Billie Eilish is a phenomenon. With distinctive visual flare and darkly poignant lyrics that are unparalleled among music icons of the 21st century, Billie is a musician who stands out from the crowd. Between her record-shattering award-winning music and her uncompromising and unapologetic attitude, it's no surprise that her fanbase continues to grow by millions month after month. She is that rare combination of wildly popular and highly respected for her prodigious talent, a once in a generation superstar. Now in this stunning visual narrative journey through her life, she is ready to share more with her devoted audience for the first time, including hundreds of never-before-seen photos. This gorgeous book will capture the essence of Billie inside and out, offering readers glimpses into her childhood, her life on tour, and more. A must-have for any fan. Recommended for ages 14 and over.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 304

Dimensions: 198 x 236 mm

Publication Date: 11-05-2021

Swing Street was the name given to 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan in New York City, where there were more jazz clubs and bars per square block than anywhere else in the world, all showcasing the finest jazz musicians of the era. This illustrated book offers a history of Swing Street and presents the greats who played the clubs there in capsule biographies, vintage photos, and rare memorabilia. On Swing Street you were guaranteed to experience an evening of unforgettable jazz on a nightly basis, seven nights a week, until the wee hours of the morning; stopping into Club Downbeat to catch a set of Billie Holiday, or dropping by the Three Deuces to hear Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie playing bebop. On any given night you could hear other iconic jazz artists such as Bud Powell, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Count Basie, Art Tatum, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, and many others.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 128

Dimensions: 203 x 203 mm

Publication Date: 28-06-2020

Set amongst the reggae scene of late 70s Jamaica, the film Rockers achieved instant cult status among music and cinema fans. Rockers' director, Ted Bafaloukos has received many accolades for his work on the film, but the fact that he was also a fine writer and undercover photographer is often overlooked. In 2005, just before his death, Bafaloukos penned this vivid and never-before-published autobiography. Beyond Bafaloukos' fascinating story of the "making-of" Rockers, it tells the tale of a Greek immigrant from a family of sailors and his move to New York, eventually rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Velvet Underground, Robert Frank, Jessica Lange and Philippe "Man on Wire" Petit. But there's a twist to this 1970s' New York story: Bafaloukos fell in love with reggae when it was still just an underground facet of Jamaican culture in the City. His experiences in New York eventually led him to shoot Rockers, praised for the portrait it paints of Kingston's late 70s music scene along with its unique style, mentality and fashion. The director's intense experiences in Jamaica and New York between '75 - '78 provide the substance of the scorching stories within, including; gunshots at his first ever reggae concert in Brooklyn, the director's bizarre arrest for suspicion of being a CIA operative, paranoia at the Bob Marley compound, musicians-turned actors' "rude boy" antics, and naturally, sympathetic, highly descriptive recollections of the music that first drew Bafaloukos into Jamaica's music and culture. An invaluable collection of photographs taken during the conception, writing and production of the film captures the zeitgeist and breathes life into the book. Production stills and photos taken during the era by Bafaloukos form the visual, cinematic backbone of the tome, faithfully rendering the amazing people, styles, and locations in living, breathing color. Taken all together, the text and images within Rockers will uncover new facets of this all-important era in Reggae music for even the most seasoned reggae aficionados. Beyond reggae circles, this new anthology offers an unparalleled snapshot of a highly fantasized and sought after je-ne sais-quoi the all-time Jamaican cool.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 320

Dimensions: 229 x 304 mm

Publication Date: 16-06-2020

The benefits of music are monumental! Ukuleles are the perfect first instrument for kids to learn to play, and this book will show them why and how. Filled with basic instructions for holding positions, tuning, basic chords, and more, children will then learn and practice 25 songs, games, and activities. From songs about counting to songs about yoga, each exciting musical activity provides a rich and playful learning experience kids will love! Kid's Guide to Learning the Ukulele is a must-have musical journey for children and parents or teachers alike - no prior experience or knowledge needed!

Bind: paperback

Pages: 96

Dimensions: 203 x 254 mm

Publication Date: 07-04-2020

Do you think the world of the Eurovision Song Contest, with its crazy props, even crazier dancers and crazier still songs has nothing to do with serious European politics? Think again. It has been a voice of rebellion across the Iron Curtain, an inspiration for new European nations in the 1990s and 2000s, the voice of liberation for both sexual and regional minorities. Eurovision charts both the history of Europe and the history of the Eurovision Song Contest over the last six decades, and shows how seamlessly they interlink - and what an amazing journey it has been.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 356

