Tag Archives: Biography

Paul Weller: The Unauthorised Biography (Steve Malins) – Book Review

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This Unofficial Biography Of Paul Weller Was Published In 1996 By Virgin Books. The Biographer Is Steve Malins.

This Unofficial Biography Of Paul Weller Was Published In 1996 By Virgin Books. The Biographer Is Steve Malins.

Written by Steve Malins (best known for being the biographer of Depeche Mode) and published by Virgin Books in 1996, this book chronicles Paul’s entire career until the release of the “Stanley Road” album in 1995. You also have a good overview of his early years, and the ever-present figure of his father (who was to remain Paul’s manager right until he passed away in April, 2009). That was something I really liked about the book – the way the (quite unique) partnerships in music of a father and a son that lasted for more than 30 years can be seen as it was forming, consolidating itself and then when it was tested by commercial apathy only to stand stronger than ever.

The book has 9 chapters which map out Paul’s life and career clearly enough, with the Jam having the most extensive ones as it is only suitable (pardon the pun). The Style Council’s years receive the right amount of pages, too, and the flow is very convincing – how the band lost its edge gradually, and how Paul became isolated in his own (and misguided) artistic sense. The final segment touches upon his tentative steps as a solo artist (“The Paul Weller Movement”) and the subsequent successes of “Wild Wood” and “Stanley Road”. Continue reading →

Emmylou Harris – General Introduction

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A Young Emmylou Harris

Emmylou Harris In The '70s

Emmylou Harris was born in 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama. She was discovered by Gram Parsons and assumed vocal duties with the man who we now deem as one of the fathers of country rock, cutting the timeless duet “Love Hurts”. She was to eventually establish herself as one of the most distinguished female performers within country music along with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton, and as a true point of reference within music as a whole. Continue reading →

Chalkhills and Children (Chris Twomey) – Book Review

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The Cover Of The Book. The Picture Comes From The "Nonsuch" Photo Shot.

The Cover Of The Book. The Picture Comes From The "Nonsuch" Photo Shot.

Named after one of Andy’s most ethereal compositions, this book (first released in 1992) stands as a moving portrait of a band that is incredibly cerebral, and yet has the ability to tug at your heartstrings like few bands in history. That contradiction comes as no surprise. The story of XTC involves the clash between ideals and reality, and that is something that comes across very vividly on this book.

The book has 188 pages. It includes 10 chapters, two sections of black & white photographs and a discography at the end. It begins out of chronological order (the first chapter deals with Andy’s breakdown) and then the story properly starts and it is run without detours or digressions. It is also an “authorized” biography – the book was compiled from interviews with the band members and their families. And most key figures like Todd Rundgren and Steve Lillywhite are also among the interviewees. Continue reading →

Henry Bueno (myMusicCircle) – Interview (Part 2)

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This is the final part of the interview I conducted with Henry from myMusicCircle. Here we discuss the role music has played (and plays) in his life, along with his likes and dislikes. And don’t forget to check Part 1 (about his company) here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

I loved music all of my life. The first album I purchased with my own allowance money was Thriller by Michael Jackson (may he rest in peace). My father has video of when I was 7 years old doing the moon walk. hehehe Continue reading →

Marco (Filtersage) – Interview (Part 2)

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This is Part 2 of the interview with Marco from Filtersage. If you haven’t already done so, read Part 1 here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

I became more interested in music when I discovered stuff that was more intense than what was in the charts. I think that the first experience in that sense was listening to Joy Division’s ‘Unknown Pleasures’. Continue reading →

Moon: The Life And Death Of A Rock Legend (Tony Fletcher) – Book Review

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Moon

Without a doubt, this is one of the best biographies I have ever set my eyes on. This edition was first published in 1999 by Spike. The enthusiasm and integrity of biographer Tony Fletcher drives the book along its 40 chapters, and he takes upon himself to demolish a myriad of myths and legends along the way.

The Beachcombers were not a surf band. Keith’s audition did not take place as we were always told. His 21st birthday party was exaggerated. But Fletcher has a deft way of bringing some much needed light into a life that was to be incredibly aggrandized, explaining how these fabrications are really secondary to Keith Moon as a man and as a musician like no other. Continue reading →

Nadav Poraz (WhoSampled) – Interview (Part 2)

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This is the second part of the interview with Nadav Poraz from WhoSampled.com. If you haven’t done so already, check out Part 1 here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

I’ve been a music fan since about the age of 8. I guess the first band I really got into was The Police – I bought all their back-catalogue when I was 10! My taste in music has changed quite dramatically since then though. Continue reading →

Elton John In His Own Words (Susan Black) – Book Review

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Elton John IHOW

The Front Cover Of The Book

Compiled by Susan Black, this book was released by Omnibus Press in England in the year 1993. As in other “In Their Own Words” titles it gathers assorted quotes from all through the years and mashes them together by theme. I used the verb “mash” deliberately, as the book could use some editing – there are quotes that appear multiple times under different headings, and such a thing can turn out to be certainly annoying.

Some of the featured chapters include “Songwriting”, “”Money & Possessions” and (of course) “Clothes & Accessories”. The most comprehensive section is thankfully the one named “The Records”, and we can see facets of Elton that are not necessarily palpable through his music in the chapters “Sports” and “Politics”. Continue reading →

Rex Benson – Interview (Part 2)

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This is Part 2 of the interview with Rex Benson of Rex Benson Music Group. Part 1 (about his company) was published yesterday. And Part 3 (about songwriting) can be read here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

Grew up in a household where my mom played Big Band Music constantly…Later listened to late 50’s and early 60’s music that my older brother had, but I was still quite young…became more keenly aware when the Beach Boys hit and then when the Beatles arrived, I was mesmerized although I still didn’t really understand how all those sounds were made…I knew there were guitars and drums etc. but had no prior musical training and wasn’t sure what I was hearing…just knew I liked it…

Then at age 16 I heard a new group playing at church…they were comprised of former rock musicians and I was able to sit and watch them play over and over…got further interested and started to understand the process, picked up a guitar and learned to play on their songs and Beatles songs… they were called LOVE SONG…and then I started to write songs… Continue reading →

Before I Get Old – The Story Of The Who (Dave Marsh) – Book Review

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The Original Cover

The Original Cover

Published in 1983, this book covers the story of The Who from the very inception of the band to their farewell tour of 1982. It is a lengthy book (it has 546 pages), and many criticisms were leveled at it owing to that – it was claimed the story was not balanced, since the book has 36 chapters and only one deals with the post-Moon Who. The Kenny Jones albums barely get a paragraph each, whereas the “classic” Who records are covered from every angle to the point that the descriptions become too exhaustive (and even exhausting) for some people.
Continue reading →