Music & Musicians

Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...

This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a transformative guidebook that has captivated millions, including luminaries such as Elizabeth Gilbert and Tim Ferriss. With its profound ability to inspire and elevate, this book invites readers to embark on an enriching creative journey, fostering a deeper connection to one's artistic process and sense of purpose. The heart of Cameron's groundbreaking programme...

An updated movie tie-in edition of the fascinating story behind the making of Bruce Springsteen's most surprising album, Nebraska, and its pivotal role in the rock legend's career. The inspiration for the major motion picture starring Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong. The fascinating story behind the making of Bruce Springsteen's most surprising album, Nebraska, revealing its pivotal role in...

It is never too late to build the life you’re seeking.Cynthia Erivo learned the music to Wicked a decade before she needed it, not knowing that those same lyrics would change her life. Ten years later, she has the chance to perform those songs on a world stage, showing us that there is always time to keep discovering ourselves, that the journey...

Just Kids by Patti Smith is a tender and beautifully written memoir that captures the essence of a time, place, and a unique bond formed between two young artists in the pulsating heart of New York City. The narrative follows Smith’s intimate relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, beginning with their burgeoning romance and evolving into a profound, lifelong friendship. Set...

Thanks to a thrown beer bottle and a fan letter to a P.O. box, Melissa Auf der Maur's first band scored an opening slot for the Smashing Pumpkins in her bohemian home town, Montreal. Sensing Melissa's talent, Billy Corgan recommended her to Courtney Love. Whisked from her local scene, Melissa joined Hole just after the deaths of Kurt Cobain and...

Moonwalk is Michael Jackson's one and only autobiography, offering insight into the King of Pop's life in his own words. This is the only book Michael Jackson ever wrote about his life. It chronicles his humble beginnings in the Midwest, his early days with the Jackson 5, and his unprecedented solo success. Providing unrivalled insight into the King of Pop's...

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 it to the age of sixty, with five kids and four grandkids and houses...

'A forensic exploration of their compositions and recordings, and everything that has been poured into them... completely definitive' MOJO ★★★★★ The story of Manic Street Preachers is unique in pop. Raging out of the stricken mining communities of south Wales in the late 80s, they were seemingly condemned to mere cult status by a cruel juncture of artistic triumph, commercial...

When Fun Lovin' Criminals released their debut album Come Find Yourself in 1996, its fusion of hip-hop, funk, blues, and rock quickly became one of the most iconic and influential records of the decade. Now, in this fascinating memoir, frontman Huey Morgan describes his remarkable journey from journeyman to rock star. This is a story that begins in the early...

A Rough Trade Book of the Year A Guardian Music Book of the Year 'Beautifully written and meticulously researched' Classic Pop '[An] all-encompassing repository of Cure wisdom' Record Collector The Cure are indisputable titans of alternative rock. Recognisable as much for their iconic aesthetic, videos and artwork as for the lyrical and musical genius of Robert Smith, The Cure's work...

The finest book on Britain's most popular rock 'n' roll band Featuring an exclusive interview with Noel Gallagher ahead of the Oasis Live '25 Tour ‘It felt like the London music business had set the stage for Blur to be the centre of Britpop, and then we turned up and they never forgave us.’ Think Oasis was just Britpop and...

Now, you said it was yesterday, yesterday’s another day Heading round in make believe, I don’t know if it’s you or If it’s me oh, I don’t know, I don’t know Tally ho, tally ho! In 1978 in Dunedin the Kilgour brothers, Hamish and David, and their schoolfriend Peter Gutteridge, got together to form a band called The Clean. When...

It’s me, hi … I’m the bestselling 100% Unofficial Taylor Swift Annual, it’s me! Farshore are the #1 annuals publisher in the UK (Bookscan TCM 2024) The Eras Tour may be over, but we’re not over it. Jump then fall into dazzling facts about the mastermind that is Taylor Swift, from her almost two-year-long world tour, to her 11 perfect...

