Band Life

Pluck, an irritable and featherless rooster, and his best pal, the awkward-but-lovable teddy bear known as Fuzz, met long ago in a garbage truck. A tenuous―if decidedly co-dependent―friendship followed, sending them on a series of not-so-heroic adventures. But now, we find them on a ramshackle barge, slowly drifting out to sea. How did they get there? How will they escape?

The definitive chronicle of underground music in the 1980s tells the stories of Black Flag, Sonic Youth, The Replacements, and other seminal bands whose DIY revolution changed American music forever. Our Band Could Be Your Life is the never-before-told story of the musical revolution that happened right under the nose of the Reagan Eighties -- when a small but sprawling network of bands, labels, fanzines, radio stations, and other subversives re-energized American rock with punk's do-it-yourself credo and created music that was deeply personal, often brilliant, always challenging, and immensely influential. This sweeping chronicle of music, politics, drugs, fear, loathing, and faith is an indie rock classic in its own right. The bands profiled include: Sonic Youth Black Flag The Replacements Minutemen Husker Du Minor Threat Mission of Burma Butthole Surfers Big Black Fugazi Mudhoney Beat Happening Dinosaur Jr.

For 15 years, Tom Stephen had the unique distinction of being both drummer and manager of the Jeff Healey Band. The dual role was fraught with conflicts of interest. One minute, he was leading the debauched life of a rock musician; the next, he was disciplining the band for the havoc they caused. But few knew or understood Jeff Healey — a national icon and one of the world’s best blues guitarists — better. Funny and loyal, with a luminous mind and staggering talent, Healey was also provincial, stubborn, obnoxious, and antagonistic. This book explores both sides with honesty, clarity, and humor and reveals what life for the band was really like: Jeff challenging ZZ Top to a bowling competition — and winning; Bill Clinton inviting the band to the White House, and enjoying a special audience with Queen Elizabeth II. To say nothing of the legendary guitarist’s interactions with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Keith Richards, and more… Tom Stephen was there for it all. He believes that young fans deserve to experience Healey’s brilliance — to understand the complicated man behind those timeless sounds. Best Seat in the House offers an authentic perspective that fans won’t find elsewhere.

Art Pepper was described as the greatest alto-saxophonist of the post-Charlie Parker generation. Straight Life, originally narrated on tape to his wife Laurie, is an explosive work chronicling his work amidst a life dealing with alcoholism, heroin addiction, armed robberies and imprisonment. The result is an autobiography like no other, a masterpiece of the spoken word, shaped into a genuine work of literature.

It’s tough to find your way in the no-man’s-land between traditional religious dogma and New Age “woo-woo”. Spiritual author and speaker Donald Lee masterfully reveals a common-sense and universal view of spirituality in his new book of modern-day parables. Do you feel adrift in a sea of conflict? Do you feel your life needs direction? Has your spiritual journey got you lost in the woods? “The Band Director’s Lessons About Life” offers simple advice and relatable stories from your friendly, neighborhood band director. Using music as a metaphor for life, each little parable begins with a story from school and ends with a reflection on the spiritual meaning of the story. How to: • Find your path. • Be yourself. • Persevere through struggles. • Learn from failure, and • Love the process. Fifty stories and reflections to pick you up, dust you off, and set you on your way. Or take five minutes before bed to read a parable. You’ll sleep with a positive, inspirational message in your mind. Donald Lee draws on decades as both a band director and a religion teacher to expertly craft band room vignettes that are both entertaining and illuminating. Whether you’re a Sunday pew-warmer, a hermit monk, or a high-mileage astral traveler, you’ll find something to love, cherish, and chuckle at in these fascinating stories. Pick up your copy today! "If you pick up this collection, consider that you found a treasure. I do. It both entertains me, and inspires me." Archbishop Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R. Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan "The stories made me laugh. The reflections made me think. These lessons are for everyone." Joanne Byfield, Journalist, Radio/TV Producer

Retaliator, ' a skinhead band, was formed in the mid 1990's in the run down increasingly dilapidated and violent Norfolk seaside town of Great Yarmouth on England's east coast and set out to tear away the shackles of so-called political correctness that bound the scene so tightly, systematically suffocating it to death, choking off patriotism and passion, slowly killing the fire that had once burned so brightly and fiercely within the hearts of the fans; the very lifeblood of the scene. This book is a first-hand account of the band's long embattled bitter struggle and will take you on a chaotic and often quite ridiculous roller-coaster ride as they diligently fight their way out of the wilderness, or Norfolk as it's often known, into the harsh unforgiving limelight of the murky world of Oi! music.

Start the Clock and Cue the Band - A Life in Television is the autobiography of David Lloyd who spent his career as the director of television programmes. His career took him to many places, from Aberystwyth to London, from Norwich to Aberdeen, from Cardiff to Europe, America, Israel, Africa and Japan. He is now settled in his retirement back home in Ceredigion.

Imagine being alongside one of the greatest bands in the history of rock, touring the world and being there as they perform at some of the best and biggest music venues in the world. Peter Hince didn't have to imagine: for more than a decade, he lived a life that other people can only dream of as he worked with Queen as head of their road crew. In 1973, Queen was the support act for Mott the Hoople, for whom Peter was a roadie. Back then, Queen had to content themselves with being second on the bill and the world had not yet woken up to the flamboyant talent of Freddie Mercury. Peter started working full time for Queen just as they were making A Night at the Opera, the album which catapulted them to international stardom. In this intimate and affectionate book, Peter recalls the highlights of his years with the band. He was with Freddie when he composed 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'; he was responsible for making sure that Freddie's stage performances went without a hitch - and was often there to witness his famed tantrums! He was also party to the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll which are invariably part of life on the road with a rock band.