The JBL Story: Reference Books

The Backstage Story of How the Beatles Rocked America Hard Cover Edition Boxed Set-The Beatles North American tours turned the entertainment business on its ear and forever changed the landscape of the concert touring industry. In February 1964 after finally achieving a number-one hit in America the Fab Four came to the country with high hopes performing on the wildly popular Ed Sullivan Show in both New York City and Miami and playing concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Washington Coliseum. In just fifteen short days the Beatles conquered America.The Beatles made music-entertainment history with their North American tours from 1964 to 1966. Some Fun Tonight! The Backstage Story of How the Beatles Rocked America: The Historic Tours of1964-1966 is a comprehensive two-volume set which gives you a city-by-city synopsis of the group's activities as they traveled the United States and Canada for their groundbreaking series of concerts. From San Franciscos Cow Palace show on August 19 1964 through their last-ever live performances at that city's famed Candlestick Park on August 29 1966 these books cover the music and the madness that characterized the Beatles three North American tours. With hundreds of photographs and images of rare memorabilia it is truly the definitive reference for what is arguably the most important period in the Beatles long and winding career. Youll read about the behind-the-scenes negotiations the mayhem at the airports and hotels and the cheeky quotes delivered at the press conferences. Youll also read about the opening acts the concerts and the stories behind the shows through the eyes of the Beatles their entourage the promoters the emcees and the fans.Never before have the Beatles North American concerts been covered in such depth. If you witnessed the mania firsthand youll relive the excitement in the pages of these books. If you were born too late to be a part of those halcyon days youll learn what it was like to be swept up and carried away by the phenomenon of the greatest musical act of all time. When all is said and done Some

A Complete History of Epiphone Guitars-The story of Epiphone one of the oldest and most famous guitar companies is told by former staff historian Walter Carter. It's an epic story spanning three centuries from Old World roots in the 19th century to the golden age of American makers in the 20th century and onward into the global market of the new millennium. It's the story of America's business from an individual luthier to a family business and on to corporate ownership. And it's the story of American popular music powered by Epiphone guitars from big-bodied Emperor that drove the swing bands of the 1930s to the electric hollowbodies of the 1960s used by TheBeatles and studio ace Howard Roberts to custom solidbody models for such modern rockers as Noel Gallagher (Oasis) Jeff Waters (Annihilator) and Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance). Beautifully illustrated with photos of all the important Epiphone instruments and the extraordinary musicians who played them this is a fascinating history of an iconic name in the world of the guitar.

A Complete History Of Paul Reed Smith Electrics-PRS guitars today appeal to a growing number of musicians from Carlos Santana to Al Di Meola from Zach Myers to Mark Tremonti. This book examines every part of PRS history with an in-depth story beautiful photographs and detailed collector's info. Paul Reed Smith set up his first PRS factory in 1985 in Maryland and has devised guitars from the regular Custom and McCarty models through the outrageously decorated Dragon specials and the controversial Singlecut and on to recent achievements such as the Mira Dave Grissom DGT JA-15 and the S2 models. Dozens of guitars are pictured inside along with players ads catalogs and rare memorabilia. A detailedreference section helps musicians and collectors identify and date PRS instruments making this revised and updated edition of The PRS Electric Guitar Book a must for all Guitar fans.

The Big Black Book-More than 30 years ago Marty Di Bergi (played by director Rob Reiner) could not have known that as he introduced his ?rockumentary? This Is Spinal Tap he was creating a work of genius that would rock on for decades. Consistently cited as one of the funniest movies ever made (and often spoken about by rock stars as one of the most frightening movies they've ever seen) This Is Spinal Tap has achieved cult status around the world. Spinal Tap: The Big Black Book will bring to the public for the very first time the story of the band in words pictures and removable facsimile memorabilia. Turn your bookshelf up to 11 with this fully authorized publication...

If the Beatles wrote the soundtrack of the swinging '60s then the Eagles did the same for the cynical '70s. The story of the Eagles is also the story of most artists of their time the drugs the music the excesses and the piles of cash. But the Eagles took it to the limit. And in Don Henley and Glenn Frey they had two songwriters who intuitively understood and accurately portrayed the changing America they lived in. They perfected the California sound shifted power from record company to artist and pioneered album-oriented rock. Eagles songs of the period are as memorable as any ever written and their most popular album Hotel California became a timeless record of'70s decadence.In The Eagles FAQ music critic Andrew Vaughan brings an insider's view into the various chapters of the group's fascinating history. He shows how they blended the best folk rock and country sounds of the '60s into a worldwide soundtrack of the '70s while challenging the industry status quo with a new business model. The story of their rise fall and rebirth is all here their mega-selling smashes their tensions and breakups the band members' solo work and their triumphant reunion and continued place at the top of the rock-and-roll tree.

