And this month, I’m spotlighting a few recent books and docs that put those very people right in the middle of the story.

(Book) Bumping Into Geniuses: My Life Inside the Rock and Roll Business by Danny Goldberg

Danny Goldberg is a believer in the transformative power of rock ‘n’ roll. He saw it and lived it as up close as anyone has. Prior to his decades spent as a record label executive, his first break was actually spending days on Max Yasgur’s farm covering Woodstock as a rock journalist.

If you want to learn about the business side of rock ’n’ roll- the record labels, management companies, publicists, contracts, and deal-making, this book is loaded with insider stories. But you also get tremendous insightful stories about the relationships he built with Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Stevie Nicks, Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, Bonnie Raitt, Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne, and many more.

It’s where the contracts, egos, friendships, and rock ’n’ roll chaos all collide, and that’s what makes it such a great read with a ton of insight into the business side of rock ‘n’ roll.

(Doc) Ron Delsener Presents

This is pure rock ’n’ roll history about a man many people outside the East Coast may not know. Ron Delsener was an iconic New York City concert promoter behind more than 40 years of major shows, and this documentary does a terrific job of capturing exactly who this iconoclast is. Now in his 80s, he is still funny, sharp, energetic, and completely obsessed with music, production, and the thrill of the live show. It’s not slick or overly polished, but it is full of personality. This guy is a character, and I love him. It also features great artist commentary from Bruce Springsteen and Little Steven, Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, Paul Simon, Bon Jovi, Gene and Paul from Kiss, along with enough history to make Ron Delsener Presents a must see. This is an excellent documentary about all that goes into a career of putting on iconic rock ‘n’ roll shows.

(Book) Buzz Me In: Inside the Record Plant Studios

So what exactly made the Record Plant recording studio so famous compared to the other studios that were popping up at the time? It was the ultimate destination for artists during what you could easily call rock ’n’ roll’s most explosive era of recording. Buzz Me In: Inside the Record Plant Studio is that story, and it’s put together by music journalists Martin Porter and David Goggin. They take you on an uninhibited, high-octane journey through the grit, genius, and chaos (and when I say chaos, I mean a ton of crazy chaos; remember, this is the 70’s!) With this one, you get all that went into building, running, producing, and making rock ‘n’ roll history.

(Book) Raised on Radio: Power Ballads, Cocaine & Payola – the AOR Glory Years 1976-1986 by Paul Rees

I’m going to throw a curveball into this list, because with this book you get the best of both worlds told mainly by the artists. And those names are about as good as you can get when talking about the classic rock radio years. Or otherwise known as “Album-Oriented Rock” (AOR). Steve Perry (Journey), Tom Schultz (Boston), Mick Jones (Foreigner), Pat Benatar, Steve Lukather (Toto), Ann Wilson (Heart), Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), and Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) all tell deep, detailed versions of how all that music and their careers were made.

Paul Rees approaches this as an oral history, so not only are the artists contributing, but insight is also provided by managers, producers, industry insiders, and the people who helped shape this sound.

One of the most successful, misunderstood, and enduring eras in rock ‘n’ roll history. This book does a great job of exploring a lot of different angles of that time period.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR STREAMING PLATFORM OFFERS THE CANADIAN BROADCAST CORPORATION.

If your hand went up, you are in luck! And if not…well, there’s still hope to see the new Rush documentary coming out on September 23rd. And this one looks like it could be really special due to a few things -

1. It is called Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple and it is focused on the life and legacy of Neil Peart. The doc traces his life story from a young age and explores his unique talent.

2. Both Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee contributed interviews for the documentary.

3. Alex and Geddy will be jamming Rush tunes with Stewart Copeland of The Police, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Danny Carey from Tool.

If you don’t get the CBC (like me), the website does stream their content. And they do archive things, so hopefully, it will be available past the original broadcast date. And, there is always the possibility that it gets picked up and offered on a larger streaming platform so more people can catch it!

This month’s newsletter is sponsored by our friends at Motorbooks, who were kind enough to send over a copy of the new Metallica book Album by Album for me to give away to one lucky subscriber!

The book has a great roundtable feel centered on discussions about the legacy of Metallica’s studio albums. Author Martin Popoff fires off thoughtful, serious questions to an impressive group that includes Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, Frank Bello of Anthrax, Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest, along with producers, journalists, and other industry figures.

