Nirvana formed in 1987, released their first LP in 1989, and unintentionally tore the music world asunder two years later with the video and single for "Smells Like Teen Spirit." At the time, MTV and rock 'n' roll in general were largely dominated by vapid hair metal acts. Nirvana, with their thrift-store clothes and pawnshop guitars, represented a much-needed return to punk-inspired rock and at the same time validated the indie rock scene that had failed to breach the mainstream in the previous decade. A meteoric rise followed, attended by all of the predictable professional and personal pitfalls. Two and half years after the release of "Teen Spirit," leader Kurt Cobain, age 27, killed himself and the ride was over. Today, Nirvana and Cobain transcend generations, not unlike Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and other artists who met premature ends. The band's story and music fascinate kids whose parents were among Nirvana's early fans. Coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of their final LP, Nirvana: The Complete Illustrated History is the first to treat fans to a stylishly designed illustrated biography of the band. Performance and off-stage photography, handbills, singles, backstage passes, gig posters, and other memorabilia complement a narrative detailing the band's tumultuous history, as well as sidebar album reviews, gear breakdowns, and mini synopses of Cobain's 50 all-time favorite albums. Nirvana's ride was a wild one--and all too brief. Here, finally, is the book that breaks that history down and presents it from an objective perspective.

Nirvana: The Complete Illustrated History

Biographies & Memoirs

Gaar, Gillian G.

Yarm, Mark

Cross, Charles

Gendron, Bob

Martens, Todd

Arts & Literature

Voyageur Press

Find out how legendary musician Bruce Springsteen earned his monicker. There's only one Boss; his story is revealed here. 
Bruce Springsteen is a platinum-shifting, stadium-filling rock star, but he is also more nuanced than that. He is a man of the people, making conventional-and-proud-of-it rock music aimed at the American working class.
A supreme songwriter, Springsteen is a rock 'n' roll legend, and this lavishly illustrated book is an examination of his life and music. A comprehensive overview of a fascinating and unique artist, Boss: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - The Illustrated History is a tribute to Springsteen's body of work, from the rock anthem Born to Run to his sepia-toned analysis of working-class misery, The River. There's Springsteen's gnarly, Bonnie and Clyde-style tableaux Atlantic City, as well as his debunking of guys' yearnings for youthful Glory Days. Throughout it all, Springsteen has demonstrated that he knows how to create a classic track. Find out once and for all why his nickname is The Boss.

Boss: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - The Illustrated History

Nirvana, the immortal grunge Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is as relevant and influential as ever.
Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, and Krist Novoselic comprised Nirvana, the band that unintentionally tore the music world asunder with the 1991 album Nevermind. The record that includes hits such as "Smells like Teen Spirit," "Come as You Are," and "Lithium" continues to rattle speakers with grunge that truly rocks. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, Updated Edition tells the fully illustrated story of the band that spoke for Generation X in the '90s.
Here we are, a quarter century after Nirvana irrevocably changed rock and roll, and the band continues to make headlines and influence music lovers. A documentary about the band and Cobain's solo album Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings were released last year, demanding a closer look at one of rock and roll's geniuses. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana reveals the band's history with fresh eyes, telling the story of a group that instigated a return to punk-inspired rock. This updated edition of the first-ever complete illustrated history of Nirvana features the writing of a sparkling team of grunge-rock experts and word slingers. The book also includes performance and backstage photography, as well as handbills, singles, ticket stubs, gig posters, and other memorabilia that complement the narrative. You'll also find album reviews, gear breakdowns, and mini synopses of Cobain's fifty all-time favorite albums. Nirvana's ride was a wild one - and all too brief.

Kurt Cobain and Nirvana - Updated Edition: The Complete Illustrated History

Earles, Andrew

Humor & Entertainment

Hendrix is the definitive, illustrated biography of the man widely considered the greatest rock guitarist of all time. Coinciding with what would have been Jimi Hendrix's 75th year on this mortal coil, this (incredibly) is the first full-blown illustrated gift book exploring the life and career of the man most consider the greatest rock guitarist of all time. Hendrix enjoyed the international limelight for less than four years, but his innovative and imaginative interpretations of blues and rock continue to inspire guitarists and music lovers across ages and genre. Inside, Seattle-based music journalist Gillian Gaar examines the guitarist’s upbringing, his service as an Army paratrooper, his role as a sideman on the chitlin’ circuit, his exile in the UK, and his eventual reemergence in the US and the fame that followed until his untimely death in 1970. Featuring design as lavish as Hendrix’s music and carefully curated photography, posters, picture sleeves, and other assorted memorabilia, this is the ultimate Hendrix book experience.

