THE REST OF THE TOUR
Kenny Chesney’s HEART LIFE MUSIC FINAL Book Events
“Hello, Philly, Jersey, Key West, LA, Tampa”
Philadelphia 11/3, Bergen, NJ 11/4, Beverly Hills, CA 11/7
Key West 11/10, Tampa 11/11
Bringing Intimate Conversations about His Path, Heroes, Songs,
Making Music, Setbacks, Big Fun + How to Chase an Impossible Dream
All Ticketed Guests will Receive a Signed Copy of HEART LIFE MUSIC
Complete Tour Now Announced – Ticket Details Below
HEART LIFE MUSIC In-Stores Nov. 4; Pre-Order Available Now
Kenny Chesney's HEART LIFE MUSIC Tour Adds Chicago, Nashville & Miami Book Fair
When Kenny Chesney started work on Heart Life Music, he had no idea what would unfold. But like everything he does, he committed to the process, dug in and really examined the road from being a sports-obsessed kid lying in the yard and staring at the sky, to becoming the man the Wall Street Journal deemed “the King of the Road.” Football stadiums, student bluegrass band trips to Moscow, Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica, George Jones’ plane and experiencing Key West with his friend Jimmy Buffett are just some of the places the songwriter-superstar from East Tennessee found himself revisiting to tell the story.
“And after all of it, I can’t wait to share all the characters I’ve met, people who’ve been behind the scenes, the dead ends and places that maybe seemed like not much with readers,” Chesney enthuses. “Because every single step, smile or hard lesson was part of this crazy ride. I had no idea how much I’d remember and learn about how we got here, but I am really excited to share it with No Shoes Nation.
“Whether a Lower Broadway that no longer exists, and almost can’t be imagined, or the insane crowds at Chicago’s Soldier Field over the last 20 years, I’ve tried to make this book tour go places that really stuck with us, made us – all of us – into the community we are,” he continues. “These stories aren’t just postcards from stops along the way, they are love letters to every person or place who was there. It’s why the final end papers are a picture from Soldier Field in 2024 with all those people that made it magic.”
Adding three more dates, Heart Life Music: the Book Tour will go to Chicago the day after release for an event at the Copernicus Center, presented by The Book Stall. Then Chesney will head to Nashville for two book talks at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater, in partnership with Parnassus Books.
“I wanted to go to the heart of the country, and Chicago sure represents that for me. I wanted to go to the place where all of my music came together, the songwriters and creative community were so generous and encouraging to me. Teaming with Parnassus Books for an event at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, yards from the Turf where I’d played for tips when I arrived, is a dream come true.
“And we were asked to be a headliner for the opening of the Miami Book Fair. I feel like we’re going back to the Super Bowl, which when you read the book, you’ll get the reference. It’s an honor to be part of such a respected and iconic event. And the way I love South Florida – from West Palm Beach’s Coral Sky to the Tortuga Music Festival, Miami and the Keys – this is a whole other homecoming.”
Joined for freewheeling conversations that explore the story and process by two-time LA Press Club Music Criticism and Entertainment Journalist of the Year and co-author Holly Gleason, Chesney will deep dive into Heart Life Music. Establishing a voice that captured coming of age and living life as fully as possible in the 21st Century, the man the Los Angeles Times called “the people’s superstar” wants each event to reflect his unique relationship with No Shoes Nation, the music and anyone seeking inspiration to create their own place in the world.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5
7:00PM Copernicus Center
Chicago, IL
Bookseller: The Book Stall
Tickets on sale Friday, September 26 at 10 am ET HERE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6
5:30PM & 8:00PM Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater
Nashville, TN
Bookseller: Parnassus Books
Tickets on sale Friday, September 26 at 10 am ET HERE
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Miami Book Fair
7:00PM, Chapman Center
Miami Dade College, Downtown Miami, FL
Bookseller: Books & Books
MBF Members only tickets on sale: Friday, Sept 19
General public tickets: Monday, October 13 HERE
Known for commanding the largest stages nationwide, Heart Life Music ventures to places long gone, makes unexpected music in Jamaica, the Kremlin, New England and Cabo San Lucas, drifts across the waters of the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Beyond meeting and collaborating with heroes, forging transcendent friendships in the islands and beyond, Chesney’s introspective look at the songs and sound that defined No Shoes Nation offers the intimacy of sharing a slow afternoon on the water. Each ticketholder will receive a signed copy of the book.
Kenny Chesney Kicks Off HEART LIFE MUSIC @ ETSU, Boston Nov. 1 + 2
With the audio book underway, the final edits complete and the start of fall ahead, Country Music Hall of Fame 2025 electee Kenny Chesney knew he wanted to do something very special to launch his upcoming Heart Life Music. Tracing the path of a pretty regular kid living well beyond the lights of Knoxville, Tennessee, he decided to kick off his book tour at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, where his dream truly took wing, with a special event at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts on Nov. 1 at 3pm.
“Having looked at my life in ways I never thought of,” says the man Wall Street Journal called “the King of the Road” about the process, “I realized: I’ve always loved sports, music and the sea. But the idea I’d chase this dream came together in Johnson City, trying to learn Doc Watson picking from Jack Tottle, playing Quarterbacks and Chuckey’s, and going to Russia with East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass Band.
“For me, going back to East Tennessee State University where all of this began was the only way to kick this book tour off. Hopefully, someone in the audience who’s wondering about their own dream might find what they need to get serious about whatever it is they’re chasing.”
And if he’s leaning into his heart, it stands to reason that Chesney would hit Boston the next day. With his legendary Gillette Stadium shows, including a three-day run in 2024, No Shoes Nation was named in 2012 and he passed a million fans in 2018, as well as the friends he’s made from the region over the years, the 8-time Entertainer of the Year will appear at Back Bay Events Center Nov. 2 at 7pm.
“Whether the friends I made in the islands long before this journey kicked into gear, Ginny Brophy who welcomed a kid with nothing going on at WKLB, the crazy fun with Grace Potter, sailing and more with Ethel Kennedy around the Nantucket Sound, conversations with the Globe’s Steve Morse or Super Bowls with Robert Kraft and his organization, there’s been something about the people of New England that recognizes the kid from East Tennessee in me. I like to say, ‘They believe me,’ but I think it’s more they know the same grit and passion that’s driven me and my team all these years.
“I know these are intimate events,” Chesney continues. “But I want everyone to really be able to hear, absorb and feel like we’ve come together before they dive into the book. There’s a lot there, and a lot that went into it – and I want to have very real conversations about all of it to give people a real sense of the role where they live has played in my journey and the man I wanted to be and – hopefully – became.”
Chesney will be joined by two-time LA Press Club Music Critic, friend and co-author Holly Gleason for freewheeling conversations to enrich reading Heart Life Music, anchoring the places book events will occur. Having found his voice delivering the experiences of coming of age and living life as fully as possible in the 21st Century, the songwriter/superstar wants each event to reflect his relationship with No Shoes Nation, the music and anyone trying to find inspiration to create their own place in the world.
Saturday, November 1
Location: East Tennessee State University Martin Center for the Arts in the ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
Time: 3:00pm
Tickets: On sale this Friday, September 19 at 10am ET HERE
Bookseller: ETSU Bookstore
Sunday, November 2
Location: Back Bay Events Center
Time: 7:00pm
Tickets: On sale this Friday, September 19 at 10am ET HERE
Bookseller: Harvard Book Store
Known for commanding the largest stages nationwide, Heart Life Music ventures to places long gone, makes unexpected music in Jamaica, the Kremlin, New England and Cabo San Lucas, drifts across the waters of the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Beyond meeting and collaborating with heroes, forging transcendent friendships in the islands and beyond, Chesney’s introspective look at the songs and sound that defined No Shoes Nation offers the intimacy of sharing a slow afternoon on the water.
About the Book
Heart Life Music
by Kenny Chesney
with Holly Gleason
On Sale: Nov. 4, 2025 | William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Hardcover ISBN: 9780063423107 | $32.50
E-book ISBN: 9780063423114 | $14.99
Digital Audio ISBN: 9780063423121 | $27.99
Preorder HERE
About The Authors
One of contemporary American music's biggest names, Kenny Chesney was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year and was named Billboard’s No.1 Country Artist of the 21st Century. Selling out America’s major stadiums for two decades and playing to over a million fans every summer since 2002, Variety pronounced him “country music’s only true long-term stadium act.” The East Tennessee songwriter/superstar has over 105 platinum certifications, won the prestigious Entertainer of the Year eight times, as well as holding Billboard's record for the most Country Airplay No. 1s with 36 chart-topping songs that define coming of age in the flyover in the 21st Century. This year, the game-changing superstar became the first country artist to perform at the groundbreaking Sphere, taking No Shoes into a whole new dimension. Creating a space to work hard, play hard, love hard and come together in the spirit of celebrating all the moment offers. Heart Life Music is his first book.
Holly Gleason’s work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, the Library of Congress’ National Registry of Sound Recordings, among other outlets. She was the LA Press Club’s Entertainment Journalist of the Year and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Association’s Independent Journalist of the Year. A former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Case Western Reserve Fellow, she’s the creator of Belmont Book Award-winning Woman Walk The Line, and co-authored Miranda Lambert’s New York Times best-seller Y’all Eat Yet as well as Prine on Prine: Interviews & Encounters.