It’s a beautiful coffee-table-style book with a hardcover and more than 200 glossy photos and pieces of memorabilia, but what really sets it apart is the format. If you are a Metallica fan, you are in for a very different, insightful exploration of what made this band’s albums stand out amongst the others.

• Every Rock Talk Studio subscriber is automatically entered into the drawing. The winner will be picked on October 1st. If you’re not a subscriber and want in, just click the link for a free subscription on us.

  Subscribe now

• (Doc) Gregg Allman: Music of My Soul

  Streaming: July 21, 2026

• (Book) Welcome To Your Life: Love, Death, and Tears For Fears by Roland Orzabal

  Release Date: August 4, 2026

• (Book) Experienced: On the Road with Jimi Hendrix and Beyond by Eric Barrett

  Release Date: August 4, 2026

• (Book) Is This It: The Never-Ending Rise and Fall of the Strokes (and Rock ‘n’ Roll) by Steven Hyden

  Release Date: August 8, 2026

• (Book) Elvis Presley: Conversations with Scotty Moore by Jim Berkenstadt

  Release Date: August 11, 2026

• (Book) Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland by Ashley Kahn

  Release Date: August 11, 2026

• (Doc) Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear

  Streaming: August 13, 2026

• (Doc) If These Walls Could Rock: The Untold Story of The Sunset Marquis

  Streaming: August 14, 2026

• (Book) In My Darkest Hour: A Memoir by Dave Mustaine

  Release Date: September 8, 2026

• (Book) The Other Side of a Dream: My Life In and Out of Blondie by Clem Burke

  Release Date: September 8, 2026

• (Book) Eagles and Hotel California: 50 Years by Sean Egan

  Release Date: September 8, 2026

• (Book) Metallica: Album By Album by Martin Popoff

  Release Date: September 15, 2026

• (Doc) Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple

  Release Date: September 23, 2026

• (Book) Devil On My Shoulder: A Memoir by Alice Cooper

  Released Date: October 6, 2026

• (Book) Grunge!: The Story of the Music That Redefined Rock By Gillian G. Gaar

  Release Date: October 13, 2026

• (Book) Heavy Metal’s Big Four: How Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, and Megadeth Transformed Metal by Daniel Bukszpan

  Release Date: November 10, 2026

• (Book) Van Halen by Alex Van Halen

  Release Date: November 2026

And last but not least, let’s end with a first- we actually have a book announcement with a set release date for 2027! In the four years I have been doing this, I have never seen an announcement this far in advance with an actual release date. And it looks like an interesting title to boot!

• (Book) Carnival Ghosts: A Memoir of Life, Loss and Rebirth with Little Feat by Bill Payne

  Release Date: February 16, 2027

Have you heard the Rock Talk Studio podcast?

Every Tuesday, the Rock Talk Studio podcast fires up about rock history and culture through the books, docs, stories, and products that matter.

To learn more about some of the books and docs mentioned in the BLAST!!, here are a few top links to check out-

• Power Ballads, Excess, and the Secret War for 80’s Radio

• From Woodstock to Nirvana: Inside the Rock n Roll Business with Danny Goldberg

• Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studio Book Review

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 10 ROLLING STONES STUDIO ALBUMS?

Hang in there- this is more than just an album ranking. I’ve got a point to make…

But first, real quick, here’s mine:

1. Sticky Fingers

Possibly their most complete album: “Brown Sugar,” “Wild Horses,” “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” and “Moonlight Mile.” It was also the first album to feature guitarist Mick Taylor as a full member.

The Stones cover an enormous amount of territory across these 10 songs without ever sounding scattered.

2. Exile on Main St.

Their greatest messy masterpiece: blues, country, gospel, soul, and rock ’n’ roll all bleeding together.

Recorded in the basement of Keith Richards’ French villa while the Stones were hiding out because of tax issues, the album captures a decadent, raw rock ’n’ roll atmosphere.

3. Let It Bleed

Dark, dangerous, and iconic. “Gimme Shelter” alone elevates this album into the upper tier.

This was the end of the ’60s, and the Stones captured the darkness and uncertainty of the era perfectly. Add “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” “Midnight Rambler,” and “You Got the Silver,” and you have one of the defining rock albums of its time.

4. Beggars Banquet

The moment they fully became the Stones: rootsy, sinister, stripped-down, and brilliant. It blues, country, and harder-edged rock ’n’ roll. Songs like “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Street Fighting Man,” and “Stray Cat Blues” gave the album its dangerous edge.

