Bowie's Books: The Hundred Literary Heroes Who Changed His Life by John O'Connell

$37.99 NZD

Category: Music | Reading Level: 3 Biography

David Bowie once said that his idea of perfect happiness was reading. Three years before he died, he made a list of the one hundred books that had transformed his life - a list that formed something akin to an autobiography. From Lolita to Madame Bovary, the Beano to The Iliad, these were the books that had fuelled his creativity and shaped who he was. In Bowie's Books, John O'Connell explores this list in the form of one hundred short essays, each offering a perspective on the man, performer and creator that is Bowie, his work as an artist and the era that he lived in. Bowie's Books is much more than a list of books you should read in your lifetime: it is a unique insight into one of the greatest minds of our times, and an indispensable part of the legacy that Bowie left behind. ...Show more

Pink Floyd by Michael O'Neill

$12.99 NZD

Category: Music

Follow their incredible journey from students when the band formed in Cambridge in 1965 and consisted of Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, Richard Wright with Dave Gilmour joining in 1967. Syd Barrett left in 1968 but remains synonymous with the group. Pink Floyd rose to become the most commerciall y successful and musically influential group in the history of popular music. ...Show more

Metallica by EWING JERRY

$17.99 NZD

Category: Music

Metallica grew from the fledgling thrash metal scene of the early 1980s to become one of the biggest metal acts in the history of music. They still play sell out concerts around the globe and their music is critically acclaimed. Their story is one of excess, success and very heavy metal. Their music has been constantly innovative, breaking the boundaries of what constitutes heavy metal and skilfully appealing to a huge global audience. As early as 1986, Master of Puppets was seen as the album that broke thrash to the wider audience, and by the time Metallica ("the black album") came out in 1991, it cemented their reputation as metallers who remained faithful to the core, but were able to adapt and make themselves hugely popular. ...Show more

Iron Maiden by Chris Welch

$17.99 NZD

Category: Music

Celebrate the pioneering band that redefined heavy metal: Iron Maiden. "We've always been bombastic and done what we've wanted to do." --Steve Harris Go straight to the heart and soul of the Mighty Maiden, the group that was at the forefront of the New Wave of British heavy metal in the '80s . . . and is still going strong. Here is their full story in glorious detail, complete with photographs of posters, flyers, and backstage passes, and rare images of the band's most high-profile gigs and iconic moments. In addition to an album-by-album account of all their studio recordings, it includes biographies of the most notable members and a decade-by-decade history of the band. Written by a leading music journalist who has interviewed the band many times, Iron Maiden is a fantastic tribute to the iconic band and a fan must-have. ...Show more

Drum Course For Beginners

$14.99 NZD

Category: Music

Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Every Day by Clemency Burton-Hill

$34.99 NZD

Category: Music

'Year of Wonder is an absolute treat - the most enlightening way to be guided through the year.' Eddie Redmayne Classical music for everyone - an inspirational piece of music for every day of the year, celebrating composers from the medieval era to the present day, written by award-winning violinist an d BBC Radio 3 presenter Clemency Burton-Hill. Have you ever heard a piece of music so beautiful it stops you in your tracks? Or wanted to discover more about classical music but had no idea where to begin? Year of Wonder is a unique celebration of classical music by an author who wants to share its diverse wonders with others and to encourage a love for this genre in all readers, whether complete novices or lifetime enthusiasts. Clemency chooses one piece of music for each day of the year, with a short explanation about the composer to put it into context, and brings the music alive in a modern and playful way, while also extolling the positive mindfulness element of giving yourself some time every day to listen to something uplifting or beautiful. Thoughtfully curated and expertly researched, this is a book of classical music to keep you company: whoever you are, wherever you're from. 'The only requirements for enjoying classical music are open ears and an open mind.' Clemency Burton-Hill   Playlists are available on most streaming music platforms including Apple Music and Spotify. ...Show more

The Road Beneath My Feet by Frank Turner

$29.99 NZD

Category: Music

*The Sunday Times Bestseller* *Featuring an exclusive new chapter* On 23 September, 2005, at the Joiners Arms in Southampton, Frank Turner played his last gig with his hardcore band, Million Dead. On the laminates that listed the tour dates, the entry for 24 September simply read: 'Get a job.' Deflated, jaded and hungover, Frank returned to his hometown of Winchester without a plan for the future. All he knew was that he wanted to keep playing music. Cut to 13 April 2012, over a thousand shows later (show 1,216 to be precise), and he was headlining a sold-out gig at Wembley Arena with his band The Sleeping Souls. Told through his tour reminiscences, this is the blisteringly honest story of Frank's career from drug-fuelled house parties and the grimy club scene to filling out arenas, fans roaring every word back at him. But more than that, it is an intimate account of what it's like to spend your life constantly on the road, sleeping on floors, invariably jetlagged, all for the love of playing live music. ...Show more

