MUSIC BOOKS
I AM OZZY
(Grand Central Publishing Hardcover; $26.99; January 25, 2010)
Take what you thought was “rock and roll excess,” double it, and you still would not be anywhere near the dizzying life of Ozzy Osbourne. Born into a life so poor that the entire family slept in one room, music was his salvation, and his band Black Sabbath went on to change the musical landscape forever. The inevitable sex and drugs came along with along with the rock and roll lifestyle, and Ozzy soon fell into an epic relationship with booze and chemicals.
The stories of Ozzy’s days on the road are now those of legend—biting the head off of a live bat, the tragic plane crash that took the life of his best friend and writing partner—but few know about the real heartbreak he suffered during those days of hard living. I AM OZZY is the heavy metal pioneer’s unbelievable story told, for the first time, in Ozzy’s hilarious, witty, and inimitable voice. In the end it was love that saved him: the love of his wife Sharon and kids Aimee, Kelly, and Jack.
About the Author
Ozzy Osbourne was born in Aston, Birmingham, in 1948. He has sold over a hundred million records both with Black Sabbath and as an award-winning solo artist. He has five children and lives with his wife, Sharon, in California and Buckinghamshire.
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THE STOOGES: The Authorized and Illustrated Story
by Robert Matheu, Jeffrey Morgan, Alice Cooper (Foreword)
(Abrams; October 2009; $35.00)
Legendary rocker Alice Cooper has written the foreword to “The Stooges: The Authorized and Illustrated Story” (Abrams Books, October 1), the first-ever authorized book about THE STOOGES, including iconic photographs, classic interviews, and vintage articles and ephemera dating from the band’s breakout performances in Detroit in the late 1960s through their most recent shows in 2008.
Formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967, THE STOOGES are icons of modern rock, influencing the fledgling sounds of punk, heavy metal, and hard core. From the beginning, lead singer and provocateur Iggy Pop (born James Osterberg) astounded audiences with his outrageous stage performances, accompanied by guitarist Ron Asheton, his drummer brother Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander with their raw and bracing sound. The group disbanded in 1974, but reunited in 2003 to play before a vastly expanded fan base of over 10 million devotees worldwide.
With contributions from noted music journalists Dave DiMartino, Ben Blackwell, Ivan Suvanjieff, Brian J. Bowe, and Machine Rock, as well as acclaimed photographers Joel Brodsky, Ed Caraeff, Mick Rock, and Lisa Gottlieb, “The Stooges: The Authorized and Illustrated Story” gives readers the definitive account of how these icons of rock ‘n’ roll redefined music, performance, and expectations, time and time again.
To read the complete article visit BLABBERMOUT.NET
AN EDUCATION IN REBELLION: The Biography of Nikki Sixx
by Jake Brown
(Rock ‘N’ Roll Books; October 2009)
Rock ‘N’ Roll Books/SCB Distribution will reissue “An Education in Rebellion: The Biography of Nikki Sixx” with a brand new cover.
Packed with star-studded exclusive interview material with MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee, SIXX: A.M. frontman/songwriting partner James Michael, legendary producer Bob Rock, female rock icon Lita Ford, late QUIET RIOT frontman Kevin DuBrow , ‘80s CRÜE producer Tom Werman, ’90s producer Scott Humphrey, former MÖTLEY CRÜE/BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION guitarist/vocalist John Corabi, side-project 58 co-producer Dave Darling, former LONDON bandmate Lizzy Grey, legendary rock photographer Neil Zlozower, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, recovery counselor Bob Timmons, and a host of others contributing commentary on the life and times of MÖTLEY CRÜE founder/lead songwriter/bassist Nikki Sixx.
Originally released in 2002, the 320-plus-page book has been entirely re-edited, updated through 2009, and features a two-disc bonus sampler featuring original bands influenced by the music of Sixx/MÖTLEY CRÜE.
