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Ringo Starr’s eventful and remarkable life laid bare in a first-of-its-kind mosaic biography of one of the greatest musicians of all time. Often overshadowed by his former bandmates, Starr’s remarkable story is no less compelling. ‘Ringo: A Fab Life’ highlights a life so jaw-droppingly eventful that one is left wondering how he also had time to become one of the best musicians on the planet. Through an episodic, mosaic format critically acclaimed author Tom Doyle takes readers through the ride of a lifetime, from Starr’s brushes with death as a child bought up in poverty, through to dizzying heights of fame and success with The Beatles and beyond. By examining pivotal moments, anecdotes and cautionary tales, we see Starr soar as part of the biggest band in the world - and then try and cope with life outside of it: a film career, misadventures with friends, children’s TV narrator, furniture designer, marriage to a Bond girl, before eventually finding peace and sobriety as one of the elder statesmen of rock. So much more than another Beatles related biography, we follow Starr’s career far beyond the rose-tinted sixties, through the various addictions and career left turns in the seventies and eighties, before reaching the 1990’s, his legacy and reputation intact. The life of Richard Starkey is long overdue a proper inspection and this book - with exclusive new interviews conducted by Doyle with, amongst others, Starr himself - provides a never-before-seen level of detail that will delight hardcore fans and curious readers alike. ‘Ringo: A Fab Life’ - hilarious, moving, insightful and constantly surprising - is the definitive account of one of the greatest living musicians and the uncontested best drummer in The Beatles.

A darkly satirical tale of the generation and gender gaps in Japanese society, Ruy Murakami's Popular Hits of the Showa Era is a literary karaoke act combining manga and street culture It s a set-up like a video game: two rival gangs fight to death for the control of a Tokyo district. In one gang, six young losers committed only to drinking, voyeurism and karaoke singing, in the other six tough independent older women. From ambush to revenge, both groups are gradually decimated until the ultimate showdown.In Murakami's inimitably brutal and brilliant style, Popular Hits dissects the gender and generational conflicts of contemporary society in a hilarious satire. Murakami is mercilessly funny as he tracks his characters' evolution from twits to scholars of guerrilla warfare'New Yorker 'One of the funniest and strangest gang wars in recent literature'Booklist Ryu Murakami's Popular Hits From the Showa Era is translated from the Japanese by Ralph McCarthy and published by Pushkin Press Born in 1952 in Nagasaki prefecture, Ryu Murakami is the enfant terrible of contemporary Japanese literature. Awarded the prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 1976 for his first book, a novel about a group of young people drowned in sex and drugs, he has gone on to explore with cinematic intensity the themes of violence and technology in contemporary Japanese society. His novels include Coin Locker Babies, Sixty-Nine, Popular Hits of the Showa Era, Audition, In the Miso Soup and From the Fatherland, with Love.Murakami is also a screenwriter and a director; his films include Tokyo Decadence, Audition and Because of You.

Discover Roll With It: Oasis in Photographs 1994–2002 by Tom Sheehan. Exclusive hardback format, signed copy. From Welbeck label. Including four Rough Trade Exclusive prints.  More than 200 images of Oasis, with many seen here for the very first time, in a stunning cloth-bound hardback. Renowned photographer Tom Sheehan (Melody Maker, NME, Uncut) worked with Oasis throughout their career. Starting with a wild trip to New York before the release of the band's debut album, this stunning book also documents seminal (What's the Story) Morning Glory? recording sessions as well as blistering live performances, intimate off-duty moments and portraits that graced iconic magazine covers down the years. Featuring Tom's memories from his time with Oasis and a new biography by acclaimed writer Sylvia Patterson - drawing on personal interviews with Liam and Noel Gallagher - Roll With It is a breathtaking celebration of a band that will live forever.

The Past Lives Screenplay Book includes an introduction by playwright Lynn Nottage, essays by writers Sloane Crosley and Doreen St. Félix, and a conversation between Celine Song and philosopher Andrew H. Miller.

The script of Under the Skinincludes Glazer’s never-before-published director’s statement, an original essay by Hari Nef, and writing and set photography by Niall O’Brien.

The script for The Lobster is accompanied by a poem by Emma Stone, an essay by Ottessa Moshfegh, and behind-the-scenes set photography by Yorgos Lanthimos.

You’re losing me to a life of my own. Book 015 in the A24 Screenplay Collection includes an introduction by Rashida Jones, an essay by Vendela Vida, on-set photography by Sofia Coppola, an excerpt from Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley, and Polaroids by Sabrina Lantos.

The Midsommar Screenplay Book includes an introduction by Park Chan-wook, an essay by anthropologist Matthew Engelke, and illustrated Hårga choral primer by vocal artist Jessika Kenney.