Kenny Hits The Studio...without Musicians; HEART LIFE MUSIC Audio Book Underway
Normally when Kenny Chesney’s in the studio, there are multiple guitarists, a monster drummer and a whole lot of great songs. Not this summer. Just songwriter/superstar and a mic hit Blackbird Studios to capture an East Tennessee kid with a headful of wonder’s journey through a Nashville that was built on creative types at all levels seeking his fate.
From catching a spark playing for tips at various bars, as well as traveling to Russia with the East Tennessee State Bluegrass Band during college to then playing a destitute Lower Broadway, where the Ryman was on the verge of being torn down and characters populated the seedy bars, and being signed to a publishing deal at Acuff Rose, home to Hank Williams Sr. and Dean Dillon, it’s the power of curiosity to drive someone with nothing but a hunger to write and sing songs. It’s also an homage to perseverance when the going is more than rough, the ability to find laughter in the cracks and a will to keep going.
“It’s funny,” marvels the man whose stadium tours have become a rite of summer, “when you’re living it, it’s being in the moment. When we were writing it, it was looking back and really striving to get it right. But now, reading it, all of these stories become real again. I can see everybody, from the Turf and the Wheel, to (Capricorn Records founders) Phil Walden with all that charisma and (legendary producer) Barry Beckett telling me to ‘put a smile on it.’
“It takes a lot longer than I thought to record an audio book, or maybe it’s just I would get lost in seeing all the people and places along the way. In a way, it’s what I did with my summer vacation: visit all these adventures I’ve had, because when I started to hear the stories, I felt like I was living them all over again.”
Whether making unexpected music in Jamaica, the Kremlin, New England and Cabo San Lucas, drifting across the waters of the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Chesney will engage with a coterie of singular folks, friends and inspirations, as he embraces the unabashed joy of being alive. “Thinking about the moments, reading the stories, it all got very real for me – the blessings of so much wisdom people gave me and unthinkable things I got to do. I was here at an amazing time, got to experience a Nashville closer to Willie Nelson or George Jones when they were trying to make it happen – and I got to live this crazy dream alongside so many heroes, make great friends. Hearing it come out of my mouth, it’s a lot to take in; I almost wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t been there.”
Written with longtime friend and collaborator Holly Gleason, Heart Life Music celebrates the life and rise of a man whose songs have set the tone and whose shows have anchored a world without borders for the last quarter century. From the road, stage quiet moments and unthinkable thrills, it’s a trip for anyone who’s ever wondered what the voyage to No Shoes Nation might be like.
Official Release Nov. 4; Preorders HERE
About the Book
Heart Life Music
by Kenny Chesney
with Holly Gleason
On Sale: Nov. 4, 2025 | William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Hardcover ISBN: 9780063423107 | $32.50
E-book ISBN: 9780063423114 | $14.99
Digital Audio ISBN: 9780063423121 | $27.99
Preorder HERE
About The Authors
One of contemporary American music's biggest names, Kenny Chesney has been selling out major stadiums across the nation for two decades; playing to over a million fans every summer since 2002, prompting Variety to pronounce him “country music’s only true long-term stadium act.” He’s earned over 105 million RIAA certifications and won the prestigious Entertainer of the Year eight times, as well as being Billboard's Country Artist of the 21st Century as well as holding Billboard’s record for the most Country Airplay No. 1s with 36 chart-topping songs that define coming of age across America in the 21st Century. The game-changing superstar became the first country artist to perform at the groundbreaking Sphere, taking No Shoes into a whole new dimension. Creating a space to work hard, play hard, love hard and come together in the spirit of celebrating all the moment offers, his popularity continues to grow year after year. Heart Life Music is his first book.
Holly Gleason’s work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, the Library of Congress’ National Registry of Sound Recordings, among other outlets. She was the LA Press Club’s Entertainment Journalist of the Year and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Association’s Independent Journalist of the Year. A former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Case Western Reserve Fellow, she’s the creator of Belmont Book Award-winning Woman Walk The Line, and co-authored Miranda Lambert’s New York Times best-seller Y’all Eat Yet as well as Prine on Prine: Interviews & Encounters.
From Ozzy And Lemmy To James Gandolfini Fame: MATT ZANE Drops New Bombshell Biography
Matt Zane has never played it safe—and he’s not starting now. On August 22nd, from renowned publisher Heavy Music Artwork is proud to announce the notorious Society 1 frontman unleashes Everyone Dies: The Matt Zane Reckoning—a no-prisoners memoir packed with the kind of insane, behind-the-scenes stories that could only come from a life lived in the eye of the storm.
From surreal meet up with the legendary Ozzy Osbourne, to nights of chaos with icon Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, to an intense, unexpected encounter with James Gandolfini as he was doing research for the movie 8mm, to memories of the late Static-X front man Wayne Static, Zane pulls no punches and spares no detail. It’s loud. It’s raw.
It’s the unfiltered truth.
This bold, boundary-breaking volume offers an uncensored look at the extraordinary life of Matt Zane, frontman of Society 1, the man who hung from hooks while screaming into the abyss — is back. But this time, the stage is the page… and the lights are out. This is more than just a rock biography, the book includes never-before-seen photos, original poetry , and stories too intense for the film —covering everything from porn sets to public protests, psychedelic journeys, and visceral live performances involving flesh-hook suspensions and some of the
biggest names in rock and metal.
Authored by Alex Milazzo, founder of Heavy Music Artwork —the publisher behind acclaimed titles such as Heavy Music Artwork #15 , Masterpieces 2020 , Ripping Tongues , Heretic , and Masterpieces 2022 — Everyone Dies: The Matt Zane Reckoning continues the company’s legacy of producing visually stunning and intellectually rich volumes exploring the darker corners of heavy music and art. Brace yourselves!
Release Date: August 22, 2025
Limited Hardback Edition: 200 deluxe copies,
200 silk pages (TBC)
Softback Edition Also Available
Printed Ethically in the UK
PURCHASE PHYSICAL BOOK HERE
BOOK RELEASE PARTY/SHOW INVITE
Thursday September 11 come out to the official book release party and show featuring Society 1, Lucifuge The Danzig Experience at the 3 Clubs Cocktail Lounge on
1123 Vine Street in Los Angeles, CA.
The Original Rahk Jam with your host DJ Skum. 21+
Kenny Chesney Celebrates FINALLY Finishing HEART LIFE MUSIC on No Shoes Radio
When Kenny Chesney agreed to write a book about his journey from a kid in the Smoky Mountains to dominating America’s football stadiums for the past 20+ years, he applied himself to the mission with the same commitment he does everything else. Hundreds of hours talking, going through pictures, thinking about what it all means, the 2025 Country Music Hall of Fame invitee wanted to capture the joy of chasing what was often far beyond his reach, but never his imagination.
“What they don’t tell you,” Chesney says laughing, “is how much goes into polishing, how many times you’ll read it… orhow many moments you’ll have to leave out. But for me, I really wanted to send a love letter to all the places and characters along the way that made this journey such an incredible ride. When I look back, I can’t believe the people I’ve met, the stories I’ve heard and the music I’ve been able to hear from songwriters, other artists, as well as all the songs I’ve been fortunate enough to cut.
“And now, finally, my co-writer Holly Gleason and I can exhale – knowing the book truly is done, we grabbed the moment for No Shoes Radio. For anyone who sees Heart Life Music sitting somewhere, not only is it a whole lot of love, adventure and things I loved thinking about all over again, it’s a huge chunk of my last year. So if you were wondering, now you know.”
Hand curated, Heart Life Music takes anyone with a dream on a voyage of so many unlikely destinations, opportunities and discouragements to show: if you don’t give up, if you just keep working, amazing things can happen. But even more than the work, it’s the friendship and laughter along the way.
“We were trying to create snapshots of my journey, vignettes of my soul,” Chesney offers, “and lots of my friends since I started on this magic carpet ride. I moved to Nashville in January 1991, and here we are, talking about it in this book. Sitting here looking at the ocean, hearing these waves crashing, we can’t wait. Especially if you’ve been part of this journey, I can’t wait for you to relive it…and for those who weren’t part of this journey, we hope you take something from this and apply it to your life, we can’t for you to hear it, errr, read it.”
Known for commanding the largest stages nationwide, Heart Life Music ventures to places long gone, makes unexpected music in Jamaica, the Kremlin, New England and Cabo San Lucas, drifts across the waters of the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Beyond meeting and collaborating with heroes, forging transcendent friendships in the islands and beyond, Chesney’s introspective look at the songs and sound that defined No Shoes Nation offers the intimacy of sharing a slow afternoon on the water.
About the Book
Heart Life Music
by Kenny Chesney
with Holly Gleason
On Sale: Nov. 4, 2025 | William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Hardcover ISBN: 9780063423107 | $32.50
E-book ISBN: 9780063423114 | $14.99
Digital Audio ISBN: 9780063423121 | $27.99
Preorder HERE
About The Authors
One of contemporary American music's biggest names, Kenny Chesney was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year and was named Billboard’s No.1 Country Artist of the 21st Century. Selling out America’s major stadiums for two decades and playing to over a million fans every summer since 2002, Variety pronounced him “country music’s only true long-term stadium act.” The East Tennessee songwriter/superstar has over 105 platinum certifications, won the prestigious Entertainer of the Year eight times, as well as holding Billboard's record for the most Country Airplay No. 1s with 36 chart-topping songs that define coming of age in the flyover in the 21st Century. This year, the game-changing superstar became the first country artist to perform at the groundbreaking Sphere, taking No Shoes into a whole new dimension. Creating a space to work hard, play hard, love hard and come together in the spirit of celebrating all the moment offers. Heart Life Music is his first book.