The Dirt unveils the raw, unfiltered world of Mötley Crüe, the voice of a barely pubescent Generation X and the anointed high priests of the power ballad. Renowned as pioneers of Hollywood glam, their notorious sex lives captured the likes of celebrities Heather Locklear and Pamela Anderson, alongside teenage groupies from around the globe. Beyond their voracious sexual appetites, Tommy...

The raucous memoir from pop's most influential producer. Lady Gaga, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, the Barbie soundtrack. Behind some of the biggest musical moments in the past two decades is one man - Mark Ronson. Now, his memoir Night People captures the music, characters, escapades and energy of his formative DJ days in '90s New...

The must-have guide for songwriters, revised and updated with expanded chapters, 50 fun songwriting exercises, and examples from more than 20 chart-topping songs. A staple for songwriters for nearly two decades, Writing Better Lyrics provides effective tools for everything from generating ideas, to understanding the form and function of a song, to fine-tuning lyrics. Perfect for new and experienced songwriters...

I've got things I can't recall Like the colours of my bedroom wall Oh, I can't decide if I Want to know these things or why They bother me and tantalise me so – from 'I've Left Memories Behind' In the mid-1990s, the Village Voice described Chris Knox as 'indie rock's premier oddball singer songwriter'. When Knox suffered a stroke...

BTS are back! After a brief hiatus to complete their military service in South Korea, the boys are back! Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook are ready to conquer the charts and break all sorts of hearts and records once more. Are you a member of ARMY? You soon will be … Farshore are the #1 annuals...

The long-awaited memoir from Simple Minds' founder members and lifelong collaborators, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill A candid, moving, and kinetic story of self-realisation through the power of music, Our Secrets Are The Same is the remarkable joint memoir by Simple Minds' founder members, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill. It not only reveals the inner workings of one of the...

Are you ready for it? Seek self-awareness with this insightful journal & coloring book inspired by the work of Taylor Swift. Are you ready for it? Seek self-awareness with this insightful journal & coloring book inspired by the work of Taylor Swift. Perfect for Swifties or anyone interested in self-discovery, The Story of You features writing prompts, coloring pages, inspiring...

When we crashed over the line two and a half minutes later, there was a short, disbelieving silence and I could feel my knee trembling behind its sarcastic 'Disco' patch. A song I'd written had just been played to the finish, and what's more, it hadn't sounded weak, or delusional—it had, in fact, kicked. I backed down from the mic....

In Ain't Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton, Martha Ackmann chronicles the life of an American Original. From her impoverished childhood in the Smoky Mountains to international stardom as a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Dolly Parton has exceeded everyone's expectations except her own. During a time when the Beatles set the standard for contemporary music,...

We heard you calling on the megaphone, you wanna see the bestselling 100% Unofficial Taylor Swift Annual again! Farshore are the #1 annuals publisher in the UK (Bookscan TCM 2024) Now you know The Life of a Showgirl, it’s time to pledge your allegiance to the girl boss that is Taylor Swift and dance through her 12 actually perfect albums....

KPop Demon Hunters: The Official Deluxe Colouring Book is the official colouring book for the most popular film on Netflix and global sensation, KPop Demon Hunters. Return to the dynamic world of KPop Demon Hunters with this official colouring book! From hunters to demons to the fans they fight for—there's a colouring page for everyone in this official KPop Demon...

An anthology of some of the greatest poetry in the English language. Poetry and music have been associated with each other from the very beginning. The Penguin Book of English Song draws together a great variety of English poetry (including Irish, Scots and Welsh writers) that has reached a wider audience through the magic of music. Richard Stokes's rich anthology...

THE NEW ROMANCE NOVEL FROM TIKTOK SENSATION ASHLEY WINSTEAD.'The Future Saints is not to be missed.' Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off ScriptA band on the brink. A love worth playing for.When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they're bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been...

