Books
Books about rock music are a lively genre in the publishing industry. Our reviewers report on the latest artist biographies and autobiographies as well as books about the music and its history, and other reads of interest to classic rock fans
‘Ready Steady Go!’—Britain’s Groundbreaking Rock TV Series Celebrated in New Book
A new book chronicles the show that featured the Dave Clark Five, the Beatles, the Hollies, Manfred Mann, the Kinks, Rod Stewart and many others.
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Dean Torrence Book Reveals Wild Ride of Surf City Duo
For a while they were second only to the Beach Boys among ’60s surf bands. The surviving half of Jan and Dean tells their story
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Glyn Johns, Prolific Rock Producer: Book Review
The famed producer/engineer behind some of rock music’s most memorable albums pens a “sensible and down-to-earth” book about his life among the stars
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Janis Joplin Celebrated in ‘Blisteringly Honest’ New Bio: Review
Janis: Her Life and Music details how Joplin’s stubborn refusal to compromise produced some of the most exciting music around and made her a cultural icon.
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Stunning ‘Visualizing The Beatles’ Book
A magical “history” tour of their career charts their story–the evolution of their music, style and characters–through graphics
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Beatles/Stones Manager Allen Klein Bio: Review
He managed two of rock’s biggest bands and sorted out their bad deals & low incomes. This new book corrects his bad rep.
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‘Rise and Fall of Classic Rock’: A Must-Read
Kent Hartman’s book, Goodnight, L.A., sheds light on the city’s recording scene in the ’70s and ’80s, with scores of interviews with the stars
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Review: The New Bio That Jann Wenner Hates
It’s “an ambitious, dishy, well-written biography, with a backstory worthy of its subject.” So why is the Rolling Stone magazine founder so unhappy with it?
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Lou Reed ‘A Life’: An Exemplary Biography
“The Lou Reed that inhabits this book is powerfully drawn, from moment to moment deeply appealing and appalling,” says our reviewer.
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Woodstock: Mecca That Gave the Festival Its Name
In Small Town Talk, author Barney Hoskyns examines the upstate NY town, the spiritual – and literal – home to dozens of rock greats
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