Holly Gleason’s work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, the Library of Congress’ National Registry of Sound Recordings, among other outlets. She was the LA Press Club’s Entertainment Journalist of the Year and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Association’s Independent Journalist of the Year. A former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Case Western Reserve Fellow, she’s the creator of Belmont Book Award-winning Woman Walk The Line, and co-authored Miranda Lambert’s New York Times best-seller Y’All Eat Yet as well as Prine on Prine: Interviews & Encounters.”
Third Man Books is proud to announce the publication of Jack White Collected Lyrics and Selected Writing Volume 1
Third Man Books is proud to announce the publication of Jack White Collected Lyrics and Selected Writing Volume 1 by Jack White and edited by Ben Blackwell. The upcoming collection compiles lyrics from White’s solo recordings thus far, alongside his acclaimed work with The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, and other collaborations.
GIANT STEPS MY IMPROBABLE JOURNEY FROM STAGE LIGHTS TO EXECUTIVE HEIGHTS DEREK SHULMAN WITH JON WIEDERHORN
New from Jawbone: an eye-opening memoir from Derek Shulman that traces his extraordinary journey through music, from 1960s pop fame with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound to cult status as frontman of progressive rock pioneers Gentle Giant, and later as a record executive who signed and developed global acts like Bon Jovi, Dream Theater, and Slipknot. He also played a key role in revitalizing the careers of legends such as AC/DC and Bad Company. On sale October 7, 2025.
Watch the video trailer below:
Pre-order (North America): https://tr.ee/GiantSteps
Pre-order (UK/EU): https://tr.ee/GiantSteps-UK-EU
In Giant Steps, Derek Shulman chronicles a remarkable life and career surrounded by music and creativity in many forms. It begins with a young Derek confidently telling his schoolteacher he would grow up to become a star, and unfolds into a fast-paced and eye-opening journey through decades of pop culture, creative risk-taking, and personal reinvention.
Shulman first found fame as a teenager in the 1960s pop and r&b group Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, then pushed rock music to the outer edges in the 1970s as frontman of progressive rock pioneers Gentle Giant.
In the 1980s, he made a bold pivot into the record business, taking on senior roles at labels like Polygram, ATCO, and Roadrunner Records. There, he signed and developed artists including Bon Jovi, Dream Theater, Slipknot, Pantera, and Men Without Hats, while also helping to revitalize the careers of AC/DC, Bad Company, and others.
Along the way Gentle Giant would become a defining influence on hip-hop, sampled by many of the genre’s leading lights including J. Dilla, De La Soul, Run The Jewels, Travis Scott and dozens more. The band was later championed by Questlove, drummer of The Roots and acclaimed filmmaker, who named them one of his favorite rock acts of all time.
Clean-living and focused in an industry often defined by chaos and excess, Shulman offers a rare perspective on the evolution of music and culture from the 1960s to today. Giant Steps is essential reading for fans of prog, rock, hip-hop, and anyone curious about the inner workings of the music industry.
About the authors
Derek Shulman is a celebrated musician and music executive best known as lead vocalist and founding member of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant. Born in 1947 in Glasgow, Scotland, he grew up in a musical family, which greatly influenced his artistic journey. After achieving success and acclaim with Gentle Giant in the 1970s, Derek transitioned into the music industry as an executive, playing a pivotal role in signing major acts including Bon Jovi, Pantera, and Dream Theater. With a career spanning over five decades, Shulman remains an iconic figure in the music world, well known and widely respected for his creativity and dedication.
Jon Wiederhorn is a veteran author and music journalist. He is the co-author of Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History Of Metal, Dreaming Japanese (with Marty Friedman), I’m The Man: The Story Of That Guy From Anthrax (with Scott Ian), Ministry: The Lost Gospels According To Al Jourgensen, and My Riot: Agnostic Front, Grit, Guts & Glory (with Roger Miret), and is the author of Raising Hell: Backstage Tales From The Lives Of Metal Legends. He also has worked on staff at Rolling Stone, MTV, and Guitar Magazine, spearheaded the 12-episode exclusive iHeart Radio podcast Backstaged: The Devil In Metal, and written for LA Times, Classic Rock, Guitar World, TV Guide, SPIN, The Village Voice, and Melody Maker.
Iconic Guitarist MARTY FRIEDMAN Shares New Digital Single "Tearful Confession" + Video
Guitar visionary MARTY FRIEDMAN is pleased to share a new digital single, "Tearful Confession," from his latest solo album 'Drama.' The new track is being released as a digital single and is accompanied by a new video, available below.
MARTY comments on the new single:
"With this song and video, I am trying to express with music the hopeless feeling of hiding a secret in despair until you let it out and feeling a wave of relief and positivity. The video features the Marty Friedman Band, Chargeeeeee, Wakazaemon, and Naoki Morioka. You loved `em on tour and we are coming back for you soon."
In addition, MARTY has a brand-new full autobiography, Dreaming Japanese, out now worldwide by Simon and Schuster. It is available at the following vendors: amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and dreamingjapanesebook.com
Watch the New Music Video for "Tearful Confession"
MARTY FRIEDMAN`s presence in the world of music, the world of guitar, and Japanese pop culture is mystifying, bizarre, and nothing short of inspiring. His latest solo album 'Drama' where he only slightly revisits the atmospheric elements of his acclaimed 1992 release 'Scenes,' elevating them to a modern and exotic collection of epic, extravagant, and unapologetically emotional mini-symphonies.
From his groundbreaking beginnings with Cacophony, alongside the legendary Jason Becker, to his pivotal role in propelling Megadeth to its peak of popularity with his breath-taking range and unorthodox melodic sense, MARTY FRIEDMAN has solidified his status as a unique guitar icon.
Tracks like "Illumination" and "Mirage" transport listeners to captivating realms, evoking sudden tears and chills. The entire album spotlights MARTY's mesmerizing melodies, game-changing arrangements, and heart-tugging motifs even more than any of his previous work.
Recorded in Italy, where MARTY had access to a treasure trove of vintage guitars along with his modern signature models, 'Drama' is a pure, uplifting musical experience.
Produced By: Marty Friedman
Studios: Newsin Audio Design, Italy
Woodcliff Studios, USA
NK Sound & Sunshine Studios, Japan
Recorded By: Luigi Stefanini, Frank Rosato, Takao Nakazato,
Atsuo Akabae, Kenjiro Naka
Mixed By: Alexander Backlund and Jay Ruston
Mastered By: Koji Tanaka at Victor Creative Media, Tokyo
Guitar Technician & Sonic Guru: Franco Piona
Since moving to Japan in 2003, MARTY FRIEDMAN has become a household name even beyond the world of music. Fluent in Japanese, he has appeared on over 900 Japanese TV shows of every variety, as well as motion pictures and commercials including an ad campaign for Coca-Cola / FANTA that ran for over two years. He was recently appointed an Ambassador of Japan Heritage by the Japanese government who also commissioned him to compose the "Japan Heritage Theme Song", recorded by MARTY and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and is played at official government-related events. He has played the Opening Ceremony at the Tokyo Marathon 5 times, including in March of this year. Three books on MARTY`s life have been released in Japan and a brand-new full autobiography will be released worldwide December 3rd.
In addition to his legendary work with Cacophony and Megadeth, MARTY has released fifteen solo albums starting in 1988 with 'Dragon's Kiss', and has had multi-platinum, platinum, and gold album sales awards in twenty-seven countries, achieving seven Grammy nominations to date. In recent years, FRIEDMAN has put out the distinguished, ongoing Tokyo Jukeboxline, which, as the title suggests, is a series of albums featuring covers of Japanese songs starting with 'Tokyo Jukebox' in 2009, 'Tokyo Jukebox 2' in 2011, and most recently, 'Tokyo Jukebox 3' in 2020. This series has become a go-to set for people all around the world who are fast becoming fascinated with Japan and its music.
MARTY has played the Tokyo Dome, Budokan, and every major Japanese venue multiple times. He has toured Japan countless times with his solo music as well as alongside many legendary Japanese stars. Since the release of 'Tokyo Jukebox 3' in 2020, MARTY has toured Japan twice, performed as a soloist with three major symphony orchestras, and made several TV appearances, most recently performing with Yoshiki of X Japan.
Since the pandemic, MARTY and his band have toured the U.S. twice and have toured extensively for ‘Drama.’
Band Members:
Marty Friedman - Guitar
Wakazaemon - Bass
Gregg Bissonette - Drums
Mika Maruki - Piano, Keyboard & Synth
Hiyori Okuda - Cello
Miho Chigyo - Violin
Vocals on “Dead of Winter”: Chris Brooks (Like A Storm)
Vocals on “2 Rebeldes”: Steven Baquero Vargas
Bass on “Mirage”: Or Lubianiker
Rhythm Guitar on “Thrill City”: Naoki Morioka
Keys and Synth on “Song for an Eternal Child”: Takuro Iga
Drums on “Thrill City”: Chargeeeeee
Additional recording: Yukiko Takada, Jordan Rudess, Naoki Morioka, Maki Furugaki, Chris Brooks, Matt Brooks, Kent Brooks, Brian Becvar
Celebrating a Decade of Impact: Ann Bakshis Releases Special 10th Anniversary Edition of Wasteland
ANN BAKSHIS the acclaimed author behind the bestselling novel WASTELAND, is excited to announce the release of a special 10th Anniversary Edition of the groundbreaking book. First published in 2015, WASTELAND has captured the hearts of readers worldwide, and this newly reimagined version, available now.