Marvin Gaye's life and brilliant career were cut tragically short on April 1 1984 – one day before his 45th birthday – when he was shot and killed by his own father. Now for the first time ever Marvin Gaye's storyis told in intimate detail by a member of his own family. Frankie and Marvin Gaye were close from childhood until Marvin's death. Frankie was at Marvin's side when he died and only Frankie heard his deathbed confession. Full ofnever-before-told personal anecdotes this book takes you behind the scenes from Marvin's childhood through his spectacular success at Motown and then Columbia his stormy relationships with women and finally to his descent intodrugs and despair. The true story of the man behind the beloved music is now available to fans old and new. Includes great photos throughout a helpful index and a timeline of important events in Marvin's life.

Acquired wisdom has always put Sgt. Pepper at the head of the class but it was Revolver that truly signalled The Beatles' sea change from a functional band to a studio-based ensemble. These changes began before Rubber Soul but came to fruition on Revolver which took an astonishing 300 hours to produce far more than any rock record before it.The making of Revolver hunkered down in Abbey Road with George Martin is in itself a great Beatles story but would be nothing if the results weren't so impactful. More than even Sgt. Pepper and Pet Sounds Revolver fed directly into the rock 'n' rollzeitgeist and its influence could be heard everywhere: from the psychedelic San Francisco sound (Jefferson Airplane Grateful Dead); to the first wave of post-blues hard rock (Sabbath Zeppelin); through movie soundtracks and pretty much everything that followed it including every generation of guitar-based pop music and even heavy metal. More than any record before or after Revolver was the game-changer and this is finally the detailed telling of its storied recording and enormous impact.

Centennial Edition-Les Paul In His Own Words celebrates the life of the legendary guitarist Les Paul who passed away in 2009 at the age of 94. This book capturing Les Paul's own reflections on his remarkable inventions and Guitar playing was published as a high-end collector's edition. In 2015 Les Paul reached his centennial and Backbeat Books is pleased to celebrate the legend once more in the first-ever paperback edition of Les Paul In His Own Words making his fascinating story available to a wide range of readers. This book is the definitive work on the recording and Electric Guitar pioneer whose prodigious talents andrelentless work ethic single-handedly launched a new era in American popular music. This authentic account of Les Paul's life is packed with words of wisdom and experience from one of the most important contributors to modern music.

The Tortured Art of Warren Zevon-Warren Zevon songs are like chapters in a great American novel. Its story lies in the heart of his – and our – psyche. The lines are blurred. We never seem to know if we are looking in a mirror or peering through a window; we only know that when we listen we see something. The music sets the scene – his voice a striking baritone its narrator our guide through a labyrinth of harrowing narratives. The plot unfolds without subtlety; each musical and lyrical arc awakens imagination.In Accidentally Like a Martyr: The Tortured Art of Warren Zevon music journalist James Campion presents 13 essays on seminal Zevon songs andalbums that provide context to the themes inspirations and influence of one of America's most literate songwriters. In-depth interviews with Zevon's friends and colleagues provide first-person accounts of how the music was lived composed recorded and performed.Longtime fans of this most uniquely tortured artist as well as those who want to discover his work for the first time will get inside the mind talent and legacy of the wildly passionate Excitable Boy.

This book looks inside the artists and music that transformed the American and British soundscape of the 1980s and '90s. Scene-setting essays – some with interviews of key figures – explore alternative rock's primaryinfluences from Captain Beefheart to Brian Eno and its many subgenres from punk to grunge and Brit pop to trip hop. Reviews and profiles cover over 2 000 recordings and more than 500 musicians such as The Beastie Boys TheCure R.E.M. Marilyn Manson XTC and hundreds more. This comprehensive guide also examines the cultural scenes technologies and people behind the alternative sound. From the author of Depeche Mode and Never Fade Away:The Kurt Cobain Story.