The definitive biography of guitar icon and Grammy Award-winning artist, Bill Frisell, featuring exclusive interviews with Paul Simon, Bon Iver and more. The definitive biography of guitar icon and Grammy Award- winning artist Bill Frisell. Featuring Exclusive Listening Session With: Paul Simon; Justin Vernon of Bon Iver; Gus Van Sant; Rhiannon Giddens; The Bad Plus; Gavin Bryars; Van Dyke Parks; Sam Amidon; Hal Willner; Jim Woodring; Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill Over a period of forty-five years, Bill Frisell has established himself as one of the most innovative and influential musicians at work today. Growing up playing clarinet in orchestras and marching bands, Frisell has progressed through a remarkable range of musical personas - from devotee of jazz master Jim Hall to 'house guitarist' of estimable German label ECM, from edgy New York downtown experimentalist to plaintive country and bluegrass picker. He has been a pioneering bandleader and collaborator, a prolific com- poser and arranger and a celebrated Grammy Award winner. A quietly revolutionary guitar hero who has synthesised many disparate mu- sical elements into one compellingly singular sound, Frisell connects to a diverse range of artists and admirers, including Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Gus Van Sant, Marianne Faithfull and Justin Vernon, many of whom feature in this book. Through unprecedented access to the guitarist and interviews with his close family, friends and associates, Philip Watson tells Frisell's story for the first time.

Along with Factory, Mute, and Creation, Some Bizzare was the vanguard of outsider music in the 1980s. The label's debut release reads like a who s who of electronic music, featuring early tracks from Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, Blancmange, and The The, while over the next decade its roster would include artists such as Marc Almond, Cabaret Voltaire, Einsturzende Neubauten, Foetus, Swans, Coil, and Psychic TV. For a time, Some Bizzare was the most exciting independent record label in the world, but the music is only half of the story. Self-styled label boss Stevo Pearce s unconventional dealings with the industry are legendary. Sometimes they were playful (sending teddy bears to meetings in his place), other times less so (he and Marc Almond destroyed offices at Phonogram and terrorised staff). Despite this, he was a force to be reckoned with. His preternatural ability to spot talent meant his label was responsible for releasing some of the decade s most forward-thinking, transgressive, and influential music. The Some Bizzare story spans the globe: from ecstasy parties in early 80s New York to video shoots in the Peruvian jungle, from events in disused tube stations to seedy sex shows in Soho. There were million-selling singles, run-ins with the Vice Squad, destruction at the ICA, death threats, meltdowns, and, of course, sex dwarves. For a time, Stevo had the music industry in the palm of his hands, only for it all to slip through his fingers. But he and Some Bizzare left a legacy of incredible music that still has an influence and impact today.

The second volume of Clinton Heylin's magisterial biography takes us from Dylan's 1966 motorcycle accident to the present day. We meet a man who is determined to confound expectations; yet whatever he does only seems to confirm his iconic status to fans and critics alike.There are peaks and troughs. Long periods of writer's block are followed by sudden bursts of creativity that produce some of the best work of his career, including perhaps his most celebrated album, 1975's Blood On The Tracks. There is the unpredictable recording process, with Dylan often including on his albums the worst takes and leaving off the best songs altogether. On the Neverending Tour he reinvents his songbook on a nightly basis, at times without recognition. Then there are the albums and songs that reveal the genius of an artist whose lyrics draw on centuries of American culture but who refuses to be shackled to his own past.Today his voice is almost unrecognisable from his 1960s peak, and the man whose songs had been devoted to dissecting his romantic relationships has become focused on mortality, solitude and getting old. Yet his albums continue to top the charts, 2020's Rough And Rowdy Ways being his fourth No. 1 album of the twenty-first century.There is no other living artist whose creative output has remained constantly intriguing, often baffling, sometimes infuriating but always fascinating for over sixty years. Clinton Heylin's definitive, scrupulously researched and revelatory life, based on unprecedented access to the official Tulsa archive and other new sources, paints the fullest and brightest portrait yet of an iconic figure that has defined contemporary culture.

For British skateboarders in the mid-’80s, RAD (aka Read and Destroy) was more than just a magazine. Before the X Games, before the internet, a whole generation of this once underground subculture relied on RAD to provide a beacon, bringing them together in spirit and in person.Under the guidance of editor and chief photographer, Tim Leighton-Boyce, RAD took on an experimental, irreverent approach with a vibrant, chaotic energy. The legacy of the magazine is an action-packed photo archive documenting a unique time, place and attitude, capturing the death and rebirth of skateboarding as it evolved into a mainstay of extreme sports and street culture the world over.This book reveals that archive in all its glory, offering an inside view of skateboarding and youth culture from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, told primarily through the experiences of the British skate photographers at the core of the magazine’s original editorial team.

A hardback compilation of images from three decades of the Idler magazine, bound in a limited edition hardback book with ribbon. Also features an essay by Tom Hodgkinson on the story of the magazine so far. Available exclusively from Rough Trade and from the Idler.