THE WASTELAND STORY
Meg has spent the last twelve years of her life living in the Wasteland with a protector who has kept her in the dark about her origins, and trained her to be a fighter and weapons expert.
What Meg doesn’t know is that she is an Antaean: a super soldier engineered to protect the country of Sirain from its enemies, then hidden away from the very cities that sacrificed many of their own people to design her. It isn’t until an attack by a group of unidentified soldiers leaves her permanently scarred, and her protector dead that she begins to learn the truth about herself.
Trying to survive in a world of strangers, Meg discovers there are more like her: other Antaeans who’ve been hidden from their enemies. Forced from the Wasteland by the loss of her protector, Meg realized she must try to locate the other Antaeans before Sirain’s enemies do - or worse, the cities’ leaders – can discover and destroy them all.
ABOUT ANN BAKSHIS:
I’ve always loved to write. I would picture myself as the main character so I could go on adventures. They began as daydreams, which I eventually put down onto paper. Throughout the years I would write whenever I had the chance, no matter how small the manuscript turned out to
be. I’ve tried the traditional method of sending out query letters to agents, but they would respond with a “thanks, but no thanks” note. I felt discouraged, but kept writing. I had a lot of encouragement from my mom, my aunt, my daughter, and my ex-husband. Having the support kept me chasing my dream. A little over ten years ago, I decided to buckle down and get serious about my writing. After some research and speaking with a friend, I took the plunge into self-
publishing. I found an editor and a cover designer, along with other indie authors on Facebook and at book events. It took me four years and three versions before I published my first book titled Wasteland. From there, I’ve completed several series and stand-alones with many more to
follow, so watch for their release.
HEART*LIFE*MUSIC: Kenny Chesney's 1st True Book Arrives Nov. 4
Kenny Chesney, one of American music’s most iconic songwriter/stadium fillers, will release his first book, HEART*LIFE*MUSIC, with William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, on Nov. 4, 2025. The freewheeling take on the superstar’s journey from small town East Tennessee dreamer to commanding the largest stages across the nation will capture the sparks of creativity, venture to places long gone, make unexpected music in Jamaica, the Kremlin, New England and Cabo San Lucas, drift across the waters of the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, encounter and collaborate with heroes, engage with a coterie of singular folks, friends and inspirations, and always find the joy of being unabashedly alive.
Raised largely by a single mother and extended family, Chesney’s life was built on sports, church, community – and the music he found everywhere. A gift of a guitar his freshman year and the resonance of East Tennessee State University’s Old Time Music and Bluegrass program sparked a passion no one saw coming. From playing for tips to trying to get a foot in the door, HEART*LIFE*MUSIC is a postcard from a Nashville that no longer exists: where songwriters define life, characters encourage young dreamers and a tenacious 20-something faced impossible odds and obstacles before starting to find a glimmer of success.
“This is not my memoir,” Chesney cautions, “but something far better. It is almost a love letter to people who shaped and inspired me, the fans who’ve been there from tiny bars, radio stations who believed when nobody else did, a team who just kept coming back, legends who gave me wisdom and opportunities and all the friends who’ve been there along the way. To me, that’s where the music came from – and this is the story of how it turned into the soundtrack for the way No Shoes Nation lives their lives, too.”
Whether playing for the homeless and hookers on a very different Lower Broadway in Nashville, a rickety Silver Eagle bus deemed “the Iron Lung,” seeing other young artists zoom by him, or sharing a renowned rock record label with Widespread Panic, Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit and Gov’t Mule that had no country department, Chesney’s ability to lean in, believe and keep working forged a determination to withstand whatever happened. With an almost triple-Platinum Greatest Hits, it was the decision to make music for himself and the people like him that blew his creativity and career wide open.
Nine No. 1 all-genre Billboard Top 200 Album debuts, 17 No. 1 Country Album debuts, 8.6 billion on-demand audio streams and over 1 billion on-demand video streams is a lot of music made, played and ingested by a fan-base that Variety proclaims “a concertgoing community rivaled perhaps only by Parrotheads and Deadheads.” Moving at what seemed faster than the speed of sound, Chesney for the most part eschewed celebrity to keep his focus on the people; with songs that would resonate with them and a show that would not only give every bit of energy he and his band had, but provide a space for No Shoes Nation to converge, have fun, make new friends and revel in the glory of being who they were.
“I always said I’d never write a book,” he marvels. “Too many things happened almost to be believed, let alone lived, but I realized with the world moving in such fast forward motion, too much of what made Nashville, the music business and our lives great would be lost to the churn of the next click. To have been in a room as a kid writing with Dean Dillon, have Sean Payton call an NFL press conference to announce he’s drafting me to the Saints, be in Tuff Gong Studios with Aston “Family Man” Barrett and Alvin “Seeco” Patterson or on a private plane with George Jones after opening for him defies logic. So, for everyone in No Shoes Nation, I realized: you deserved to share the magic.”
Written with longtime friend and collaborator Holly Gleason, HEART*LIFE*MUSIC celebrates the life and rise of a man whose songs have set the tone and whose shows have anchored a world without borders for the last quarter century. From the road, stage, quiet moments and unthinkable thrills, it’s a book for anyone who’s ever wondered what the trip to No Shoes Nation might be like.
About The Authors
One of contemporary American music's biggest names, Kenny Chesney has been selling out major stadiums across the nation for two decades; playing to over a million fans every summer since 2002, prompting Variety to pronounce him “country music’s only true long-term stadium act.” He’s sold over 31 million albums and won the prestigious Entertainer of the Year title eight times, as well as holding Billboard's record for the most Country Airplay No. 1s with 33 chart-topping songs that defined coming of age in the flyover in the 21st Century. This year, the game-changing superstar becomes the first country artist to perform at the groundbreaking Sphere, again taking No Shoes Nation into a whole new dimension. Creating a space to work hard, play hard, love hard and come together in the spirit of celebrating all the moment offers, his popularity continues to grow year after year. HEART*LIFE*MUSIC is his first book.
Holly Gleason’s work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, New York Times and the Library of Congress’ National Registry of Sound Recordings, among other outlets. She was the LA Press Club’s Entertainment Journalist of the Year and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Association’s Independent Journalist of the Year. A former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Case Western Reserve Fellow, she’s the creator of Belmont Book Award-winning Woman Walk The Line and co-authored Miranda Lambert’s New York Times best-seller Y’all Eat Yet? as well as Prine on Prine: Interviews & Encounters.
About the Book
HEART*LIFE*MUSIC
by Kenny Chesney
with Holly Gleason
On Sale: Nov. 4, 2025 | William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Hardcover ISBN: 9780063423107 | $32.50
E-book ISBN: 9780063423114 | $14.99
Digital Audio ISBN: 9780063423121 | $27.99
Preorder HERE
Alan Robert, Musician + Illustrator, Releasing "Beauty of Horror 7: Backwards Records"
At the crossroads of striking illustration, imaginative storytelling, and heavy music, you'll find ALAN ROBERT — bassist for Life of Agony and the mastermind behind the hit coloring book series The Beauty of Horror.
A Brooklyn native, Robert honed his artistic skills in the early '90s under the guidance of legendary Thor artist Walt Simonson at New York's School of Visual Arts. Since then, his talent has expanded to designing for legendary bands such as Black Sabbath, Pantera, Type O Negative, and Shinedown, illustrating books for iconic franchises like Beetlejuice and Universal Monsters, to crafting his own horror-inspired graphic novels and coloring books.
Now, Robert is back with his latest creation: The Beauty of Horror 7: Backwards Records, the 7th volume in his chart-topping series.
This newest release takes fans on a twisted journey through horror-themed parodies of some of the most iconic album covers in music history. Backwards Records features devilish reimaginings of LPs from world-renowned artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Alice In Chains, N.W.A., Cyndi Lauper, Blink-182, Nirvana, KISS, Beastie Boys, and more.
With over 80 pages of eerie yet hilarious designs, music enthusiasts and horror fans alike can unleash their creativity like never before.
Set to release on February 11, the coloring book is available for pre-order here.
"The Beauty of Horror 7 combines my three favorite things: art, music, and horror movies," explains Robert. "Fans have been asking me to put my spin on album covers for years, and there's never been a coloring book quite like this one. It's equally twisted and hilarious."
Drawing inspiration from the eerie mythos of spinning vinyl records backward, Backwards Records blends the playful and the macabre, making it the perfect gift for music lovers and horror aficionados. It's a chance to unwind, get creative, and revisit the moments that defined music history — with a terrifying twist.
Dubbed by Revolver Magazine as “the King of Horror Coloring Books,” Alan Robert shows no signs of slowing down. Among his 2025 projects is the highly anticipated The Beauty of Horror: Ghouliana's Sanctuary for Monsters — a one-of-a-kind storybook coloring experience, set for release in August. Pre-order it here.
In a world filled with chaos, Alan Robert’s Beauty of Horror series offers a unique escape — where creativity meets the haunting allure of horror. Whether through music or art, Robert continues to redefine his craft and captivate audiences. Keep an eye out for his next nightmarish masterpiece!
Skillet Surprise Fans With "Kingdom of Rock" Book
22x platinum, Grammy-nominated band SKILLET surprised fans today with the announcement of their Kingdom of Rock book.
Exclusive packages are available only via pre-order in the SKILLET APP today through midnight CT on November 21 by using the code "Allthatmatters." All book packages also have a 20% off early Black Friday discount.
