Featuring original and revealing interviews with band members and key people close to them, and tracing the band's meteroic rise from the early days to a group that has galvanized the pop music scene for more than twenty years, "Stories Behind The Songs" explores the background and inspiration behind every song written by U2, and is the definitive text on the subject. As testament to the band's enduring popularity, a full twenty-four years after the release of their first album, "Boy", in 1980, U2 hit Number 1 on both sides of the Atlantic with "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb", selling a million copies in three weeks. The first single from that album, "Vertigo" won three Grammys. U2 remains in every sense a world-class rock 'n' roll band, and this book takes you into the heart of the group, to reveal the inspiration behind their music.

.AC/DC moved to Britain from Sydney in 1975, and soon set up a residency at London's Marquee Club. Their short hair (including the odd mullet), loud rock and attitude chimed well with the lingering pub rock and soon-to-be punk crowd. They weren't really a band for guitar solos, and singer Bon Scott was the original bike-riding, speed-snorting, fighting man. An ex-convict he lived life fast and short; he died in February 1980, just before BACK IN BLACK,

The first photographic celebration of the most famous recording studio in the world, publishing in its 80th year. Unprecedented access to the Abbey Road archive - from Edward Elgar to the Beatles, Kate Bush to Elbow the most famous artists in the world have recorded here.This gorgeous book includes material on the artists, the engineers, the technology and the history of Abbey Road. It's an incredible document of cultural history, for anyone who values music and how it's made.

From humble beginnings Adele has come to be a globally recognised icon. Her first album shot her to fame and the second consolidated her position as a singing/songwriting superstar with lasting, global appeal.

A critically acclaimed recording artist, she touched millions with her music during her short but extraordinary life. Following her tragic death in July 2011, Mitch Winehouse wants to tell her incredible story in full. he book will bring the many layers of her life together - the personal, the private and the public - to create a fitting tribute to his much loved daughter. Using exclusive extracts from his personal diary, Mitch discusses shocking and concerning events in his daughters life that will tug at the heartstrings of Amy's fans across the globe.

The final word on the only name synonymous with heavy metal - Black Sabbath.Way back in the mists of time, in the days when rock giants walked the earth, the name Ozzy Osbourne was synonymous with the subversive and dark. Back then, Ozzy was the singer in Black Sabbath, and they meant business.

The first-ever official Bon Jovi book celebrates the band’s 25th anniversary with previously untold stories straight from Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan, and Tico Torres, and never-before-seen photographs from Phil Griffin (known for his Bon Jovi documentary When We Were Beautiful, as well as for collaborations with Amy Winehouse, Prince, Annie Lenox,
Kings of Leon, and Paul McCartney). This one-of-a-kind biography will bring back the heyday of classic songs like “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and “You Give Love A Bad Name” in the 1980s, and transport newer fans to the tour bus alongside Bon Jovi’s recent Lost Highway and Circle tours—it’s the perfect gift for anyone born to rock.

Last Train to Memphis, the first part of Guralnick's two-volume life of Elvis Presley, received unprecedented accolades. This concluding volume recounts the second half of Elvis's life in rich and previously unimagined detail, and confirms Guralnick's status as one of the great biographers of our time. Beginning with Presley's army service in Germany in 1958 and ending with his death in Memphis in 1977

The long-awaited, never-before-told, no-holds-barred memoir from the legendary Aerosmith frontman. Finally, all the lurid tales of debauchery, sex, drugs and rock n' roll are told straight from the horse's lips as The Demon of Screamin' describes his unimaginable highs and unbelievable lows as lead singer of the biggest rock band in the world. Prolific frontman, rock icon and sex symbol, Steven Tyler is a living legend.

The Eagles have enjoyed colossal success spanning three decades. They are a remarkable mesh of lyrical and musical talent, twinned with an explosive blend of personalities. They are a group of individually diverse and vivid characters - something which played a crucial part in propelling them to global success but has also led to bitter personality clashes, paranoia and tension, leaving them at bitter odds with one another, burned out and depressed at the start of the 1980s

A stunning collection of rare and unseen photographs and stories charting Ed Sheeran's rise to global superstar, by long-time collaborator Christie Goodwin. Featuring aforeword and additional photo captions by Ed's father, John Sheeran. "When I first met Ed Sheeran he was unknown and unsigned - just a young busker trying to make it big . But I could see something special in Ed. I agreed to photograph him for free to help him on his way to the top. That was the beginning of a 10-year collaboration , with the two of us crossing paths as Ed became one of the biggest stars on the planet - a story told here, through my camera. Including images and stories I'm sharing for the first time , with additional captions by Ed's father John, this is an up-close and intimate view of Ed Sheeran."