The History of Rock and Roll, Volume 2: 1964-1977: The Beatles, The Stones, and The Rise of Classic Rock by Ed Ward

$49.99 NZD

Category: Music

From rock and roll historian Ed Ward comes a comprehensive, authoritative, and enthralling cultural history of one of rock's most exciting eras. It's February 1964 and The Beatles just landed in New York City, where the NYPD, swarms of fans, and a crowd of two hundred journalists await their first Amer ican press conference. It begins with the question on everyone's mind: "Are you going to get a haircut in America?" and ends with a reporter tugging Paul McCartney's hair in an attempt to remove his nonexistent wig. This is where The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 2 kicks off. Chronicling the years 1964 through the mid-1970s, this latest volume covers one of the most exciting eras of rock history, which saw a massive outpouring of popular and cutting-edge music. Ward weaves together an unputdownable narrative told through colorful anecdotes and shares the behind-the-scenes stories of the megastars, the trailblazers, DJs, record executives, concert promoters, and producers who were at the forefront of this incredible period in music history. From Bob Dylan to Bill Graham, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Byrds, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, and more, everyone's favorite musicians of the era make an appearance in this sweeping history that reveals how the different players, sounds, and trends came together to create the music we all know and love today. ...Show more

The Complete Classical Music Guide by DK

$48.00 NZD

Category: Music

What makes Mozart's music so great? Why does a minor chord sound sad and a major chord sound happy? What's the difference between opera and operetta? From Bach to Bernstein, this definitive guide offers a complete survey of the history of classical music. Whether you already love classical music or you 're just beginning to explore it, The Complete Classical Music Guide invites you to discover the spirituality of Byrd's masses, the awesome power of Handel's Messiah, and the wonders of Wagner's operas, as well as hundreds more composers and their masterpieces. This guide takes you on a journey through more than 1,000 years, charting the evolution of musical instruments, styles, and genres. Biographies of major and lesser-known composers offer rich insights into their music and the historical and cultural contexts that influenced their genius. The book explores the features that defined each musical era - from the ornate brilliance of the Baroque, through the drama of Romantic music, to contemporary genres such as minimalism and electronic music. Timelines, quotes, and colour photographs give a voice to this music and the exceptionally gifted individuals who created it. Covering both music history and the fundamental building blocks of music theory, The Complete Classical Music Guideexplains not just the who, what, and where of classical music, but the how and why. ...Show more

Wired For Sound: the Stebbing History of NZ Music by Grant Gillanders, Robyn Welsh

$89.99 NZD

Category: Music

Stoned: Photographs and Treasures from Life with the Rolling Stones by Jo Wood

$49.99 NZD

Category: Music

"These images are great and have been tucked away for years" - Ronnie Wood Take a look inside rock 'n' roll history with over 500 never-before-seen photographs, notes, artworks, diary entries and mementoes from life behind the scenes of the Rolling Stones. Married to legendary Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood for 30 years, Jo Wood lived the rock star life. Her incredible collection of treasures from that time is a once-in-a-lifetime look inside the biggest band in the world. Accompanied by personal memories and behind the scenes anecdotes from Jo, Stoned is a love letter to the rock 'n' roll life and a truly unique window into the eye of the Rolling Stones hurricane. ...Show more

Let's Go (So We Can Get Back) - A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, Etc. by Jeff Tweedy

$24.99 NZD

Category: Music

*A New York Times Bestseller**A Rolling Stone Best Music Books of 2018 selection**A Pitchfork Pick: Best Music Books of 2018* The singer, guitarist, and songwriter--best known for his work with Wilco--opens up about his past, his songs, the music, and the people who have inspired him. Few bands have enc ouraged as much devotion as the Chicago rock band Wilco, and it's thanks, in large part, to the band's singer, songwriter, and guiding light: Jeff Tweedy. But while his songs and music have been endlessly discussed and analyzed, Jeff has rarely talked so directly about himself, his life, or his artistic process. Until now. In his long-awaited memoir, Jeff will tell stories about his childhood in Belleville, Illinois; the St. Louis record store, rock clubs, and live-music circuit that sparked his songwriting and performing career; and the Chicago scene that brought it all together. He also talks in-depth about his collaborators in Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, and more; and writes lovingly about his parents; wife, Susie; and sons, Spencer and Sammy. Honest, funny, and disarming, Tweedy's memoir will bring readers inside both his life and his musical process, illuminating his singular genius and sharing his story, voice, and perspective for the first time. ...Show more