traces. Lou did a lot in 14 years, and it’s only half of the story.”
Metallica: Every Album, Every Song
By Barry Wood
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From humble beginnings, as they emerged pimple-popped and sweaty out of a global New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene infiltrating California in the early ’80s, through to almost complete world domination, sell out tours and Billboard chart success, Metallica’s story is like few others. With an insatiable hunger andhell-for-leatherr attitude, they helped to forge a new direction for metal music across the world, combining progressive anger with, at times, sweeping ballads. In the space of just a few album,s they transformed from thrashing wannabes (Kill ‘Em All) into real heavy rock contenders (…And Justice for All) — before unleashing a new blend of chart-topping heavy metal on the masses (Black Album). A band of dogged workers, with twists and turns, heartbreak and lineup changes peppering their more than 40-year career, if they aren’t on the road, it seems they’re in the recording studio, with an incessant hunt for the next loudest, ground-breaking sound, spurring them on. They rode a wave, then started a tsunami, so prepare to be blown away.”
Yes: Every Album, Every Song
By Stephen Lambe
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Yes are the archetypal 1970s progressive rock group. Playing powerful and adventurous music when it was briefly part of the mainstream, the band thrilled millions with their iconic albums and epic live shows. Records like Fragile and Close To The Edge helped define an era and although the band dissolved at the end of the decade, Yes emerged once again with 90125, a streamlined, modern sound in the 1980s and a U.S. No.1 hit single in Owner Of A Lonely Heart. Now in their sixth decade, the band continues to release albums and play live into the new millennium. This book examines each one of the band’s studio albums, highlighting the many high points, and the rarer missteps, as well as focussing on the changes in band dynamics which led to some varied — but always interesting — music. This new, expanded edition celebrates a flurry of recent Yes activity, including new albums The Quest and Mirror To The Sky as well as a detailed examination of the band’s live recordings, making this the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to the band’s music yet written, which will be essential reading for Yes’ legions of fans worldwide.”
The Byrds: Every Album, Every Song
By Andy McArthur
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Byrds were just a little bit ahead of their time. By releasing six genre-defining albums in three years, their transformative powers took electric guitars to traditional folk music, brought jazz into psychedelic pop and helped introduce what we now know as Americana, by being the first major rock band to embrace the sound of Nashville. They were heralded as the pioneers of folk rock, acid rock and country rock, and that’s not to mention space rock, abstract electronics and all the inter-genre crossover material that defines most of their albums. They influenced so many of the musical movements that followed as they kept moving in constant progression, hungry to push the boundaries of popular music. Combining a brief history of the band, and their legacy, this book examines each one of the band’s 12 studio albums. It highlights the many high points, especially from their mercurial 1965-’68 era, and the less successful later years when the law of diminishing returns took over. Also discussed within the Connected Flights part of each chapter are the band’s contemporaneous non-album singles and B-sides. Previously unreleased tracks that were later released as part of their extensive reissue campaigns will also be covered, making this book one of the most extensive guides to The Byrds’ music yet produced.”
Horslips: Every Album, Every Song
By Richard James & Barry Devlin
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Horslips: Arguably the greatest band in Irish rock music history. This five-piece band produced truly special, unique music in the 1970s. By joining literary craft and their cultural heritage with a fusion of traditionally inspired music with rock instrumentation, they created a genre of music which became known as Celtic Rock. Horslips also pioneered an ‘in-house’ approach to the rock music business, controlling their stage presentation, graphic design, record pressing and concert promotion. Their finest albums — The Tain and The Book Of Invasions — adapted legendary and historic texts with compelling music. Elsewhere the life and times of Turlough O’Carolan, the famine and emigration provided a conceptual backdrop to Dancehall Sweethearts, Aliens, and The Man Who Built America. But the band broke up in 1980. Reconvening in the next century, after the ‘longest tea break in history’, they produced a new ‘acoustic covers’ album, played stadium-filling gigs and television performances, and recorded two live albums. This book celebrates (and sometimes criticises) the creative waves that Eamon Carr, Barry Devlin, Johnny Fean, Jim Lockhart and Charles O’Connor gave us.”
On Record | Vol. 4: 1981: Images, Interviews & Insights From the Year in Music
By G. Brown
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “On Record Vol. 4 chronicles the first stirrings of synth pop writ large (Human League, Soft Cell), the gated reverb drum sound that became ubiquitous (Phil Collins), superstars from Stevie Nicks to Billy Joel to The Police, and a full complement of one-hit wonders and R&B, country and jazz sensations. The On Record series is an year-by-year, comprehensive look at the evolution of popular music from 1978 to 1998. G. Brown covered popular music for 26 years, interviewing well over 3,200 musicians, including Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger and Kurt Cobain, all of whom recounted their escapades and reminisced about what their time on the charts meant to them personally and musically. Over the decades, G. also amassed an archive of close to 15,000 rare promotional photos. Each volume of the On Record series presents nearly 200 rare archival images and 100 interviews with an array of performers, from the late Jerry Garcia and Dave Matthews to Bono and Santana.”
On Record | Vol. 5: 1988: Images, Interviews & Insights From the Year in Music
By G. Brown
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Vol. 5 of the comprehensive On Record series captures the debuts of seminal female singer-songwriters (from Melissa Etheridge to Tracy Chapman) and the heavy-metal and hard-rock acts dominating the charts (Bon Jovi, Poison, Scorpions, et al.), as well as the year’s greatest releases from pop, R&B, country and jazz stars.”
Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Bruce Springsteen: Wisdom from the Music and Musings of an American Dreamer
By Trevor Courneen
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Bruce Springsteen is an eye-popping collection of stunning photos and insightful lessons inspired by Springsteen’s life and musical legacy. For decades, the Boss has imbued his work with great depths of feeling and authenticity, speaking his truth to millions of fans worldwide. The analysis of his lyrics and the story of his life have generated bestselling literary works for decades. Now, as Springsteen takes on what may be his final world tour, on the cusp of turning an unstoppable 75 years old, author Trevor Courneen examines Bruce’s lyrics, quotes, media appearances and personal history, mining each for the invaluable bits of wisdom that so often give life and meaning to his music, and translates them into actionable lessons that readers can apply to their own lives. Throughout, the book features stunning black and white and full color photos of Bruce on stage, in private and on the road, making this book a one-of-a-kind collectible or gift book for fans of The Boss.”
Tokyo Jazz Joints
By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Japanese jazz bars and coffee shops are insular worlds where time ceases to exist, removed from the speed and chaos of the modern urban landscape. Tokyo Jazz Joints is a visual chronicle of this unique culture that captures the transient beauty of these spaces. Established in 2015 to document Tokyo’s myriad jazu kissa, the project has gradually expanded to cover the whole of Japan. These dedicated jazz listening spaces are slowly vanishing in the face of changing trends, ageing customers and gentrification. This book preserves these living museums before they disappear forever. Tokyo Jazz Joints is a documentary photography project by Northern Irish photographer Philip Arneill, in collaboration with American broadcaster James Catchpole, both long-term residents of Japan.”
Pharrell: Carbon, Pressure & Time: A Book of Jewels
By Pharrell Williams, Nigo & Tyler the Creator
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Few recording artists have had a greater hand in incorporating the culture of hip-hop into contemporary luxury than Pharrell Williams. Collaborating with Louis Vuitton nearly two decades ago, Pharrell was the first to have his designs integrated into the haute joaillerie of the great maisons. His innovative teamups continue through to the present day. The most extravagant of these chains, rings, and pendants — crafted in precious metals and studded with gems — are as much a part of Pharrell’s musical performance as they are of his personal style. His designs, which include one-off pieces such as solid-gold cases for mobile phones and handheld game consoles, have been legendary for featuring iconography of Pharrell’s own brands, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream. Featured in the book are over 100 pieces, many of which he created in tandem with some of the most recognizable designers in the industry. With frequent collaborators such as Nigo and Tyler the Creator, Pharrell discusses his role in the evolution of hip-hop jewelry, the processes involved in the creation of his one-of-a-kind custom pieces, and the state of connoisseurship in a growing market for the most extravagant of hip-hop collectibles.”
Beatles Blackouts: Trips Around the World in Search of Beatles Monuments
By Jack Marriott
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Did you know that there’s a Beatles monument in Kazakhstan? Jack Marriott didn’t, and he thought he knew everything there was to know about the storied band from Liverpool. He did some investigating and found that there were Beatles monuments, statues, and shrines all around the world, from Brazil to Mongolia, Peru to Japan. Meanwhile, his life in England was quickly deteriorating into drunkenness, the staff of his bar having walked out and his girlfriend having left him. So he did what anyone would do: “Bborrowed” a press pass and set off on a two-year quest through 23 countries, relying on the kindness of fellow fans to help him find these Beatles monuments and connect with the communities that built them. His goal: to find new stories about The Beatles, win back his girlfriend, and remind an increasingly insular post-Brexit Britain what The Beatles mean to the world. He just needed to push through the hangovers to do it. How hard could it be? Find out in this real-life account of one man’s quest to find every Beatles monument.”
The Beatles Yellow Submarine
By Bill Morrison
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Beatles are recruited by the Captain of the Yellow Submarine to help him free Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the world of Pepperland from the music-hating Blue Meanies. The music-loving, underwater paradise of Pepperland has been overrun by the music-hating Blue Meanies and their leader, Chief Blue Meanie. They turn the people of Pepperland into living statues by dropping apples on them and imprison the Pepperland’s guardians inside a soundproof blue glass globe, before confiscating all the music instruments in the land. Pepperland’s mayor sends aging sailor, Young Fred out in the fabled Yellow Submarine to find help. He travels to our world where he stumbles across The Beatles and begs them to help him free his world. They agree and head back to Pepperland, teaming up with Jeremy The Nowhere Man along the way to help overthrow the evil Blue Meanies through the power of music and love.”
Death for Hire
By Ice-T, Arabian Prince, Tommy The Animator
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Death For Hire: The Origin of Tehk City is a new hard-crime graphic novel prelude to a massive IP universe that will span animation, music, toys, NFTs, and beyond. Created by iconic musician and actor Ice-T, founding NWA member Arabian Prince, and award-winning artist Tommy The Animator. The blueprint of living in Tehk City is simple: do as you’re told, always watch your back, and never, ever, trust anyone. The crooked Mayor Chuck Davis (Ice T), his deadly female assassin Rhonda Knuckles (Coco), and right-hand man Maniac Max (Treach) know this all too well. They must navigate through the savage law of the street. With his hands in everything from money laundering to hired hits, Davis tries to stay one step ahead of the competition in The Round Table Gang, Benny Tang (Ben Baller), Azul Michoacan (Emilio Rivera) and Vinny “Pipes” Roselli (Jeffrey Peterson) — who have controlled the black market undercurrent of Tehk City for years. But information comes at a price, especially when purchased by Pretty Black (Snoop Dogg), whose black market network feeds him intelligence from the furthest reaches of Tehk City. Davis and his crew will soon learn that grabbing power from the top dog can take you sky high or drag you to the grave.”