I wonder, "Why me? Why have I survived?"' Eric Clapton, Rolling Stone, 1991The million-selling, Grammy award-winning master of the blues guitar, Eric Clapton still generates the kind of adulation that led fans to graffiti London underground stations in 1965 with the statement, 'Clapton is God'. And yet Clapton has more thanan astonishing professional story to tell: he has survived a personal journey blighted by tragedy and heartbreak.

Sharon Osbourne has lived - in her own words - 'fifty lives in fifty years'. As the daughter of notorious rock manager Don Arden, Sharon's childhood was a chaotic mix of glamour and violence, villains and diamonds. In rock star Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon found her soul mate, yet Ozzy's drug- and alcohol-fuelled excesses - which culminated in his attempt to strangle her - made their marriage a white-knuckle ride from the start; only her devotion to their three children gave her the will to survive.

This fascinating biography of Freddie Mercury which received outstanding acclaim from Queen and rock fans worldwide, has now been updated for reissue to coincide with the release of the film about his life. Laura Jackson addresses topics including:* The reality behind Queen's flamboyant front man and lead singer* Mercury the star of mystery - amusing, loyal and generous, yet revealing a dark side to his personality* His frequent use of cocaine and how it heightened his tendency to excess - both on and off stage

This is the definitive biography of Freddie Mercury. Written by an award-winning rock journalist, Lesley-Ann Jones toured widely with Queen forming lasting friendships with the band. Now, having secured access to the remaining band members and those who were closest to Freddie, from childhood to death, Lesley-Ann has written the most in depth account of one of music's best loved and most complex figures. Meticulously researched, sympathetic, unsensational, the book - like the forthcoming film - will focus on the period in the 1980s when Queen began to fragment, before their Live Aid performance put them back in the frame. In her journey to understand the man behind the legend, Lesley-Ann Jones has travelled from London to Zanzibar to India. Packed with exclusive interviews and told with the invaluable perspective that the twenty years since Mercury's death presents, Freddie Mercury is the most up to date portrait of a legendary man.

George Michael is an enigma. While he is one of the most open and vocal pop superstars on the planet, he also fiercely protective of his privacy. From the formation of Wham! In 1981 he immediately found fame and fortune beyond his wildest dreams. His music formed the soundtrack to the 1980s and he achieved all of this despite growing up in a dysfunctional family where his father openly proclaimed that George had no talent. Wham!

Seven years in the making, this is the complete account of the career, music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix, based entirely on first-person recollections and new, exclusive photographs and documents. Since the death in 1970 at the age of twenty seven, Jimi Hendrix has been mythologised as a risk-taker who lost it all - and not the serious musician whose sole desire was to play and write great music..

People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say. When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make into the age of sixty, with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and California, I wouldn't have put money on me, no f**king way.

Iggy Pop's life has been one of extraordinary highs and terrifying lows.Infamous for his wild ways, he is also a towering figure of the rock scene - hugely influential, charismatic and provocative. Every 'mad, bad, dangerous to know' rock star owes a debt to him, and the stories of his shocking behaviour are legendary. But Iggy Pop is also, to a large extent, a construct, the alter ego of the quietly spoken and intriguing Jim Osterberg: the kid voted 'Most Likely to Succeed' by his classmates.

A lifetime of letters, collected for the first time, from the legendary musician and songwriter. John Lennon is one of the world's greatest-ever song writers, creator of 'Help!', 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds', 'Imagine' and dozens more. Now, his letters have been collected and published, illuminating as never before the intimate side of a private genius.

'A brilliant story of an even more brilliant songwriter' Keith Richards 'Hilburn displays a deeply felt affinity with his subject' Patti Smith 'The definitive book on the roller-coaster life of Cash' Rick Rubin In JOHNNY CASH: THE LIFE, Robert Hilburn conveys the untarnished truth about a musical icon.

