In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the inherent weirdness of folk met switched-on psychedelic rock and gave birth to new, strange forms of acoustic-based avant-garde music. Artists on both
From the Award-Winning Team that produced the best-selling Ultimate Guitar Book comes this comprehensive pictorial history of the genuine classics to have emerged during the first 70 years of the elec
From its earliest days, heavy metal has been defined by its screamingly loud, distorted guitars, so it’s no wonder that the genre is rife with fabulous players. This large format, well-illustra
The Walker Brothers were the US counter-strike to the British invasion of the mid-60s. While The Beatles, the Stones and many others were busy colonizing the US charts, three tall, handsome American
When Cream broke up in 1968, it wasn’t Eric Clapton who was a surefire bet for solo success. Rather, it was Jack Bruce who had the looks and who cowrote and sang the band’s major hits, in
On January 1, 1967, a contract between "Colonel" Tom Parker and his sole client, Elvis Presley, gave Parker a 50 percent cut of profits that Presley generated. It was a shameless grab for a bigger pi
Moby Grape are a genuine cult phenomenon. Their story, a mixture of myth and truth, is a cautionary tale, a triumph, and a tragedy all at once.Though they are seen as a symbol of 1960s San Francisco,
"I was six or seven when I noticed the music in my head. It was there in the classroom, on the football pitch, at the dinner table, when I went to sleep and when I woke up. And it’s continued ev
'We didn't know what the film was about. We didn't know there was a conflict of image that could perhaps hurt us later on. It sort of grew, blew out of proportion.' - Barry GibbIn the late 70s, the Be
Metallica - the seventh-biggest recording act in American history - are consummate musicians, but it wasn't always that way. Their early career is marked by a gradual evolution from garage-level thras
Revolution In The Shed offers a unique insight into the work of one of Britain's most original and influential songwriters. It is also an unprecedentedly revealing and instructive guide to how songs a
How has a group conceived as a short-lived commodity outlived many more 'real' bands by nearly fifty years? Why are The Monkees still important, and what does this tell us about their music, their TV
"How fast can you play?""What guitar do you have?""Who is better, Van Halen or Steve Vai?"For metal fans in the 80s, these were common and important questions. Tune in to MTV, pick up a magazine, or w
In this intimate and revealing memoir, Lou Reed's first wife finally tells the full story of her five-year relationship with the legendary New York singer and songwriter.Bettye met Lou in 1968 as a ni
Becoming Elektra tells the incredible true story of the pioneering Elektra Records label and its far-sighted founder, Jac Holzman, who built a small folk imprint into a home for some of the most groun
To fans and critics alike, the years 1973 to 1980 – the Bon Scott era – are the most significant of AC/DC's five-decade career. In a prolific and frequently brilliant run, they recorde
Small Victories: The Real Story of Faith No More is the definitive biography of one of the most intriguing bands of the late twentieth century. Written with the participation of the group's key me
Sacrifice And Transcendence: The Oral History of Swans is the first book to capture the chaotic rise of Michael Gira’s band to become one of the most acclaimed rock acts of recent decades. For t
Once a fabled pirate garrison, the island of Ibiza gained its reputation as a countercultural hotbed of adventure seeking bohemian dropouts during the 20th century. Eventually this crossroads of exper