{"title":"Recommended Titles","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"john-lennon-the-life","title":"John Lennon: The Life","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_76712fb45d32bc27\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:308\"\u003eThis book is considered the final word on music's greatest legend, with Philip Norman revealing a John Lennon the world has never truly seen. With groundbreaking insight into the pain, beauty, and frustration that shaped the genius of modern music, \u003cem\u003eJohn Lennon: The Definitive Biography\u003c\/em\u003e redefines a legend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:711\"\u003eJohn Lennon, the iconic songwriter, composer, and one quarter of The Beatles, was a giant of the twentieth century. As a founding member of the most successful group ever, he changed countless lives. The popularity and significance of The Beatles are beyond comparison in our age; in the UK alone, they released more than forty number one singles and albums. However, their impact extended far beyond their music. Their clothing, hairstyles, pronouncements, and even their choice of instruments made them trend-setters from the 1960s to this day, while their growing social awareness, reflected in the development of their music, saw their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:618\"\u003eFollowing the painful collapse of The Beatles, John emerged a wiser but angrier person. Together with his wife Yoko Ono, he attempted to transform the world through non-musical means. Their bed-ins in Amsterdam and Montreal, their black bag appearances on stage, their innocent engagement with political activists and radicals, all garnered massive media attention. These events were in pursuit of world peace. John Lennon was tragically shot dead by a mentally disturbed fan outside his New York apartment building on 8 December 1980. Featuring previously unseen photographs, this truly is the definitive John Lennon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54169036947724,"sku":"9780007197422","price":12.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780007197422.jpg?v=1742943589"},{"product_id":"bob-marley-the-untold-story","title":"Bob Marley: The Untold Story","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_48a6f29871f9c452\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:388\"\u003eExplore the enduring mystique of Bob Marley in this insightful book. What was it about this remarkable artist that allowed him to not only break through a rock 'n' roll dominated world but to flourish? Discover how he became, and remains, the undisputed king of reggae, a radiant symbol of both radical thought and profound peace for generation after generation of devoted fans worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:828\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-0 recitation citation-end-0\"\u003eAt just after half past eleven on the morning of May 11th, 1981, the world lost Bob Marley.\u003c\/span\u003e Yet, the man who gifted reggae to a global audience had already, within his own lifetime, ascended to the status of a true mythological hero. Rising from incredibly humble beginnings, armed with only his immense talent and deep religious conviction, this Jamaican recording artist dedicated himself tirelessly to sharing his powerful musical prophecy. And he succeeded. Just a year prior to his passing, Bob Marley and The Wailers' European tour captivated the largest audiences ever witnessed by a musical act up to that point. While Marley's record sales were extraordinary during his life, they have since reached phenomenal heights, as each new generation rediscovers the extraordinary power and resonance of his music.\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:651\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-1 recitation citation-end-1\"\u003eChris Salewicz, who shared a series of memorable experiences with Bob Marley in Jamaica in 1979, now offers a comprehensive and richly detailed account of Marley's life and the vibrant world that shaped him and that he, in turn, came to dominate.\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"citation-2 recitation citation-end-2\"\u003eThrough never-before-heard interviews with numerous individuals who knew Marley intimately, Salewicz weaves a compelling narrative that vividly brings to life not only the Rastafari faith and the dynamic Jamaican music scene but, most importantly, the very spirit of this extraordinary man.\u003c\/span\u003e This book promises to be a captivating journey into the life and legacy of a true icon.\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins Entertainment","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54169037963532,"sku":"9780007255535","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/bobmarley.jpg?v=1746650647"},{"product_id":"living-the-beatles-legend-on-the-road-with-the-fab-four-the-mal-evans-story","title":"Living the Beatles Legend: On the Road with the FAB Four - the Mal Evans Story","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_21b04d9c4a127123\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:410\"\u003eKenneth Womack's \u003cem\u003eLiving the Beatles Legend\u003c\/em\u003e offers far more than a footnote to rock history; it's the definitive and deeply compelling biography of Mal Evans, the Beatles' cherished roadie, assistant, confidant, and friend. This isn't a fleeting glimpse at a peripheral figure; it's a fully realised portrait of the towering, horn-rimmed presence who was an indispensable part of the Fab Four's inner sanctum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:528\"\u003eEvans's role extended beyond mere roadie duties. As their long-time personal assistant and protector, he was a constant presence, a sometime lyricist, an occasional performer, and a reliable fixer throughout the group's zenith and beyond. Womack meticulously charts Mal's unwavering dedication to his beloved \"boys\" and his own yearning for recognition, revealing the personal cost of life lived in the slipstream of superstardom, ultimately contributing to the breakdown of his marriage and his premature death in January 1976.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:457\"\u003eUntil now, Mal's extraordinary life has remained largely enigmatic. Womack's achievement lies in his ability to draw back the curtain, utilising hundreds of exclusive interviews and gaining unprecedented access to Mal's unpublished archives – including his intimate diaries, personal manuscripts, and treasured memorabilia. The result is the first complete and nuanced portrayal of this complex individual at the very heart of the Beatles' remarkable story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:523\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eLiving the Beatles Legend\u003c\/em\u003e avoids simplistic hagiography. Instead, Womack crafts a fascinating yet ultimately poignant narrative about the realities of existing on the periphery of unimaginable fame. It's a story of loyalty, ambition, and the often-unseen sacrifices made in the orbit of iconic figures. This is a meticulously researched and deeply human account, offering fresh perspectives on the Beatles' journey and finally giving Mal Evans the central and significant place in their legend that he so richly deserves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Mudlark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54175561580812,"sku":"9780008710606","price":11.45,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780008710606.jpg?v=1742943595"},{"product_id":"the-road-to-woodstock","title":"The Road to Woodstock","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_305b3ddca14cc9a7\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:319\"\u003eOn the afternoon of 15th August 1969, Richie Havens took the stage at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, welcoming a crowd of several hundred thousand to the green fields of Max Yasgur's farm. Havens was the first act – the legendary festival, years in the making, was finally beginning. Nothing would be the same after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:658\"\u003eBut the story of the legendary festival begins with \u003cstrong\u003eMichael Lang\u003c\/strong\u003e, a kid from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, who liked to smoke a joint and listen to jazz. He eventually found his way to Florida, where he opened a head shop and produced his first festival – Miami Pop, featuring Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and others. In the late 60s, after settling in Woodstock, he began to envision a music and arts festival where folks could come and stay for a few days amidst the rural beauty of upstate New York. The idea crystallised when Lang discussed it with \u003cstrong\u003eArtie Kornfeld\u003c\/strong\u003e, a songwriter and A\u0026amp;R man, and with two other young men they formed Woodstock Ventures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:364\"\u003eThey booked talent, from Janis Joplin and The Who to the virtually unknown Santana and Crosby, Stills and Nash; won over agents and promoters; brought in the Hog Farm commune to set up campgrounds; hired a peacekeeping force; took on fleets of volunteers; appeased the Yippies; and were run out of one town only to find another site just weeks before the festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:342\"\u003eOn the ground with the talent, the townspeople, and his handpicked crew, Lang had a unique and panoramic perspective of the festival. Enhanced by interviews with others who were central to the making of the festival, \u003cem\u003eThe Road to Woodstock\u003c\/em\u003e tells the story from inspiration to celebration, capturing all the magic, mayhem, and mud in between.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"ECCO Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54175561646348,"sku":"9780061576584","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780061576584.jpg?v=1742943594"},{"product_id":"dylan-goes-electric-newport-seeger-dylan-and-the-night-that-split-the-sixties","title":"Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_82b7743c760410ff\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:451\"\u003eElijah Wald, a pre-eminent voice in music criticism, revisits a seismic moment in music history with \u003cem\u003eDylan Goes Electric!\u003c\/em\u003e, timed perfectly for the fiftieth anniversary of Bob Dylan's controversial electric set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. For those who think they know the story – the booing purists, Dylan's defiant rock 'n' roll declaration – Wald offers a nuanced and insightful re-examination that goes far beyond the simplistic narrative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:643\"\u003eWald meticulously unpacks the cultural, political, and historical backdrop of the sixties folk revival and the burgeoning rock scene, revealing the deep-seated tensions between tradition and innovation that made Dylan's electric foray so incendiary. He delves into Dylan's own artistic evolution, highlighting his long-standing connection to the blues and his complex, often fraught, relationship with the folk establishment, including his one-time mentor Pete Seeger. This isn't just about a band going electric; it's about artistic independence, the shifting sands of musical identity, and the very definition of what popular music could be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:452\"\u003eWhat makes \u003cem\u003eDylan Goes Electric!\u003c\/em\u003e so compelling is Wald's refusal to take the well-trodden path. He challenges conventional wisdom, offering fresh perspectives on the audience's reaction and the broader significance of that pivotal evening. He illuminates the nuances of the folk revival's ideals and the burgeoning power of rock, showing how Dylan's move wasn't simply a betrayal for some, but a logical, albeit shocking, step in his artistic journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:499\"\u003eFar from being a mere historical recounting, Wald's analysis is sharp and thought-provoking, making a compelling case for why this seemingly singular event continues to resonate. \u003cem\u003eDylan Goes Electric!\u003c\/em\u003e is a vital read for anyone interested in Dylan, the history of popular music, and the ever-present tension between artistic integrity and audience expectation. It's a book that encourages you to reconsider a legendary moment and understand its profound and lasting impact on the musical landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Dey Street Books, an imprint of HarperCollins US","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54175561777420,"sku":"9780062366696","price":10.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780062366696.jpg?v=1742943593"},{"product_id":"the-mccartney-legacy-volume-2-1974-80","title":"The McCartney Legacy: Volume 2: 1974 - 80","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe follow-up to The McCartney Legacy, Volume 1, the most complete work on the life and work of Paul McCartney ever published. Volume 2 continues to paint the portrait of one of the world's greatest musicians, his work post-Beatles, and his life from 1974 to 1980.   By 1974 the Beatles were a distant memory, and Paul McCartney had already gone on to release a solo album and form a new band, Wings. By the end of the decade Wings would be the bestselling band of the 1970s. The McCartney Legacy, Vol. 2 begins in 1974 at the height of Wings popularity and the beginning of McCartney's next chapter.   Picking up immediately after The McCartney Legacy, Volume 1, authors Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair have brought the same exhaustive research ethos to Volume 2 that made the first volume a critical success. Arguably the most authoritative text on the life of Paul McCartney, Volume 2 follows McCartney the man, establishing himself as a musician beyond Beatlemania and his legacy throughout the 20th century through the present day.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dey Street Books, an imprint of HarperCollins US","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54175561875724,"sku":"9780063000759","price":23.