Category: Books

History of goth explored in new books by The Cure’s Lol Tolhurst, The Membranes’ John Robb

History of goth explored in new books by The Cure’s Lol Tolhurst, The Membranes’ John Robb

The story of goth music and culture is being recounted in a pair of new books by musicians Lol Tolhurst of The Cure and John Robb of The Membranes.

New book “Maps and Legends” promises comprehensive history of R.E.M.

New book “Maps and Legends” promises comprehensive history of R.E.M.

The story of of one of college rock’s most foundational bands is told anew in John Hunter’s hefty biography “Maps and Legends: The Story of R.E.M.”

New book “Listening to the Music the Machines Make” tells story of synthpop revolution

New book “Listening to the Music the Machines Make” tells story of synthpop revolution

Author Richard Evans delves deeply into “a true golden age of British pop” in his just-published book “Listening to the Music the Machines Make.”

New oral history ‘Ska Boom!’ chronicles the rise of American ska and reggae

New oral history ‘Ska Boom!’ chronicles the rise of American ska and reggae

Marc Wasserman — bassist, podcaster and author of the definitive ska and reggae blog Marco on the Bass — has just published an epic oral history that chronicles the rise of the uniquely American strains of ska and reggae through the ’80s and into the ’90s. More details right here.

Kate Bush to compile selected lyrics in new book ‘How To Be Invisible’

Kate Bush to compile selected lyrics in new book ‘How To Be Invisible’

Selected lyrics by Kate Bush will be compiled later this year in a new book titled “How To Be Invisible” — named after the title of a song on her 2005 album Aerial — that will include a forward by British novelist David Mitchell, the author of “Cloud Atlas.” The book is set to be published this December.

Siouxsie and the Banshees’ ‘Peepshow’ to be subject of upcoming 33 1/3 book

Siouxsie and the Banshees’ ‘Peepshow’ to be subject of upcoming 33 1/3 book

The popular 33 1/3 book series — self-described as “short books about albums” — will feature an installment by Australian music professor Samantha Bennett to be published this fall about Siouxsie and the Banshees’ 1988 album Peepshow. The 160-page book, which can be pre-ordered now, will be out Oct. 18.

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz’s memoir ‘Remain in Love’ to be published in 2020

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz’s memoir ‘Remain in Love’ to be published in 2020

British publisher Faber Social has announced it will release a new memoir penned by Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club drummer Chris Frantz called “Remain in Love” in the spring of 2020 to coincide with the 40th anniversary that year of the band’s renowned fourth album Remain in Light.

Kevin Haskins shares visual history of Bauhaus in new coffee table book ‘Undead’

Kevin Haskins shares visual history of Bauhaus in new coffee table book ‘Undead’

First announced last year, Bauhaus drummer Kevin Haskins’ visual history of the pioneering goth-rock act — a 315-page coffee table book stuffed with recollections and flyers, ticket stubs, personal photographs and more — will be published in early 2018 by Cleopatra Records. See images from the book here.

Robert Forster sets UK book tour for ‘Grant & I: Inside and Outside The Go-Betweens’

Robert Forster sets UK book tour for ‘Grant & I: Inside and Outside The Go-Betweens’

Robert Forster, the surviving co-founder of Australia’s The Go-Betweens, will embark on a book tour of the U.K. and Ireland this September to promote the publication of the paperback edition of “Grant & I: Inside and Outside The Go-Betweens.” Autographed copies can be pre-ordered online.

Publisher launches Kickstarter to get Butthole Surfers bio ‘Scatological Alchemy’ into print

Publisher launches Kickstarter to get Butthole Surfers bio ‘Scatological Alchemy’ into print

A small British publishing house is turning to fans via a new Kickstarter campaign to raise the remaining funds needed to publish “Scatological Alchemy: A Gnostic Biography of the Butthole Surfers,” a new book by Ben Graham about the legendary Texas psychedelic rockers. The book is due out later this summer.

Johnny Marr to publish autobiography in 2016: ‘The time has come to tell my story’

Johnny Marr to publish autobiography in 2016: ‘The time has come to tell my story’

Johnny Marr this week made it official, formally announcing his long-discussed plans to pen a memoir, saying the book will be published in fall 2016 — three years after bandmate Morrissey’s much-buzzed “Autobiography.” No title has been announced for Marr’s book, but it will be published by Century.

Elvis Costello to publish memoir titled ‘Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink’ this fall

Elvis Costello to publish memoir titled ‘Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink’ this fall

Given his acclaim as a songwriter, it goes without saying that a memoir by Elvis Costello is eagerly anticipated, and the former Declan McManus will finally deliver this fall when Penguin publishes his 352-page autobiography, entitled “Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink.”

Contest: Win a copy of ‘Pixies: A Visual History’ autographed by Black Francis

Contest: Win a copy of ‘Pixies: A Visual History’ autographed by Black Francis

For any diehard fan of the Pixies, the just-published “Pixies: A Visual History” — a gorgeous, 215-page hardbound coffee-table book jammed with scores and scores of you-are-there photographs chronicling the ascent of the college-rock favorites — is a must-have.