Hendrix: The Illustrated Story

Arts & Photography

Music

A unique and beautifully produced celebration of the iconic and beloved rock star, Elton at 75 features a slipcased hardcover with a gatefold timeline, gatefold artwork, frameable pull-out gig poster, and a pull-out photo print!\nFew rock artists continue to gather more and more adulation with age. Sir Elton Hercules John is an exception who proves the rule. In Elton John at 75, veteran rock journalist Gillian Gaar presents a unique and beautifully produced celebration of the iconic and beloved rock star, examining Sir Elton through the lens of 75 career accomplishments and life events. Key studio albums are featured, of course, as are a curated selection of his earworm singles. But Gaar delves deeper to reveal the events that helped chart the course of Elton’s career: 
Key performances such as his breakthrough performance at LA’s Troubadour, and the historic Soviet Union and Dodger Stadium concerts Legendary collaborations with the likes of George Michael, Billy Joel, and Kate Bush His many film and television roles, including Tommy and The Muppet Show Tireless work on behalf of AIDS research Notable awards and honors, including knighthood And of course his collaboration with longtime cowriter Bernie Taupin 
Beginning with his 1969 debut LP, Elton John is regarded as one of the most influential musicians and performers of the previous five decades. In examining 75 touchstones, Gaar provides a unique presentation of Elton’s career arc, from his first steps as a solo artist to the breakthrough album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road to his flamboyant stage presence, and beyond.\nEvery page is illustrated with stunning concert and candid offstage photography, including gig posters, 7-inch picture sleeves, and more. This incredible package also includes a gatefold Elton John timeline, a previously unpublished gatefold artwork, an 8×10-inch glossy print, and a pullout poster.\nThe result is a stunning tribute to one of the most admired stars in rock—in a milestone year.

Elton John at 75

Motorbooks

Bruce Springsteen at 75

Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first commercial LP with this authoritative, highly illustrated, and multi-faceted look at the history and culture of vinyl record collecting and turntables.\nVinyl records continue to be hot commodities among everyone from obsessive audiophiles to newbie collectors getting their toes wet. In the Groove: The Vinyl Record and Turntable Revolution is the book for both—and everyone in between. Published to mark the 75th year since the introduction of the commercial LP, In the Groove is written by a roster of well-known music journalists, vinyl junkies, and stereophiles teaming up to present a gorgeous tribute to the vinyl LP and the culture it has spawned: 
Richie Unterberger explores the history of the 33 1/3 LP, including its predecessor, the 78rpm record, the first commercial LPs, the pressing process, stereo vs. mono, and formats like the 7-inch/45rpm record. Gillian Gaar tackles those temples to the turntable: record stores. Inside, she examines the history of LP merchandising everywhere from department stores to headshops, Record Store Day, the artist in-store appearance, and swap meets and record shows. Martin Popoff pens a paean to the physical object itself, discussing the advent of the sleeve, the great LP covers, famous sleeve designers, liner notes and packaging, colored vinyl, and more. Matt Anniss looks at the collecting hobby and topics like obsessive collectors, what makes a great listening space, playing and caring for vinyl, collecting and vinyl in DJ and hip-hop cultures, and the mixtape phenomenon. Ken Micallef, a top hifi journalist, has the gearheads covered with explanations of turntables from portables to audiophile-quality units, the workings and parts of a turntable from motors and tonearms to plinths and cartridges, and the components of a system. 
In the Groove is illustrated throughout with images of gear, listening spaces, record stores, sleeve art, and celebrities and musicians enjoying the vinyl hobby through the decades. Brief, entertaining sidebars cover topics like famous labels from Stax to Sub Pop, famous EPs, well-known record stores, milestone LP covers, a beginner’s guide to grading, and formats that have challenged the supremacy of the LP, including 8-track, reel-to-reel, and cassette.\nFeel the groove with this effervescent ode to vinyl.

In the Groove: The Vinyl Record and Turntable Revolution

Unterberger, Richie

Popoff, Martin

Anniss, Matt

Micallef, Ken

Elton John: Captain Fantastic on the Yellow Brick Road

Queen & A Night at the Opera: 50 Years (The Great Albums)

Hendrix is the definitive, illustrated biography of the man widely considered the greatest rock guitarist of all time.\nJimi Hendrix's music still lives on today. This (incredibly) is the first full-blown illustrated gift book exploring the life and career of one of the rock world's most celebrated musicians. Hendrix enjoyed the international limelight for less than four years, but his innovative and imaginative interpretations of blues and rock continue to inspire guitarists and music lovers across ages and genre.\nInside, Seattle-based music journalist Gillian Gaar examines the guitarist’s upbringing, his service as an Army paratrooper, his role as a sideman on the chitlin’ circuit, his exile in the UK, and his eventual reemergence in the US and the fame that followed until his untimely death in 1970.\nFeaturing design as lavish as Hendrix’s music and carefully curated photography, posters, picture sleeves, and other assorted memorabilia, this is the ultimate Hendrix book experience.

Crestline Books

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Books by Gaar, Gillian G.