Pride, Pop and Politics charts the development of gay culture and the rise of LGBTQ politics in the UK, from the formation of the Gay Liberation Front to the present day, through the music that provided the soundtrack.Fifty years on from Britain's first Pride march, the long road to LGBT equality continues. Through protest songs and gay club nights, street theatre activism and fundraising concerts, the performing arts have played an influential role in each great stride made.With new interviews with musicians and DJs, performers and activists, including Andy Bell, Jayne County, John Grant, Horse McDonald and Peter Tachell, Pride, Pop and Politics hears from those whose art has been influenced by the campaign for LGBT rights – and helped push it forward.This informative, eye-opening book is the first to focus on the relationship between gay nightlife and political activism in Britain.Darryl W. Bullock won the prestigious Penderyn Music Book Prize in 2022 with The Velvet Mafia, a thrilling account of the gay men who ran the swinging sixties.
"e;He wasn't dead and gone to Heaven. He was alive and still in Graceland. Cursed to live another year on God's earth as Elvis Presley. The man from yesterday trapped in a today of tomorrows..."e; As 1968 dawns, the once King of Rock 'n' Roll faces cultural oblivion. While elsewhere the Sixties are swinging, for Elvis they're sinking - in terrible films, drug addiction, paranoia, religious mania and the mercenary wiles of his psychopathic manager. At 33 the legend who once had it all is lost, lonely and slowly going insane. Until thrown a last lifeline. His own one-hour TV special: a do-or-die final chance to remind the world who, and what, Elvis Presley really is. The Comeback plots the incredible true story of Elvis' fall and rise from Army discharge to iconic black leather resurrection. Simon Goddard takes the reader inside the life, music and mind of Elvis: a 24/7 delirium of women, pills, midnight movies and holy mumbo jumbo, isolated from an America unravelling in its own Sixties chaos of war, racism, riots and assassinations, until his world and theirs collide in the greatest performance of his life. A genre-busting modernist rock 'n' roll fable unlike any music biography you've ever read, The Comeback is the definitive account of how it took Elvis eight years on the big screen to lose his crown - but just one magical hour on a small one to win it back.
Look Wot I Dun is the story of Slade told through the eyes of drummer Don Powell whose life was shattered when, in 1973 at the height of the group's fame, he was involved in a horrific car crash. Unflinching in his honesty, Powell deals frankly with the aftermath of the accident that took the life of his girlfriend and left him with injuries that affect him to this day. Leader of the glam rock movement, Slade was the UK's biggest singles band from 1971 to 1974. Their many hits have become rock standards, not least of which was Merry Christmas Everybody, arguably Britain's all-time favorite Christmas song. This previously published book is now brought up to date in paperback format with an additional chapter from Don, detailing his touring activity over the last seven years, since the original release of his book in hardback.
The explosive memoir charting the early '90s Seattle grunge movement by Mudhoney guitarist and founding member Steve Turner.
"An updated and expanded edition of Max Decharne's hugely acclaimed King's Road book. The King's Road in Chelsea was at the epicenter of not one but two worldwide cultural shifts. In the mid-sixties, it became a focal point and shop window for the new 'swinging' London, encompassing music, the visual arts, fashion and much more. It remained continuously at the forefront of developing trends throughout the following decade until it was the key breeding-ground for punk rock, whose sound, look and attitudes continue to shape global notions of youthful rebellion almost thirty years later. In short, it was the place to be. As a laboratory and showcase for the emerging youth-orientated scene, it became the favored habitat of several generations of pop-culture prime movers. Decharne's book charts the social and cultural history of the area and stands as the definitive book on the subject."
The only book to consider Oi! as a distinct genre within punk rock, What Have We Got? is the story of a musical movement that became a national concern in the eighties and still divides opinion today.
The biography of Ronnie Lane, noted musician and songwriter famous for his roles in Small Faces and the Faces.
The first official history of Sun Records, written for the celebration of their 70th anniversary.