With number one songs all over the world, a Bond theme, an armful of Grammys and over 70 million Instagram followers to her name, Billie Eilish is a global star.She has collaborated with Justin Bieber and Khalid, headlined Glastonbury and Coachella, and appeared in Calvin Klein ad campaigns. In her short career she has become an icon for Generation Z. Her postponed world tour is already sold out, spanning North and South America and Europe.Billie grew up in a close-knit family– her brother Finneas still writes and produces her songs – in Highland Park, a suburb of LA. Home-schooled and encouraged to express herself, she was a promising dancer until musical success came literally overnight in 2015. ‘Ocean Eyes’, a song uploaded to SoundCloud for her dance tutor, received a thousand plays in twenty-four hours. The thirteen-year-old’s ethereal singing voice was intoxicating and the track went viral.

Overtone Singing is the most comprehensive book ever written on the hidden harmonies of the human voice. Ethnomusicologist and vocalist Mark van Tongeren offers fascinating insights into the timeless and universal aspects of sound and vibration. Grounded in the author's decade-long study of Asian music, the book draws upon field work, interviews with Eastern and Western musicians, and copious scholarship to present a multidisciplinary vision of sound that runs from global music to the science of acoustics and perception, onward to the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of music. Written in a nontechnical style, this generously illustrated book is an indispensable guide for musicians, listeners, and performers seeking a deeper understanding of the nature of the human voice and its harmonic possibilities from East to West.

In Learning Lines, Cathy Thomas takes the reader behind the curtain of thevtheatre industry, revealing its universal anxieties while at the same time detailing a dark world abundant with its own fakeries and faultlines. In two stories that explore the cracks wrought by a hyper-sexist culture as well as the slow - burn anticipation of young adulthood and the promise of fame, this is exquisitely written fiction that ultimately affirms life in the face of all its disappointments and trials.

Discover the legendary journey of a true music pioneer with "Looking For The Perfect Beat," the definitive story of Arthur Baker. For five decades, Baker has shaped the sound of hip-hop, rock, and electronic music from behind the scenes. His innovative work as a DJ, producer, and remixer has left an indelible mark on tracks by icons like New Order, Bruce Springsteen, and the Rolling Stones. Starting in the Boston club scene, Baker's move to New York City in 1981 catapulted him into the heart of a thriving industry. His early disco and hip-hop productions caught the ears of music's most powerful figures, launching a career of incredible scope. This book chronicles his path from the vibrant dancefloors of NYC to historic studio collaborations, including sessions with Bob Dylan and the creation of the seminal anti-apartheid project "Sun City" with Little Steven Van Zandt. "Looking for the Perfect Beat" is more than a biography; it's an insider's look at the relentless pursuit of new sound. Arthur Baker's genre-defying approach and need to move audiences have influenced popular music for fifty years. Explore the unique story of an artist who consistently bridged the underground and the mainstream. Find this essential music history title and more at Rough Trade US. Visit our website at roughtrade.com to add this captivating narrative to your collection and explore our curated selection of music culture books and vinyl.

Leeroy Thornhill is an English DJ and music producer most famous for his time as a member of the popular electronic music act The Prodigy from 1990 – 2000. Wildfire tells the story of the first decade of The Prodigy from the perspective of original member Leeroy Thornhill, fully illustrated with entirely unseen photography from the earliest raves, to Japan and the United States in the late ‘90s, by which point the band were one of the biggest on the planet. Rave pioneers whose sound also encompassed hip hop, punk and rock, The Prodigy arguably had as much influence on contemporary pop culture as the Sex Pistols and these extraordinary images from Leeroy’s personal archives capture the wild energy, ecstasy and abandon from the moment they dropped their first hit ‘Charly’ through the three albums which became the ubiquitous soundtrack to the decade: Experience, Music for the Jilted Generation and Fat of the Land. Beautifully designed in five colours with archival ephemera, and contextualised by Leeroy himself with candid and often hilarious stories describing the band’s wild adventures and eccentric encounters as their fame and popularity spread ‘like wildfire’, this is the ultimate visual journey into the world of the original ‘electronic punks’.

Further adventures in psychedelic rock, ballroom dancing, performance art, and parenting in 1980s Britain. Further adventures in a post-punk wonderland from the author of the acclaimed 69 Exhibition Road. In this new volume, focusing on the 1980s, Dorothy Max Prior recalls her days as a ballroom dancing tutor in South Kensington, drumming and touring with infamous experimental pan-sexual psychedelic rock group Psychic TV, exploring London and New York City's queer clubbing undergrounds, the tangled worlds of the UK’s indie music scene at the height of its influence, performance art, and parenting. Wise, wry, and endlessly charming, this is a sparkling account of bold, adventurous creativity featuring cameos by Madonna, Bjork, Derek Jarman, and a host of others.