Category Archives: BOOK REVIEWS

Book review: THOMAS DOLBY – The Speed of Sound

Posted on May 31, 2017 by jason

Icon Books www.iconbooks.co.uk [Published 08.06.17] Thomas Morgan Robertson become Thomas Dolby after his friends named him after the famous Dolby noise reduction device found on many 70′s and 80′s sound systems. Most will know the name for his early 80′s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, David Bowie, Foreigner, memoir, Michael Jackson, Mick Jones, music, pop, Prefab Sprout, review, technology, The Speed of Sound, Thomas Dolby | Leave a comment

Book review: MARTIN HANNETT – His Equipment And Strawberry Studios by Chris Hewitt

Posted on April 17, 2017 by petefeenstra

Dandelion Records & Books [Publication date 07.04.17] Given the fact that the author Chris Hewitt has already released the exhaustive DVD ‘Martin Hannett – He Wasn’t Just The Fifth Member Of Joy Division’ and the book ‘The Pleasures Of The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged A Certain Ratio, book, Chris Hewitt, Chris Sieve, Durutti Column, Factory records, Frank Zappa, Happy Mondays, His Equipment And Strawberry Studios, John Cooper Clark, Joy Division, Magazine, Martin Hannett, New Order, OMD, Peter Hook, Phil Spector, producer, Reabid records, review, Rob Gretton, Strawberry studios, The Buzzcocks, The Psychedelic Furs, the Stone Roses, Tony Wilson, U2 | Leave a comment

Book review: Somebody to Love: The Life, Death & Legacy of Freddie Mercury

Posted on February 15, 2017 by jason

Matt Richards & Mark Langthorne Blink Publishing There have been many books published on both Queen and Freddie Mercury, so why another one and what is its hook? Well the two authors here have included the usual Queen story of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Blink, book, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon, Mark Langthorne, Matt Richards, Queen, review, Roger Taylor, Somebody to Love, The Life Death and Legacy of Freddie Mercury | Leave a comment

Book review: GEORGE HARRISON – I Me Mine (The Extended Edition)

Posted on February 8, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Genesis Publications [Publication date 21.02.17] It’s probably not a book you would want to take on holiday, fearing that Ryan Air would charge excess baggage. Similarly it may break your coffee table. But ‘I Me Mine – The Extended Edition’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged autobiography, book, Derek Taylor, Genesis Publications, George Harrison, guitar, guitarist, I Me Mine, review, The Beatles, The Extended Edition | Leave a comment

Book review: TOM RUSSELL – The Godfather of Rock by Martin Kielty

Posted on January 4, 2017 by david.wilson

Published by Beard Books Tom Russell will be a familiar name to many, he has been a leading figure in the Scottish rock scene for many years and has broadcast on radio across the UK on occasion. It is in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged beard of doom, book, Download Festival, Glasgow, Glasgow Apollo, Godfather Of Rock, Jimi Hendrix, Martin Kielty, metal, Nazareth, Newcastle, Pallas, Radio Clyde, review, Ritchie Blackmore, rock, Rock Radio, Tom Russell, Tommy Vance | Leave a comment

Book review: AC/DC In Full Flight – by Alan Perry

Posted on October 8, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Wymer Publishing [Publication date: November 2016] www.wymeruk.co.uk This 128 page, A4-landscape coffee table tome documents the Aussie rockers during the years 1978-82. Photographed by Alan Perry – and with his own comments putting the gigs in context – this becomes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 1978-1982, AC/DC, Alan Perry, book, gigs, In Full Flight, memorabilia, photographs, review, rock, Tour, Wymer Publishing | Leave a comment

Book review: Live to Win – A Casual Guide to The Music of KISS Frontman Paul Stanley by Neil Daniels

Posted on September 6, 2015 by jason

www.neildanielsbooks.com KISS frontman Paul Stanley only recently released his autobiography and so you may be thinking that the release of this new “Live to Win” book is untimely. Forget that, whilst “Face the Music” was the man’s life story, this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged author, book, classic rock, Kiss, Live to Win- A Casual Guide to The Music of KISS Frontman Paul Stanley, Neil Daniels, Paul Stanley, review | Leave a comment

Book review: THE HISTORY OF CANADIAN ROCK ‘N’ ROLL by BOB MERSEREAU

Posted on July 19, 2015 by jason

Backbeat Books [Published 22.05.15] RRP £16.50 A quick word of advice: this book covers rock ‘n’ roll in its broadest terms, heck even Celine Dion gets mentioned and Triumph get a one page mention, so don’t go expecting any Maple … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged author, Backbeat Books, Bob Mersereau, book, Bryan Adams, classic, Neil Young, Nickelback, review, rock, Rush, The History of Canadian Rock 'N' Roll | Leave a comment

