Gang Of Four or Grateful Dead? Brian Wilson or Buddy Holly? The Yardbirds, Queen or Oasis? The Grand Ole Opry or Little Richard? Kate Bush or Taylor Swift? Sid and Nancy or the Mafia? If options are what you seek, the book gods are happy to provide. Read all about ’em:
To Hell With Poverty! A Class Act: Inside The Gang Of Four
By Jon King
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “To Hell With Poverty! documents Jon King’s story from a south London slum and working-class background to international success as core musician, lyricist, writer, and producer in the legendary post-punk/funk band Gang Of Four. King’s memoir takes the reader on an episodic journey full of raucous adventures from his childhood and teenage years, to the height of Gang Of Four’s success in the ’70s and ’80s. Thrown off Top Of The Pops, truncheoned by police at an anti-Nazi rally, coming of age in the heart of the Leeds music scene and the U.K. post-punk movement, mingling with Hells Angels and other undesirables, supported by bands like R.E.M. and playing with the likes of The Police, Iggy Pop and The Buzzcocks — King’s time with Gang Of Four is rich with jaw-dropping stories. Evocative, fast-paced, and witty, To Hell With Poverty! is a music memoir for the ages. Gang Of Four’s Entertainment! LP is consistently ranked as one of the greatest debut albums of all time and continues to inspire new generations of musicians today. The band has influenced many artists, from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana and INXS, to 2025-era Frank Ocean, Idles, and hip-hop giants Run The Jewels. Gang Of Four have been championed by the likes of Flea, Sofia Coppola, Massive Attack, Damien Hirst, Greil Marcus and many more.”
SMiLE: The Rise, Fall, And Resurrection Of Brian Wilson
By David Leaf
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This is the story of Brian Wilson’s legendary SMiLE album, told by Beach Boys authority David Leaf. The creation of SMiLE is a story without precedent, appropriate for music that was and remains groundbreaking. This is the first book to share the full history, including the details of the original recording sessions and their increasingly legendary status, as well as the final release of the album, the accompanying concerts and film, and its afterlife. With over two dozen new interviews as well as generous excerpts from his extended 2004 interviews with Wilson and collaborator Van Dyke Parks, the book chronicles the birth of SMiLE by those who were there in 1966, and from the participants in its 2004 resurrection, including all the members of Wilson’s band. It also features fan memories of what it was like to see Wilson present SMiLE live and what it meant to them. With a foreword by Melinda Wilson and an anthology of essays from historians, devotees, and music professors, this book promises to be the definitive word on the subject.”
Friend Of The Devil: My Wild Ride With Jerry Garcia And Grateful Dead
By Len Dell’Amico
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Read the story of Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead from the perspective of the band’s videographer of 15 years. Len Dell’Amico was one of the few non-band members allowed into their inner circle. At a time of tremendous creative growth and record sales, Dell’Amico found himself at Garcia’s side as a trusted voice while Grateful Dead became a force in the 1980s. Using his skills as a multi-camera live video director, the band and Dell’Amico were able to create amazing concert films and music videos. Along the way, Garcia flashed his genius, eccentricity, generosity of spirit, and emotional depth through his music and relationships with the crew. Friend Of The Devil is a rare look at Grateful Dead and how beloved Jerry Garcia was before he passed away at the age of 53.”
Oasis: The Masterplan
By Kevin Cummins
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “How does a band come into being? What are the myriad forces that shape the sound, look, and identity of an emerging band? Oasis: The Masterplan tells the story of how Oasis cemented their identity. At the center of this enterprise was Kevin Cummins, who was well aware of the intersection between the visual and the sonic and was brought on board to help the band find a look that fitted their sound. Drawing on the first six months of 1994, we follow Cummins as he photographs the band in various locations such as London, Manchester, and the Netherlands. Using many unseen images as well as more well-known iconic shots, Cummins guides us through the ways a band can be shaped and designed, such as the famous photographs of the Gallagher brothers in Manchester City shirts — emblazoned with the Brother logo (a Japanese electronics company) which helped provoke worldwide interest in the band. With input from Noel Gallagher, we see how they played with fashion, were taught how to pose, and present themselves as they approached the summer of that year when their first album, Definitely Maybe was released on Aug. 29. The story from that moment on is well-known and this book reveals just how effective the masterplan was to get them to that point.”
Words Of Love
By The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Conceived in 2017 from a conversation with Roger Daltrey, Words of Love is the definitive celebration of musician, songwriter and rock ’n’ roll trailblazer Buddy Holly. Created in partnership with Maria Elena Holly and The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, this seminal volume offers an intimate look at Buddy’s life, music, and lasting legacy, revealing the man behind the timeless music. Words Of Love features over 400 rare and archival items, including photographs, personal letters, handwritten notes, clothing, iconic glasses, guitars, tour posters, recording agreements, and press cuttings, and much more — many of which are previously unpublished. Through these artifacts and an extensive collection of rare and never-before-seen photographs, Words Of Love charts the unusual rise of a musical pioneer who defied conventions and shaped the future of rock ’n’ roll. With forewords by Maria Elena Holly and Paul McCartney, an afterword by The Who’s Daltrey and Pete Townshend, and cover art from The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood, Buddy’s legacy is recounted through the voices of those who knew him best. Bandmates Jerry Allison and Sonny Curtis, as well as friends like Paul Anka, Dion, Duane Eddy and Don Everly share their memories alongside insights from over 80 influential musicians, including David Gilmour, Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison, Dolly Parton, Robert Plant, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Brian Wilson. From his Texas roots, to his work with The Crickets, to his final months of innovation preceding his tragic death, Words Of Love unravels the complexities of Buddy Holly’s life and celebrates his enduring influence on music history.”
The Yardbirds: The Most Blueswailing Futuristic Way-Out Heavy Beat Sound
By Peter Stanfield
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Yardbirds were trailblazers in the rapid development of pop music in Britain between 1963 and 1968. With members including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, they helped to set the basic template of what has been known ever since as rock music and gave rise to one of the most commercially successful bands of all time: Led Zeppelin. Peter Stanfield situates the band in the rise of British R&B and the tumult of the psychedelic era. Obsessively detailed about both the band and 1960s pop culture, this is the book fans of The Yardbirds have always needed.”
Queen As It Began: The Authorized Biography Revised & Updated
By Jacky Smith & Jim Jenkins
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The original edition explored every aspect of the legendary group’s career from inception to 1992. Revised and updated with cooperation and insight from Brian May and Roger Taylor — and drawing on exclusive interviews with the bandmembers — this book completes the story of the Mercury era and the immediate years after his death. With numerous extra photographs and a new foreword from Brian May, Queen As It Began is an informative and authoritative portrait of Queen’s most fundamental period.”
Kate Bush: A Visual
By Laura Shenton
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From producing her own albums to designing her own stage performances, Kate Bush has been an innovator throughout her career. With hits such as Wuthering Heights, Babooshka and Running Up That Hill, her music has always been ethereal, and her endearing image has often been regarded as one of mystique. The creativity and the conviction with which she has made her music continue to be an inspiration to not only her legions of fans, but many of her peers. In celebration of Kate’s entire career to date and complemented with a narrative by Laura Shenton, this visual biography is packed with photos — many of which haven’t been published before (including several from her 1979 tour).”