By 1983, many of Scotland's post-punk bands had broken up or moved south to chase the major labels in London. That vacuum was filled by an influx of young musicians who were determined to remake the scene in their own image.In this compelling and dynamic oral history, Grant McPhee chronicles the radical transformation of Scotland's independent music scene from 1983-1995. Including archival photos and drawing from over 100 interviews with the key players of the time, Grant McPhee allows them to set the scene in their own words; including the Cocteau Twins, Shop Assistants, Teenage Fanclub, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream and many more.Postcards from Scotland is the definitive story of the radicals, misfits and experimentalists who made independent music what it is today.
Spanning over decades, this is the remarkable, heartfelt memoir from Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, the last surviving member of The Four Tops. Amidst a backdrop of Detroit, I'll Be There features revealing anecdotes from the group's formation, their early days as backup singers for the likes of Jackie Wilson, and their years working with Berry Gordy at the legendary Motown Records. With era-defining number ones like 'I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)' and 'Reach Out I'll Be There' came stardom and also a more enduring reward: the love of four men who become tighter than brothers. Together they comprise one of the most celebrated R&B groups of all time. But remarkable musical success didn't spare Fakir the pain of marital distress, soured investment deals, struggles with sobriety, and the sudden loss of his brothers, all of which he covers in this confessional, unmissable book.
When a musician dies, it is rarely the end of their story. While death can propel megastars to even further success, artists overlooked in their lifetime might also find a new type of fame. But a badly timed move or the wrong deal can see the artist die all over again. Colonel Tom Parker, the former carnival huckster, understood this high-wire act implicitly and the posthumous career of Elvis Presley has provided a template for everyone else. Estates have two jobs: keeping the artist's name alive and ensuring they continue to make money. These can sometimes be compatible goals, but often they spark a tension that is unique in the music business. Drawing on interviews with those running music estates as well as music lawyers, record companies and archivists, Leaving the Building reveals how the music industry is constantly striving to perfect the business of death.
God Is in the Radio gathers 50 pieces from 40 years of writing passionately about music. A former mainstay of NME and MOJO-and author of such acclaimed books as Hotel California and Small Town Talk-Barney Hoskyns hymns the artists that have thrilled and moved him most, from Frank Sinatra to Amy Winehouse, via the Cocteau Twins and Queens of the Stone Age. Together with acts as varied as Laura Nyro and Luther Vandross, Burial and Bobby Womack, these are the "e;unbridled enthusiasms"e; that-for Hoskyns-dissolve the rationalisation of feeling, producing a sense of rapture that borders on religious ecstasy. Spanning multiple decades and moments of music history, and containing personal reflections as well as recommendations, this is a poignant and evocative must-read book from one of the UK's foremost music writers.
For most people in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s, Radio 1 provided the soundtrack to their lives. Commanding up to 24 million listeners a week, it was the most popular radio station in the world. An iconic institution and one of the UK's most famous brands, its history and socio-cultural impact is explored in full here for the first time. Robert Sellers draws on archive material and first-hand interviews with DJs and key personnel to capture the extraordinary story of Radio 1, from its beginnings in 1967 through to its controversial reorganisation in the early nineties.
Whether flying across a screen or lighting up the stage, Madness' wild, energetic sax player has always been hard to miss. For Lee ‘KIX' Thompson, life is for having as much fun as possible. Growing Out Of It is the tale of one ‘nutty boy' not really growing out of it at all. From getting up to no good as a teenager to his many musical (mis)adventures in the 1970s, Lee's memoir of his formative years captures his enduring love for his north London stomping ground, where he first met the other members of Madness.This is a story of growing up in a certain time and place when anything felt possible, even a bunch of north London lads forming a ska revival band – and becoming one of Britain's best-loved groups.
This comprehensive mental health and touring guide for musicians will help artists, tour managers, production managers, crew and artist teams to identify and cope with the various psychological difficulties that can occur during or as a result of touring.
