Across the entire body of Foo Fighters albums, the whole legendary Nirvana tale, the pre-history in the nascent Seattle scene and Grohl’s flirtations with Queens of the Stone Age and his super group side project Them Crooked Vultures, this is an utterly comprehensive, insightful chronicle of Dave Grohl’s remarkable life. Drawing on new interviews with key figures in the Grohl story, this definitive biography includes the stories of the 2007 multi-platinum opus Echoes, Silence, Patience &amp; Grace, 2011’s Wasting Light, which saw Grohl reunited with Nirvana producer Butch Vig, and Sonic Highways, their homage to classic rock.

Dave Grohl: Times Like His

James, Martin

Humor & Entertainment

Music Press

This biography charts the rise of the Surrey band You Me at Six, the stories behind the making of their albums, their energetic stage performances and their influences.

You Me At Six: Never Hold an Underdog Down

Daniels, Neil

For more than a decade, Peter Hince worked alongside one of the greatest bands in the history of rock, touring the world and heading up their road crew. Here he recalls the highlights of those years. He was with Freddie Mercury when he composed "Crazy Little Thing Called Love;" he made sure that Freddie's stage performances went without a hitch; and he was often there to witness Freddie's famed tantrums. He was also party to the sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Packed with Peter's own photos, including never-before-seen shots of Freddie and his female lover Mary, this warm and witty book is a must-read for any Queen fan.

Queen Unseen: My Life with the Greatest Rock Band of the 20th Century

HINCE, Peter

The shimmering, muscular guitar pop of The Smiths shone like a beacon through the 1980s as they took up the mantle of the best British band since The Beatles. Their unparalleled musicality inspired a generation of popular bands including Oasis, the Stone Roses, and Radiohead. Johnny Marr was behind that sound, and has proved to be a gun-slinger without equal, a guitarist who rode the longest highways to find the most perfect sounds, and who built the gilt-edged frames in which the lyrical portraits of co-writer Morrissey sat so perfectly. While he may well be remembered forever for the haunting intro to "How Soon Is Now?" Marr has not slowed down creatively, inspiring a generation of younger listeners through his work with The Cribs, and even working with Hans Zimmer on the stunning soundtrack to the critically-acclaimed blockbuster Inception. He remains as influential and important as ever. Filled with insight and musical lore, this book traces the incredible story of how the son of Irish immigrants rose to become the iconic architect of a new sound for British guitar music.

Johnny Marr: The Smiths and the Art of Gunslinging

Carman, Richard

When David sat down later, he tucked one leg up under him and I noticed that the sole of his shoe was as clean as the day he'd bought it. OK, maybe the shoes were new, but it struck me that he hardly ever sets foot in the street. It's all hotel, limousines, sterilized airports—the life I was about to lead. I shivered, feeling poised at the top of a rollercoaster about to sweep across the world. In 1978, Sean Mayes toured the world with David Bowie. Traveling first class and performing each night with one of the world's greatest rock stars at the height of his fame was an amazing experience—fortunately, Sean had the foresight to document it. Here, for the first time in complete book form, Sean's tour diary is presented; a blow-by-blow record of how it felt to be part of a real rock circus, from rehearsals in Dallas through shows across the US, UK, Europe, Australasia, and Japan to recording in London and Switzerland. Providing page after page of fascinating insight into life on the road with Bowie, Sean's account is a unique travelogue, a must for any Bowie fan or, indeed, anyone interested in life on a sell-out world tour. Also included is a full tour chronology and previously unpublished photos from Sean's personal archive.

Life on Tour with Bowie: A Genius Remembered

Mayes, Sean

In the early 2000s, a few small ex-mining towns around the South Wales valleys became an unlikely hotbed for some of the most exciting new rock and metal bands in the world. Following on from the vanguard of Lostprophets and Funeral for a Friend, four childhood friends formed Bullet for My Valentine and ultimately became the scene’s largest export. Combining the ferocious riffs and militaristic drums of eighties thrash with an undeniable pop sensibility, Bullet for My Valentine have gone on to sell millions of records worldwide. From the incendiary fury of their breakout debut The Poison to the fifth album Venom released in August 2015, the quartet have become the biggest British metal band since Iron Maiden. This book traces their story, from the crisis that almost ended the band’s career early to the glorious highs of sell-out hometown shows; from the sleepy valleys of Wales to a seat at the table of heavy metal legends.