Following the pre-sale, the book will be available in Skillet's webstore.
Many people across the music industry said that Skillet would never make it — blurring the lines between Christian music and mainstream rock, the band was "too spiritual," "too positive," and had female musicians, which was almost unheard of in rock 'n' roll. Now, 28 years and 22 million album sales later, SKILLET continues to defy all odds. T
he band has sold out arenas in 32 countries across five continents, including their first-ever, recent nearly 100% sold out Middle East tour.
As testimony to their global impact, check out this video featuring fans from all over the world talking about what the band coming to their city and country means to them.
With smash hits like the 5x platinum "Monster" and 2x platinum "Feel Invincible," which claimed the #1 spot on Rock Radio, Skillet's unapologetic messages of hope and redemption have been spotlighted by brands like WWE, Marvel, ESPN, NFL, CONAN, USA Today, and The New York Times.
With over 13.2 billion streams as proof, Skillet has won over the hearts of fans around the world who join together to celebrate over two decades of raw, powerful rock from a band few expected to succeed. This unfiltered reflection from founding member John Cooper chronicles Skillet's unparalleled music career with honest commentary, never-before-seen candids, glossy concert shots, the best (and worst) album covers, and beloved Panhead fan art from the band's archives.
Expected to only extend SKILLET’S formidable legacy, the band released their 12th studio project, REVOLUTION, on November 1st. Streams for focus tracks "Unpopular," "All That Matters" and "Ash In The Wind" have soared, with the music leaving critics raving, calling it a "hard-rocking freight train," "fantastic" and "exactly what fans want."
SKILLET will be the headline act for WINTER JAM 2025, hitting 38 cities across the U.S. Full routing and line up at Skillet.com.
ABOUT SKILLET:
After nearly three decades, eleven albums, and thousands of shows worldwide, Skillet play louder, fight harder, and sound more rebellious than ever. As of 2024, the band have received two-time GRAMMY® Award nominations, picked up a Billboard Music Award, and landed three albums in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200. Selling over 22 million units worldwide, they have notched multiplatinum, platinum, or gold RIAA certifications for a total of 12 singles and four full-length albums. Not to mention, they have regularly attracted 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify, boasting "one of the most-streamed rock songs of all-time" with the 5x-platinum "Monster." Their presence has impressively surged throughout popular culture with syncs by WWE, Marvel, ESPN, and NFL in addition to coverage from USA Today, The New York Times, and more. As a live force of nature, they have touched down on four continents and in 26 countries, packing arenas everywhere from the Middle East to Russia. Not to mention, Skillet expanded their world with the graphic novel series EDEN. The first installment stood out as Z2 Comics' best-selling book of all-time. Now, the global hard rock quartet — John Cooper [lead vocals, bass], Korey Cooper [guitar, keys], Jen Ledger [drums, vocals], and Seth Morrison [lead guitar] — deliver an insurgent, infectious, and inimitable body of work with their twelfth full-length offering and first-ever independent album, REVOLUTION, led by the single "Unpopular" and focus tracks "All That Matters" and "Ash In The Wind."
Alan Robert Achieves Milestone With Latest Coloring Book "The Beauty Of Horror: Haunted Holidays"
HORROR ILLUSTRATOR AND LIFE OF AGONY BASSIST, ALAN ROBERT, UNLEASHES A NEW ADULT COLORING CRAZE, THE BEAUTY OF HORROR, HAUNTED HOLIDAYS: ANOTHER GOREGEOUS COLORING BOOK
LATEST RELEASES BOTH IMMEDIATELY BECOME #1 RELEASES ON AMAZON
Fans of all ages, welcome to the horrific, beautiful world of ALAN ROBERT's design!
Released August 6, the latest creation from our celebrated musician and horror-illustrator, The Beauty of Horror Haunted Holidays: Another Goregeous Coloring Book, became an immediate Amazon #1 New Release.
For those who are unfamiliar with Robert's intricate and detailed works of art, this stat may be surprising, but once you dig in, you're welcomed into a Burton-esque atmosphere that is as addictive as it is impressive.
"Creating these books is like a never-ending art project between me and the fans," explains Alan Robert. "It's amazing to see how horror colorists from all over the world unleash their creativity and bring these designs to life. It's a honor to be part of it."
No stranger to the Amazon Best Seller category, Alan's July release, Universal Monsters: The Official Coloring Book, also promptly hit the #1 spot, confidently securing his place as a true master of his craft. A book built on the love for cult-classic horror films, Alan Robert brings scary to the masses in a supremely digestible and ultra charming fashion. In fact, his success in this arena was solidified after the release of his very first book, earning him a coveted spot on the New York Times' best sellers list.
Dubbed by Revolver Magazine as "the King of Horror Coloring Books," Alan Robert is here to stay and only has more up his sleeve with projects set to hit the rest of 2024. Of those upcoming projects, the most anticipated by far, is the September release of Beetlejuice: The Official Coloring Book, a celebration of "the ghost with the most" that aligns quite nicely with the long-awaited Tim Burton sequel, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.
In a world that can be quite horrific, we welcome Alan Robert and his coloring books; healthy escapes from reality with which adults (and kids alike!) are able to unlock their creativity. Serving horror in detail and fun, Alan Robert has cemented his space as a musician AND artist, not one or the other. Keep your eyes peeled — literally — for Robert's next illustrated tour de force!
CARPENTER BRUT feat. Krystoffer Rygg Drop Cover of Billy Idol's "Eyes Without A Face"
French synthwave artist, Carpenter Brut is the latest artist to add his take on a classic track for the official sountrack to Sumerian Comics' 'American Psycho' comic book series. Enlisting the vocal talents of Ulver's Krystoffer Rygg, Carpenter Brut presents his cover of the Billy Idol classic, "Eyes Without A Face". The track is available to stream on your platform of choice now. Listen to the song HERE and watch the accompanying visualizer below.
Speaking on his fresh take on this 80s classic, Carpenter Brut shares:
"I wanted to do a cover that was a bit different from the usual, slower than what I'm used to, and "Eyes without a face" was an obvious choice for me. I thought Kris from Ulver would be the perfect match for the vocals. It turned out to be one of his favorite songs. So it was a sign to do this cover. We're very proud of the result."
Nathan Yocum, President of Sumerian Comics, adds:
“Carpenter Brut and Krystoffer Rygg from Ulver bring a dark, electrifying twist to Billy Idol's classic 'Eyes Without a Face,' perfectly complementing the haunting themes of our 'American Psycho' comic book series. From one musician that’s the pinnacle of Darksynth collaborating with a legendary Norwegian vocalist, this track has it all!”
The 'American Psycho' comic book series by Sumerian Comics is a bold reimagining of Patrick Bateman’s notorious saga. The five-issue series delves into a dual storyline format; one tracing the chilling exploits of Bateman, and the other introducing a contemporary narrative featuring Charlene Carruthers—a social media-savvy millennial whose descent into violence mirrors the chilling escalation of her predecessor. This innovative take reinterprets the iconic tale with a story written by Michael Calero (Quested), vivid artwork by Piotr Kowalski (The Witcher, Bloodborne, Sex) and striking colors by Brad Simpson (Kong of Skull Island, Stray Dogs, Blade Runner Origins).
Today's release joins previously released tracks from the likes of Ice Nine Kills feat. Reel Big Fish, who tackled the Katrina and The Waves smash hit, "Walking On Sunshine", Puscifer, who recorded a brand new, original single, "The Algorithm" for the comic book series, Unlike Pluto who covered Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams", Perturbator, who covered "Dangerous" by Depeche Mode and Ramsey, who covered Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night". Between them, the previously released tracks have racked up over 677,000 streams with current sales for the comic book series topping 80,000 units.
Fans of the 'American Psycho' franchise can look forward to more from the accompanying soundtrack for the comic book series that perfectly complements the visual frenzy and deepens the narrative's impact, making each issue a multifaceted experience of sight and sound. Head to the Sumerian Comics website for more information and to order your copies of 'American Psycho'.
About Sumerian Comics
Sumerian is an American comic book and graphic novel publisher headed up by Behemoth Comics co-founders Nathan Yocum and Ryan Swanson, alongside Sumerian Records founder and film director Ash Avildsen. Sumerian’s titles are distributed worldwide by Diamond Comic Distributors to the comic market and Simon & Schuster to the book market. Sumerian averages over half a million physical comic books sold yearly.
About Carpenter Brut
Carpenter Brut draws its influences from 80s TV shows and B-movies loaded with synthesizers. The mysterious and discreet man behind the pentagon – or the Brutagram as his fans would call it – evokes an encounter between Justice beats and the universe of John Carpenter. Listening to his home-made EPs, however, one would rather bet on a metalhead background, a crush for Dario Argento and a force-fed religious education. This would explain his penchant for the occult, his passion for kitsch sounds and his adoration for all kinds of enjoyment. Carpenter Brut pays tribute to the post-hippie/pre-AIDS culture that then set the basis of electro and metal to give us a unique, violent and crazy 80s revival sound.
GEEZER BUTLER ANNOUNCES PAPERBACK EDITION OF BOOK "INTO THE VOID, FROM BIRTH TO BLACK SABBATH - AND BEYOND"
INTO THE VOID
From Birth to Black Sabbath–And Beyond
by Geezer Butler
Hailed by Rolling Stone as “the Beatles of heavy metal” and ranked by MTV as the “Greatest Metal Band of All Time,” Black Sabbath not only dominated the genre— they helped create it. Founded in 1969, the band’s distinctive heavy riffs, tuned down guitars, and apocalyptic lyrics were a stark contrast to the era’s popular feel-good pop, upbeat Motown, and earnest folk music. Their ominous new sound struck a chord. To date, Black Sabbath has sold more than 70 million records worldwide.