The long-awaited memoir by Cameron Crowe—one of America’s most iconic journalists and filmmakers—revealing his formative years in rock and roll and bringing to life stories that shaped a generation, in the bestselling tradition of Patti Smith’s Just Kids. Cameron Crowe was an unlikely rock and roll insider. Born in 1957 to parents who strictly banned the genre from their house,...

Daisy Jones and the Six meets Patricia Highsmith in this addictive, intense novel about the brutal and ferocious road to glory, from the award-winning author of My Husband. Ever since she was a child, Cléo, the French-American daughter of two academics, has had only one obsession: becoming a famous singer. Over the years, to everyone’s surprise but her own, she...

The joyous and electric memoir from beloved music icon Neneh Cherry. A Sunday Times, Guardian, New Statesman, Evening Standard, Uncut and Rough Trade Book of the Year 2024 'Intoxicating . . . Seductive' - Sunday Times 'Fabulous' - Vogue Top of the Pops, December 1988. The world sat up as a young woman made her debut—gold bra, gold bomber jacket,...

An unsparing investigation into Spotify's origins and influence on music, weaving unprecedented reporting with incisive cultural criticism, illuminating how streaming is reshaping music for listeners and artists alike. Drawing on over a hundred interviews with industry insiders, former Spotify employees, and musicians, Mood Machine takes us to the inner workings of today's highly consolidated record business, showing what has changed...

Dazzling. Incomparable. Unforgettable. The definitive book of Taylor Swift's fashion evolution. For Taylor Swift, fashion and music go hand-in-hand, each playing a powerful role in shaping the narrative of this generation's most prolific storyteller. Red lipstick isn't just a makeup choice; it's the emblem of an era. A miniskirt isn't simply part of a cute outfit; it's a coat of...

It’s the 1990s, and Paper Husbands are finally making headway – they’ve got a song on high rotation on student radio and have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to open for UK legends, Shimmer. The disappearance of frontman Pete shatters those plans, leaving the rest of the band to lead decidedly non-rock ’n’ roll lives in the years...

A TELEGRAPH MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR A ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR AN UNCUT BOOK OF THE YEAR A RESIDENT MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR In Never Understood, William and Jim Reid tell the story of The Jesus and Mary Chain - one of Britain's greatest guitar bands - for the very first time. A wildly funny and...

The International No. 1 Bestseller The Storyteller by Dave Grohl is celebrated as one of NME's Best Music Books of 2021 and included in Audible's Best of the Year list. It also features in Variety's collection of best music books for the year. So, I’ve written a book. Having entertained the idea for years, and even offered a few questionable...

He wrote one of the biggest hits of our age in 'about an hour' in his childhood bedroom. He would go on to collaborate with some of the greatest musicians of all time, from Aretha Franklin to Stevie Wonder. He was a pop star who bleached his hair blonde, wore tiny shorts and, at the same time, critiqued his own...

Celebrate the evolution of Harry Styles from teen idol to cultural phenomenon – immerse yourself in his music, enjoy his fashion moments, dive into his acting roles, and discover how one artist redefined what it means to be a modern superstar. Farshore are the #1 annuals publisher in the UK (Bookscan TCM 2025) Harry Styles has become one of the...

In this exploration of Cocteau Twins' quintessential album, Chris Tapley traces lines in all directions from Blue Bell Knoll to paint a revealing portrait of the enigmatic trio and their career-long struggles with self-doubt, stubborn principles, and pure experimentation. Throughout their career, Cocteau Twins sought to escape definition. Lyrics were a closely guarded secret, their transcendent recordings sounded completely unique,...

The hectic, hugely entertaining, and definitive story of the wonderful and entirely amateurish British university gig scene that launched the career of some of the world’s most famous bands. As rock exploded around the world, young bands would sling their gear into their trusty Ford Transits and bomb up and down the new motorway system to university and polytechnic campuses...