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780063000759.jpg?v=1742945260"},{"product_id":"lou-reed-the-king-of-new-york","title":"Lou Reed: The King of New York","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"'The only Lou Reed bio you need to read'\" - The Washington Post\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of Pitchfork's ten best music books of 2023 | A Kirkus Reviews best non-fiction book of 2023\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"'A monumental work filled with first-person accounts of the master's life and a dizzying array of never-before heard details'\" - Michael Imperioli, author of The Perfume Burned His Eyes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is presented as the most complete and penetrating biography of the rock master Lou Reed, whose stature and influence continue to grow with each passing year since his death a decade ago. The great rock-poet, who presided over the unique fusion of Brill Building pop sensibilities and the European avant-garde, left an indelible and transfiguring mark on American culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Lou Reed: The King of New York, Will Hermes offers what is positioned as the definitive narrative of Reed's life and enduring legacy. The biography vividly dramatises his lengthy, brilliant, and often contentious interactions with fans, critics, fellow artists, and the assorted denizens of the city's underworld. Readers witness Reed's complex and significant partnerships with figures such as David Bowie, Andy Warhol, John Cale, and Laurie Anderson. The book meticulously tracks the deadpan wit, street-smart edge, and soaring poetic flights that defined his singular craft as a singer and songwriter, both during his groundbreaking tenure with the Velvet Underground and throughout his subsequent solo career. Furthermore, it explores the profound artistic ambition and the recurring tendency towards self-sabotage that he seemingly inherited from his mentor, Delmore Schwartz.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs Hermes traces Reed's journey from the gritty cold-water flats of the Lower East Side to the landmark status he ultimately achieved, he also intricately weaves in the story of New York City itself as a vital cultural capital. Notably, Hermes is the first biographer to draw upon the extensively publicised Lou Reed archive at the New York Public Library. By utilising the library's vast collections, the recent release of previously unheard recordings, and a wealth of contemporary interviews, Hermes presents a new and nuanced portrait of Lou Reed. This portrayal highlights him as a pioneer in both living and writing about non-binary sexuality and gender identity, a deeply committed artist who pursued beauty and noise with equal passion, and a turbulent, sometimes truculent, yet ultimately unforgettable man whose emotional imprint continues to endure.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54188262916364,"sku":"9780241971635","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780241971635.jpg?v=1743116178"},{"product_id":"excavate-the-wonderful-and-frightening-world-of-the-fall","title":"Excavate!: The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall","description":"\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_e4ce1f62db3bcb18\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\"\u003e\n\u003chr data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:3\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTHE LOUDER THAN WAR #1 BOOK OF THE YEAR\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA ROUGH TRADE, THE TIMES, MOJO, UNCUT BOOK OF THE YEAR\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:69\"\u003e'Thoroughly engrossing, insightful and immersive.' - Record Collector\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:252\"\u003eOver a prolific forty-year career, The Fall created a world that was influential, idiosyncratic, and fiercely original; it was an education. Who wouldn't want to be armed with a working knowledge of M. R. James, contemporary dance, and Manchester City?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:270\"\u003eBringing together previously unseen artwork, rare ephemera, and handwritten material, alongside insightful essays by a slate of dedicated fans, \u003cem\u003eExcavate!\u003c\/em\u003e is a vivid, definitive record – an illumination of the dark corners of The Fall's wonderful and frightening world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"11:1-11:130\"\u003e'As jagged and as curveball-hurling as peak-period Fall, Excavate! is a box of tricks, lovingly curated . . . tantalising' - The i\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"13:1-13:151\"\u003e'To 50,000 Fall Fans: please buy this inspired \u0026amp; inspiring, profound \u0026amp; provocative, beautiful \u0026amp; bonkers Book of Revelations.' - David Peace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"15:1-15:32\"\u003e'Gorgeous' - The Washington Post\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Faber \u0026 Faber","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54188263178508,"sku":"9780571396139","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780571396139.jpg?v=1743116185"},{"product_id":"neu-klang-the-definitive-history-of-krautrock","title":"Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_03fceef81f441ca7\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:503\"\u003eChristoph Dallach's \u003cem\u003eNeu Klang\u003c\/em\u003e offers a fascinating and insightful exploration into the unique and adventurous sonic landscape forged by German bands like Can, Neu!, and Kraftwerk in post-war 1960s Germany – a genre now widely recognised as the influential blueprint for much of modern rock music, affectionately dubbed Krautrock. As Dallach reveals, the stream of creative admirers and inheritors of this sound, from early champions like David Bowie and Iggy Pop onwards, has only continued to expand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:439\"\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eNeu Klang\u003c\/em\u003e, Dallach wisely chooses to let the pioneers speak for themselves. Through a series of interviews with the key figures who shaped this groundbreaking musical movement, he crafts a compelling oral history that transcends the individual narratives of each band. Their collective voices paint a vivid picture of a specific time and place, revealing the cultural and societal forces that contributed to this truly original sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:435\"\u003eThe book delves beyond mere band biographies, offering a deeper understanding of the creative impulses, experimental spirit, and often unconventional approaches that defined Krautrock. By allowing the musicians to share their experiences and perspectives directly, Dallach provides an authentic and engaging account of how these bands forged a new musical language that would resonate with artists across the globe for decades to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:458\"\u003eFor anyone interested in the evolution of rock music, the spirit of musical innovation, or the cultural history of post-war Germany, \u003cem\u003eNeu Klang\u003c\/em\u003e offers a valuable and absorbing read. It's a testament to the enduring influence of a truly original musical movement, told directly by the individuals who made it happen. This is more than just a history of Krautrock; it's an exploration of how a unique cultural moment birthed a sound that continues to inspire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Faber \u0026 Faber","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54188264784140,"sku":"9780571377688","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780571377688.jpg?v=1743116210"},{"product_id":"yoko","title":"Yoko: A Biography","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_3f5f66a46ed90bd8\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:89\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIlluminating and affectionate: an intimate and perceptive portrait' - Publishers Weekly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:726\"\u003eAn intimate and revelatory biography of Yoko Ono from the bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eBeautiful Boy\u003c\/em\u003e. John Lennon once described Yoko Ono as the world's most famous unknown artist. \"Everybody knows her name, but no one knows what she does.\" She has only been important to history insofar as she impacted Lennon. Throughout her life, Yoko has been a caricature, a curiosity and, often, a villain – an inscrutable seductress, a manipulative con artist and a caterwauling fraud. The Lennon\/Beatles saga is one of the greatest stories ever told, but Yoko's part has been missing – hidden in the Beatles' formidable shadow, further obscured by flagrant misogyny and racism. This definitive biography of Yoko Ono's life will change that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:574\"\u003eIn this book, Yoko Ono takes centre stage. Yoko's life, independent of Lennon, was an amazing journey. \u003cem\u003eYoko\u003c\/em\u003e spans from her birth to wealthy parents in pre-war Tokyo, her harrowing experience as a child during the war, her arrival in the avant-garde art scene in London, Tokyo and New York City. It delves into her groundbreaking art, music, feminism and activism. We see how she coped under the most intense, relentless and cynical scrutiny as she was falsely vilified for the most heinous cultural crime imaginable: breaking up the greatest rock-and-roll band in history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:598\"\u003eThis book was nearly half a century in the making. In 1980, David Sheff met Yoko and John when Sheff conducted an in-depth interview with them just months before John's murder. In the aftermath of the killing, he and Yoko became close as she rebuilt her life, survived threats and betrayals, and went on to create groundbreaking art and music while campaigning for peace and other causes. Drawing from his experiences and interviews with her, her family, closest friends, collaborators, and many others, Sheff shows us Yoko's nine decades – one of the most unlikely and remarkable lives ever lived.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:218\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eYoko\u003c\/em\u003e is a harrowing, moving, propulsive and vastly entertaining biography of a woman whose story has never been accurately told. The book not only rehabilitates Yoko Ono's reputation but elevates it to iconic status.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54188265111820,"sku":"9781398517530","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781398517530.jpg?v=1743116216"},{"product_id":"us-and-them-the-authorised-story-of-hipgnosis-the-visionary-artists-behind-pink-floyd-and-more","title":"Us and Them: The Authorised Story of Hipgnosis: The visionary artists behind Pink Floyd and more...","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_221b2db03900814c\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_8a681252883ae337\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:436\"\u003eMark Blake's \u003cem\u003eUs and Them\u003c\/em\u003e delivers a hugely entertaining history of the design house Hipgnosis, the creative force behind some of the most iconic and instantly recognisable album artwork of the late '60s and early '80s. This was the golden era of the 12-inch LP, a time when The Beatles' \u003cem\u003eSgt Pepper\u003c\/em\u003e established the record sleeve as the ultimate artistic playground, just before new technology threatened to sideline vinyl altogether.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:559\"\u003eInitially brought in by their mates Pink Floyd to design an album cover, students Aubrey 'Po' Powell and Storm Thorgerson went on to shape the visual identity of rock and roll for the next fifteen years. Their groundbreaking artwork for \u003cem\u003eThe Dark Side of the Moon\u003c\/em\u003e swiftly propelled them to international acclaim, paving the way for collaborations with other music giants. Soon, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Genesis, Black Sabbath, ELO, and Yes were stepping into Storm and Po's surreal world of photographic design, resulting in seminal Hipgnosis creations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:460\"\u003eIn this authorised account, Mark Blake gains access to previously unpublished material and exclusive insights from the likes of David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Robert Plant, and even Aubrey Powell himself. He takes us behind the scenes of the Hipgnosis partnership, revealing the pioneering ambition and grand vision that fuelled their success, alongside the inevitable clashes of ego and artistic differences that ultimately tested it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:522\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eUs and Them\u003c\/em\u003e also provides hitherto-unseen glimpses into some of music's most legendary bands, all viewed through the unique lens of the people who crafted their imagery and helped solidify their cultural legacy. With the work of Hipgnosis continuing to be referenced, reproduced, and deeply admired across the globe, Blake's book serves as a vibrant celebration, a cautionary tale of creative partnerships, and a compelling human drama, exploring the vital and often fascinating intersection where art and music collide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Nine Eight Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54188271436044,"sku":"9781785121760","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781785121760.jpg?v=1743116295"},{"product_id":"the-doors-unhinged-jim-morrisons-legacy-goes-on-trial","title":"The Doors Unhinged: Jim Morrison's Legacy Goes on Trial","description":"\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_74943a1e202cfed5\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Doors Unhinged\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author and legendary Doors drummer John Densmore offers a powerful exploration of the 'greed gene' - that part of the human psyche that propels us toward the accumulation of more and more wealth, even at the expense of our principles, friendships and the well-being of society. This is the gripping account of the legal battle to control The Doors's artistic destiny. In it, Densmore looks at the conflict between his bandmates and him as they fought over the right to use The Doors's name, revealing the ways in which this struggle mirrored and reflected a much larger societal issue: that no amount of money seems to be enough for even the wealthiest people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Doors continue to attract new generations of fans, with more than one hundred million albums sold worldwide and counting, and nearly twenty million followers on the band's social media accounts. As such, Densmore occupies a rarefied space in popular culture. He is beloved by artists across the decades for his fierce, uncompromising dedication to art. His writing consistently earns accolades and has appeared in a range of publications such as the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eRolling Stone\u003c\/i\u003e. As his friend and American novelist Tom Robbins recently advised him, 'If you keep writing like this, I'll have to get a drum set.