Book review: AC/DC FAQ by Susan Masino

Posted on June 7, 2015 by jason

Published by Backbeat Books [Published 30.04.15] RRP £20.00 Susan Masino has written a previous book on AC/DC ‘The Story Of AC/DC: Let There Be Rock’, from which a fair amount of this FAQ book is compiled from. That said it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged AC/DC, Angus Young, Backbeat Books, book, book review, Brian Johnson, classic, FAQ, Malcolm Young, rock, rock 'n' roll, Susan Masino | Leave a comment

Book review: Sail Away Whitesnake’s Fantastic Voyage by Martin Popoff

Posted on March 7, 2015 by jason

Soundcheck Books www.soundcheckbooks.co.uk Martin Popoff has written a few books in his time, this is his 45th, and this one covers Whitesnake up to and including their hair metal years. The author has some interesting insight from recent interviews with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Adrian Vadenburg, Bernie Marsden, book, classic, John Kalodner, John Sykes, Jon Lord, Martin Popoff, Micky Moody, Neil Murray, review, rock, Sail Away Whitesnake's Fantastic Voyage, Soundcheck Books, Steve Via, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Book review: DEKE LEONARD – Maximum Darkness: On The Road To Nowhere

Posted on January 7, 2015 by petefeenstra

Northdown Publishing Ltd (2015) Deke Leonard is back to his best in the final part of his autobiographical trilogy. Where his last effort the voluminous ‘The Twang Dynasty’ showcased an expansive writing ability, shot through … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Barry Marshall, book, Deke Leonard, Eric Burdon, guitar, Iceberg, Man, Martin Rushent, Maximum Darkness, review, rock, Sean Tyla, The Force, Walter Egan, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Book review: STEVE HOGARTH – The Invisible Man – Diaries 1998-2014 (Volume 2)

Posted on December 16, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

The Songwriters – Steve Hogarth (Marillion) – Interview and Feature (8 July 2014) by Get Ready To Rock! Radio on Mixcloud Miwk Publishing [Publication Date 09.11.14] www.miwk.com Part two of Steve Hogarth’s diaries takes up the story in 1998 and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged book, Diaries 1998-2014, interview, Marillion, progressive, review, rock, Steve Hogarth, The Invisible Man | Leave a comment

Book review: BOB HENRIT – Banging On!

Posted on December 12, 2014 by petefeenstra

Bank House Books (2014) Bob Henrit’s ‘Banging On’ is the opposite of the usual sex, drugs, rock and roll and oblivion confessionals. It’s a lightly humorous recollection of his role in the drift of pop toward rock and beyond, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Adam Faith, Argent, Banging On!, Bob Henrit, book, Chas Hodges, Dave Davies, Don McClean, Ian Matthews, Jim McCarty, Jim Rodford, John Verity, Phoenix, Ray Davies, review, Richard Anthony, Richie Havens, Ringo Star, Robert Plant, Rod Argent, Roger Daltry, Russ Ballard, Sandie Shaw, Stevie Nicks, The Kinks, The Roulettes, The Yardbirds, The Zombies, Unit 4 + 2 | Leave a comment

Book review: STRANGE BOAT: MIKE SCOTT AND THE WATERBOYS by Ian Abrahams

Posted on October 28, 2014 by jason

Gonzo Multimedia www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk [Published 23.06.14] This is a comprehensive overview of the career of Mike Scott from his early days in bands like Another Pretty Face through to the Waterboys and his various solo work, although to be fair the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book review, Celtic, Gonzo Multimedia, Ian Abrahams, Mike Scott, singer songwriter, The Waterboys | Leave a comment

Book review: Tales of Deeply Vale Festival by Chris Hewitt

Posted on October 20, 2014 by petefeenstra

Ozit Morpheous records and books [Publication date October 2014] ‘Tales of Deeply Vale Festival’ is an aptly titled box comprising a book, and 6 CD’s. It was effectively started in 1996, when author Chris Hewitt, Dave Edwards, Cliff Jackson and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged album, Andy Burgoyne, Andy Rourke, Andy Sharrocks, Andy T, book, Chris Hewitt, Cliff Jackson, Danny & the Dress Makers, Dave Edwards, Durutti Column, Grant Showbizz, Here & Now, Jimi Goodwin, Jimmy O’Neill, John Peel, Lord Melchett, Nigel Lord, Nik Turner, Rev Mike Huck, review, Sid Rawle, Sphinx, Steve Hillage, Tales of Deeply Vale Festival, The Fall, The Ruts, Tony Wilson, Tractor, Victor Brox | Leave a comment

Book review: Peaches: A Chronicle of the Stranglers 1974-1990 by Robert Endeacott