Dimensions: 129 x 198 mm

Publication Date: 07-04-2020

When the music impresario Bryan Morrison died aged 66 in 2008, after two years in a coma following a polo accident, he left behind his unpublished memoir. As a music publisher, manager and agent, Morrison had represented the Pretty Things, Pink Floyd, T. Rex, The Jam, Wham! and many others. He was also the founder and owner of the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club. In this candid and outspoken book, Morrison reveals the true stories behind why Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd once bit his finger to the bone, the Pretty Things were banned for life from New Zealand, and he became involved with the Kray Twins. He also tells how The Jam kissed goodbye to success in the USA, he received death threats when Robin Gibb left the Bee Gees, and signing a publishing deal with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley as Wham! Spanning the golden age of British rock ’n’ roll from the 60s to the 80s, this is the extraordinary story of a cigar-chomping, East End entrepreneur, with a passion for art and design, fashion, music and polo.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 224

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 13-09-2019

How does one pay homage to A Tribe Called Quest? The seminal rap group created masterpieces throughout the 90s, and then 17 years after their last album, they resurrected themselves with an intense, socially conscious record, which arrived in the aftermath of the 2016 election. Here Hanif Abdurraqib digs into the group's history and draws from his own experience to reflect on how its distinctive sound resonated among fans like himself.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 216

Dimensions: 128 x 198 mm

Publication Date: 01-08-2019

Until the age of twenty, Donald McIntyre hoped to play for the All Blacks, and was on his way to achieving that aim. As a young man, however, he acknowledged his exceptional voice and opted for a career in singing. After leaving New Zealand and arriving in London, McIntyre set his sights on the world of opera. His spectacular musical life saw him conquering the stages of two London companies in the 1960s and 70s: Sadler’s Wells and ROH Covent Garden. His increasing command of Wagner roles brought him to the notice of Richard Wagner’s grandson Wolfgang Wagner, and in 1967 he made his debut appearance in Lohengrin. For the next seventeen years he sang in every Festival cycle and became the first “British” musician to sing the role of Wotan in Wagner’s mighty, four-opera Ring. Recognised for nearly three decades as the definitive Flying Dutchman, McIntyre also starred in the Bayreuth Centennial Ring in a production by Patrice Chéreau that completely revolutionised Wagner opera, and shot him to lasting fame, and in 1992, a knighthood. In this fascinating memoir “Sir Don” looks back over a huge slice of operatic history and his role in it. Mixing fun and gossip with judgement and insight, he brings to life a teeming gallery of the world’s most famous musicians – singers, conductors, directors, teachers, designers, sponsors … all the movers and shakers in the opera world of two generations. Edited by music professor and well-known New Zealand Wagnerian and radio personality, Heath Lees, this book is a fitting monument to Sir Donald’s magnificent half century in opera.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 240

Dimensions: 170 x 240 mm

Publication Date: 19-05-2019

Corbijn’s interest in music has been the engine of an illustrious decades-long career that has most recently involved the making of feature length films such as The American, A Most Wanted Man, and Life. This gloriously illustrated, oversized book pays homage to Corbijn’s obsession with rock and roll—an interest that has led to lifelong friendships with Bono, Michael Stipe, Dave Gahan, and other iconic musicians. Looking back over three decades, it features hundreds of creative, offbeat images that Corbijn was able to capture largely as a result of his close relationships with his subjects. Nearly every revered musician and band is represented in Corbijn’s archives: Nick Cave to Nirvana, U2 to R.E.M., the Rolling Stones to Siouxie and the Banshees. Many of the portraits are accompanied by their subjects’ own take on Corbijn’s distinct style and approach. Also included here are previously unpublished photos of the band Depeche Mode, who considered him an honorary member. A fitting tribute to an innovative and deeply passionate photographer, this book will rock fans of music and photography.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 400

Dimensions: 240 x 290 mm

Publication Date: 28-02-2019

The author of Cigar Box Guitars shares his amazing photo gallery of handmade musical greatness. This new edition includes a new step-by-step project for building your own tenor ukulele, and instructions for playing homemade guitars using both innovative and traditional techniques. In a modern revival of a great American tradition, sliders, pickers, strummers and makers are coming together in what they call the Cigar Box Guitar Revolution. Musicians and hobbyists are finding new creative freedom by making their own musical instruments out of unconventional materials. Their ingenious creations range from simple cardboard diddley bows to an electrified washtub bass. Cigar Box Guitars celebrates the modern craft of these irresistibly alluring instruments. In this new edition, professional photographer and woodworking enthusiast David Sutton shares his obsession with the genre in an expanded photo gallery that profiles inspiring examples of handmade musical greatness. Sutton details multiple techniques for playing the fretted, three-string cigar box guitar, with easy-to-follow chord diagrams and instructions for a selection of classic tunes. Authentic stories of legendary American roots music personalities.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 208

Dimensions: 178 x 229 mm

Publication Date: 31-01-2019