Nothin' to Lose: The Making of KISS (1972-1975) chronicles, for the first time, the crucial formative years of the legendary rock band KISS, culminating with the groundbreaking success of their classic 1975 album Alive! and the smash single "Rock and Roll All Nite," a song that nearly four decades later remains one of rock's most enduring anthems. Drawing on more than two hundred interviews, the book offers a captivating and intimate fly-on-the-wall account of their launch, charting the struggles and ultimate victories that led them to the threshold of superstardom.
Constructed as an oral history, the book includes original interviews with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss, as well as with producers; engineers; management; record company personnel; roadies; club owners; booking agents; concert promoters; costume, stage, and art designers; rock photographers; publicists; and key music journalists.
Many of KISS's musical contemporaries from the time, most of whom shared concert bills with the band on their early tours, also lend their perspective via new interviews; these include Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, and Ted Nugent, as well as members of Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Rush, Slade, Blue Öyster Cult, Mott the Hoople, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Raspberries, The James Gang, The New York Dolls, Iggy &amp; the Stooges, The Ramones, Suzi Quatro, Argent, and Uriah Heep, among others.
The result is an indelible and irresistible portrait of a band on the rise and of the music scene they changed forever.

Nothin' to Lose: The Making of KISS (1972-1975)

Sharp, Ken

Stanley, Paul

Simmons, Mr. Gene

Humor & Entertainment

It Books

An indelible and irresistible portrait of the crucial formative years of the legendary rock band KISS and the music scene they changed forever—culminating with the groundbreaking success of their classic 1975 album Alive! and the smash single "Rock and Roll All Nite"
Including original interviews with: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, and Ted Nugent, as well as members of Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Rush, Slade, Blue Öyster Cult, Mott the Hoople, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Raspberries, the James Gang, the New York Dolls, Iggy &amp; the Stooges, the Ramones, Suzi Quatro, Argent, and Uriah Heep.

After three decades of wild dedication, this official authorized biography provides Kiss fans their first real look inside one of rock and roll's most extraordinary bands.

KISS: Behind the Mask - Official Authorized Biography

Leaf, David

Grand Central Publishing

Now everything is finally revealed about one of rock music's most outrageous and enduring phenomena. In this definitive, official authorized biography, authors David Leaf and Ken Sharp were given full, unprecedented access to Kiss and their inner circle. Hear the true, uncensored stories from Gene Simmons, the fire-breathing Demon; Paul Stanley, the acrobatic Starchild; Ace Frehley, the axe-slinging Spaceman; and Peter Criss, the levitating Catman drummer. Chronicling the group's amazing story, this one-of-a-kind book also offers interviews with some of the biggest stars in rock music, including Pete Townshend, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Ozzy Osbourne, and many others. The only book that truly captures the inimitable and exuberant spirit of the fiery foursome who gave America its second national anthem, "Rock and Roll All Nite," Kiss: Behind the Mask is a must-have for the band's legion of Kiss Army acolytes. * Dozens of never-before-seen photos * The band's story, told in their own words * Exclusive album-by-album, song-by-song commentary * In unique interviews, today's rock superstars tell why they love Kiss.

KISS: Behind the Mask - The Official Authorized Biography

Ken Sharp and Doug Sulpy released Power Pop: Conversations With the Power Pop Elite in 1997. The book contains interviews with power pop artists from throughout the genre's history. Artist featured: The Small Faces, The Move, Badfinger, Emitt Rhodes, The Raspberries, Big Star, The Hudson Brothers, Rick Springfield, The Flamin' Groovies, The Bay City Rollers, Shoes, Cheap Trick, Dwight Twilley, The Rubinoos, Squeeze, The Records, 20/20, The Beat and The Plimsouls.

Power Pop: Conversations With the Power Pop Elite

Sulpy, Doug

Reputation Is a Fragile Thing: The Story of Cheap Trick

Arts & Photography

Hayes, Mike

Music

Poptastic Books

The murder of John Lennon on December 8, 1980, sent shockwaves around the world. The most acclaimed singer/songwriter of his generation, first a Beatle and then a boundary-pushing solo artist, was senselessly silenced forever at age forty; immediately, his final musical statement, an intimate, pop-infused collection called Double Fantasy, released only weeks before his death, skyrocketed to #1 worldwide, as did its poignantly titled single, "(Just Like) Starting Over." His first studio recording since 1975’s Rock ’n’ Roll—and his first musical endeavor of any kind since taking a much-needed hiatus to raise Sean, his son with Yoko Ono—Double Fantasy represents more than a comeback album to Lennon fans and music critics alike. It captures a cultural icon at the pinnacle of his creative success and personal fulfillment; thirty years later it remains a musical touchstone and an affecting reminder of what could have been. Starting Over is an oral history of the making of Double Fantasy and the definitive account of John Lennon’s last days. From early demos to sessions at New York City’s The Hit Factory, from the electrifying chemistry of the studio band to keeping the project under wraps to the album’s release and critical reception, here is fascinating, insightful commentary from all of the key players involved in its extraordinary creation: Yoko Ono, David Geffen, producer Jack Douglas, engineers, arrangers, session musicians, music journalists, and even Lennon himself via archival interviews. Featuring never-before-seen photos of John and Yoko in the studio, candid images taken by David M. Spindel and Roger Farrington, Starting Over is the essential portrait for anyone who hears both a beginning and ending in the tracks of Double Fantasy.

Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy

Biographies & Memoirs

Arts & Literature

MTV Books

The murder of John Lennon on December 8, 1980, sent shockwaves around the world. The most acclaimed singer/songwriter of his generation, first a Beatle and then a boundary-pushing solo artist, was senselessly silenced forever at age forty; immediately, his final musical statement, an intimate, pop-infused collection called Double Fantasy, released only weeks before his death, skyrocketed to #1 worldwide, as did its poignantly titled single, "(Just Like) Starting Over." 
His first studio recording since 1975’s Rock ’n’ Roll—and his first musical endeavor of any kind since taking a much-needed hiatus to raise Sean, his son with Yoko Ono—Double Fantasy represents more than a comeback album to Lennon fans and music critics alike. It captures a cultural icon at the pinnacle of his creative success and personal fulfillment; thirty years later it remains a musical touchstone and an affecting reminder of what could have been. 
Starting Over is an oral history of the making of Double Fantasy and the definitive account of John Lennon’s last days. From early demos to sessions at New York City’s The Hit Factory, from the electrifying chemistry of the studio band to keeping the project under wraps to the album’s release and critical reception, here is fascinating, insightful commentary from all of the key players involved in its extraordinary creation: Yoko Ono, David Geffen, producer Jack Douglas, engineers, arrangers, session musicians, music journalists, and even Lennon himself via archival interviews. 
Featuring never-before-seen photos of John and Yoko in the studio, candid images taken by David M. Spindel and Roger Farrington, Starting Over is the essential portrait for anyone who hears both a beginning and ending in the tracks of Double Fantasy.

They provided the instrumental backing for some of the most timeless and recognizable songs of the '60s and early '70s. They're known as the Wrecking Crew, an elite group of L.A. studio musicians whose roster of hit songs served as the soundtrack for a generation. Sound Explosion is a 12″ x 12″ album sized book, that serves as an insider peek into this golden era of popular music and the, perfect companion to award-winning documentary The Wrecking Crew. It features exclusive interview material with the musicians and producers, as well as the artists including the Beach Boys, the Byrds, Cher, the Monkees, the Mamas &amp; the Papas, the Righteous Brothers, Jan &amp; Dean, the Turtles, Paul Revere &amp; the Raiders, the Grass Roots, the Ronettes, the Association, the 5th Dimension, the Carpenters, Herb Alpert and more. Augmented with hundreds of rare photos, the book also features the back story behind the recording of more than 50 classic songs including “Good Vibrations ” “California Dreamin' ” “You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling ” “Mr. Tambourine Man ” “Last Train to Clarksville ” “River Deep-Mountain High ” “Be My Baby ” “California Girls ” “Help Me, Rhonda ” “I Got You Babe ” “Wichita Lineman ” “Bridge Over Troubled Water ” “I Want You Back ” “ABC” and “(They Long to Be) Close to You.”

Sound Explosion!: Inside L.A.'s Studio Factory with the Wrecking Crew

Wrecking Crew Llc

Relive KISS' soar to the top with outtakes and favorite memories from 1976 (Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over), 1977-78 (Love Gun, Alive II), 1981 (Music from the Elder) and 1996/97's Alive Worldwide Tour. 
This 144-page, full color trade paperback contains over 200 photos: 20 years of classic KISS photography--live and in-the-studio--from 1976-1996. A MUST for any KISS fan!

Kiss Years

LEVINE, BARRY

H & H Global Inc

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sharp, Ken. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Sharp, Ken

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sharp, Ken. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Nothin' to Lose: The Making of KISS (1972-1975)

Nothin' to Lose: The Making of KISS (1972-1975)

KISS: Behind the Mask - Official Authorized Biography

KISS: Behind the Mask - The Official Authorized Biography

Power Pop: Conversations With the Power Pop Elite

Reputation Is a Fragile Thing: The Story of Cheap Trick

Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy

Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy

Sound Explosion!: Inside L.A.'s Studio Factory with the Wrecking Crew

Kiss Years