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Constable","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54188277760268,"sku":"9781408719886","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781408719886.jpg?v=1743116450"},{"product_id":"sonic-life-the-new-memoir-from-the-sonic-youth-founding-member","title":"Sonic Life: The new memoir from the Sonic Youth founding member","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_0c38a249c437e5a5\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:474\"\u003eThurston Moore, the visionary frontman of Sonic Youth, doesn't just tell his story in \u003cem\u003eSonic Life\u003c\/em\u003e; he sonically embodies it. This isn't a polite rock memoir; it's a visceral journey through a life steeped in the glorious feedback and subversive energy that defined a generation of alternative music. Moore throws us headfirst into his 1960s childhood, a period punctuated by a rock 'n' roll epiphany that clearly set the stage for a lifetime dedicated to sonic exploration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:448\"\u003eFrom there, we're plunged into the raw, electrifying chaos of 1970s New York City, the very epicentre of punk's defiant blast. Moore doesn't just recount this era; you can almost feel the sticky floors of CBGB's and hear the urgent, untamed sounds that were tearing through the established order. This isn't a passive observation; it's an immersive experience, guided by a man who was right there in the thick of it, soaking up the sonic rebellion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:532\"\u003eThe heart of \u003cem\u003eSonic Life\u003c\/em\u003e, of course, lies in Moore's account of traversing the globe with Sonic Youth, the band who didn't just play alternative rock, they redefined its very DNA. This isn't a simple tour diary; it's an insider's perspective on the evolution of a sound that challenged conventions and opened the ears – and minds – of a generation of artists. Moore's insights into the band's creative process, their relentless experimentation, and their unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries are nothing short of revelatory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:548\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eSonic Life\u003c\/em\u003e isn't just a memoir; it's a sonic tapestry woven from personal experience, cultural upheaval, and the relentless pursuit of a unique artistic vision. Moore's voice is engaging, insightful, and imbued with the same restless energy that characterised Sonic Youth's groundbreaking sound. This is a must-read for anyone who ever felt the seismic shift of alternative rock, a vibrant and essential document from a true pioneer who helped shape the sonic landscape of our times. Prepare to have your ears – and your mind – opened once again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Faber \u0026 Faber","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54188282347788,"sku":"9780571373970","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780571373970.jpg?v=1743116568"},{"product_id":"with-the-beatles-from-the-town-where-they-were-born-to-now-and-then","title":"With The Beatles: From The Town Where They Were Born to Now and Then","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_ed44181fe2dd2f6e\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:482\"\u003ePatrick Humphries, a seasoned music journalist who witnessed the 1963 explosion of Beatlemania firsthand, offers a fresh and insightful look at the enduring legacy of the world's most influential band in \u003cem\u003eWith the Beatles: The First UK History\u003c\/em\u003e. This is the first full biography of the group in nearly two decades, and Humphries, drawing on his 40-year career, enriches the narrative with previously unpublished interviews featuring Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:513\"\u003eHumphries makes a compelling case that the Beatles' crucial UK origins have been somewhat overlooked in favour of their later global dominance. \u003cem\u003eWith the Beatles\u003c\/em\u003e seeks to redress this balance, offering firsthand accounts of their formative years in Liverpool and Hamburg, painting a vivid picture of the environment that shaped their sound and their early ambitions. The book also provides an exhaustive analysis of their groundbreaking American breakthrough, a pivotal moment that cemented their worldwide fame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:517\"\u003eIntriguing details and fresh perspectives abound within these pages. Humphries reveals previously unknown aspects of the Beatles' third film, delves into Paul McCartney's thoughts on the often-debated Lennon\/McCartney songwriting credit, and captures George Harrison's reflections on the intense experience of Beatlemania. Ringo Starr shares insights into his skiffle roots, while the book even touches upon plans for Lonnie Donegan to potentially act as an intermediary to coax John Lennon out of his New York exile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:602\"\u003eBeyond the band members themselves, Humphries includes fly-on-the-wall accounts of Paul McCartney rehearsing for a world tour and explores the creation of the Beatles' Love musical in Las Vegas. He also features interviews with key figures such as \"fifth Beatle\" George Martin, early bassist Chas Newby, Cavern DJ Bob Wooler, E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg sharing his memories of Beatlemania, and even Tom Jones recounting plans for him and Elvis Presley to recruit the Beatles as their backing band. Notably, the book also touches upon the poignant last words John Lennon spoke to Paul McCartney.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"11:1-11:690\"\u003eWhile meticulously charting the band's journey from Ringo Starr's birth in 1940 to their breakup in 1970, \u003cem\u003eWith the Beatles\u003c\/em\u003e extends its scope to examine how the Beatles' brand continues to thrive long after their demise. Humphries, with unique access to archives, interviews, and various media, traces their enduring presence in cyberspace, on film, and in print. He reveals their dominance in auction house sales, featuring insights from Hilary Kay of BBC's Antiques Roadshow on their lasting appeal, and chronicles the long-standing battle with Steve Jobs' Apple, alongside how the Beatles' own Apple meticulously safeguards their legacy through box sets, re-releases, and documentaries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"13:1-13:209\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWith the Beatles\u003c\/em\u003e is a rare and welcome offering: a fresh and insightful look at the enduring impact and legacy of the world's most influential band, particularly focusing on their often-understated UK roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"17:1-17:927\"\u003e\"With the Beatles is a terrific book. More than the story of how the group emerged out of the Fifties to become the most famous musical ensemble ever, it is also a social history of a time of rapid change... Patrick Humphries is a well-known writer on popular music and his scholarship in music is evident from the number of interviews with the famous (including three Beatles) and the not so famous who populate his book. Not only does the author know and love the Beatles' music, he understands the roots from which they and their original fans sprouted. Many books have been written about the Beatles, and this is one of the very best, in that it was written not just by a fan, but by a writer who knows well the milieu that created them and the world that was changing around them as they sang and played. If you want to understand the Beatles, look no further than this book.\" - Ray Connolly, author of \u003cem\u003eBeing John Lennon\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"19:1-19:349\"\u003e\"Like the venerated and cherished map from Robert Louis Stevenson's fabled Treasure Island, Patrick Humphries paints a detailed and unique portrait to understanding the meaning and treasured legacy of the Beatles.\" - John Bezzini, Buzz's Beatles Book\/Print Blog and owner of possibly the largest English language Beatles book collection in the world\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"21:1-21:333\"\u003e\"If you thought you knew everything about the Beatles, this book makes you think again. Through many new insights compiled from the people who were there, Patrick Humphries gives us the context and delivers a fresh view of a group that played such a decisive role in modern music and culture over the last 60 years.\" - Phil Manzanera\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"23:1-23:340\"\u003e\"Patrick Humphries is one of the all-time great biographers of rock music. Few others come close. His interviews with the Beatles are ripe for revival as they allow him to present a fresh perspective on this most scrutinised and loved of bands.\" - Colin Hall, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Songs The Beatles Gave Away\u003c\/em\u003e and custodian of 'Mendips' 2004-2023\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Great Northern Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193569399052,"sku":"9781914227691","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781914227691.jpg?v=1743349991"},{"product_id":"forever-changes-the-authorized-biography-of-arthur-lee-and-love","title":"Forever Changes: The Authorized Biography Of Arthur Lee And Love","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_23667f785ea36d23\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:396\"\u003eWidely hailed as a genius, Arthur Lee was a character every bit as colourful and unique as his music. In 1966, he was Prince of the Sunset Strip, busy with his pioneering racially diverse band, Love, and accelerating the evolution of California folk-rock by infusing it with jazz and orchestral influences. This process would culminate in a timeless masterpiece, the Love album \u003cem\u003eForever Changes\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:533\"\u003eShaped by a Memphis childhood and a South Los Angeles youth, Lee always craved fame. He would achieve his ambition with a mixture of vaulting talent and colossal chutzpah. Drug use and a reticence to tour were his Achilles' heels, and he succumbed to a dissolute lifestyle just as superstardom was beckoning. Despite endorsements from the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, Lee's subsequent career was erratic and haunted by the shadow of \u003cem\u003eForever Changes\u003c\/em\u003e, reaching a nadir with his imprisonment in 1996 for a firearms offence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:250\"\u003eRedemption followed, culminating in an astonishing post-millennial comeback that found him playing \u003cem\u003eForever Changes\u003c\/em\u003e to adoring, multi-generational fans around the world. This upswing was only interrupted by his untimely death from leukaemia in 2006.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:519\"\u003eWritten with the full consent and cooperation of Arthur's widow, Diane Lee, \u003cem\u003eForever Changes\u003c\/em\u003e is a meticulously researched biography that includes lengthy extracts from Arthur's vivid, comic, and poignant memoirs, published here for the first time. Author John Einarson has also amassed dozens of new interviews with the surviving members of Love and with many others who fell into the incomparable Lee's flamboyant orbit. This updated edition adds a new foreword by Love's co-founder and lead guitarist, Johnny Echols.