In INTO THE VOID: From Birth to Black Sabbath—And Beyond (Dey Street: On sale: June 18, 2024), now in trade paperback, Geezer Butler tells his side of the story—and the story of his life before and after the band’s rise to fame and notoriety. With honesty, Butler writes of his childhood in Luftwaffe-battered Birmingham, England, as one of seven in a working-class Irish Catholic family, and his disillusionment with organized religion and class systems in his late teens, which would influence the lyrics and artistic themes that made Black Sabbath a sensation. From his awakening to the power of music—and his bold decision to change his career path from accountant to bassist—Butler takes readers behind the scenes of Black Sabbath’s roots, rise, and struggles. Even longtime fans of the band are bound to learn something fresh and surprising as Geezer himself recounts:
• How in 1968 he formed the Polka Tulk Blues Band with guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, and vocalist John “Ozzy” Osborne, and forged a revolutionary creative collaboration.
• The origin story of Black Sabbath. By 1969, Polka Tulk had become Earth, but kept getting mistaken for another group with the same name. Geezer suggested an original name, “Black Sabbath,” after one of their songs, which
he co-written the lyrics for partly inspired by a nightmare of a black silhouetted figure standing at the foot of his bed.
• Notable appearances with Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and The Who, and includes a groundbreaking dedication to creating the rock music equivalent of a horror film, with dark elements of the occult.
• The stories behind Black Sabbath’s biggest hits, including War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid,” and important later years, culminating with their last studio album, reuniting three of the original members, and last live performance on February 4, 2017, in Birmingham.
Featuring 30 photos from Geezer’s personal collection—some never-before-published—INTO THE VOID is both an effusive tribute to one of rock’s most exciting bands and an intimate memoir of a trailblazing musician.
About the Author:
Terence Michael Joseph “Geezer” Butler, best known as the longtime bassist and main lyricist for Black Sabbath, is one of the most influential bassists in heavy metal and regarded as a “founding father” of the genre. In 2006, he reformed the “Dehumanizer”-era Black Sabbath with guitarist Tommy Iommi, vocalist Ronnie James Dio, and drummer Vinny Appice as Heaven & Hell. In 2017, he took a short hiatus from music to travel and write. In 2018, he joined the British- American rock band Deadline Ritual, composed of founder and drummer Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses), vocalist Franky Perez (Apocalyptica), and guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol). A native of Aston Birmingham, England, he makes his home in Nevada and Utah with his wife Gloria Butler, who manages Geezer and co-managed Heaven & Hell. They live with their three cats and dogs.
INTO THE VOID: From Birth to Black Sabbath—And Beyond by Geezer Butler
Dey Street Books│On sale: June 18, 2024│Trade Paperback | ISBN: 9780063242494; $19.99
For more information, please visit our book page here.
Darius Rucker Shares Life Story Through Song With Memoir "Life's Too Short" Out May 28
“If I look back at my life and try to see into my past, everything seems blurry. But then I lean in and start to hear something. Melodies. Chords. Harmonies. Lyrics. This book is the story of my life as told through twenty-three songs that took me away, soaring, starting at ground level, living in a poor but happy home, never wanting for much more, enjoying what I had, even when times got tough, because I had my escape, my refuge, my music.”
— Darius Rucker
This May, LIFE’S TOO SHORT: A Memoir by Darius Rucker, a raw, heartfelt memoir from the three-time Grammy Award–winning, multi-Diamond-selling lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish and country music sensation arrives via Dey Street Books.
Raised by a single mother in Charleston, South Carolina, Rucker co-founded Hootie & the Blowfish with three classmates at the University of South Carolina in 1986. What began as a party band playing frat houses and dive bars quickly became a global rock pop phenomenon through their Double Diamond-certified debut album Cracked Rear View, featuring the era-defining hit songs “Only Wanna Be With You,” “Let Her Cry” and “Hold My Hand.” Rucker has since also charted a pioneering path as a solo Country music artist, with Diamond-certified hit “Wagon Wheel” plus timeless anthems such as “Alright” and “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” while sharing the stage and a mic with the likes of David Crosby, Al Green, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Adele, Taylor Swift, and more.
Now multiple decades into his illustrious career, Rucker tells the story of his life through the lens of the music that made him, including songs by everyone from Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder to R.E.M., KISS, Prince and, of course, his own music with Hootie and as a solo artist. He recounts the unlikely ascent of his band and wild tales of his road-hardened life—one filled with stumbles, missteps and battles with demons, but ultimately resulting in triumph. Candid, entertaining, and moving, LIFE’S TOO SHORT is a classic story of a man and his music.
(Courtesy of Dey Street Books)
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Rucker is a three-time GRAMMY award-winning American singer, guitarist and songwriter. He first achieved multi-Platinum status as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Hootie & the Blowfish, selling more than 25 million albums worldwide, including their Double-Diamond-certified debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 bestselling studio albums of all time. Since the release of his first Country album in 2008 via Capitol Records Nashville, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Country chart plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio including Diamond-certified hit “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top 10 Country songs of all time. Annually, Rucker lends his time and voice to St. Jude Children's Hospital, MUSC, the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and others to raise money for charitable causes close to his heart.
MORE ABOUT THE BOOK
LIFE’S TOO SHORT
A Memoir
by Darius Rucker
with Alan Eisenstock
On Sale: May 28, 2024 | Dey Street Books
Hardcover ISBN: 9780063238749 | $29.99
E-book ISBN: 9780063238763 | $14.99
FOUNDING MEMBER OF BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, ALBERT BOUCHARD SET TO RELEASE THE FIRST IMAGINOS GRAPHIC NOVEL
Albert Bouchard is best known as a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult. The original lineup sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” and the number one hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart “Burning for You.” Bouchard contributed to songwriting and lead vocals on some of its greatest songs, such as “Cites on Flame With Rock and Roll.”
Albert Bouchard has recently completed the Imaginos trilogy with the release of Imaginos III – Mutant Reformation. Bouchard has shepherded the concept of Imaginos through its many incarnations over the years, translating Sandy Pearlman’s feverish visions into sonic resonance. Now, he has translated that into the first part of the Imaginos graphic novel trilogy with the release of Imaginos I. The Imaginos I graphic novel recounts the first third of the Imaginos story as it weaves through the 12 songs from Albert Bouchard’s ReImaginos album. This interactive graphic novel connects you to all 12 songs and includes a download card for the digital version, so you can immerse yourself in this interactive experience on your computer, phone, or tablet.
Order here: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/albertbouchard
As Bouchard states, “Every aspect of the Imaginos story is being revealed a piece at a time. This volume is the first glimpse of what the story will look like. We are all very proud of this grand work.” In addition to Bouchard and Deko, the third leg of this present day Imaginos creative team is the Kubert School Art Agency. Michael Kraiger, Placement Coordinator, has enjoyed Kubert’s part in telling the Imaginos story, “This project was a step in a very interesting direction for us and a wonderful opportunity for some amazing artists to showcase their skills. The Imaginos mythos is fertile ground for graphic storytelling, melding it with Albert's music makes this a unique multimedia experience.”
All the Imaginos albums are available now and feature reworks of classic Blue Öyster Cult tracks like “Astronomy,” “E.T.I.,” “Godzilla,” “Cites on Flame With Rock and Roll,” and many more. Order your copy of ReImaginos, Imaginos II – Bombs Over Germany, and Imaginos III – Mutant Reformation here and get limited-edition bundles while supplies last: https://bit.ly/AlbertBouchard
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
www.albertbouchard.net
www.dekoentertainment.com
Deko Entertainment—Art Has Value
PRINE ON PRINE, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale + the Rock Hall 12/7
PRINE ON PRINE: Interviews & Encounters
“Buddy & Jim Radio” Thanksgiving Weekend on SiriusXM Outlaw Country
Saturday, Nov. 25 at 10 pm EST/9 pm CST; Sunday, Nov. 26 at 10 a.m. EST/9 am CST
National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards 9x Nominee
follows Awards w/ Dec. 7 PRINE ON PRINE Panel
with Lyle Lovett & Fiona Whelan Prine at Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
“Curated by a critic who knew him across five decades,
Prine on Prine distills the essence of an iconic American writer.”
-- Book Reporter
“...moving and insightful.” “a master class in music writing.”
--Los Angeles Times -- Garden & Gun
“Whimsical, romantic, literary, simple, retrospective, forward-looking,
all absolutely John Prine.” -- PASTE
L to R: Jim Lauderdale, Holly Gleason and Buddy Miller
Photo Courtesy of Prine on Prine
Following the Miami Book Fair, PRINE ON PRINE; Interviews & Encounters keeps rolling along. Having met an unprecedented critical reception from The Chicago Tribune to Variety, No Depression to CBS News and beyond, the collection tracks the storied American songwriter’s career from young working class kid in Chicago through his ascendance as one of the most iconic voices in Americana, folk, country and rock music of the last half century continues selling out print runs, anchoring conversations among its contributors and expanding the understanding Prine’s life and evolution.