Featuring fresh insights from all eleven studio albums—from Taylor Swift to The Tortured Poets Department—Taylor Swift: Album by Album mines her life, lyrics, and music like nothing else before it. This book also features several chapters on all the Taylor's Version albums released to date, with panel discussions from noted Swift scholars accompanied by vibrant photography that captures Swift in...

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER As the Brits say: I'm gobsmacked. I devoured this book... one of the most potent examples of living the dream — DEBBIE HARRY A great drummer who has written a great book — BILL MURRAY A revealing inside account of the highs and lows of a band who looked and sounded like nobody else — OLIVIA...

He died at only 37, but his fans are legion. INXS singer/songwriter Michael Hutchence was the celebrated frontman of a band that was the biggest in the world. Michael's big sister, Tina, adored him from the start. From a twelve-year-old holding him in her arms as a newborn, to being his teenage nanny, Tina remained Michael's trusted confidant until his...

New York Times bestselling author Jeff Pearlman turns his sharp eye and meticulous storytelling to one of pop culture’s most enduring and enigmatic figures—Tupac Shakur—presenting the definitive retelling of his life, complete with explosive new details. Scrutinized in life, mythologized in death, Tupac Shakur remains a subject of immense cultural significance and speculation nearly thirty years after his murder. Despite...

The long-awaited memoir of legendary Lionel Richie. As a storyteller second to none, Lionel Richie is ready to tell it all. In this intimate, deeply candid memoir, Lionel revisits hilarious and harrowing events to inspire all who doubt themselves or feel their dreams don’t matter. Lionel chronicles lessons learned during his unlikely story of remarkable success—his dramatic transformation from painfully...

'Davies has done it again, damn him. Irritatingly good. Maddeningly funny. Annoyingly fine.' STEPHEN FRY 'Emotional, entertaining and startlingly honest. I was totally engrossed.' AMY LIPTROT, author of The Outrun. Following Just Ignore Him, the bestselling memoir of his traumatic childhood, White Male Stand-Up is what happened next to Alan Davies. It's the story of how he threw himself into...

In which the writings of the authors Thom Yorke and Stanley Donwood are gathered together. This commonplace book includes faxes, notes, fledgling lyrics, sketches, lists of all kinds and scribblings towards nirvana, as were sent between the two authors during the period 1999 to 2000 during the creation of the Radiohead albums Kid A and Amnesiac. This is a document...

The long-awaited autobiography from Phil Collins, one of the bestselling music artists of all time. This is the rollercoaster journey from his beginnings as a child actor to his domination of the charts both as a solo artist and as part of Genesis. His success is astounding, his music has global reach and his story is legendary. In his own...

Before his murder at twenty-five, Tupac Shakur rose to staggering artistic heights as the pre-eminent storyteller of the 90s, building, in the process, one of the most iconic public personas of the last half-century. He recorded several platinum-selling albums, starred in major films, and became an activist and political hero known the world over. In this cultural history and brilliantly...

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER National Book Award-winning author and legendary artist Patti Smith presents A Book of Days, a profound and uniquely poetic visual journey through a year in her life. This captivating collection, inspired by her highly popular Instagram account, encapsulates Smith's singular aesthetic through more than 365 intimate and evocative images. Each photograph is a testament to...

Flea, the iconic bassist and co-founder, alongside Anthony Kiedis, of the immortal Red Hot Chili Peppers finally tells his fascinating origin story, complete with all the dizzying highs and the gutter lows you'd expect from an LA street rat turned world-famous rock star. Michael Peter Balzary was born in Melbourne, Australia, on October 16, 1962. His more famous stage name,...

Fasten your seatbelts, darlings, it's been one helluva ride. Liza Minnelli is one of the most iconic and enduring figures in entertainment history. Now, in her first and only memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, Liza tells her story in her own words - and what a story it is. Born into Hollywood royalty, Liza was the daughter of...

'My favourite band. Ever! And certainly the best dressed.' Sam Neill Split Enz were never designed to fit. Emerging from art school mischief in early-1970s New Zealand, they turned pop into surreal theatre: costume, character and melody colliding in a rock band that refused to behave like one. At the centre of that vision was Noel Crombie—percussionist, performer and the...