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jawbone","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193569628428,"sku":"9781916829121","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781916829121.jpg?v=1743350002"},{"product_id":"under-the-ivy-the-life-and-music-of-kate-bush","title":"Under the Ivy: The Life and Music of Kate Bush","description":"\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_c2f5e18f8ed79d37\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:525\"\u003eGraeme Thomson's critically acclaimed and now definitively revised and updated biography of Kate Bush, \u003cem\u003eUnder The Ivy\u003c\/em\u003e, returns in 2024 with a welcome new foreword by Sinead Gleeson, solidifying its position as the go-to book for understanding this singular artist. From her formative years and early unveiling of extraordinary talent to her remarkable evolution into a breathtakingly creative and endlessly captivating visual and musical force, \u003cem\u003eUnder The Ivy\u003c\/em\u003e meticulously charts the life of one woman dedicated to her art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:517\"\u003eWritten with evident admiration, meticulous detail, and unwavering accuracy, this book operates on two equally compelling levels: it is both an in-depth biography, carefully tracing the trajectory of Bush's life, and an immersive analysis of her groundbreaking artistic output. Thomson shines a light on her unique and often unconventional working methods, her innovative studio techniques, her timeless and influential albums, offering readers a profound understanding of what makes Kate Bush so utterly distinctive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:365\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eUnder The Ivy\u003c\/em\u003e is an eminently readable and insightful exploration, accessible to those just beginning their journey into Bush's world while simultaneously rewarding long-term fans with fresh analysis and previously unseen connections. Thomson's writing is engaging and thoughtful, making even intricate discussions of her music and creative processes captivating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:656\"\u003eThis updated edition crucially incorporates the extraordinary resurgence of \"Running Up That Hill\" in 2022, bringing Bush's story right up to the present day and acknowledging her renewed chart-topping success. For those unfamiliar with the sheer breadth and depth of Bush's work, \u003cem\u003eUnder The Ivy\u003c\/em\u003e serves as an eye-opening journey of discovery. For those who have followed her career for decades, it offers new perspectives and a deeper appreciation for the enduring brilliance of one of the world's most unique and gifted artists. This is an essential and beautifully crafted book for anyone seeking to truly understand the magic and mystique of Kate Bush.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Omnibus Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193570709772,"sku":"9781915841353","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781915841353.jpg?v=1743350057"},{"product_id":"rave-new-world-confessions-of-a-raving-reporter","title":"Rave New World: Confessions of a Raving Reporter","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_4090c5ff41b7508b\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:811\"\u003eThis extended mix edition of Kirk Field's \u003cem\u003eA Humble Bouncer's Story: Tales from the Front Line of Rave\u003c\/em\u003e offers an even deeper dive into the hedonistic and often hilarious world of the early rave scene, as witnessed by a man who was right there from the explosion of acid house. Nominated for Audiobook of the Year at the 2024 ARIAS Awards, this book clearly strikes a chord with those who lived through it, with Fatboy Slim declaring, \"Love this book! It triggers so many memories of the rave era. Thoroughly recommended.\" Judge Jules aptly calls it a read that \"Captures the hedonism and humour of the nineties with a laugh-out-loud honesty. The perfect Ibiza holiday read...if you can get it through customs!\" and Carl Cox simply states, \"Some great stories from those early rave days. Really made me giggle.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:471\"\u003eField's journey from humble barman at the legendary M25 Orbital raves to becoming a \"raving\" reporter for the clubbers' bible Mixmag provides a truly unique and insider perspective. Inspired to set the record straight against media sensationalism, Kirk became a chronicler of history in motion, covering the iconic parties from within the sweaty throng and dispatching vivid reports from dancefloors stretching across Europe and beyond as the scene relentlessly expanded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:443\"\u003eWhat unfolds is a whirlwind account of the \"naughty '90s\" populated by an utterly surreal and unforgettable cast of characters. From Diego Maradona and Timothy Leary to the KLF and Michael Eavis, the narrative throws together Genesis P-Orridge, Brigitte Nielsen, Boris Yeltsin, Boy George, Saddam Hussein's wife, the president of Tunisia, the CIA, the KGB, Dave Courtney, Norman Lamont's dominatrix, and even (allegedly) Her Majesty the Queen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:583\"\u003eTold through a compelling mixture of vivid first-person narrative, utterly bizarre insider anecdotes, and sharp social commentary, Field's honest, hilarious, and uncensored postcard from the edge of hedonism exposes the often-seedy underbelly of rave culture while simultaneously capturing the undeniably nostalgic spirit of the era. This extended mix edition promises even more tales from the front line, making it an essential read for anyone who ever threw their hands in the air like they just didn't care and wants a truly authentic and riotous account of a cultural phenomenon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Nine Eight Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193571561740,"sku":"9781788707732","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781788707732.jpg?v=1743350103"},{"product_id":"clean-living-under-difficult-circumstances-a-life-in-mod-from-the-revival-to-acid-jazz","title":"Clean Living Under Difficult Circumstances: A Life In Mod - From the Revival to Acid Jazz","description":"\u003cp\u003e'Eddie was there very early doors. His story is of the many.' - Paul Weller\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A total riot! Takes me right back to the 70s. A superb book.' - Mani, The Stone Roses\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'What a wonderful book. Mod isn't about what decade you lived in, it's about your attitude, and this book has tons of it.' - Kenney Jones, The Small Faces\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A charismatic storyteller, witty and unpretentious, he is at once an engaging protagonist and an indisputable authority, giving a live-wire, visceral perspective on mod life in that short flash of time. He manages to create a welcoming space in this rather exclusive world while never losing his formidable edge as a narrator.' - The Big Issue\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Buy it on sight. You won't be disappointed.' - Louder Than War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Eddie's book is really good!' - Robert Elms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Akin to being in the company of someone with plenty of entertaining tales to tell.... the camaraderie and spirit of like-minded souls is inspiring.' - Paul Ritchie, Shindig! Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"10:1-10:34\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWITH A FOREWORD BY PAUL WELLER\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"12:1-12:394\"\u003eThis is the memoir of a teenage mod from the East End of London. It's a journey of discovery for a schoolboy dabbling with punk, funk, record shops, discos, and clothes. And then... WHAAAM! An unstoppable wave of like-minded kids fall headlong in love with 60s mod culture, revived and reformatted for the 70s and 80s generation. Eddie Piller was one such kid, and his life was changed forever.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"14:1-14:599\"\u003eWritten with humour, passion, and meticulous attention to detail, \u003cem\u003eCLEAN LIVING UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES\u003c\/em\u003e is perhaps the ultimate mod memoir. It takes us from meeting The Small Faces as a toddler, to the 1979 Mod revival, through the more purist 1980s mod scene, and eventually to Acid Jazz. A born storyteller, Eddie takes us evocatively into a world of scooters, distinctive clothes, and groundbreaking music. We run with the crowd to decaying seaside towns, East End backstreet boozers, and sweaty teenage gigs, all fizzing with an uncontainable excitement and often exploding into violence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"16:1-16:415\"\u003eOnce mod touched your soul, it changed the way you looked at life, unexpectedly broadening your horizons. In Eddie, it awakens a can-do attitude that sees him setting up a fanzine, putting on club nights, hustling jobs in the music industry, and eventually establishing a record label. It even takes him to Ireland at the height of The Troubles and to Australia where the local mods take him on a military exercise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"18:1-18:258\"\u003eVisceral and always entertaining, \u003cem\u003eCLEAN LIVING UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES\u003c\/em\u003e is a stand-out memoir that vividly relives the thrill of the 70s and 80s, and the movement that helped make mod the most enduring and successful British youth culture of all time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Monoray","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193571692812,"sku":"9781800960626","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781800960626.jpg?v=1743350110"},{"product_id":"loaded-the-life-and-afterlife-of-the-velvet-underground","title":"Loaded: The Life (and Afterlife) of The Velvet Underground","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_bd8ef97c53b8bffc\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:579\"\u003eRebellion always has a starting point, and for the transgressive teenagers of any era, from the 1960s to the 2020s, The Velvet Underground represent ground zero in the music world. They crystallised the idea of the bohemian, urban, narcissistic art school gang, centred around a psychedelic rock and roll band – a stylistic concept that evolved in the rarefied environment of Andy Warhol's Factory. The Velvets were the first major American rock group with a mixed-gender line-up; they never smiled in photographs, wore sunglasses indoors, and in doing so, invented an archetype.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:544\"\u003eThey were avant-garde nihilists, writing about drug abuse, prostitution, paranoia, and sadomasochistic sex at a time when much of the rest of the world was singing about peace and love. Dylan Jones' definitive oral history of The Velvet Underground draws on contributions from remaining members, musicians of the era, critics, filmmakers, and the generation of artists who emerged in their wake. This book celebrates not only their initial impact but also their enduring legacy, which continues to burn brighter than ever into the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"White Rabbit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193571889420,"sku":"9781399607278","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781399607278.jpg?v=1743350119"},{"product_id":"too-much-too-young-the-2-tone-records-story-rude-boys-racism-and-the-soundtrack-of-a-generation","title":"Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story: Rude Boys, Racism and the Soundtrack of a Generation","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_992fc69f7d261604\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:362\"\u003eRanked as #2 UNCUT Book of the Year 2023, Daniel Rachel's \u003cem\u003eToo Much Too Young\u003c\/em\u003e delivers the definitive and vibrant story of 2 Tone, the musical and cultural explosion that burst into the national consciousness in 1979. Records from The Specials, The Selecter, Madness, The Beat, and The Bodysnatchers dominated the charts, and a powerful youth movement was born.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:578\"\u003e2 Tone was a potent symbol of black and white unity: a vital multi-racial force comprised of British and Caribbean island musicians who fearlessly sang about pressing social issues, tackling racism, class divisions, and gender struggles head-on. Their music gave voice to the injustices within society and stood in direct opposition to the rising tide of right-wing extremism. The sound of 2 Tone was exuberantly infectious, witnessing white youth joyfully embracing the irresistible rhythms of ska and reggae, fused with a raw punk attitude to create a uniquely British hybrid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:652\"\u003eThe very idea of 2 Tone was conceived in Coventry, the brainchild of Jerry Dammers, a middle-class art student with a vision of creating an \"English Motown\" rooted in his church upbringing. With a modest loan of £700, the label's inaugural release featured the iconic \"Gangsters\" by The Specials, backed by an instrumental track from the then-unformed Selecter. Within a mere two months, that single had rocketed to number six in the national charts. Dammers swiftly signed Madness, The Beat, and The Bodysnatchers, unleashing a torrent of successive hits that propelled 2 Tone onto Top of the Pops and firmly into the hearts and minds of a generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:544\"\u003eHowever, the intense pressures of running a burgeoning label, coupled with internal friction amongst the bands, soon saw 2 Tone buckling under the weight of expectation and inevitable recriminations. Yet, under the continued guidance of Jerry Dammers, the label entered a new phase. While perhaps not achieving the same dizzying commercial heights of its initial 1979-1981 incarnation, 2 Tone persevered for another four years, releasing a string of fresh signings and culminating in a stunning and poignant finale with \"(Free) Nelson Mandela.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"11:1-11:262\"\u003eTold in three distinct parts, \u003cem\u003eToo Much Too Young\u003c\/em\u003e is the essential and compelling story of a record label that, for a brief but brilliantly burning moment, profoundly shaped British culture, leaving an indelible mark on music, fashion, and social consciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"White Rabbit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193573265676,"sku":"9781399607506","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781399607506.jpg?v=1743350189"},{"product_id":"led-zeppelin-the-biography","title":"Led Zeppelin: The Biography","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_413d01582bd6dcf5\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:439\"\u003eRock stars. Whatever those words conjure for you, it is highly probable they owe a significant debt to Led Zeppelin. No one before or since has truly lived the dream quite like Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham. In \u003cem\u003eLed Zeppelin\u003c\/em\u003e, Bob Spitz takes their full measure, for better and sometimes for worse, expertly separating the myth from the reality with his characteristic connoisseurship and storytelling panache.