Blab Music
Ten New Music-Industry Books Hit Shelves on August 4, 2026
On August 4, 2026, a dozen fresh titles covering the history, memoirs and biographies of iconic musicians were released by a range of publishers, offering readers a panoramic view of music’s past and present.
The first of the new releases is Experienced: On the Road With Jimi Hendrix and Beyond, co‑written by former Hendrix road manager Eric Barrett and author Lawrence Robinson. Barrett, who worked with the guitarist from 1968 to 1970, recounts legendary performances at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight Festival, a Toronto drug bust, and the intimate moments that revealed Hendrix’s insecurities. Diversion Books presents the book as the definitive inside account of the artist’s career.
Also debuting on the same day is Welcome to Your Life: Love, Death & Tears for Fears by Roland Orzabal, co‑founder of the British band. Orzabal narrates his upbringing in Bath, the formation of Tears for Fears with Curt Smith, the success of Songs From The Big Chair, and personal milestones—including the death of his wife Caroline and his struggles with mental health. The memoir blends music history with intimate storytelling.
John Brackett’s Touch of Grey, or How the Grateful Dead Became Pop Stars was issued by Duke University Press. Brackett tracks the creation of the song “Touch of Grey,” from lyric sketches by Robert Hunter to the band’s live arrangements, and explains how the 1987 release of the track and the album In the Dark shifted the Grateful Dead from cult status to mainstream popularity.
Daylight Come: Harry Belafonte and the World He Made by Joshua Jelly‑Schapiro is a biography that follows Belafonte from Harlem to Jamaica, his role in the March on Washington and his collaborations with Sidney Poitier, Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela. The book also examines Belafonte’s influence on Caribbean tourism and his status as a civil‑rights icon.
In contemporary pop, I’m Going to Break Your Heart: A Rock N Roll Love Story by Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida tells the story of the couple’s marriage, the challenges they faced, and their decision to seek therapy. The narrative is framed as a candid look at the personal side of two Canadian musicians.
Mark Langthorne’s The Life and Trials of Cliff Richard: The Biography offers a comprehensive look at the British pop star’s career, his religious convictions, and recent controversies. The book is described as an “enigma” that explores Richard’s public persona versus his private life.
Zoë Howe’s Typical Girls? The Story of the Slits (Remastered) examines the pioneering all‑female punk band, their fusion of dub, reggae, funk and free jazz, and their influence on later female musicians.
Dan Franklin’s Somewhere Between Screaming and Crying: Slipknot, Nu Metal and 9/11 chronicles the release of Slipknot’s 2001 album Iowa, its commercial success, and the impact of the September 11 attacks on the band’s trajectory.
Karan Feder’s Elvis: Dressed to Rock opens the Graceland archives to a collection of more than 150 stage costumes worn by Elvis Presley. The book includes photographs, costume details, and historical context provided by Feder.
Dr. Mitch L. Ryan’s 33⅓ | Dick Diver’s Calendar Days analyzes the 2013 album Calendar Days and its role in the Australian “Dolewave” movement, exploring themes of Australian identity and politics.
Finally, Paul Bradshaw’s Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music is a scholarly volume that traces the influence of Black artists from the Tudor court to contemporary charts, published in conjunction with a British Library exhibition.
These releases provide readers with a broad view of music history, from the backstage of legendary concerts to the cultural impact of genre‑shifting recordings. They also highlight the personal stories of artists who have shaped the industry over the past five decades.
The first of the new releases is Experienced: On the Road With Jimi Hendrix and Beyond, co‑written by former Hendrix road manager Eric Barrett and author Lawrence Robinson. Barrett, who worked with the guitarist from 1968 to 1970, recounts legendary performances at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight Festival, a Toronto drug bust, and the intimate moments that revealed Hendrix’s insecurities. Diversion Books presents the book as the definitive inside account of the artist’s career.
Also debuting on the same day is Welcome to Your Life: Love, Death & Tears for Fears by Roland Orzabal, co‑founder of the British band. Orzabal narrates his upbringing in Bath, the formation of Tears for Fears with Curt Smith, the success of Songs From The Big Chair, and personal milestones—including the death of his wife Caroline and his struggles with mental health. The memoir blends music history with intimate storytelling.
John Brackett’s Touch of Grey, or How the Grateful Dead Became Pop Stars was issued by Duke University Press. Brackett tracks the creation of the song “Touch of Grey,” from lyric sketches by Robert Hunter to the band’s live arrangements, and explains how the 1987 release of the track and the album In the Dark shifted the Grateful Dead from cult status to mainstream popularity.
Daylight Come: Harry Belafonte and the World He Made by Joshua Jelly‑Schapiro is a biography that follows Belafonte from Harlem to Jamaica, his role in the March on Washington and his collaborations with Sidney Poitier, Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela. The book also examines Belafonte’s influence on Caribbean tourism and his status as a civil‑rights icon.
In contemporary pop, I’m Going to Break Your Heart: A Rock N Roll Love Story by Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida tells the story of the couple’s marriage, the challenges they faced, and their decision to seek therapy. The narrative is framed as a candid look at the personal side of two Canadian musicians.
Mark Langthorne’s The Life and Trials of Cliff Richard: The Biography offers a comprehensive look at the British pop star’s career, his religious convictions, and recent controversies. The book is described as an “enigma” that explores Richard’s public persona versus his private life.
Zoë Howe’s Typical Girls? The Story of the Slits (Remastered) examines the pioneering all‑female punk band, their fusion of dub, reggae, funk and free jazz, and their influence on later female musicians.
Dan Franklin’s Somewhere Between Screaming and Crying: Slipknot, Nu Metal and 9/11 chronicles the release of Slipknot’s 2001 album Iowa, its commercial success, and the impact of the September 11 attacks on the band’s trajectory.
Karan Feder’s Elvis: Dressed to Rock opens the Graceland archives to a collection of more than 150 stage costumes worn by Elvis Presley. The book includes photographs, costume details, and historical context provided by Feder.
Dr. Mitch L. Ryan’s 33⅓ | Dick Diver’s Calendar Days analyzes the 2013 album Calendar Days and its role in the Australian “Dolewave” movement, exploring themes of Australian identity and politics.
Finally, Paul Bradshaw’s Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music is a scholarly volume that traces the influence of Black artists from the Tudor court to contemporary charts, published in conjunction with a British Library exhibition.
These releases provide readers with a broad view of music history, from the backstage of legendary concerts to the cultural impact of genre‑shifting recordings. They also highlight the personal stories of artists who have shaped the industry over the past five decades.