To read the complete article visit BLABBERMOUTH.NET
I got the chance to check out an advance copy of this book and it is AMAZING! A must for any Crue fan – the ‘Shout At The Devil’ era photos are reminiscent of the Circus magazine glory days.
MOTLEY CRUE: A Visual History 1983-1990 by Neil Zlozower
(Chronicle Books; August 2009; $35.00)
Motley Crue’s gleeful glam debauchery and unstoppable anthems have made them metal gods selling over 72 million album copies worldwide and landing their band biography The Dirt on bestseller lists around the country. Motley Crue is amazingly the first photographic history of the band. Legendary rock photographer Neil Zlozower’s images capture the band’s rise from their breakthrough album Shout at the Devil through rock ‘n’ roll excesses to follow with the unprecedented all-access candor of a friend to the band. In hundreds of photographs and stories from the band and those close to them Motley Crue reveals them onstage backstage on tour hanging out and in studio a must-have album of photos and testimony on one of the most powerful and controversial bands in rock history.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
NEIL ZLOZOWER has been photographing bands for more than 30 years over a long and storied career and is the author of Van Halen: A Visual History and Fuck You: Rock and Roll Portraits. He lives in Los Angeles.
Nikki Sixx is a founding member of Motley Crue and the author of the best-selling The Heroin Diaries. He lives in Los Angeles.
For more information visit NEIL ZLOZOWER
WOODSTOCK: Three Days That Rocked the World
by Mike Evans & Paul Kingsbury Foreword by Martin Scorsese
(Sterling; Hardcover; July 2009; $35.00)
It defined a generation, exemplified an era: Woodstock was unlike anything that has ever happened before or since—and August 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of this seminal event. Relive the moment and “get back to the garden” with this day-by-day, act-by-act account of everything that went down on Yasgur’s Farm. With interviews and quotes from those who were there—the musicians, the fans, the organizers—and a wealth of photographs and graphic memorabilia, Woodstock is the ultimate celebration of a landmark in modern cultural history.
Woodstock is organized in three parts:
- Origins sets the stage by describing the counterculture of the time, along with the festival’s organization, fundraising, buzz-building tactics, ticket selling and publicity, and site building.
- The Event—the heart of the project—includes a log with a run-down of each of the 32 acts, in the order they appeared, one spread to each name. Fans and politics are also featured prominently here.
- The Aftermath focuses on media coverage, follow-up festivals, Michael Wadleigh and Thelma Schoonmaker’s documentary, and Woodstock’s enduring legacy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A musician on the 60’s rock scene, Mike Evans began writing about popular music in the ’70s as a broadcaster on local radio, freelance author and regular contributor to Melody Maker. Since the late ’80s he has worked in book publishing, commissioning and editing titles on rock ‘n’ roll, jazz and popular culture. Paul Kingsbury is a freelance writer and editor specialising in music journalism. He is the author or co-author of several books.
For more information visit AMAZON.COM
RECKLESS ROAD: Guns N’ Roses and the Making of Appetite For Destruction
By Marc Canter
(Omnibus Press; April 2007; $32.45)
RECKLESS ROAD is the only authorized book documenting the beginning of the legendary band Guns ‘n’ Roses and the creation of their seminal groundbreaking album “Appetite for Destruction.” Timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the release of this multi platinum album, “Reckless Road” offers unprecedented access to hundreds of previously unreleased images and stories about the early days of Guns n Roses. It contains interviews with Slash, former guitarist Duff McKagen, former bassis Steve Adler, former drummer as well as their old managers and roadies. This book also contains original gig memorabilia, including show flyers, ticket stubs, set lists, press clippings and hand written song lyrics.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MARC CANTER is an amateur photographer and the owner and general manager of the legendary rock ‘n’ roll hangout Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles. He’s been friends with Slash for over 30 years and had unlimited access to the formative years of the band.
For more information visit RECKLESS ROAD
