In a drawer somewhere, I still have the psychedelic tie-dyed T-shirt that I bought when I saw The Bangles back in the late ’80s. While I go dig it out, you can root through the latest additions to your reading list — including a bio on Susanna Hoffs and co., Randy Blythe’s latest memoir, deep dives into R&B, Type O Negative’s Bloody Kisses and more. Read like an Egyptian:
Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of The Bangles
By Jennifer Otter Bickerdike
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From their first meeting in 1981, The Bangles were ambitious, focused, and intentional; their hard-work and determination resulted in millions of records sold across the globe, before becoming the first all-girl band to have five Top 10 hits. Not long after coming together, they toured the world, released No. 1 records, and collaborated with the biggest artists of the day. They seemed unstoppable — until tensions within the band, artistic differences, and the pressures of sudden celebrity tore them apart less than a decade later. Eternal Flame is the story of those eight years: of a diverse and vibrant L.A. music scene, unfettered work ethics and self-belief, the dawn of MTV, the unpredictable consequences of fame, life as a touring band, and their rapid rise to global domination — then imploding at the height of success. But it’s also a story of the very real challenges faced by women attempting to follow their artistic dreams in a media and music industry ecosystem which seemed set up for their failure from the start. With unprecedented access to founding members Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs and Vicki Peterson, Eternal Flame is the first authorized biography of this iconic group, featuring exclusive stories, input, and interviews from the pioneering band members themselves as well as those that knew them best. As Debbi herself notes, “I think it’s about time that our true story was told. People only see certain aspects of The Bangles, especially as the media has twisted the past and we have been misrepresented for a long time. Plus, certainly in the ’80s, we were women making it in a man’s world. I think that needs to be celebrated.”
Just Beyond The Light: Making Peace With The Wars Inside Our Head
By D. Randall Blythe
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In his gripping, bestselling debut memoir Dark Days, Lamb of God vocalist D. Randall (Randy) Blythe unflinchingly wrote about some of the most harrowing episodes of his past. Now, in his followup Just Beyond The Light, Blythe shares how he works daily to maintain positivity in a world that feels like it is spinning out of control. In his own words, Just Beyond The Light is a “tight, concise roadmap of how I have attempted to maintain what I believe to be a proper perspective in life, even during difficult times.” Written with a scathing balance of hard-edged reality offset by a knowing humor and a razor-sharp wit, voiced in in his inimitable, conversational, everyman-philosopher style, Blythe clearly breaks down his approach to life, which is a personal and idiosyncratic mix of sobriety, art, and surfing. He writes movingly of his childhood in the South, of fallen friends, of what he’s learned touring the world as the vocalist of a successful heavy metal band, and of the very real ways he is doing what he can to leave the world a better place. Above all, he offers readers hope that balance, real balance, is possible, even (or especially) when things seem hopeless. Compelling, compassionate, and refreshingly honest, Just Beyond The Light ultimately reminds readers that “as long as we keep our feet (and minds) planted firmly on the ground that is reality, the sky isn’t falling — it never has been, and it never will.”
Dip My Brain in Joy: A Life with Neil Innes: The Official Biography
By Yvonne Innes
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Few individuals have had such an impact on British culture over the past 50 years as the comedy and music icon Neil Innes. He was the songwriting powerhouse of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. The Beatles’ muse and collaborator. An injector of art-college surrealism into 1960s TV comedy. The instigator of a revolution that led directly to Monty Python, the group he repeatedly joined on screen and stage. He was Ron Nasty, co-founder of the much-loved Rutles, the ‘pre-fab four.’ The accidental inventor of the phrase ‘Cool Britannia‘. A much-loved children’s TV storyteller, thinker, maker, creator, undisputed national treasure and Britain’s sweet idiot laureate. And through it all, Neil remained one of the kindest and brightest individuals in showbusiness. Musicians, comedians and fans alike loved being around Neil. He created music and joy and art wherever he went. And the person who loved having him round more than anybody else was his wife Yvonne. They met at college in the 1960s and they went on to walk hand-in-hand through life for over 50 years, until Neil’s untimely death.”
Type O Negative: Bloody Kisses 30
By Various Artists
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The 30th anniversary of Type O Negative’s landmark album Bloody Kisses is celebrated in this stunning volume of art and stories. With contributions by rock stars like Andy Biersack, Carla Harvey, Cristina Scabbia, Charlie Benante and Burton C. Bell (and many more), this anthology captures both the haunted edge and the dry satirical humor that defined what many consider to be the definitive gothic metal album from singer-bassist Peter Steele and his bandmates.”
33 1/3: TISM’s Machiavelli & The Four Seasons
By Tyler Jenke
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Focusing on one of Australia’s most enigmatic bands, This Is Serious Mum (better known as TISM), Tyler Jenke forms an in-depth analysis of the anonymous, pseudonymous Melbourne collective’s rise to prominence and unlikely success on the popular music charts with their third album, Machiavelli & The Four Seasons (1995). Jenke details TISM’s origins as they slowly went from a bedroom concept to an underground success to a staple of concert stages and radio in Australia, growing a rabid fanbase in the process. Despite the anti-commercial tendencies of TISM, whose album artwork didn’t feature the band, whose band members performed under pseudonyms and who rarely gave interviews, never mind sincere answers, TISM became a commercially successful group. In this book, Jenke identifies the steps the band took to shift their sound from their tried-and-true experimental Australian pub-rock roots to the burgeoning, youthful electronic music genre, employing synthesizers and samplers. With their new sound, TISM incorporated Dadaism — the use of unusual or everyday sounds — and both avant-garde and classic pop musicianship. The band’s new sound resulted in both top ten success and an ARIA Award. This is the first book to dissect TISM’s rise to fame within the Australian music industry and analyze TISM’s status as one of the most memorable, mysterious and paradoxically successful groups in the country’s vibrant alternative music scene.”
The Quiet Storm: A Historical & Cultural Analysis Of The Power, Passion, And Pain of R&B Groups
By Amani Roberts
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “R&B groups once dominated the airwaves, shaping generations with their rhythms. But as the industry evolved, these iconic voices vanished from the charts, leaving music lovers to wonder: What happened? DJ and music historian Amani Roberts unravels the mystery behind the rise, influence, and decline of R&B groups. Drawing from extensive industry knowledge, Roberts offers an insider’s look into the evolution of the genre, spanning from the 1950s to the early 2000s — from chart-topping hits and cultural revolutions to the hidden dynamics behind the music. Discover the untold stories and memorable rhythms behind the R&B groups that laid the foundation for today’s music. From the soulful melodies of the 1960s to the funk-infused beats of the 1980s, explore how these groups drove social change, influenced popular culture, and battled the changing tides of the music business as technology shifted how music was made. Roberts explains why these acts were left behind-and what can be done to bring their legacy back. Perfect for R&B enthusiasts, music historians, and anyone who has ever felt the pull of a soulful ballad, The Quiet Storm is more than a walk through musical history. Filled with personal anecdotes and emotional stories, this definitive guide will help music lovers rediscover the magic that made R&B music unforgettable.”
Lady Gaga Is Life: A Superfan’s Guide To All Things We Love About Lady Gaga
By Kathleen Perricone
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From finding her voice on Manhattan’s Lower East Side to working on her debut album in Los Angeles to becoming one of the top 100 most influential people of all time as both a musician and an actor, Lady Gaga has rocked the music scene and captured the hearts of fans across the globe. Gathering her incredible life story, music, and fan culture all in one place, Lady Gaga Is Life captures her epic achievements, moving songs, and her incredible ability to connect with her fans like no other musician before her.”