"The new Chris Cornell biography is the book his legacy deserves." —Kerrang! "Reiff unearths plenty of unexpected details and novel anecdotes…but the book is perhaps most valuable for the way it rounds out and humanises this man who managed to keep so many of his cards close to the vest despite decades in the spotlight." —Variety Total F*cking Godhead brings...

Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...

Featuring 12 show-stopping looks—from the Love Story music video to the Eras Tour bodysuits—Dress Up Taylor takes you through the very best of Tay-Tay's fashion moments. With beautifully illustrated, press-out outfits and a sturdy Taylor mannequin, this paper doll book is the ultimate collector's item for Swifties and fashionistas alike.

A taut, sultry novel about rivalry, obsession and how far we are willing to go to get what we truly desire, set against the glittering backdrop of 1950s Paris. It's the summer of 1957 and Max, a piano prodigy, is on a sold-out concert tour. His beautiful twin sister, Natasha, serves as his manager and minder. But despite Natasha's careful...

A ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR There are few artistic acts more mysterious than writing a song. But what if a shift in perspective—and some practical guidance—could overcome that mystery? Anyone wanting to experience more creativity and mindfulness will be inspired to do just that after reading How to Write One Song. Why one song? The difference between one...

Michael Jackson's former bodyguards reveal the amazing truths of the late superstar's last years—his life with his children, his financial crises, and the weeks leading up to his shocking death. Hounded by the tabloid media, Michael Jackson spent his final years moving from city to city, living with his three children in virtual seclusion—a futile attempt to escape a world...

A deluxe, annotated edition of Kitchen Confidential to celebrate the life of Anthony Bourdain, featuring new photo inserts. Over two decades ago, the New Yorker published a now infamous article, "Don't Eat Before Reading This," by then little-known chef Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain spared no one's appetite as he revealed what happens behind the kitchen door. The article was a sensation,...

Astrid Jorgensen is on a mission to teach the world to sing. But she’s not promising to make anybody better at singing – she simply wants people to feel less ashamed of whatever voice they have. By its very nature, ‘best’ is rare and elusive: you’re not going to get much of it in life. And I sure don’t want...

The definitive illustrated story of electronic sound, from WWI to the AI-enabled future, presented by the godfather of the genre. Jean-Michel Jarre is a true pioneer of electronic music. From his early role in electronic sound to his current work with AI, technology is at the forefront of everything he does. Having amassed an extraordinary collection of electronic and electroacoustic...

The most comprehensive study of Madonna's work ever. The definitive, untold recording history of Madonna, told album-by-album and song-by-song. Explore the extraordinary artistry and vision of Madonna in this comprehensive guide, chronicled song-by-song throughout her groundbreaking career. From her arrival in New York in 1978 to her fearless reinvention across decades, this book delves into Madonna's record-breaking albums, groundbreaking artistry,...

A stunning, full-colour special edition of the #1 bestselling memoir from the much-loved Australian legend, featuring never-before-seen photographs and a brand-new chapter. Growing up in London and Melbourne, music was always part of John Farnham's world. But the young John never dreamed of what was to come: pop stardom in the 1960s, the release of Whispering Jack - the critically...

'To see The Clash on the White Riot tour was like discovering how to be a rock star: you just did it yourself. You didn't wait for someone to come and discover you. That was the most important thing that came out of punk... We came home and we cut our hair and bought skinny trousers. It was year zero....

Don't miss the latest gripping thriller from INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Rebecca Heath! Pitch perfect! Jo Furniss, author of All the Little Children A REMOTE ISLAND It’s been eighteen years since the accidental explosion that killed The Cedrics Band lead singer, Jonny Rake, and a special documentary is bringing the rest of the band back to play together for the first time....