Over the last 15 years, Mark Everett's band, Eels, has released nine acclaimed albums, from Beautiful Freak to 2010's Tomorrow Morning. Everett is also one of music's most fascinating characters and Blinking Lights covers his unusual childhood, the tragedy of his sister's suicide, his relationship with his brilliant mathematician father and his initial struggles to succeed in the music industry.Featuring interviews with those close to Everett, including former band members, and a detailed discography, this first biography of the band is an in-depth examination of their extensive career.Tim Grierson is a music critic whose writing appears in L.A. Weekly, Screen International, Revolver, The Village Voice, Vulture and About.com. He teaches criticism and writing at The Writing Pad and is a member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
Nine Inch Nails are the forerunners of the nu metal genre, having defined industrial rock in the 1990s. From the release of the acclaimed Pretty Hate Machine through its darker, multi-platinum sequels, they have sold over 10 million albums worldwide. 2007's album Year Zero is regarded as their strongest work in over a decade. Frontman, creative force and producer Trent Reznor is Nine Inch Nails. In this book, Reznor's life and music are examined in detail. Analyzing his tortured writing process, on-the-road touring antics with protégé Marilyn Manson and Courtney Love, collaborations with David Lynch and Oliver Stone and meticulous recording techniques, Nine Inch Nails is the definitive book on the musician who brought industrial rock from the underground to the mainstream. New edition - completely revised and updated in 2007.
The latest edition of the highly controversial Hendrix biography.From Seattle and his years in the US Air Force to London in the Sixties, here is the full Jimi Hendrix story: the songs, the concerts, the flaming guitars, the drugs, the booze and the women and, of course, the unforgettable musical legacy.'Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky remains the definitive biography of a musical phenomenon who died young after a dazzling career that fused blues and jazz into a unique brand of drug-fuelled psychedelic rock.Personal tensions and betrayals are explored alongside a catalogue of memorable live performances, showbiz duplicity and personal excess that led to Hendrix's controversial death at the age of 27.There was only one Jimi and more than 50 years since his passing David Henderson's brilliant book is the closest thing we have to catching the Hendrix brand of lightning in a bottle.
Witold Lutoslawski is widely regarded as one of the foremost composers of the post-war era and one of the truly great musicians of the 20th century. Charles Bodman Rae's examination of Lutoslawski's life and work draws on wide-ranging and meticulous research, including hours of recorded conversation with the composer himself. Now expanded for this third edition to include an additional chapter and many more photographs, The Music of Lutoslawski is an absorbing study of the man and his music.
Swimming with the Blowfish is the definitive account of the rise, fall and rebirth of the band that offered an irresistible alternative to the grunge music of the early '90s.
Over 50 years of Queen memorabilia has been brought together by the band's archivist Greg Brooks for the very first time in this official, fully illustrated coffee table book.
Skip Spence was a soldier, a rock star, a folkie, a husband and father, a biker, an innovator, an addict, a cult phenomenon, and a ward of the state. The cast of characters in his story includes some of the biggest stars in music: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, and many more. However, the highs and lows of fame took their toll, and Spence spent much of his life battling addiction and mental illness. He was in and out of hospitals and group homes, but would perform in various bands during his lucid moments and is best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and as the co-founder of Moby Grape. Songs from his cult solo album Oar have been covered by Tom Waits, Beck and Robert Plant. Weighted Down is the first book to tell the full story. With family photos and accounts from his friends, bandmates, and family, this biography offers new revelations about Spence that illuminate the troubled life of a complicated man.
The story of The Who's momentous first tours of America told through fabulous photos by the band's official photographer and tour manager Tom Wright.Tom Wright first met Pete Townshend at Ealing Art School in the early 60s. He became The Who's official tour photographer and manager from 1967 in the US, also managing the Grande Ballroom in Detroit where The Who's rock opera Tommy premiered. He was much more than the band's photographer, he was a friend and photographed them right up to their farewell tour in 1991. Tom's vast record collection and musical influences had a big impact on the band in their early years.Their Generation covers The Who's first tours of North America, a hugely creative time with explosive performances both on and off stage, the time of their US hit 'I Can See for Miles' and much more.Through the fabulous photographs, many of which have never been seen before, we see the band backstage, onstage, on tour, at rehearsal, at ease, in studio, at home. The photos will be accompanied by extended captions providing background details of the time, the people and the places.As well as The Who, Tom Wright toured with the Rolling Stones, the Faces, The James Gang, J. D. Elvis Costello, The Eagles and many more, documenting their performances and life on the road."One thing is certain, had I not met Tom Wright, The Who would never have become successful." Pete Townshend
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