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:541\"\u003eFrom the opening notes of their debut album, the band declared itself as something distinct – a collision of grand artistic ambition and raw primal force, of delicate English folk music and hard-driving African-American blues. That record alone sold over 10 million copies, yet it was merely the beginning; Led Zeppelin's albums have since sold over 300 million certified copies globally, and their impact remains undiminished. Collectively, Led Zeppelin's discography has spent an almost incomprehensible ten-plus years on the album charts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:773\"\u003eThe band is famously guarded, and previous books have often generated more heat than light. However, Bob Spitz's authority is undeniable and compelling. His innate understanding of the atmosphere and context – the music, the business, the recording studios, the touring life, the radio stations, the fans, the entire ecosystem of popular music – is unparalleled. His account of how Page and Jones, the accomplished London sophisticates, melded with Plant and Bonham, the wild men from the Midlands, to form a band from the ashes of the Yardbirds, within a scene then dominated by The Beatles and The Stones but rapidly evolving, is in itself a revelation. Spitz treats the music with the seriousness it deserves, bringing the band's artistic journey to full and vivid life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:746\"\u003eThe music, however, is only one part of the legend. \u003cem\u003eLed Zeppelin\u003c\/em\u003e is also the story of the transition from the sixties to the seventies, of how playing in clubs escalated to performing in stadiums and flying private jets, of how innocence gave way to decadence. Led Zeppelin may not have invented the groupie, nor were they the first rock band to truly let loose on the road, but they elevated it to an entirely new level, as they did with everything else. Not all the legends are true, but in Bob Spitz's meticulous accounting, what is true is astonishing, and at times, disturbing. Led Zeppelin gave no quarter, and neither has Bob Spitz. \u003cem\u003eLed Zeppelin\u003c\/em\u003e is the comprehensive and honest reckoning the band has long awaited, and richly deserves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"The Penguin Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193575198988,"sku":"9780399562440","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780399562440.jpg?v=1743350266"},{"product_id":"ever-fallen-in-love-the-lost-buzzcocks-tapes","title":"Ever Fallen in Love: The Lost Buzzcocks Tapes","description":"\u003cp\u003eA ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021\u003cbr\u003eA LOUDER THAN WAR BEST MUSIC BOOK OF 2021\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Fascinating' - MOJO\u003cbr\u003e'As close as anyone was ever going to get to really understanding Pete Shelley' - UNCUT\u003cbr\u003e'The memoir that Pete Shelley never had a chance to write' - LOUDER THAN WAR\u003cbr\u003e'Lots of great stories... A fascinating insight.' - JOHN MAHER, Buzzcocks\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Pete Shelley, lead singer of the legendary punk band Buzzcocks, passed away in 2018, we lost the chance to hear one of music's brightest stars tell his story. Or so it seemed. Now, recordings have surfaced of a series of remarkable interviews in which Pete tells the story of his life, his band, and his place at the beating heart of the punk explosion in fascinating detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded over a series of late-night calls with a close friend, the tapes hear Pete talk song-by-song through Buzzcocks releases to reveal the personal memories behind the music and the inspiration for masterpieces such as 'Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)' and 'What Do I Get?'. Published for the first time and with the blessing of Pete's estate, *Ever Fallen In Love: The Lost Buzzcocks Tapes* is a tribute to a founding member of punk and a chance to hear one of music's true visionaries tell his own story at last.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Perfectly executed, highly detailed, incredibly interesting.' - HENRY ROLLINS, Black Flag\u003cbr\u003e'Shot through with self-doubt and mild regret, Pete Shelley's lovesick pop classics have a bittersweet charm that will forever speak to the young romantic' - JOHN COOPER CLARKE\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cassell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193575592204,"sku":"9781788403641","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781788403641.jpg?v=1743350275"},{"product_id":"lead-sister-the-story-of-karen-carpenter-a-times-book-of-the-year","title":"Lead Sister: The Story of Karen Carpenter","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_71f4951ebb3d903f\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNominated for the 2024 Penderyn Music Book Prize\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Times Book of the Year\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Financial Times Book of the Year\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Waterstones Book of the Year\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"6:1-6:110\"\u003e'Reading the book made me want to give her a huge hug. 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Ian Rankin rightly notes its fascinating journey from the personal to the universal, revealing the often-underestimated emotional and cerebral weight that popular music carries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:398\"\u003eStuart Maconie beautifully captures the book's essence, describing it as \"moving and absorbing,\" a mosaic expertly blending memoir, insightful analysis, personal anecdote, and cultural chronicle. Rogers avoids the simplistic notion of music as mere background noise, instead meticulously dissecting why it plays such a deep-rooted role in our existence, from our earliest days to our final moments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:348\"\u003eAt the heart of this compelling work lies Rogers' own story: how specific songs became anchors in her life, helping her navigate the profound grief of losing her father, forge a sense of self during a lonely adolescence, fuel the intensity of early relationships, propel her through working life and parenthood, and shape her outlook on the future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:971\"\u003eStructured around twelve carefully chosen songs, spanning ABBA's anthemic 'Super Trouper' to Neneh Cherry's defiant 'Buffalo Stance', Kraftwerk's stark 'Radioactivity' to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas' exuberant 'Heat Wave', the book transcends simple memoir. Rogers seamlessly weaves in historical, scientific, and cultural enquiry to demonstrate the myriad ways in which music shapes different versions of ourselves. She illuminates how we rely on it for solace, for moments of profound epiphany, and for the visceral connection of sex and physicality. \u003cem\u003eThe Sound of Being Human\u003c\/em\u003e avoids sentimental clichés, instead offering a nuanced and deeply felt understanding of how we grow with songs, and how songs, in turn, grow within us, aiding us in confronting grief, the passage of time, and the power of memory. Ultimately, this is a powerful testament to music's extraordinary ability to help us articulate our own stories, whatever they may be, and to make them sing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"White Rabbit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193586045196,"sku":"9781474622943","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781474622943.jpg?v=1743350610"},{"product_id":"you-are-beautiful-and-you-are-alone-the-biography-of-nico","title":"You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone: The Biography of Nico","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_ba8cff701ed20f03\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA ROUGH TRADE, MOJO, UNCUT \u0026amp; LOUDER THAN WAR BOOK OF THE YEAR\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSHORTLISTED FOR THE RALPH J. 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Drawing upon new interviews and rare archival material, Bickerdike defies the sexist portrayal of Nico's life as merely the tragedy of a beautiful woman losing her youth and fame. Instead, he cements her legacy as one of the most vital artists of her generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Gripping.' - THE TIMES\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'[This] book gets closer to understanding Nico than most.' - GUARDIAN\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Deserves to sit with the great biographies.' - RECORD COLLECTOR\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A compassionate portrait of a musician whose artistry has often been overlooked.' - MOJO\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Faber \u0026 Faber","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193591451916,"sku":"9780571350025","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780571350025.jpg?v=1743350746"},{"product_id":"tenement-kid-rough-trade-book-of-the-year","title":"Tenement Kid: Bobby Gillespie","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_610da63770327d27\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:224\"\u003e'Gillespie is rock and roll's Oliver Twist. A punk rock fairytale, razor sharp on class struggle, music, style, and a singular view of the world resulting in one of the world's great bands. Couldn't put down' - Courtney Love\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:401\"\u003eBorn into a working-class Glaswegian family in the summer of 1961, \u003cem\u003eTENEMENT KID\u003c\/em\u003e begins in the district of Springburn, soon to be evacuated in Edward Heath's brutal slum clearances. Leaving school at 16 and going to work as a printers' apprentice, Bobby's rock 'n' roll epiphany arrives like a bolt of lightning shining from Phil Lynott's mirrored pickguard at his first gig at the Apollo in Glasgow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:689\"\u003eFilled with 'the holy spirit of rock 'n' roll', his destiny was sealed with the arrival of the Sex Pistols and punk rock, which, to Bobby, represented an iconoclastic vision of class rebellion. This would ultimately lead to him becoming an artist, initially in The Jesus and Mary Chain, then Primal Scream. Building like a breakbeat crescendo to the Summer of Love, Boys Own parties, and the fateful meeting with Andrew Weatherall in an East Sussex field, as the '80s bleed into the '90s and a new kind of electronic soul music starts to pulse through the nation's consciousness, \u003cem\u003eTENEMENT KID\u003c\/em\u003e closes with the release of \u003cem\u003eScreamadelica\u003c\/em\u003e, the album often credited with 'starting the '90s'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:249\"\u003eA book filled with the joy and wonder of a rock 'n' roll apostle who would radically reshape the future sounds of fin de siècle British pop, Bobby Gillespie's memoir cuts a righteous path through a decade lost to Thatcherism and saved by acid house.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"White Rabbit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193591714060,"sku":"9781474622080","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781474622080.jpg?v=1743350761"},{"product_id":"moonage-daydream-the-life-times-of-ziggy-stardust","title":"Moonage Daydream: The Life \u0026 Times of Ziggy Stardust","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_780469fdf682ff5e\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:136\"\u003e'The closest we'll ever get to a straight up Bowie autobiography - but who'd ever want anything straight-up from Bowie?' - Rolling Stone\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:629\"\u003eIn 2002, David Bowie and Mick Rock created \u003cem\u003eMoonage Daydream\u003c\/em\u003e, the defining document of the life and times of Ziggy Stardust. Twenty years later, it remains the closest readers will get to understanding Bowie through his own words. Alongside over 600 photographs taken by Mick Rock, Bowie's personal and often humorous commentary provides unprecedented insight into his work and the creation of his most memorable persona. Readers can see how Bowie singlehandedly challenged and elevated 1970s culture through his style, his inspirations ranging from Kubrick to Kabuki, and his creative spirit, which endures through the decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:509\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMoonage Daydream\u003c\/em\u003e is the essential David Bowie book. First published as a signed limited edition, \u003cem\u003eMoonage Daydream\u003c\/em\u003e sold out in a matter of months and became lore among David Bowie fans. Now, on the 50th anniversary of Bowie's acclaimed album, \u003cem\u003eThe Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars\u003c\/em\u003e, the book is available again. Published in a new larger format, this uncut edition adheres to Bowie and Rock's original vision, allowing us to explore \u003cem\u003eMoonage Daydream\u003c\/em\u003e the way the authors intended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:199\"\u003e'This is a book of extraordinary photographs. Ziggy Stardust blazed briefly but intensely, and I am delighted to see his life and times as a rock'n'roll star immortalised in this book.' - David Bowie\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Genesis Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193591812364,"sku":"9781905662722","price":35.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781905662722.jpg?v=1743350772"},{"product_id":"medical-grade-music","title":"Medical Grade Music","description":"\u003cp\u003eNo-one, least of all Steve Davis and Kavus Torabi themselves, expected the six-time former World Snooker champion and a British-Iranian underground rock musician to become one of the most trusted brands in British alternative music. In their weekly radio shows and as two-thirds of The Utopia Strong, they set out to do exactly that.    