5. Some Girls

Their late-’70s comeback: punk attitude, disco pulse, New York City grime, and classic Stones swagger.

Facing criticism that they were losing relevance, the band responded with aggressive, engaged tracks like “Miss You” and “Beast of Burden.” Some Girls proved that a legacy band could adapt to a rapidly changing musical landscape without losing its soul.

6. Tattoo You

A great late-period album, even though much of it was built from older sessions.

Released in 1981, Tattoo You brilliantly transformed unreleased 1970s studio outtakes into a cohesive, perfectly sequenced record. Its release was supported by a hugely successful 1981-82 stadium tour, (the first time I saw the Stones!), along with heavy music video rotation that introduced the band to a younger audience.

7. Aftermath

Their first truly major original songwriting statement.

It was the first Stones album made up entirely of original Jagger-Richards songs, while Brian Jones added remarkable textures with instruments beyond the guitar. Signature tracks include “Under My Thumb,” “Lady Jane,” and “Paint It, Black.”

8. 9. 10.

I stopped here for a reason. After the top seven, it gets a little murky. And here comes the point: the Stones, now in their 80s, may have just released one of their best albums in their long illustrious career. Time to review your own Top 10 and ask, could Foreign Tongues, the Stones’ 25th studio album, actually rank among their Top 10?

Yea, you could put Bridges to Babylon, Black and Blue, Goats Head Soup, or Between the Buttons into those final three slots. But after hearing Foreign Tongues, I think the Rolling Stones have made rock history once again, and added a genuine Top 10 studio album to an already unmatched legacy.

WHAT DO YOU WANT IN A ROCK DOC?

A documentary about a tour can usually only take us so far: backstage footage, rehearsals, and access to the stage. But this one includes something we haven’t seen in 25 years.

The most celebrated tour of 2025, the Oasis reunion, is now the subject of a new documentary arriving in September. And at the center of it is a sit down interview with Liam and Noel together, in the same room. It’s the first time in 25 years the brothers have agreed to do this.

Always compelling, occasionally ugly, the Gallagher brothers are anything but predictable interview subjects. And because this conversation is being captured for a documentary, you know they will have plenty to say.

We’ll find out on September 11. The documentary will have a limited theatrical run before moving to streaming. There’s still no confirmed streaming date, but it’s expected to arrive sometime in 2026.

BACK IN THE NY GROOVE

Looking for a gritty New York City story that recalls Jim Carroll’s classic The Basketball Diaries? Musician Jesse Malin’s new book, Almost Grown: A New York City Memoir, captures the beauty, chaos, and cultural energy of one of rock ’n’ roll’s greatest epicenters.

Malin’s quick wit, hard earned humility, and streetwise storytelling bring his wild upbringing, rise, and reinvention to life while vividly capturing New York City in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

He may not be a household name, but his resume tells a different story. His band D Generation opened for Kiss at Madison Square Garden, he collaborated with Bruce Springsteen, and he produced a Lucinda Williams record. I would call him an important New York City entity within the city’s rock ’n’ roll history. And I would makes a strong case for why this story deserves to be heard.

WE NEED TO GET CLEAR ON THIS NEW VAN HALEN BOOK

Is this a follow-up to Alex Van Halen’s book Brothers? No. But if you are looking for a companion piece to that story this is definitely it!

VAN HALEN follows Eddie and Alex’s story from the time they arrived in California from Holland in 1962 through the backyard party days in Pasadena, the breakthrough of their 1978 debut, and the massive success of 1984.

And there is a lot packed into this book.

You get rare photographs, tour memorabilia, correspondence, album artwork, press materials, instruments, and other pieces from the band’s history that have never been seen before. There are also images from the early Sunset Strip years, their first Japanese tour in 1978, the 1983 US Festival, and the 1984 Monsters of Rock tour.

But the biggest thing here is the new manuscript from Alex Van Halen, created from interviews done specifically for this book. His story is joined by archival material from Eddie, along with contributions from musicians, friends, and artists who were influenced by the band.

The Collector Edition is limited to 1,150 copies, numbered 351 through 1,500, and every copy is hand-signed by Alex Van Halen. The book is quarter-bound in black vegan leather, has silver-edged pages, and features a debossed Van Halen logo based on the band’s 1978 World Tour design.

It also comes in a black clamshell box featuring the Van Halen emblem and Alex’s burning-ring artwork. The Deluxe Edition is already sold out!