Following the Thanksgiving feast, fans of the songwriter, Grammy and Austin City Limits Hall of Fame 2023 inductee can enjoy a special two-hour episode of “Buddy and Jim Radio” on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country Channel 62. Debuting Saturday night, November 25 at 10 pm EST/9 pm CST, then again Sunday morning, Nov. 26 at 10 a.m. EST/9 a.m. CST, the program featuring rare performances from Prine and others will re-air Monday, Nov. 27 at 2 a.m. and 2 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 28 at midnight, then Wednesday, Nov. 29-Friday, Dec. 1 at 10 pm (all times EST).
“Buddy and Jim were there when John, along with Dan Einstein and Al Bunetta, were building Oh Boy Records,” Gleason offers of the extended conversation. “They knew us as people who were creating a new way of doing business, back when they were part of the vibrant Palomino scene; they were around when Howie Epstein was making the Grammy-winning Missing Years and Lost Dogs + Mixed Blessings before Oh Boy moved to Nashville. Not only were they fans, they were people who were around – and it was wonderful and strangely emotional going back through time and space with them.
“When you get to remember with people who are part of the fabric of a journey, it’s special. And knowing how much Buddy and Jim loved John – and what they were creating – made for an incredible visit.”
Editor and contributor Gleason has been full-tilt at bringing this book to those who loved Prine. Having won the Southern California Journalism Award for Entertainer Journalist, Music Criticism and Entertainment Feature (News) this spring, she heads to Los Angeles for the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards on Dec. 3 where she is nominated for nine awards, including Print Journalist, Music Critic and Online Columnist, as well as Diversity in the Entertainment Industry, Celebrity Profile, Music & Other Arts Personality Profile, Celebrity Feature, Obituary/In Appreciation, Music/Other Arts Personalities and Book, Non-Fiction.
From there, she travels directly to Cleveland, Ohio for a conversation with Grammy-winning songwriter, artist and producer Lyle Lovett and Fiona Whelan Prine, Prine’s beloved wife, manager and founder of the Prine family’s Hello In There Foundation. Tickets for the Dec. 7 event at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Foster Theater are available here: https://bit.ly/46syy3h.
“To have Lyle and Fiona taking time from their busy schedules to celebrate the legacy and impact of someone we all love so very much is a precious thing,” Gleason says. “John had such respect for Lyle and his writing from the moment that first self-titled album was released; John was pleased to introduce Lyle on ‘The Sessions,’ when it was taped in Dublin so many years ago. And it was on that trip where a tour of U2’s Windmill Lane Recording brought Fiona Whelan into John’s life. Talk about a magical intersection of people to discuss this book, the legacy and humanity? I can think of no finer place to do this, nor better people to share a discussion about one of the smartest, kindest hearted people to have ever lived.”
The collection of newspaper and magazine features, tv appearances, award presentations, film scripts, recipes, an award presentation from John Mellencamp and even Prine’s evening at the Library of Congress has struck a chord with the myriad fans Prine collected over the years. Whether fans who bought John Prine when it was first released in 1971, young Americana songwriters and artists raised on his music through friends, siblings or parents, folks who discovered him through covers by Bonnie Raitt, George Strait, Joan Baez, Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe, Swamp Dogg, Bettye LaVette, Miranda Lambert, Roger Waters among many or his exquisite final album The Tree of Forgiveness, which earned three Grammy nominations for Americana Album and a pair of Americana Song nods.
Chicago Tribune legend Rick Kogan raved, “In this book you get the man, in all his charming, introspective, self-deprecating and inspiring facets. It can serve as a biography, with the details of signposts and bumps on Prine’s road to fame.” HITSDailyDouble.com headlined, “Gleason’s Prine Tome Digs Deep,” entertainment bible VARIETY declared, “to love and know Prine is to spend a lot of hours in his presence via Gleason’s essential compendium, which finds his observational candor, fierce, intelligence and genial warmth to be unwavering,” and No Depression offered “PRINE ON PRINE brings John Prine to life in ways no single biography could ever do.” Even the international Globe & Mail raved, “the closest thing we will ever get to an autobiography of a genius wordsmith” in a wrap up of 12 Music Books This Fall that included Barbra Streisand and Britney Spears.
Early Praise for PRINE ON PRINE: Interviews & Encounters
As close to an autobiography as we’re going to get from John Prine, Prine On Prine captures the inimitable, whimsical voice of one of our greatest songwriters, from the beginning of his career to his final days, evolving from the shy, self-effacing, uncertain youngster film critic Roger Ebert discovered to the wise, cunning veteran who left a body of work probably second only to Dylan. Nashville legend Holly Gleason knew the man and assembled this brilliant collection with a knowing eye and loving heart.
-- Joel Selvin, Here Comes The Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm + Blues; Fare The Well: The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead’s Long Strange Trip
I’m so grateful that Holly has put together this fantastic collection of the best interviews and articles about our beloved John Prine, spanning the whole six decades of his extraordinary career. For all of us who loves and miss him so, this book is truly a treasured gift.
-- Bonnie Raitt
Holly has created a beautiful collage by using John’s words to bring us into the center of his world where family music imagination and love reside with his struggle to remain that kid from Maywood whose curiosity birthed the beautiful songs and music he gifted to the world.
-- Fiona Prine
So much insight and so many great personal stories behind this legendary, super talent. If you’re a John Prine fan, you’re going to love this book. If you’re not, please read it and listen to his music. You will then no doubt be one.
-- George Strait
Listening to John Prine instantly jolts me to a higher vibration and feels like I’m walking on holy ground, free, fearless and naked as the eyes of a clown. He shakes me, wakes me, conjuring up emotions I didn’t know I had, reminding me that tenderness is a virtue. His words make me want to be a better person, to recognize myself in everyone’s eyes, to hold all humanity in high esteem - because we’re all in it together.
Praise be to Holly Gleason for this oh so important, exquisitely curated collection. John Prine improved the world by being alive. Let’s do our best keep that big, beautiful ball rolling.
-- Pamela Des Barres, I’m With The Band and Lets Spend The Night Together
The brilliant genius of John Prine was not only the magic he had in writing about everyday life for everyday people; but just as important was that his lyrics provoked you into thinking about everyday things that you may never have given much thought to and after he woke up those feelings, you realized you couldn’t have said it any better. The respect, admiration and love for Prine and his songs that Holly Gleason has is obvious not only in her eloquent introduction, but in the interviews she selected to pay proper homage to him.
-- Linda Moran, President & CEO, Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Nobody wrote songs like John Prine, filled with humor, humanity, and perfectly cock-eyed detail. But what this elegantly curated collection—culled from interviews, TV and radio appearances, and even recipes—reveals is that...well, that’s just who the guy was. Whether he’s at the Library of Congress or in the pages of Hot Rod magazine, Prine’s wit and fierce independence constantly shine through.
—Alan Light, The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley & the Unlikely Ascent of “Hallelujah”
I’ve loved John Prine since I was a little girl. PRINE ON PRINE makes me feel like he’s been talking to me since he was a young man, and seeing him go through the phases of his career is a real gift. Holly Gleason knew John, so she understood how to take these interviews, movie scripts, tv shows and recipes and create a sense of who he was when he got done writing or performing. Now even more than a legend, he feels like a favorite uncle.
-- Miranda Lambert
With a deep understanding and knowledge of John Prine – the man and his music – Holly Gleason has searched every nook and cranny to curate a thoughtful biography of one of our greatest singer-songwriters. Her insightful text sets the scene as we experience Prine, the unfiltered raconteur, via five decades of media coverage, from major magazines to niche publications, television scripts to a recipe book, talk show appearances, movie roles and his PEN Award presentation. Prine on Prine is both revelatory and entertaining.
-– Holly George-Warren, Janis: Her Life & Music and A Man Called Destruction: The Life & Music of Alex Chilton
Reality can involve a lot of imagination, and no one was better at imagining and painting real pictures about people you felt you knew. I enjoyed getting to know John more through Holly’s curation and writing. A true master.
--- Eric Church
This book is a stunner! Only the glorious Holly Gleason could assemble such a magnificent collection to celebrate the life and world-changing artistry of her friend John Prine. Perhaps the most joyful history book you’ll ever read. His music explodes from the pages.
-- Tom DeSavia, Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of LA Punk and More Fun In The New World: The Unmaking and Legacy of LA Punk
'PRINE ON PRINE' Arrives at Miami Book Fair this Saturday, Nov. 18
JOHN PRINE GOES TO MIAMI!
PRINE ON PRINE: Interviews & Encounters Nov. 18, 4 pm
Miami Book Fair w contributors Michael McCall &
Emmy-winning “Today” producer Mike Leonard
Chicago Tribune, Garden & Gun, Variety, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Nashville Scene,
LA Times, Tennessean, CBS News + More
GLEASON ALSO EARNS NINE NAEJA NOMINATIONS,
Including Print Journalist, Music Critic and Online Columnist of the Year
from the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards
“No music writer alive could be better equipped to edit this volume” -- Salvation South
“Book of the Month” -- Americana Highways
When you start a book at the Rare Book Room of NYC’s iconic Strand Books with the Grammy-winning Steve Earle, you set a very high bar. PRINE ON PRINE: Interviews & Encounters editor/contributor Holly Gleason has ventured to Chicago’s Exile in Bookville for an all-star contributor panel, Nashville’s prestigious Southern Festival of Books and even a sold-out signing at Natalie’s Grandview in Columbus where being too sick to attend didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the 140-ticketed attendees.