Posted on August 23, 2014 by jason

Soundcheck Books www.soundcheckbooks.co.uk [Published 14.07.14] Author and lifelong Stranglers fan Robert Endeacott certainly knows his stuff as this book covers everything a fan of the band would need to know about the Hugh Cornwell years of the band. He also … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, book review, Hugh Cornwell, Jet Black, Peaches A Chronicle of the Stranglers 1974-1990, Robert Endeacott, Soundcheck Books, The Stranglers | Leave a comment

Book review: NIRVANA FAQ by John D Luerssen

Posted on July 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Backbeat Books [Publication date 22.05.14] Written by award winning author John D Luerssen, who has written for the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard and Spinner, “Nirvana FAQ-All that’s left to know about the most important band of the 1990′s” is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, grunge, John D Luerssen, Nirvana FAQ -All that's left to know about the most important band of the 1990's, review | Leave a comment

Book reviews: KILLERS – THE ORIGINS OF IRON MAIDEN 1975-1983 by Neil Daniels

Posted on July 23, 2014 by jason

Killers - The Origins of Iron Maiden by Neil Daniels

Soundcheck Books [Publication date 10.04.14] Prolific music writer Neil Daniels has done it again. We all know the Iron Maiden story, or do we? From their inception on Christmas Day in 1975, bass player Steve Harris has steered England’s best … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Killers - The Origins Of Iron Maiden 1973-1985, Neil Daniels, review | Comments Off

Book review: STEVE HOGARTH – The Invisible Man – Diaries 1991-1997

Posted on July 8, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Steve Hogarth chats about the Diaries. (13:36) The full version of this interview featured in ‘Assume The Position’, Sunday 13 July at 22:00 GMT on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. The full feature is now available on the Volume 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged book, Diaries 1991-1997, How We Live, Marillion, MIWK Publishing, review, rock, Steve Hogarth, The Europeans, The Invisible Man | Leave a comment

Book review: Let It Rock: The Making of Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet by Neil Daniels

Posted on June 26, 2014 by jason

Soundcheck Books [Published 2014] www.soundcheckbooks.co.uk A compact little tome that looks at Bon Jovi’s biggest selling album (a mere 28 million copies plus) ‘Slippery When Wet’ with a track by track review by the author, fellow rock journalist recollections of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Let It Rock: The Making of Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet, Neil Daniels, review, rock | Comments Off

Book review: HENRY YATES AND WALTER TROUT – Rescued From Reality: The Life And Times of Walter Trout

Posted on June 6, 2014 by petefeenstra

MLG Publishing [Release date: 02.06.14] ‘Rescued From Reality’ is significantly subtitled ‘The Life And Times Of Walter Trout’. Compared to most anodyne biographies, Trout’s story is the real deal. It includes a very uncompromising account of rock & roll excess … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Big Mamma Thornton, blues, Bluesbreakers, book review, Canned Heat, Coco Montoya, Deacon Jones, Duke Ellington, guitar, Henry Yates, Jimmy Trapp, John Lee Hooker, John Mayall, Marie Trout, Rescued From Reality, rock, Walter Trout, Wilmont Mews | Leave a comment

Book review: Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers – A ZZ Top Guide by Neil Daniels

Posted on March 16, 2014 by jason

Soundcheck Books I can give this book no higher compliment than telling you that part way through I downloaded (yes, legally) a whole lot of ZZ Top – not merely the greatest hits, which I have listened to for years, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, book, book review, classic rock, Neil Daniels, review, Soundcheck Books, ZZ Top | 1 Comment

Book review: RADIO CAROLINE – The True Story Of The Boat That Rocked – Ray Clark

Posted on March 15, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Easter Sunday, 2024 Get Ready to ROCK! Radio recreates the sound of the sixties celebrating the 60th anniversary of pop radio pioneer Radio Caroline. “The Eclectic Mix”, Sunday 31 March, 18:00 GMT The History Press [Publication date 03.02.14] 256pp, paperback … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, disc jockey, history, pirate, pop, radio, Radio Caroline, Ray Clark, review, sixties, station, The True Story Of The Boat That Rocked | Leave a comment

Book review: Led Zeppelin Then As It Was – At Knebworth 1979

Posted on March 1, 2014 by jason

(Fully revised & updated version) Tight But Loose Publishing www.tightbutloose.co.uk An updated version of the book chronicling Led Zeppelin’s two Knebworth gigs in August 1979 (the original book was published on the concert’s 30th anniversary in 2009). It was a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book review, classic rock, Dave Lewis, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Knebworth, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin Then As It Was - At Knebworth 1979, Robert Plant, Tight But Loose | Leave a comment

Book review: ‘Reinventing Metal – The True Story of Pantera’ by Neil Daniels

Posted on February 24, 2014 by jason

Backbeat Books Or to give the book it’s full title “Reinventing Metal- The True Story of Pantera and the Tragically Short Life of Dimebag Darrell”. Another in depth and insightful rock biography from the much published Neil Daniels. This time … Continue reading →