Blink and Boz, Oasis and Onyx, Viv Campbell and Cole Porter, Jenkins and jazz — and the usual tomes on perennial faves like Taylor and Bowie, natch. Full disclosure: I didn’t include the book about how to “be more Ariana Grande.” Nobody needs that. But maybe you need some of these:
Fahrenheit-182: A Memoir
By Mark Hoppus & Dan Ozzi
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This is a story of what happens when an angst-ridden kid who grew up in the desert experiences his parents’ bitter divorce, moves around the country, switches identities from dork to goth to skate punk, and eventually meets his best friend who just so happens to be his musical soulmate. Bassist, songwriter, and vocalist for renowned pop-punk trailblazers Blink-182, Mark Hoppus tells his story in Fahrenheit-182. In a memoir that paints a vivid picture of what it was like to grow up in the 1980s as a latchkey kid hooked on punk rock, skateboards, and MTV, Hoppus shares how he came of age and forms one of the biggest bands of his generation. Threaded through with the very human story of a constant battle with anxiety and Mark’s public battle and triumph over cancer, Fahrenheit-182 is a delight for fans and also a funny, smart, and relatable memoir for anyone who has wanted to quit but kept going.”
Lowdown: The Music of Boz Scaggs
By Jude Warne
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Boz Scaggs founded his connection to music through the blues, but his lasting legacy is one of glamorous and romantic pop songwriting. He possessed a somewhat shy and sensitive demeanor never totally at home in the public eye, yet his claim to several chart-topping singles and albums, particularly the millions-selling and critically acclaimed Silk Degrees (1976), demanded constant exposure. The persona he expressed through his music was laid back, effortlessly cool, sophisticated, stylish, romantically charming, and suave. But the immense success he achieved in his career pointed in part to the driven and determined artist within. Lowdown: The Music of Boz Scaggs examines the uniqueness of these contradictions and Scaggs’s 60-plus-year career and his rich and diverse musical catalogue. Over the decades, Scaggs collaborated with an array of talented heavies, from The Steve Miller Band to the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (which included a young Duane Allman) on Boz Scaggs (1969), from the session players on Silk Degrees (1976) who would form the hit band Toto to Donald Fagen and Michael McDonald on The Dukes of September’s 2010 Rhythm Revue tour.”
Born To Play Loud: The Vivian Campbell Story
By Brian Ireland
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Born To Play Loud is the first biography of Irish guitarist Vivian Campbell. Campbell’s full career is chronicled, from his early influences (Marc Bolan, Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore), his first semi-professional band, Sweet Savage, through to his first real musical break and success with Dio. Followed by a tumultuous breakup with Ronnie James Dio, Campbell toured with Whitesnake on the strength of their multi-platinum selling 1987 album. In 1992 Campbell started what has become his decades-long relationship with Def Leppard. Campbell’s work with Lou Gramm in the band Shadow King, and his time spent with Riverdogs are also explored — all of which help to shed light on Campbell’s evolution from heavy rock ‘guitar hero’ to a more nuanced player who would rather serve the song with his playing than bring down the house with a 20-minute guitar solo. Campbell also created Last In Line, basically a rebirth of the Dio band minus its frontman. When Campbell received the Oh Yeah Legend Award in 2017, he said ‘I am not used to getting awards. I am not a celebrity, the only people who know me are the hard rock fans and guitar junkies.’ This book is an attempt to build on that acknowledgement and to introduce Campbell to a wider audience.”
Oasis Don’t Look Back: The Illustrated Biography
By Carolyn McHugh
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This is the incredible story of Oasis in a lavishly illustrated hardback edition. With over 70 million albums sold worldwide, a place in the Guinness Book of Records for achieving 22 consecutive Top 10 singles including such classics as Wonderwall, Champagne Supernova, Rock n Roll Star and Don’ t Look Back in Anger — plus a bulging treasure chest of over 30 BRIT, MTV, NME and Q Awards — Oasis were one of the greatest, most successful rock ’n’ roll bands ever to come out of the U.K. Formed in Manchester in 1991, by the middle of that decade Oasis had become the defining musical act for a generation and the undisputed kings of Britpop — peaking in August 1996, when they played to 250,000 people over two nights at the legendary Knebworth concerts. Over 20 years on, the warring Gallagher brothers continue to enthral. Combining stunning images by top music photographers with a warts-and-all account of what really went on, Dont Look Back pays tribute to the phenomenon of Oasis.”
What’s the Story: The Little Guide to Oasis
By Orange Hippo!
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Emerging from the gritty streets of Manchester, Oasis ignited the Britpop movement and defined a generation with their raw energy and insightful lyrics. From their explosive debut album Definitely Maybe to the iconic (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, the Gallagher brothers — Noel and Liam — cemented their place as rock legends with their rebellious attitude, confrontational sibling rivalry and unforgettable anthems that captured the spirit of an era. Packed with blistering quotes, fascinating facts and classic rock-star moments, from the formation of Oasis in 1992 to the long-awaited reunion tour in 2025, this little guide is the perfect companion for fans – old and new — reliving the story and the glory of the band’s supersonic 30-year journey.”
The Pocket Pharrell Williams
By Gemini
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “You can try to shoehorn Pharrell Williams into one creative category, but he wears way too many hats for that (including, of course, his signature “Big Hat”, debuted at the 2014 Grammys). He’s a musician, rapper, producer, fashion designer and style icon. Pharrell is the epitome of effortless cool. Musically, his own catalogue is impressive in its own right; he’s produced on, collabbed with and written some of the greatest tunes of all time for the likes of Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Nelly and Daft Punk. On top of that, the man knows how to dress. He’d already been a fashion trailblazer for decades before becoming creative director at Louis Vuitton in 2023. This unofficial and unauthorized pocket-sized book is a collection of Pharrell’s inspirations, beliefs and achievements — it’s an essential read not only for his fans, but for music and fashion enthusiasts.”
Bacdafucup: The Story Of Onyx
By Fredro Starr
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The rap group Onyx started in the early ’90s, and consisted of Fredro Starr, Big DS, Suave and B Wiz. B Wiz got murdered over a drug deal gone wrong, Onyx met Jam Master Jay and
Sticky Fingaz joined the group. Onyx signed to Jay’s Def Jam Records imprint and introduced slam dancing to hip-hop with their hit single Slam. They sold millions of records, toured nationally with Snoop and scored merchandizing deals. Now with money and fame, Starr’s relationship with his long-time girlfriend came to an end, Sticky Fingaz started a relationship with a Def Jam executive, Suave’s brother got 75 years in prison and Big DS left the group. With the odds against them, Onyx won a Soul Train Award for Best Rap Album in 1994 with Bacdafucup. Read the story behind the saga in this memoir.”
This Is Rhythm: Ella Jenkins, Children’s Music, And The Long Civil Rights Movement
By Gayle F. Wald
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ella Jenkins was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Her songs You’ll Sing A Song and I’ll Sing A Song and Who Fed The Chickens? are classics in the world of children’s music. In a career spanning more than 60 years, she recorded 40albums, won a lifetime-achievement Grammy, and became the best-selling individual artist in the history of Smithsonian Folkways Records, the independent label that played a significant role in the 1960s folk revival movement and introduced listeners to Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. During her remarkable career, Jenkins joined forces with 20th-century luminaries such as Odetta, Big Bill Broonzy, Armando Peraza, Bayard Rustin and Fred Rogers. Despite her wide-reaching influence on children’s music, Jenkins’ sonic civil rights activism isn’t widely known today. This book aims to change that.”