This fascinating biography provides a detailed portrait of the high-energy, charismatic international superstar and frontman of the ever-popular band, Bon Jovi. The book charts Jon's relationship with theother band members who have their fair share of rock and roll stories -sex, booze, burnouts, health and women problems. Although rock musicis Jon Bon Jovi's first love, he has more recently developed an interest in acting.

In this compelling biography, Christopher Sandford explores the full, inside story of Kurt Cobain. From the disruptive childhood which had such a crucial impact on Cobain's personality to the ambitious career musician who, as a friend said, "lunged for success", and the worldwide breakthrough of Nirvana's Nevermind, Sandford also writes about Cobain's stormy marriage to Courtney Love, his heroin addiction, and how he became more and more of a recluse.

Lady Gaga Style Bible is a vibrant photographic fantasy storybook: it is part fashion show pictorial, part retrospective homage - a complete guide to Monster Fashion, categorised from A to Z. Style subjects include 'Attention to Detail', 'The Retro Nod', 'Hair and Hats', and 'Meat and Greet', an expansive look at her eye-popping Franc Fernandez designer creation made from raw beef and worn at the 2010 VMA awards.

Stunning photographs superbly document her unrivaled artistic craft - a perfect modern amalgamation of glam rock inspirations like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury and fashion influences Donatella Versace and Alexander McQueen. The images in this collection vividly capture Lady Gaga's complex persona: undoubtedly riveting, provocative, and disturbing, they show a beauty that comes from power and total confidence that draws the audience in and an ugliness and hardness that perplexes and fends off foes. Taken together they also provide a running commentary on the intersection of culture, sexuality, music, technology and performance art. Lady Gaga Style Bible is an exceptional publication timed perfectly to capture a star at the peak of her career and the forefront of an artistic revolution.

This is the first of two volumes that make up what is arguably the definitive Elvis biography. Rich in documentary and interview material, this volume charts Elvis' early years and his rise to fame, taking us up to his departure for Germany in 1958. Of all the biographies of Elvis - this is the one you will keep coming back to.

Music is a continually evolving art, and there have been no geniuses, however great, who have not been influenced by their predecessors. The great composers are here presented as human beings who lived and related to the real world. All of the important figures - Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Verdi, Wagner, Mahler, and many others - are included, their lives woven into a fabric rich in detail and anecdote.

Christened Reginald Dwight, he was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was performing his first gig in America, facing an astonished audience in his bright yellow dungarees, a star-spangled T-shirt and boots with wings. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again. His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade. In a voice that is warm, humble and open, this is Elton on his music and his relationships, his passions and his mistakes. This is a story that will stay with you, by a living legend.

Mick Wall moves on from Led Zeppelin to produce a definitive doorstop on Metallica.Alongside contemporaries Slayer, Megadeath and Anthrax, Metallica came to prominence in the eighties as one of the 'big four' of thrash metal. Metallica were to thrash, though, what the Sex Pistols were to punk. Nearly thirty years on, their tale is one of alcohol, rule breaking and tragically early death.

A number 1 bestseller, this definitive biography of Michael Jackson is now completely updated to include the events leading to the untimely death of the star. J. Randy Taraborrelli is the expert on Michael Jackson, having known him since they were both teenagers and having interviewed the singer and his family many times. So much has been written about the life and career of Michael Jackson that it has become almost impossible to disentangle the man from the myth.

Neil Diamond has been responsible for writing some of the most memorable songs in pop music history and he has sold in excess of 120 million albums and has continued to reign as one of the Top 5 most successful solo artists in pop music. After years of anonymity in Tin Pan Alley churning out hits for other artistes, Neil Diamond burst onto the scene in his own right in 1969 with 'Sweet Caroline.' However, super stardom has come at a personal cost - he is a star who has suffered periods of
crippling self doubt.