Part sonic memoir, part Socratic dialogue, part gonzo mission to the heart of what makes music truly psychedelic, Medical Grade Music takes us from the snooker halls of Plumstead to the wildest shores of Plymouth's '90s thrash scene in the first work of joint autobiography to trace the evolution of a life-changing friendship through the discographies of Gentle Giant, Voivod and a host of deviant psychedelic avatars.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"White Rabbit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193592402188,"sku":"9781474619516","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781474619516.jpg?v=1743350805"},{"product_id":"the-musical-human-a-history-of-life-on-earth-a-bbc-radio-4-book-of-the-week","title":"The Musical Human: A History of Life on Earth","description":"\u003cp\u003eA RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK'Full of delightful nuggets' Guardian online'Entertaining, informative and philosphical ... An essential read' All About History'Extraordinary range ... All the world and more is here' Evening Standard165 million years ago saw the birth of rhythm.   66 million years ago came the first melody.   40 thousand years ago Homo sapiens created the first musical instrument.   Today music fills our lives. How we have created, performed and listened to music throughout history has defined what our species is and how we understand who we are. Yet it is an overlooked part of our origin story. The Musical Human takes us on an exhilarating journey across the ages - from Bach to BTS and back - to explore the vibrant relationship between music and the human species. With insights from a wealth of disciplines, world-leading musicologist Michael Spitzer renders a global history of music on the widest possible canvas, from global history to our everyday lives, from insects to apes, humans to artificial intelligence.   'Michael Spitzer has pulled off the impossible: a Guns, Germs and Steel for music' Daniel Levitin'A thrilling exploration of what music has meant and means to humankind' Ian Bostridge\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193592664332,"sku":"9781526602787","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781526602787.jpg?v=1743350819"},{"product_id":"last-chance-texaco-mojo-magazines-book-of-the-year","title":"Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of an American","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_95b3c2f9779ed279\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:88\"\u003eA Book of the Year in Rolling Stone, Uncut, Mojo, The Telegraph, and the Glasgow Herald.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:166\"\u003e'This troubadour life is only for the fiercest hearts, only for those vessels that can be broken to smithereens and still keep beating out the rhythm for a new song.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:373\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eLast Chance Texaco\u003c\/em\u003e is the first-ever no-holds-barred account of the life of two-time Grammy Award-winner Rickie Lee Jones, in her own words. It is a tale of desperate chances and impossible triumphs, an adventure story of a girl who beat the odds and grew up to become one of the most legendary artists of her time, turning adversity and hopelessness into timeless music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:936\"\u003eWith candour and lyricism, the 'Duchess of Coolsville' (\u003cem\u003eTime\u003c\/em\u003e) takes us on a singular journey through her nomadic childhood, to her years as a teenage runaway, through her legendary love affair with Tom Waits, and ultimately her longevity as the hardest working woman in rock and roll. Rickie Lee's stories are rich with the infamous characters of her early songs - 'Chuck E's in Love,' 'Weasel and the White Boys Cool,' 'Danny's All-Star Joint,' and 'Easy Money' - but long before her notoriety in show business, there was a vaudevillian cast of hitchhikers, bank robbers, jail breaks, drug mules, a pimp with a heart of gold, and tales of her fabled ancestors. In this electrifying and intimate memoir by one of the most remarkable, trailblazing, and tenacious women in music are never-before-told stories of the girl in the raspberry beret, a singer-songwriter whose music defied categorisation and inspired pop culture for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Grove Press \/ Atlantic Monthly Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193592795404,"sku":"9781611854459","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781611854459.jpg?v=1743350826"},{"product_id":"beeswing-fairport-folk-rock-and-finding-my-voice-1967-75","title":"Beeswing: Fairport, Folk Rock and Finding My Voice, 1967-75","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_74c15a9c0810a909\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"4:1-4:121\"\u003eThe memoir of international music icon Richard Thompson, co-founder of the legendary folk rock group Fairport Convention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"6:1-6:68\"\u003e'I encourage everyone to read this wonderful book.' - ELVIS COSTELLO\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"8:1-8:106\"\u003e'Thompson could be said to be an English Dylan - only in some ways he's even better than that.' - GUARDIAN\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"10:1-10:394\"\u003eRichard Thompson came of age during an extraordinary moment in 1960s Britain – as music began to reflect a great cultural awakening, the guitarist and songwriter co-founded Fairport Convention, ushering in the era of folk rock. 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It traces a lineage from ancient traditions to the modern underground, exploring archaeoacoustics, resonant feedback, chest-rattling sub-bass, avant-garde eccentricity, sound as weaponry, and fervent spiritualism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:655\"\u003eFrom its Neolithic origins to boisterous medieval troubadours, Sufi mystics to Indian raga masters, the book encompasses cone-shattering dubwise bass, \u003cstrong\u003eHawkwind's\u003c\/strong\u003e Ladbroke Grove scene to the outer reaches of \u003cstrong\u003eFaust\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eAsh Ra Temple\u003c\/strong\u003e. It delves into the hash-fuelled haze of The Theatre of Eternal Music, the cough syrup-infused reverse hardcore of \u003cstrong\u003eMelvins\u003c\/strong\u003e, the seedy VHS hinterland of \u003cstrong\u003eElectric Wizard\u003c\/strong\u003e, the ritualistic amp worship of \u003cstrong\u003eEarth\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eSunn O)))\u003c\/strong\u003e, and countless points in between. \u003cem\u003eMonolithic Undertow\u003c\/em\u003e explores the profound power of the drone – an audio vessel capable of evoking both womb-like warmth and cavernous dread.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:882\"\u003eIn 1977, \u003cem\u003eSniffin' Glue\u003c\/em\u003e magazine captured the musical zeitgeist with their infamous 'this is a chord; this is another; now form a band' illustration. The drone, however, requires neither chord nor band. Through its infinite adaptability and accessibility, it represents the ultimate folk music: a potent audio tool for personal liberation. Immersion in hypnotic and repetitive sounds allows us to transcend ourselves, whether through chant, a 120dB sonic assault from \u003cstrong\u003eSunn O)))\u003c\/strong\u003e, standing in front of the sound system as \u003cstrong\u003eJah Shaka\u003c\/strong\u003e drops a fresh dub, or achieving full headphone immersion with \u003cstrong\u003eHawkwind\u003c\/strong\u003e. These experiences are akin to an audio portal – a sonic TARDIS to silence the ceaseless hum and fizz of the inner voice. 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The New York Times aptly describes it as \"a guide to rediscovering the joys of creating that we all felt as children.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:399\"\u003eRather than a traditional musician's memoir recounting personal history, Tweedy delves deep into his own creative process, generously sharing his unique perspective on songwriting. The result is a warm and accessible handbook that champions the vital importance of integrating creativity into the fabric of our daily lives and experiencing the hope, inspiration, and sheer joy that can accompany it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:459\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eHow to Write One Song\u003c\/em\u003e isn't a dry instruction manual; it's an invitation. Tweedy's approach is practical yet infused with a genuine enthusiasm for the act of creation. As Rough Trade notes, it's \"fascinating,\" while the \u003cem\u003eIndependent\u003c\/em\u003e finds it \"eloquent,\" and Pitchfork deems it \"nourishing.\" The \u003cem\u003eFinancial Times\u003c\/em\u003e rightly positions Tweedy as \"a proselytiser for the act of songcraft,\" and GQ hails the book as \"a smart, funny, relentlessly practical guide.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:351\"\u003eTweedy's writing style is engaging and down-to-earth, making the often-mystified process of songwriting feel approachable and demystified. He encourages experimentation, playfulness, and a shedding of inhibitions, reminding us of the inherent creativity we all possessed as children. \u003cem\u003eEsquire\u003c\/em\u003e calls it \"delightful,\" and \u003cem\u003eVulture\u003c\/em\u003e finds it \"incisive.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"11:1-11:456\"\u003eAs the \u003cem\u003eIrish Times\u003c\/em\u003e astutely observes, \"A book written by a musician that doesn't relay autobiographical details in some form of (even loose) chronology is unusual... Jeff Tweedy, in \u003cem\u003eHow to Write One Song\u003c\/em\u003e, achieves this.\" This book is something else altogether: a generous and insightful offering from a master craftsman, encouraging everyone to tap into their own creative wellspring and experience the simple yet profound act of writing just one song.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Faber \u0026 Faber","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193593483532,"sku":"9780571369393","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780571369393.jpg?v=1743350866"},{"product_id":"the-life-times-of-malcolm-mclaren-the-biography","title":"The Life \u0026 Times of Malcolm McLaren: The Biography","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_a61e25cf2bdc2035\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:153\"\u003e\"I couldn't put this book down. Malcolm inspired us to make art out of our boredom and anger. He set us free,\" enthuses Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:756\"\u003eIncluded in \u003cem\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e's \"10 best music biographies,\" this book is described as \"excellent\" by the \u003cem\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e. They note that \"With this book, Gorman convincingly moves away from the ossified image of McLaren as a great rock 'n' roll swindler, a morally bankrupt punk Mephistopheles, and closer towards his art-school roots, his love of ideas. Tiresome, unpleasant, even cruel – he was, this book underlines, never boring.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:756\"\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eObserver\u003c\/em\u003e finds it \"exhaustive\" and \"compelling,\" while \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e deems it \"definitive\" and \"epic.\" The \u003cem\u003eTelegraph\u003c\/em\u003e calls it a \"gobsmacker of a biography,\" and Alan Moore praises it as a \"masterful and painstaking biography [that] opens its doorway to an era of fluorescent disenchantment and outlandish possibility.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:622\"\u003eMalcolm McLaren was one of the most culturally significant yet widely misunderstood figures of the modern era. Ten years after his life was tragically cut short by cancer, \u003cem\u003eThe Life \u0026amp; Times of Malcolm McLaren\u003c\/em\u003e sheds fascinating new light on the public achievements and private life of this cultural iconoclast and architect of punk, whose championing of street culture movements, including hip-hop and Voguing, continues to resonate today. With exclusive contributions from friends and intimates, and access to private papers and family documents, this biography uncovers the true story behind this complicated figure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:619\"\u003eMcLaren first achieved public prominence as a rebellious art student, making headlines in 1966 after being arrested for burning the US flag in front of the American Embassy in London. He maintained this incendiary reputation by fast-tracking vanguard and left-field ideas into the media spotlight, via his creation and stewardship of the Sex Pistols and his work with Adam Ant, Boy George, and Bow Wow Wow. Meanwhile, McLaren's groundbreaking design partnership with Vivienne Westwood and his establishment of their visionary series of boutiques in the 1970s and early '80s sent shockwaves through the fashion industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:740\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Life \u0026amp; Times of Malcolm McLaren\u003c\/em\u003e also details McLaren's exasperating Hollywood years, during which he socialised with the likes of Steven Spielberg, though his slate of projects—which included the controversial \u003cem\u003eHeavy Metal Surf Nazis\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eWilde West\u003c\/em\u003e, in which Oscar Wilde introduced rock 'n' roll to the American Midwest in the 1880s—proved too rich for the play-it-safe film business. With a preface by Alan Moore, who collaborated with McLaren on the unrealised film project \u003cem\u003eFashion Beast\u003c\/em\u003e, and an essay by Lou Stoppard offering a twenty-first-century perspective on his achievements, \u003cem\u003eThe Life \u0026amp; Times Of Malcolm McLaren\u003c\/em\u003e is the explosive and definitive account of the man dubbed by Melvyn Bragg 'the Diaghilev of punk'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Constable","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193593876748,"sku":"9781472121110","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781472121110.jpg?v=1743350891"},{"product_id":"paul-mccartney-the-stories-behind-50-classic-songs-1970-2020","title":"Paul McCartney: The Stories Behind 50 Classic Songs, 1970-2020","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_89376929f83db70c\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaul McCartney's songwriting output as a member of the Beatles, mainly with his co-writer John Lennon, has been exhaustively documented over the years. Now, taking 50 key songs from his five-decade career since the break-up of the Fab Four, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003ePaul McCartney: The Stories Behind 50 Classic Songs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e takes an in-depth look at the post-Sixties work of one of popular music's most versatile and prolific composers and performers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaul McCartney has been a genuine pop idol, a cutting-edge experimenter, and in later years recognized as an international musical treasure. The 50 selections from his vast songwriting catalogue highlighted in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003ePaul McCartney: The Stories Behind 50 Classic Songs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e mark half a century of musical creativity by a true icon of popular music.