Rock n Roll Book and Documentary Reviews: Rock Talk Studio

This isn’t just a book. It’s a front-row seat to the moment Queen became immortal.

Queen & A Night at the Opera: 50 Years by Gillian G. Gaar is a lavish, photo-packed look into the album that changed everything. With over 250 stunning images, behind-the-scenes stories, and rare insights, this book captures the chaos, craft, and brilliance behind Queen’s boldest leap. Built like a coffee table book, packed like a vault — this is ...

 In 1983, Cameron Crowe — still early in his career — picked up a camera and quietly captured something incredible. The result? A grainy, gutsy, joy-fueled snapshot of a band still hungry, and still trying to figuring it all out. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in their hungry years. 

MTV aired it once in the middle of the night, then shelved it for being too raw.
Now it’s restored, with 20 extra minutes, There’s no script, no p...

From McCartney, The Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bob Dylan, to Live Aid, farewell tours, tribute acts and Cherry Garcia ice cream. This book by David Hepworth, documents how and why rockers have made it this long, and looks at the pivotal moments that pushed their careers, whether they liked it or not, into the future. 

*Want to win a free copy of Mike Campbell's memoir Heartbreaker?  It's easy, just send me an...

Perry Farrell's vision transformed a chaotic farewell tour into one of the most influential music festivals, blending diverse acts and cultures in a groundbreaking way. This book features over 200 interviews from artists, promoters, and crew, on how Lollapalooza reshaped the music industry and became a cultural phenomenon.

*Want to win a free copy of Mike Campbell's memoir Heartbreaker?  It's easy, just send me an ema...

The Who at two very different stages of their career is presented not only visually (this book has over 500 pictures!) but also with an engaging narrative. Teenage Wasteland: The Who at Winterland, 1968 and 1976 is an innovative approach. One that succeeds because it found a way of delivering all these pictures with comprehensive coverage of The Who during a pivotal time in the bands career. 

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Sly Stone invented a sound and style that took the world by storm. It's safe to say there would be no Prince if it weren't for Sly. So why did it come to such a crashing end? Questlove directs a documentary that goes right after the challenges that ruined Sly's music and life while celebrating his genius.  

BIG NEWS ABOUT THIS MONTH"S GIVEAWAY!!

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Peter Wolf ex lead singer of The J.Geils Band delivers 35 chapters on his encounters with the most unusual, and extremely interesting people who came into his life. Alfred Hithcock, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, David Lynch, Julia Child, Norman Rockwell, Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker and Faye Dunaway all play a significant part in this story. And that is just a few of the names!! This is one of rock n roll's most unique memoirs. 

**...

Mike Campbell's memoir Heartbreaker, written with Ari Surdoval, is going to blow the minds of every Tom Petty fan. This book includes stories never told and a depth that is rare in a memoir. It is chock full of stories never told and uncovers the inner workings of Mike's relationship with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. 

******This week's SHOUT OUT goes to Mad Music Radio

Mad Music Radio is a small cluster of five int...

All the latest book buzz and doc news from artists like: Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Tom Petty, Genesis, The Cars, Peter Wolf of The J.Geils Band and many more. Find out the news on all the upcoming titles. 

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How did one man create a guitar shop where Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Slash, Joe Bonamassa, Melisa Ethridge and Kiefer Sutherland all felt as comfortable as a regular customer? This documentary Norm's Rare Guitars looks at the story behind one of the most iconic guitar shops in the world.

*Want to win a free copy of Chris Stein of Blondie's memoir Under A Rock?  It's easy, just send me an email to sign up....

Cheap Trick is one of rock's most quirkiest bands with a mid career triumph that launched the band into stardom. How did that all come about, and how did they manage a career that has lasted over 50 years? It's all in the book Cheap Trick American Standard from the Bars to the Budokan and Beyond by Ross Warner.

*Want to win a free copy of Chris Stein of Blondie's memoir Under A Rock?  It's easy, just send me an e...

Can a huge Bob Dylan fan for over 40 years really give the movie A Complete Unknown a fair review? Here comes my best shot. And, I even own up to
why A Complete Unknown didn't win any of my year end awards for best documentaries of 2024.

*Want to win a free copy of Chris Stein of Blondie's memoir Under A Rock?  It's easy, just send me an email to sign up. You can find a link to my email address below. ...

The Beatles have arrived in New York City! Here's a story most rock n roll fans know really well. But this doc, produced by Martin Scorcese, opens up the vaults and puts together an encompassing look at a bunch of different perspectives on the first wave of Beatlemania.

*Want to win a free copy of Chris Stein of Blondie's memoir Under A Rock?  It's easy, just send me an email to sign up. You can find a link...

True magic was worked in "The Name Of This Band Is R.E.M." as author Peter Ames Carlin came up with an absolutely engaging way to weave the four band members personal stories into the broader presentation about the band. His writing just made you feel like you were right there. And REM’s humble beginnings was a great way to get an up close feel for the four members of the group and their untraditional rise to crazy stardo...

Here comes the Top 10 of 2024's best rock n roll documentaries! If you are looking for the next great doc to check out, here' my list of the best of the best. Springsteen, Joe Cocker, John Lennon, Santana, Nicky Hopkins, and Stevie Van Zandt are just a few artists that released note worth docs in 2024. Which one was the best? Join me for some great viewing recommendations and the best titles of 2024.

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Join me for the countdown of 2024's best rock n roll books of the year! If you are looking for the next great rock n roll book to check out, here' my list of the best of the best. There are a wide range of great books to choose from including memoirs, oral histories, autobiography's, biographs and a top ten book that took the author 20 years to write.

Want to win a free copy of the number two best book of t...

The second annual books and docs of the year award show! All the best rock n roll books and documentaries of 2024. Awards for Best Rock n Roll Book About a Band, Best Rock n Roll Book About a Band member, Best Rock n Roll Book that I Learned The Most From and Best Rock n Roll Book Not About A Band or Band Member. Plus the Best Rock n Roll Book of The Year!!
Awards for Rock n Roll Documentaries go out to Best Doc about A Band, B...

Win the new Robyn Hitchcock memoir 1967-How I Got There and Why I Never Left  simply by signing up for the free monthly email BLAST!! The BLAST!! keeps you on top of the world of rock n roll books and documentaries and serves as an extra layer of coverage to the podcast.
Shoot me an email at info@rocktalkstudio.com to enter!

Nicky Hopkins: Session Man finally exposes who was behind some of the most iconic rock 'n...