There have been precious few truly revolutionary events in rock history: Elvis Presley's first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show... the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the unforeseen, meteoric ascent of a band from Seattle: Nirvana. Unflaggingly faithful to its punk rock roots, Nirvana was the catalyst behind a sea of change the likes of which the music world had not seen since The Beatles spearheaded the British Invasion more than a quarter of a century before. Crisafulli tells the story behind every track on the band's albums. Why did Cobain feel moved to write 'Polly'? What is Teen Spirit? Who is Floyd the Barber? All is revealed in this book, which discusses and examines all of the band's output.

The first book ever produced with full access the Pink Floyd archive. Published to accompany the V&A's major summer exhibition, Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains, celebrates 50 years of one of the greatest bands of all time. Five essays tackle different aspects of their far-reaching legacy in music and the visual arts. Authors including Jon Savage, Howard Goodall and Rob Young examine what makes the band truly special, from the mythology underpinning their output, through to their experimentation with technology to create new sounds. their epic staging and performance impact will also be explored, along with the anti-authoritarianism that infuses their lyrics.The book is heavily illustrated throughout, emphasizing the essential role that visual material played in supporting the music and creating the lasting Pink Floyd phenomenon.

Please Kill Me is the first oral history of the most nihilist of all pop movements. Iggy Pop, Danny Fields, Dee Dee and Joey Ramone, Malcom McLaren, Jim Carroll, and scores of other famous and infamous punk figures lend their voices to this definitive account of that outrageous, explosive era.

With a career spanning three decades and album sales topping 150 million worldwide, they continue to fascinate fans and music lovers with their stories of legendary parties, outrageous lifestyles, turbulent affairs and outstanding musical achievements. Queen: The definitive biography is a comprehensive history of this important band.

A new, very frank and revealing biography of rock's most enduring legend. Rod Stewart will be 60 in less than two years' time - yet his popularity (and his determination to continue living the rock-star life to the full) is undimmed by the passing years. Since turning 50, life has been as turbulent as ever for him; marriage to Rachel, two children,divorce, a serious cancer scare, more albums released and concerts given, singing for the Queen at the Jubilee concert - and, naturally, a new blonde on his arm, Penny Lancaster.

Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote and recorded at a pace that most of today's young bands would consider unimaginable. And although there have been numerous books and articles written about the Rolling Stones, none has systematically analysed their music and explained the stories behind their songs. "The Rolling Stones" is an essential companion to one of the legendary rock repertoires of the past 40 years, and covers their entire classic output from 1964's The Rolling Stones to 1976's Black and Blue.

From their first TV appearance on Thank Your Lucky Stars!, buttoned up in matching hounds-tooth suits at manager Andrew Loog Oldham's insistence, to the louche rockers who appeared on stage for the televised free concert in London's Hyde Park in 1969, this book looks back at their career-defining broadcasts, remembering the music, the clothes, the fans, the rivals and friends, and the world at large around them, divided by generation between broad-sheet moral panic and hysterical teen riots. Featuring previously unseen facsimile documents from the BBC and commercial TV and radio archives and many stunning unseen images, this is history as it happened, in context, immediate and vivid, offering new insights and a fresh unexplored perspective on the story of one of the greatest great rock 'n' roll bands the world has ever seen.

In SCAR TISSUE Anthony Kiedis, charismatic and highly articulate frontman of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, recounts his remarkable life story, and the history of the band itself. Raised in the Midwest, he moved to LA aged eleven to live with his father Blackie, purveyor of pills, pot, and cocaine to the Hollywood elite. After a brief child-acting career, Kiedis dropped out of U.C.L.A. and plunged headfirst into the demimonde of the L.A. underground music scene.

The last word on Sid Vicious - the world's most iconic punk figure.The old school register for Soho Parish Primary school has a note in the margin recording that five-year-old John Simon Ritchie turned up for his first day at school unaccompanied in September 1962. He'd walked from his mum's council flat near Drury Lane, across Covent Garden and several major road junctions to Gt Windmill Street alone. Somehow it's a fitting start to the wild and troubled life that would be Sid Vicious's.

Steven Tyler is one of life's natural born survivors. With an exhaustively vibrant personality, this dynamic lead singer has been one of the most distinctive figures in rock music for more than three decades. Although he was raised in a close knit, loving family, Tyler survived a tough upbringing in the Bronx. His inherent passion for performing and a talent for playing instruments propelled him into rock music as a teenager.

