New Book Series Unveils In-Depth Histories of Iggy & the Stooges, Jeff Beck, Ian Gillan, David Bowie, Abbey Lincoln and Fun Lovin Criminals

A fresh wave of music biographies has hit shelves, charting the lives of six icons from punk to jazz.

The six titles—spanning proto‑punk, hard‑rock, glam, jazz, and alternative rock—are available in hardcover and paperback at Amazon, Foyles and independent shops, where they were launched together as a “release shelf” in local bookstores.

The first volume, Death Trip: Iggy And The Stooges, 1972‑74, is written by Michael S. Begnal. Begnal focuses on the chaotic months surrounding the recording of Raw Power, the Stooges’ third studio album released in February 1973. Drawing on newly recovered archives and interviews with guitarist James Williamson and pianist Scott Thurston, the book explores the creative process that produced an album many describe as “arguably the most aggressive, dynamic album in rock history.” The Stooges, who formed in 1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are widely regarded as a seminal proto‑punk act and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

Blow By Blow: The Jeff Beck Story is co‑authored by Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill. The book chronicles Beck’s career from the 1960s through the 2000s, based on approximately 30 hours of interviews with the guitarist himself and conversations with people close to him. The authors highlight Beck’s collaborations with a wide range of artists—from opera singer Luciano Pavarotti to pop star Kelly Clarkson—and note that Jimmy Page praised him for having “shifted the whole sound and face of electric guitar music.”

Ian Gillan’s tenure with the band Gillan is the subject of Unchain Your Brain! The Gillan Story by Martin Popoff. The book covers 1978‑1982, when Gillan returned to his hard‑rock roots with a new lineup that included Colin Towns, John McCoy, Mick Underwood and Bernie Torme. Popoff documents the band’s chart success, television appearances on Top Of The Pops, and the internal tensions that led to Torme’s departure and Janick Gers’ arrival. The group’s final show took place at Wembley Arena in London.

Bowie Odyssey 76 by Simon Goddard continues the Bowie Odyssey series. The volume focuses on 1976, a year of social unrest in Britain that coincided with David Bowie’s emergence as the Thin White Duke. Goddard describes how Bowie’s collaboration with Iggy Pop and his move to Berlin shaped the direction of his music during that year.

The jazz world is represented by Aminata: Abbey Lincoln’s Song Of Faith, written by Ada C.M. Thomas. The book examines the life of singer, composer, poet and activist Abbey Lincoln (1930‑2010). Thomas discusses Lincoln’s work with musicians such as John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk and Max Roach, as well as her relationships with Maya Angelou, Miriam Makeba and Toni Morrison. The author traces Lincoln’s transformation into the stage name Aminata Moseka and her resurgence in the 1990s.

The final title, The Fun Lovin’ Criminal by Huey Morgan, is a memoir of the frontman of the band Fun Lovin’ Criminals. Morgan recounts his early career after leaving the Marines, his involvement with the New York criminal underworld, and the rise of the band’s debut album Come Find Yourself in 1996.

Together, the six books offer a comprehensive look at the creative lives of artists who have shaped rock, jazz and popular music. They are available in both hardcover and paperback editions at major online stores and independent bookshops.