It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive
Eric Alterman
Political journalist Eric Alterman examines the unique phenomenon that is The Boss and how he has come to reflect and interpret a turbulent quarter century of American history.

by Richard Wootton (1985)
Presents the life of John Lennon, from his early years through the rise of the Beatles and their formation of Apple Records to his final days in New York after the group broke up.
Eric Alterman
Political journalist Eric Alterman examines the unique phenomenon that is The Boss and how he has come to reflect and interpret a turbulent quarter century of American history.
Benjamin Nugent
"It is rare for a recording artist to move fans so deeply that news of his death sparks instant tributes and concerts across oceans and continents - from Dublin to Boston, Manhattan to Nashville, Toronto to L.A. But that is exactly what happened soon after October 21, 2003, the day Elliott Smith died in Los Angeles of two stab wounds to the chest." "Known best for his Oscar-nominated song "Miss Misery" from the Good Will Hunting soundtracking, Elliott Smith was catapulted to the status of indie rock star after performing at the 1997 Academy Awards. Some of his albums, XO and Either/Or among them, would become '90s classics, helping to define an understated aesthetic that owed as much to the melodic emphasis of The Beatles as it did to punk." "Elliott Smith and the Big Nothing begins with Smith's childhood outside Dallas and his years in Portland, Oregon, where he first became known locally as a singer and guitarist with the band Heatmiser. But even as a teenager Smith was composing solo material, writing songs that would bring instant attention to his homemade debut Roman Candle. His music soon caught the ear of another Portland auteur, Gus Van Sant, the director of Good Will Hunting." "In the afterglow of the success of "Miss Misery," Smith's fame grew - alongside his struggles with depression and substance abuse. First relocating to Brooklyn, and then finally to L.A., he fell into a downward spiral evident to friends and fans alike, even as he continued to write such beautifully realized songs as "Walts #2 (XO)."" "Drawing on interviews with those who knew and loved Smith, and focusing on the crucial interplay between Smith's life and music, Benjamin Nugent portrays an enormously gifted, yet troubled, artist."--BOOK JACKET.
John Taylor
A personal account by the co-founder of Duran Duran traces their meteoric rise in the 1980s while evaluating the impact of fame on the author's life, his struggles with addiction and depression, and his subsequent journey toward peace.
Bob Brunning
Highlights the influence of some well-known personalities in the early history of rock music, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and Little Richard.