This weekend, PRINE ON PRINE arrives at South Florida’s beloved Miami Book Fair for a discussion with contributors Michael McCall (Nashville Scene) and Mike Leonard (Emmy-winning, long time “Today” correspondent). Both men – like Gleason – covered Prine across a sustained amount of time and knew him as a member of the Nashville and Chicago communities. The panel is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 18 at 4 pm in the Magic Screening Room (Building 8, 1st floor) at Miami Dade College.
PRINE ON PRINE: Interviews & Encounters has struck a chord across America. Beyond the initial wave of media, including a three-page cover story in The Tennessean’s Sunday Arts section, this collection of newspaper and magazine features, tv appearances, award presentations, film scripts, recipes and an evening at the Library of Congress remains difficult to find in independent bookstores. With its first two printings sold out almost before delivery, fans of the Grammy, Songwriter and soon-to-be “Austin City Limits” Hall of Fame inductee can be assured a copy of the book following the panel.
“People don’t realize what passion John Prine inspires” Gleason marvels of the response. “People are being told they have no idea when stores may have books in stock. For those who know and love these songs, it’s no surprise. And part of why this book felt important to create is the way it allows John to exists as he was in every stage and moment of his career. Context in looking back, but it’s the real time perspective from some of the greatest writers who’ve covered music and culture that made this work.”
“Whimsical, romantic, literary, simple, retrospective, forward-looking, all absolutely John Prine” PASTE opined, while Garden & Gun assessed the book is “the most concise record of Prine’s life in his own words that we have” and No Depression offered “PRINE ON PRINE brings John Prine to life in ways no single biography could ever do.” Even the international Globe & Mail raved it’s “the closest thing we will ever get to an autobiography of a genius wordsmith” in a wrap up of 12 Music Books This Fall that included Barbra Streisand and Britney Spears.
Chicago Tribune’s Rick Kogan wrote, “In this book you get the man, in all his charming, introspective, self-deprecating and inspiring facets. It can serve as a biography, with the details of signposts and bumps on Prine’s road to fame.” Los Angeles Times deemed it, “moving and insightful,” HITSDailyDouble.com headlined, “Gleason’s Prine Tome Digs Deep” and entertainment bible VARIETY declared, “to love and know Prine is to spend a lot of hours in his presence via Gleason’s essential compendium, which finds his observational candor, fierce intelligence and genial warmth to be unwavering.”
John Prine has come to be revered as Americana’s premiere songwriter/artist. With strong empathy for the human condition, the Chicago-born and -raised daydreamer went on to be a voice who spoke for the unseen and an artist who proffered gravitas on those society overlooked. PRINE ON PRINE: Interviews & Encounters traces the man whose songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, George Strait, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Loretta Lynn, Bettye LaVette, Miranda Lambert, Carly Simon, Susan Tedeschi, Johnny Cash and more across his five-decade career was a labor of love for Gleason.
“Bringing people who have such vibrant memories and experiences with John has been exhilarating. So many memories, so much life are on the book and in conversation... Panels have allowed us to share not just the research that PRINE ON PRINE required, but the fellowship John fostered among those reporters, critics and fellow artists who make up contributors. Every event has taken this book even deeper into capturing the man, his gift and humanity. I can’t wait for Saturday with Mike and Michael. To follow a book on the South Florida punk scene and before Evelyn McDonnell interviews Susanna Hoffs about her novel? John would’ve gotten a kick out of the company we’re keeping.”
With all the momentum around PRINE ON PRINE, Gleason was recently named a nine-time nominee at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, bestowed Dec. 3 in Los Angeles. Beyond being her work for HITS, Variety, POLLSTAR and more earning nominations for Print Journalist and Music Critic of the Year with writers from NY Times, Variety, LA Times, Washington Post and more, she finds herself nominated with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for online columnist and recognized for several individual pieces. Gleason – and multiple Grammy-winner Miranda Lambert – are also nominated for Best Non-Fiction Book, alongside Jon Burlingame, Gerrick Kennedy, Mark Kernes and Alessandra Mattanza.
Having created, edited and contributed to Woman, Walk The Line, the 2018 Belmont Book Award-winning collection of essays about how female country artists profoundly impact individual lives with contributions from Taylor Swift, New York Times best-selling author Alice Randall, Rosanne Cash, Grammy-winning historian Holly George-Warren, poet Caroline Randall Williams, top James Beard Award winner Ronni Lundy, food activist Ali Berlow and more, Gleason understands curating a narrative can sometimes reach places a single reported narrative can’t. That was the goal for PRINE ON PRINE, and across a myriad of mediums, moments and conversations, a sense of the man across his truly lived life emerges.
PRINE ON PRINE is available to purchase HERE.
Early Praise for PRINE ON PRINE: Interviews & Encounters:
As close to an autobiography as we’re going to get from John Prine, Prine On Prine captures the inimitable, whimsical voice of one of our greatest songwriters, from the beginning of his career to his final days, evolving from the shy, self-effacing, uncertain youngster film critic Roger Ebert discovered to the wise, cunning veteran who left a body of work probably second only to Dylan. Nashville legend Holly Gleason knew the man and assembled this brilliant collection with a knowing eye and loving heart.
-- Joel Selvin, Here Comes The Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm +
Blues; Fare The Well: The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead’s Long Strange Trip
I’m so grateful that Holly has put together this fantastic collection of the best interviews and articles about our beloved John Prine, spanning the whole six decades of his extraordinary career. For all of us who loves and miss him so, this book is truly a treasured gift.
-- Bonnie Raitt
Holly has created a beautiful collage by using John’s words to bring us into the center of his world where family music imagination and love reside with his struggle to remain that kid from Maywood whose curiosity birthed the beautiful songs and music he gifted to the world.
-- Fiona Prine
So much insight and so many great personal stories behind this legendary, super talent. If you’re a John Prine fan, you’re going to love this book. If you’re not, please read it and listen to his music. You will then no doubt be one.
-- George Strait
Listening to John Prine instantly jolts me to a higher vibration and feels like I’m walking on holy ground, free, fearless and naked as the eyes of a clown. He shakes me, wakes me, conjuring up emotions I didn’t know I had, reminding me that tenderness is a virtue. His words make me want to be a better person, to recognize myself in everyone’s eyes, to hold all humanity in high esteem - because we’re all in it together.
Praise be to Holly Gleason for this oh so important, exquisitely curated collection. John Prine improved the world by being alive. Let’s do our best keep that big, beautiful ball rolling.
-- Pamela Des Barres, I’m With The Band and Lets Spend The Night Together
The brilliant genius of John Prine was not only the magic he had in writing about everyday life for everyday people; but just as important was that his lyrics provoked you into thinking about everyday things that you may never have given much thought to and after he woke up those feelings, you realized you couldn’t have said it any better. The respect, admiration and love for Prine and his songs that Holly Gleason has is obvious not only in her eloquent introduction, but in the interviews she selected to pay proper homage to him.
-- Linda Moran, President & CEO, Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Nobody wrote songs like John Prine, filled with humor, humanity, and perfectly cock-eyed detail. But what this elegantly curated collection—culled from interviews, TV and radio appearances, and even recipes—reveals is that...well, that’s just who the guy was. Whether he’s at the Library of Congress or in the pages of Hot Rod magazine, Prine’s wit and fierce independence constantly shine through.
-- Alan Light, The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley &the Unlikely Ascent of “Hallelujah”
I’ve loved John Prine since I was a little girl. PRINE ON PRINE makes me feel like he’s been talking to me since he was a young man, and seeing him go through the phases of his career is a real gift. Holly Gleason knew John, so she understood how to take these interviews, movie scripts, tv shows and recipes and create a sense of who he was when he got done writing or performing. Now even more than a legend, he feels like a favorite uncle.
-- Miranda Lambert
With a deep understanding and knowledge of John Prine – the man and his music – Holly Gleason has searched every nook and cranny to curate a thoughtful biography of one of our greatest singer-songwriters. Her insightful text sets the scene as we experience Prine, the unfiltered raconteur, via five decades of media coverage, from major magazines to niche publications, television scripts to a recipe book, talk show appearances, movie roles and his PEN Award presentation. Prine on Prine is both revelatory and entertaining.
-– Holly George-Warren, Janis: Her Life & Music
and A Man Called Destruction: The Life & Music of Alex Chilton
Reality can involve a lot of imagination, and no one was better at imagining and painting real pictures about people you felt you knew. I enjoyed getting to know John more through Holly’s curation and writing. A true master.
--- Eric Church
This book is a stunner! Only the glorious Holly Gleason could assemble such a magnificent collection to celebrate the life and world-changing artistry of her friend John Prine. Perhaps the most joyful history book you’ll ever read. His music explodes from the pages.
-- Tom DeSavia, Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of LA Punk
and More Fun In The New World: The Unmaking and Legacy of LA Punk
About Holly Gleason:
Holly Gleason is the 2023 Southern California Media Awards Entertainment Journalist of the Year, as well their winner for Music Criticism and Entertainment News Feature (Magazine). An author, journalist and academic whose work regularly appeared in Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, Musician, Oxford American, Playboy, Interview and Miami Herald. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Case Western Reserve Fellow is the 2019 Country Music Association Media Achievement Award winner, creator/contributor of the 2018 Belmont Book Award-winning Woman Walk The Line: How The Women of Country Music Changed Our Life, co-author of Miranda Lambert’s New York Times best-seller Y’All Eat Yet: Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin Kitchen and this fall’s Prine on Prine: Interviews & Encounters.
She lives in Nashville, TN and Palm Beach, FL.