Bullet for My Valentine: Scream, Aim, Conquer: The Biography

Biographies & Memoirs

Welch, Ben

Arts & Literature

Until New Year's Eve, 2006, former hobo Steven Gene Wold, a 65-year-old blues musician, playing a beat-up, three-string guitar (aka The Three-String Trance Wonder, or "the biggest piece of shit in the world") and stomping on a wooden box with a Mississippi motorcycle plate stuck on, was hardly known outside his tiny community of fans. A performance before on Jools Holland's New Year's Even special projected Seasick Steve into the big league. Dog House Music sold out overnight, and 2008 brought his major label debut. Behind this unique performer's rise is 65 years of fascinating life story: he left a violent home at 13, and his professional career only began after decades on the road. He learned from blues legend KC Douglas in his grandfather's garage. Part of Steve, the hollerin', stompin' blues, and the gorgeous homemade guitars is magical musical history. But he's also a modern, versatile musician, who has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, and Kurt Cobain.

Seasick Steve: Tales of a Travellin' Man

Wright, Matthew

Perhaps one of the most reviled yet misunderstood of all the youth subcultures, the skinhead look and lifestyle has returned to the very forefront of contemporary youth culture. While celebrities and athletes shave their heads for the red carpet, the underbelly of British youth culture has rediscovered the look which is now more fashionable than it has ever been. The single most important photographic record of this unique subculture is Gavin Watson's Skins, now proudly released as a brand new edition, complete with dozens of previously unpublished photographs and a new chapter. These black-and-white shots offer a fascinating glimpse into a skinhead community that was multi-cultural, tightly knit, and above all else, fiercely proud of their look. These are classic photographs of historical value.

Skins

Watson, Gavin

Community & Culture

Bruce Dickinson is the mighty voice behind legendary heavy metal behemoths Iron Maiden, and many more things besides. Prior to joining Maiden in 1981 for their seminal, multi-million selling Number of the Beast—one of the most influential records in the history of Heavy Metal—Dickinson enjoyed stardom with fellow New Wave Of British Heavy Metal artists Samson, while his post-Maiden solo career also brought much critical success. Not content to merely continue shaping the face of metal music, Dickinson is a true renaissance man: a world-class member of the British Fencing team; a fiction author; a military historian; a TV presenter; and also a first officer for commercial airline Astreus. Yet in 2015, the voice, and the life, of Iron Maiden's singer were placed in jeopardy as he was diagnosed with a golf-ball sized cancerous tumor on his tongue. But after making a full recovery, Iron Maiden have released an acclaimed 16th album, The Book of Souls, and announced a world tour, and Bruce stands astride the pantheon of metal greats once more. This first biography of Bruce Dickinson tells his story through exclusive interviews with those who know him best.

Bruce Dickinson: Maiden Voyage: The Biography

Shooman, Joe

Oasis was a band like bands used to be. Hard-drinking and substance abusing. If they liked you, they loved you. If they didn't, you had to be prepared for confrontation. They were also the most viscerally exciting rock band to emerge from Britain for years. Iain Robertson is used to tough jobs—after retiring from the Parachute Regiment, he took on jobs guarding George Harrison, Gary Moore and Johnny Rotten. But keeping Oasis on the rails after debut album Definitely Maybe ignited their rise toward global superstardom would be the toughest gig of them all. Iain was side-by-side with Oasis as their road manager and minder, 24 hours a day, eight days a week, as they took on the world and won. No one was closer to the maelstrom. His story is the defining chronicle of life on tour with Oasis.

Oasis: What's The Story?

Robertson, Iain

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