The Beatles have retained their magic and popularity like no other band before or since. Their story is such a strong part of our culture that everyone thinks they know it, but no one has ever REALLY told it properly - until now. Mark Lewisohn's three-part history is entirely new and revitalising - an enthralling account packed full of untold insights, anecdotes and photographs. There is no one more qualified to
write this book, which will remain the definitive unauthorised narrative.

The definitive compendium from the only authorised biographer of The Beatles. Hunter Davies, the only ever authorised biographer of the group, has produced the essential Beatles guide. Divided into four sections – People, Songs, Places and Broadcast and Cinema – it covers all elements of the band’s history and vividly brings to live every influence that shaped them. Illustrated with material from Hunter's remarkable private collection of artefacts and memorabilia, this is the definitive Beatles treasure.

Although their career with their wild and unpredictable frontman lasted barely six years, The Doors are one of the most mind-blowing bands in rock history. Formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by UCLA film school acquaintances Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek, the band became famous for a sound driven by powerful keyboards and haunting, stream-of-consciousness lyrics

Winner of the NOBEL PRIZE in Literature 2016 For the first time, a comprehensive, definitive collection of lyrics of music legend and poet Bob Dylan. A major publishing event - a beautiful, comprehensive collection of the lyrics of Bob Dylan with artwork from thirty-three albums.

Iggy Pop hasn't left a mark on music; he's left it battered and bruised, too. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, here for the first time are his selected lyrics, complete with stunning original photographs, illustrations, alongside Iggy and others' reflections on a genre-defining music career that spans five decades. Coinciding with a new album, Free, this is the ultimate book for every rock and roll fan.

They've frequently been described as the biggest band in the world. The Joshua Tree alone has sold more than fifteen million copies worldwide. They hold the record for the most Grammy wins by a rock act. And their 360 tour, which started in 2009, attracted more than seven million fans and is one of the highest-grossing tours of all time. U2 has revolutionized the definition of rock band by staying true to its beliefs and passions, through meteoric success, public controversy, and an astounding forty-year working relationship.

Sharon Osbourne's life has always been an extreme rollercoaster ride. And despite her best efforts, the last few years have been the most dramatic and turbulent of all. In her gripping new autobiography Sharon reveals the truth behind the headlines. There have been times of huge joy and pleasure - becoming a grandmother for the first time and seeing both Jack and Kelly come through testing times to find happiness and contentment at last. But there has also been a lot of heartache.

Join the world's hottest pop star on his rollercoaster ride to superstardom! His debut album has already gone platinum. He's sung for the President of the United States. His screaming fans have stormed TV studios and shut down shopping malls. Justin Bieber is a global superstar and now, for the first time ever, he's going to tell all in his very own book. Justin's story is the stuff that every kid dreams of. Growing up an only child in Ontario, Canada, Justin had a natural talent for music; he was forever singing around the house and taught himself to play drums, guitar, piano and trumpet. He entered a local singing competition and despite not having had any vocal coaching, Justin came second aged only 12 years old. But it was when he posted homemade pop videos on YouTube that Justin's dreams really came true: the videos quickly became a word-of-mouth sensation, garnering an astonishing 10 million hits. Months later, Justin was spotted by top music manager Scooter Braun who later joined forces with superstar Usher to sign 13-year-old Justin to Island Def Jam. And the rest, as they say, is history. In his very first book, complete with free wall poster, Justin will tell the story of his amazing journey from small-town schoolboy to global superstar. Stunningly designed and jam packed full of exclusive unseen photos of Justin on and off stage, plus private captured moments, the awesome story of Justin's phenomenal rise to superstardom is a must-have for any true fan.

Written by acclaimed music journalist Caroline Sullivan, this in-depth, lavishly illustrated exploration of Madonna examines the superstar’s music, style, and cultural influence. Madonna is the top-selling female recording artist of all time, and a fearless, boundary-pushing artist who constantly reinvents herself and her music. Updated to include Rebel Heart, this authoritative illustrated book examines all 13 of Madonna’s studio albums in fine detail, placing each in context and charting the trendsetting musician's influence on fashion and popular culture. Covering every hit record and era-defining image, and featuring a wealth of rare and iconic photographs, Madonna takes a unique look at the legendary star's extraordinary output.