Take your ukulele playing to the next level – fast! – with hundreds of fun exercises, drills, and practice tunes. You have a ukulele, you know just enough to be dangerous, and now you're ready to do something with it. You're in luck: Ukulele Exercises For Dummies helps you become a better player. This practice-based book focuses on the skills...

Create the next big pop hit, bang out a catchy jingle, or write an iconic film score, with music composition skills. Today's composers create music for television, film, commercials, and even video games. Music Composition For Dummies brings you up to speed with the theory and technicality of composing music. With easy-to-understand content that corresponds to a typical music composition...

Become a different drummer Drumming is natural to all of us—after all, it mimics the regular beat of our hearts. But some of us want to go further and really lay down a big beat. And no wonder—whether you want to become the powerful backbone of a band or just learn how to play a hand drum for pleasure, drumming...

A story of becoming an artist, by the godmother of rock'n'roll: the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids, Patti Smith 'A poet of distinction' New York Times 'Glorious' NPR 'Rare and ferocious' Salon 'Shockingly beautiful' New York Magazine Everything contained in this little book is true, and written just like it was. The writing of it drew me from...

Featuring fresh insights from Mick, Keith, Charlie, and Ronnie, Unzipped digs deeper than ever before into the Stones' archives to present a comprehensive collection of Stones artworks, instruments, stage outfits, and notebooks alongside key work by some of the legends of rock photography. For almost 60 years, the Rolling Stones have helped shape popular culture around the globe. Unzipped captures...

A scintillating journey through the seventies and the extraordinary music it gave rise to - including the new concept of sound that defines music today. After the dense miasma of the sixties, the seventies hit like a hangover. Idealism took a pounding as cynicism began to pervade western culture. Stagflation became a thing. Watergate, environmental disasters, and an oil crisis...

How does one young man survive the deaths of his entire family and manage to make something worthwhile of his life? In Things The Grandchildren Should Know, Mark Oliver Everett tells the story of what it's like to grow up the insecure son of a genius in a wacky Virginia Ice Storm-like family. Left to run wild with his sister,...

'So honest and pure as to count as a true rapture' JOAN DIDION 'A poetic masterpiece' JOHNNY DEPP 'Our St John of the Cross, a mystic full of compassion' EDMUND WHITE 'A roadmap to my life', from the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids: an unforgettable odyssey of a legendary artist, told through the prism of cafés and haunts...

The New York Times bestselling memoir from legendary rapper Gucci Mane spares no detail in this “cautionary tale that ends in triumph” (GQ). For the first time, Gucci Mane tells his extraordinary life story in his own words. It’s “as wild, unpredictable, and fascinating as the man himself” (Complex). The platinum-selling trap pioneer began writing this remarkable autobiography while serving...

Get your lines word-perfect with Wicked: The Complete Screenplay, which features the complete script of the first film and full-colour stills, celebrating the movie magic that brought the story from page to screen. This stunning hardcover features the complete script to director Jon M. Chu’s smash-hit movie, including the full lyrics to each of the unforgettable songs, from “No One...

The rock legend tells the story of his wild ride with Martin Scorsese - as friends, adventure-seekers, and boundary-pushing collaborators - with all the heart of his New York Times bestselling memoir Testimony. For four decades, Robbie Robertson produced music for Martin Scorsese's films, a relationship that began when Robertson convinced Scorsese to direct The Last Waltz, the iconic film...

The bestselling guide now updated with video demonstrations and audio tracks online. The guitar is one of the most versatile instruments in the world, which is why it's so appealing to musicians. Guitar For Dummies, 4th Edition gives you everything a beginning or intermediate acoustic or electric guitarist needs: from buying a guitar to tuning it, playing it, and caring...

Discover the keyboard that's right for you, whatever your budget! Looking for a fun, challenging, and rewarding new instrument to play? Thinking about the piano but don't necessarily have the room or the budget to put one in your home? Then grab a copy of the second edition of Keyboard For Dummies! In the book, acclaimed music technologist and keyboardist...