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach song includes full session details, personnel lists and chart data and is described in detail, from original inspiration to the final release. Quotes from session musicians and studio personnel – and star guests such as Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello and Kanye West – bring the making of every song to life, alongside a wealth of related photographs in and out of the studio.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:787\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Welbeck","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193594663180,"sku":"9781787397378","price":20.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781787397378.jpg?v=1743350933"},{"product_id":"the-hard-stuff-dope-crime-the-mc5-and-my-life-of-impossibilities","title":"The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, The MC5, and My Life of Impossibilities","description":"\u003cp\u003eA ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWayne Kramer, legendary guitarist and co-founder of quintessential Detroit proto-punk legends The MC5, tells his story in The Hard Stuff.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'As gripping as it is sobering.' - THE TIMES\u003cbr\u003e'Voyerustically dramatic.' - NEW YORK TIMES\u003cbr\u003e'Eye-opening.' - GUARDIAN\u003cbr\u003e'One of rock's most engaging and readable memoirs.' - ROLLING STONE\u003cbr\u003e'Inspiring and redemptive.' - UNCUT\u003cbr\u003e'An endearing read.' - MOJO\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLed by legendary guitarist Wayne Kramer, The MC5 was a reflection of the times: exciting, sexy, violent, and out of control – assuring their time in the spotlight would be short-lived. Kramer's story is a revolutionary one, but it is also the deeply personal struggle of an addict and an artist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the glory days of Detroit to the junk-sick streets of the East Village, from Key West to Nashville and sunny Los Angeles, in and out of prison and on and off drugs, his is the classic journeyman narrative, but with a twist: he's here to remind us that revolution is always an option.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Faber \u0026 Faber","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193596596492,"sku":"9780571341276","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780571341276.jpg?v=1743350953"},{"product_id":"nico-songs-they-never-play-on-the-radio","title":"Nico, Songs They Never Play on the Radio","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_04d30e1056c6a27b\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:244\"\u003e'A coolly literary masterpiece' - Greil Marcus, \u003cem\u003eEsquire\u003c\/em\u003e. 'Sad, funny, brilliant' - \u003cem\u003eThe Daily Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e. 'In classic fish-out-of-water fashion Young writes with wry amusement alongside a fair bit of affection for his icy boss' - \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:787\"\u003eFully updated with a new introduction, this is the story of Nico, former model, film actress, singer with the Velvet Underground, and darling of Andy Warhol's Factory, at a time when the world had all but forgotten her. In 1982, Nico was living in Manchester, primarily interested in fuelling her heroin habit. Local promoter Alan Wise ('Dr Demetrius') hired musicians, rented a van, and set off with the band on a tour of Italy. James Young played keyboards for Nico throughout this period. Over six years, until her death in 1988, Nico toured the world, encountering poets, artists, gangsters, losers, and drifters. Fellow spirits including John Cale, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, and John Cooper Clarke are among those who appear in this classic memoir of Nico, 'the last bohemian'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:419\"\u003e'Stunning... Nico is so HERE in this wonderful narrative; I recognised her right away. James Young was the keyboard player in Nico's very insane \u003cem\u003ebande à part\u003c\/em\u003e on the last tours of her life and is a spectacular writer; let him be your perfect witness from the nomadic court of the once and future goddess of the musical underground' - Danny Fields, friend of Nico, and manager of The Ramones, Iggy Pop, and The Stooges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193596825868,"sku":"9781526640796","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781526640796.jpg?v=1743350969"},{"product_id":"broken-greek-a-story-of-chip-shops-and-pop-songs","title":"Broken Greek: A Story of Chip Shops and Pop Songs","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_ba83a3bcc1955f8f\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLip-lickingly, dance-around-the-living-room good... A smash hit' - Observer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Unflinching and heartwarming' - Adam Kay\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Tender, clever and as funny as it gets ... a heart-piercing joy' - Lauren Laverne\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'An exceptional coming-of-age story [...] Pete Paphides may very well have the biggest heart in Britain' - Marina Hyde\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'I ADORE this utterly wonderful coming-of-age memoir. Joyful, clever, and a bit heartbreaking' - Nina Stibbe\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:85\"\u003e'Do you sometimes feel like the music you're hearing is explaining your life to you?'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"11:1-11:474\"\u003eWhen Pete's parents moved from Cyprus to Birmingham in the 1960s in the hope of a better life, they had no money and only a little bit of English. They opened a fish-and-chip shop in Acocks Green. The Great Western Fish Bar is where Pete learned about coin-operated machines, male banter, and Britishness. Shy and introverted, Pete stopped speaking from age 4 to 7, and found refuge instead in the bittersweet embrace of pop songs, thanks to Top of the Pops and Dial-A-Disc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"13:1-13:863\"\u003eFrom Brotherhood of Man to UB40, from ABBA to The Police, music provided the safety net he needed to protect him from the tensions of his home life. It also helped him navigate his way around the challenges surrounding school, friendships, and phobias such as visits to the barber, standing near tall buildings, and Rod Hull and Emu. With every passing year, his guilty secret became more horrifying to him: his parents were Greek, but all the things that excited him were British. And the engine of that realisation? 'Sugar Baby Love', 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', 'Tragedy', 'Silly Games', 'Going Underground', 'Come On Eileen', and every other irresistibly thrilling chart hit blaring out of the chip shop radio. Never have the trials and tribulations of growing up and the human need for a sense of belonging been so heart-breakingly and humorously depicted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"15:1-15:57\"\u003eListen along with Pete's BROKEN GREEK playlist on Spotify\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Heartfelt, hilarious and beautifully written, Broken Greek is a childhood memoir like no other' - Cathy Newman\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'So wonderfully written, such a light touch. Drenched in sentiment yet not in the least sentimental' - John Niven\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'It's brilliant. Sad, really funny and beautifully written ... just fantastic' - Alexis Petridis\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A truly beautiful book' - James O'Brien\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Intoxicating' - Kirsty Wark\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Oh, how I love Pete Paphides and this book' - Daniel Finkelstein\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'A balm in these times' - David Nicholls\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Fantastic ... Can't recommend it highly enough' - Tim Burgess\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Quercus Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193596891404,"sku":"9781529404449","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781529404449.jpg?v=1743350972"},{"product_id":"indian-sun-the-life-and-music-of-ravi-shankar","title":"Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_6f14c29d3c266f4c\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:265\"\u003eOliver Craske's biography of Ravi Shankar, celebrated as a Times, Spectator, TLS and BBC Music Magazine Book of the Year, offers a \"fascinating\" account, according to the \u003cem\u003eGuardian\u003c\/em\u003e. The \u003cem\u003eTimes\u003c\/em\u003e deems it \"superlative,\" while the \u003cem\u003eObserver\u003c\/em\u003e hails it as \"definitive.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:794\"\u003eAs an icon of India, Ravi Shankar's stature rivals that of Gandhi or the Taj Mahal. He stands as one of the twentieth century's most significant musicians, his wide-reaching influence evident in the diverse array of artists he inspired, including George Harrison, John Coltrane, Philip Glass, and Yehudi Menuhin, among others. In this first comprehensive biography of Ravi Shankar, Oliver Craske presents a full and nuanced portrait of both the man and the artist. He paints a vivid picture of the captivating, restless workaholic who lived an intense and extraordinary life across ninety-two years, revealing both his public persona and his private world. As the \u003cem\u003eTimes\u003c\/em\u003e eloquently puts it, this is \"a masterly chronicle of a life teeming with all-too-human incident but heavenly inspiration.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Faber \u0026 Faber","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193597251852,"sku":"9780571350865","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9780571350865.jpg?v=1743350979"},{"product_id":"relax-baby-be-cool-the-artistry-and-audacity-of-serge-gainsbourg","title":"Relax Baby Be Cool: The Artistry And Audacity Of Serge Gainsbourg","description":"\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_07fe19682328663e\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:586\"\u003eWhy has Serge Gainsbourg crossed over to the English-speaking world when so many of his contemporaries have remained largely confined to the Francosphere? What is it about this unshaven provocateur that so appeals to us? And who was the real Serge Gainsbourg anyway? Was he the sensitive seducer and songwriting colossus of the 60s and 70s? Was he Lucien Ginsburg, the son of Russian Jewish refugees who had to wear a yellow star during the Nazi Occupation of Paris? Or was he Gainsbarre, the deplorable, attention-seeking drunk who shamelessly propositioned Whitney Houston on live TV?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:433\"\u003eGainsbourg's cult has only grown since his death in 1991, and \u003cem\u003eHistoire de Melody Nelson\u003c\/em\u003e is now regarded as a classic in France and internationally. The 1971 album had only sold eighty thousand copies by 1986 when it finally went gold fifteen years after its release; its canonical elevation is a remarkable story, and there are many more remarkable stories attached to all of Gainsbourg's genre-defying, transgressive long-players.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:1100\"\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eRelax Baby Be Cool\u003c\/em\u003e, writer Jeremy Allen takes each studio album in turn whilst exploring themes pertinent to Gainsbourg's life and music: jazz, performance, provocation, appropriation, postmodernism, aesthetics, metamorphosis, muses, Nazis, film and TV, Surrealism, fame, and decline. French pop music is more popular than it's been since the mid-90s, when the French touch was breaking. Gainsbourg's influence has also been huge on alternative music: from Pulp to Massive Attack, De La Soul to Danger Mouse, Black Grape to Iggy Pop, Luke Vibert to Die Antwoord, Air to Kylie Minogue. This book is full of new interviews from people who knew him, as well as younger artists who've discovered him long after his death. Contributors include Jane Birkin, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jacqueline Ginsburg (Gainsbourg's sister), Anna Karina, Mike Patton, Etienne Daho, Sly Dunbar, Alan Hawkshaw, Alan Parker, Jean-Claude Vannier, Tony Frank, Tony Allen, Mick Harvey, Bertrand Burgalat, Acid Arab, Jehnny Beth, Alain Chamfort, Metronomy, David Holmes, Blonde Redhead, Air, Sparks, Will Oldham, and many more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:1100\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Relax Baby Be Cool is a trip into unraveling the mind and genius of one of the greatest artists of all time. Although Gainsbourg s music has been discovered by new generations, his life has rarely been illuminated and contextualized with such style and insight.'- BECK\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jawbone","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193598005516,"sku":"9781911036654","price":12.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781911036654.jpg?v=1743351022"},{"product_id":"mozart-the-man-revealed","title":"Mozart: The Man Revealed","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's life is well known. Austrian-born to a tyrannical father who worked him - fiercely; unhappily married to a spendthrift woman; a child-like character ill at ease amid the aristocratic splendour of the Viennese court; a musical genius who died young thus depriving the world of future glories.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYet only that last point is really true. In this comprehensive biography, John Suchet examines the many myths and misunderstandings surrounding the world's best-loved composer. From his early days as a child prodigy performing for the imperial royal family in Vienna to the last months of his short life, driven to exhaustion by a punitive workload, one thing remained constant: his happy disposition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThrough trials and tribulations, grand successes and disheartening setbacks, Suchet shows us the real Mozart - blessed with an abundance of talent yet sometimes struggling to earn a living. His mischievous nature and earthy sense of humour, his ease and confidence in his own incredible abilities; these were traits that never left him. His music has brought comfort to countless generations; his life, though brief, is no less fascinating.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Elliott \u0026 Thompson Limited","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193598071052,"sku":"9781783965816","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/mozart.jpg?v=1749152774"},{"product_id":"crossroads-in-search-of-the-moments-that-changed-music","title":"Crossroads: In Search of the Moments that Changed Music","description":"\u003cp\u003eStanding at the crossroads - the Mississippi crossroads of Robert Johnson and the devil's infamous meeting - Mark Radcliffe found himself facing his own personal juncture. Aged sixty, he had just mourned the death of his father, only to be diagnosed with mouth and throat cancer. Together these events led Radcliffe to think about pivotal tracks in music and how the musicians who wrote and performed them had reached the crossroads that led to such epoch-changing music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrossroads is a warm, intimate account of music and its power to transform our lives, as Radcliffe takes a personal journey through these key tracks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"That warmth, that authenticity, those stories . . . Masterfully told\" -- ANNIE NIGHTINGALE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A deep love of music and its legends, a warm wit and a hawkish eye for the absurd. I feel educated but I'm crying laughing. This is a great book\" -- GUY GARVEY\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Funny, brilliantly entertaining and packed with musical lore\" ― \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Warm and welcoming . . . yet possessed of a sweeping sense of melancholy and flight\" ― \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eTimes Literary Supplement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Mark Radcliffe is like our shared friend. We feel we know him from being our late night, early morning or afternoon companion for many years. His voice is always a comfort and his music knowledge rivals that of anyone I know. His writing is like his broadcasting - light and funny when needed but it is beautifully emotional like the man himself. Long may Mark and his stories be part of our lives\" -- TIM BURGESS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Canongate Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193599643916,"sku":"9781786898173","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781786898173.jpg?v=1743351052"},{"product_id":"acid-for-the-children-the-autobiography-of-flea-the-red-hot-chili-peppers-legend","title":"Acid For The Children - The autobiography of Flea, the Red Hot Chili Peppers legend","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_2e6be3bd4bd77e66\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:288\"\u003eFlea, the iconic bassist and co-founder, alongside Anthony Kiedis, of the immortal Red Hot Chili Peppers, finally shares his fascinating origin story. It comes complete with all the dizzying highs and gutter lows you would expect from an LA street rat who became a world-famous rock star.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:787\"\u003eMichael Peter Balzary was born in Melbourne, Australia, on 16 October 1962. His more famous stage name, Flea, and his wild ride as the renowned bass player for the Red Hot Chili Peppers were in a far and distant future. Little Michael from Oz moved with his very conservative, very normal family to Westchester, New York, where life as he knew it was soon turned upside down. His parents split up, and he and his sister moved into the home of his mother's free-wheeling, jazz musician boyfriend – trading in rules, stability, and barbecues for bohemian values, wildness, and Sunday afternoon jazz parties where booze, weed, and music flowed in equal measure. There began Michael's lifelong journey to channel all the frustration, loneliness, love, and joy he felt into incredible rhythm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:646\"\u003eWhen Michael's family moved to Los Angeles in 1972, his home situation was rockier than ever. He sought out a sense of belonging elsewhere, spending most of his days partying, playing basketball, and committing petty crimes. At Fairfax High School, he met another social outcast, Anthony Kiedis, who quickly became his soul brother, the yin to his yang, his partner in mischief. Michael joined some bands, fell in love with performing, and honed his skills. But it was not until the night when Anthony, excited after catching a Grandmaster Flash concert, suggested they start their own band that he was handed the magic key to the cosmic kingdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:204\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAcid for the Children\u003c\/em\u003e is as raw, entertaining, and wildly unpredictable as its author. It is both a tenderly evocative coming-of-age story and a raucous love letter to the power of music and creativity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Headline Book Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193599742220,"sku":"9781472230836","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781472230836.jpg?v=1743351058"},{"product_id":"me","title":"Me: Elton John Official Autobiography","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_8071296a0b548fa2\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"1:1-1:328\"\u003eIn his first and only official autobiography, music icon Elton John reveals the truth about his extraordinary life. \u003cem\u003eMe\u003c\/em\u003e is the joyously funny, honest, and moving story of the most enduringly successful singer\/songwriter of all time. This \u003cem\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestseller now includes a new chapter bringing the story right up to date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:181\"\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/em\u003e hails it as 'The rock memoir of the decade,' while the \u003cem\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e declares, 'The rock star's gloriously entertaining and candid memoir is a gift to the reader.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:404\"\u003eChristened Reginald Dwight, he was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was performing his first gig in America, facing an astonished audience in his bright yellow dungarees, a star-spangled T-shirt, and boots with wings. Elton John had arrived, and the music world would never be the same again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:466\"\u003eHis life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury, and George Michael to establishing his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was concealing a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:330\"\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eMe\u003c\/em\u003e, Elton also writes powerfully about getting clean and transforming his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father. In a voice that is warm, humble, and open, this is Elton on his music and his relationships, his passions and his mistakes. This is a story that will stay with you, by a living legend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"11:1-11:352\"\u003e'Self-deprecating, funny... You cannot help but enjoy his company throughout, temper tantrums and all,' notes \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e. The \u003cem\u003eGuardian\u003c\/em\u003e (Book of the Week) describes it as 'Racy, pacy and crammed with scurrilous anecdotes - what more could you ask from the rocket man.' The \u003cem\u003eTelegraph\u003c\/em\u003e finds it 'Chatty, gossipy, amusing and at times brutally candid.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Pan Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193599807756,"sku":"9781509853342","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9781509853342.jpg?v=1743351061"},{"product_id":"rock-covers-45th-ed","title":"Rock Covers. 45th Ed.","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_8b99601711bff174\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:429\"\u003ePrepare for a glorious deep dive into the visual language of rock with \u003cem\u003eRock Covers\u003c\/em\u003e, a truly celebratory compilation that emphatically reminds us of the indelible link between our cherished albums and their unforgettable artwork. This isn't just a book; it's a vibrant gallery showcasing over 750 remarkable album covers, spanning legendary releases to those treasured, hard-to-find gems that whisper tales of musical discovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:434\"\u003eFor anyone who's ever felt a pang of recognition upon seeing the artwork for \u003cem\u003eSgt. Pepper's\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eNever Mind the Bollocks\u003c\/em\u003e, or \u003cem\u003eDark Side of the Moon\u003c\/em\u003e, this book is pure joy. It's a testament to the power of visual artistry in shaping our collective musical memories, a vibrant showcase of the photographers, illustrators, and art directors who, through their iconic designs, have themselves become celebrated figures in popular culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:472\"\u003eThe sheer breadth of artists represented is exhilarating, a joyous collision of sounds and styles. From the early swagger of Elvis Presley to the revolutionary energy of The Sex Pistols, the psychedelic landscapes of Pink Floyd to the brooding cool of The Cure, the fierce iconography of Iron Maiden to the alternative edge of Sonic Youth – each entry is a vibrant tribute to the cover art that not only defined their albums but also cemented their often cult-like status.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:401\"\u003eAdding a layer of fascinating detail, each cover is accompanied by a concise fact sheet, diligently listing the art director, photographer or illustrator, year of release, and record label. Furthermore, the book thoughtfully highlights nearly 250 records that marked significant turning points – for a band, an artist, or an entire genre – with insightful short descriptions that add valuable context.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"11:1-11:532\"\u003eBut \u003cem\u003eRock Covers\u003c\/em\u003e goes beyond simply presenting a visual feast. It enriches the experience with engaging insider interviews from the professionals who were instrumental in shaping the history of rock's visual identity. These voices offer invaluable perspectives on the creative processes and the stories behind some of the most iconic sleeves. Adding another layer of enthusiast appreciation are top-10 record lists curated by ten leading rock collectors, offering a glimpse into the diverse and passionate world of vinyl obsession.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-sourcepos=\"13:1-13:483\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRock Covers\u003c\/em\u003e is a beautifully presented and thoroughly engaging tribute to an often-underappreciated art form. It's a guaranteed conversation starter, a source of endless nostalgic delight, and a powerful reminder of the symbiotic relationship between music and its visual representation. Whether you're a seasoned vinyl aficionado or simply a lover of great design and rock history, this book is an absolute treat – a vibrant celebration of the art that helped define a generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Taschen GmbH","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54193600954636,"sku":"9783836576437","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/files\/9783836576437.jpg?v=1755270820"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/4105\/4988\/collections\/recommended.jpg?v=1745702737","url":"https:\/\/sonicbookshop.co.uk\/collections\/recommended-1.oembed?page=9","provider":"Sonic Music Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}