On the Radar

• (Book) Blow By Blow: The Story of Jeff Beck by Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill

  Release Date: July 14, 2026

• (Doc) Gregg Allman: Music of My Soul

  Streaming: July 21, 2026

• (Book) Welcome To You Life: Love, Death, and Tears For Fears by Roland Orzabal

  Release Date: August 4, 2026

• (Book) Experienced: On the Road with Jimi Hendrix and Beyond by Eric Barrett

  Release Date: August 4, 2026

• (Book) Is This It: The Never-Ending Rise and Fall of the Strokes (and Rock ‘n’ Roll) by Steven Hyden

  Release Date: August 8, 2026

• (Book) Elvis Presley: Conversations with Scotty Moore by Jim Berkenstadt

  Release Date: August 11, 2026

• (Book) Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland by Ashley Kahn

  Release Date: August 11, 2026

• (Doc) If These Walls Could Rock: The Untold Story of The Sunset Marquis

  Streaming: August 14, 2026

• (Book) In My Darkest Hour: A Memoir by Dave Mustaine

  Release Date: September 8, 2026

• (Book) The Other Side of a Dream: My Life In and Out of Blondie by Clem Burke

  Release Date: September 8, 2026

• (Book) Devil On My Shoulder: A Memoir by Alice Cooper

  Released Date: October 6, 2026

• (Book) Van Halen by Alex Van Halen

  Release Date: November 2026

  

From the Rock Talk Studio Podcast

Every Tuesday on the Rock Talk Studio podcast, the discussion is all about rock history and culture, through the books, docs, stories, and products that matter. If podcasts are your thing, or if you’re just interested in learning more, here are a few of last months highlights-

• Top 5 Best Rock Books of 2026… So Far

• Top 5 Rock n Roll Documentaries of 2026...So Far

• Jeff Beck: The Restless Genius of a Guitar God- Blow by Blow Book Review

• Rock’s Most Unusual Books: 5 Strange and Fascinating Reads

That was the thread running through a lot of what I covered this month: From Ozzy as an AI avatar to Rush returning to the stage, from Kim Thayil looking back on Soundgarden and the birth of grunge with his new memoir, to The Clash reaching the 50-year mark.

Different stories. Different eras. Same question: How does rock live on?

Let’s start with Rush returning to the stage: probably the most scrutinized return for a band that lost a member. For some fans, the idea of Rush without Neil Peart is impossible. He wasn’t just the drummer. He was the lyricist, the architect, the professor, and the irreplaceable center of the band’s identity. Spoiler: If you haven’t heard, which I think would be almost impossible by now, Anika Niles, the new drummer, killed it!

But rock history is full of bands facing the same brutal question: Do you stop because someone essential is gone, or do you find a way to carry the music forward?

That doesn’t mean every comeback works. It doesn’t mean every reunion feels right. And it definitely doesn’t mean the missing person can simply be replaced. But it does mean rock bands have always been forced to wrestle with grief in public. Sometimes, they stop. Sometimes, they return too quickly. Sometimes, they find a second life that nobody expected. And sometimes, they kick major ass, like Rush returning to the stage this month!

And then there is the question of Ozzy as an AI avatar, a question I feel is going to have the biggest effect on rock going forward. It takes the idea of a second life into much stranger territory. That is where tribute, technology, nostalgia, commerce, and grief all start crashing into each other. And that is where a ton of debate lies.

So when we start talking about AI versions of rock stars, we are really asking what we value most. Is it the songs? The image? The voice? The memory? The chance to feel close to someone again? Or does the whole thing fall apart if the person is no longer truly there?

I don’t think there is an easy answer to this one, but I do think this is going to become one of the biggest legacy questions in rock. Because the classic rock era is aging. The icons are getting older. Some are already gone. And the industry is going to keep looking for ways to extend the life of these artists, whether fans are ready for it or not.

That brings me to Kim Thayil’s memoir, which looks backward in a very different way. What I find compelling about Thayil is that he doesn’t seem interested in turning Soundgarden into a simple legend. He seems more interested in the texture and context of it and the strange accidents that made grunge happen.

Grunge is now treated like it was inevitable, like Seattle was always going to explode. Like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains were destined to become the defining bands of a generation. But history almost never feels inevitable while it is happening, and Thayil’s perspective is valuable because he was inside that moment before anyone knew how big it would become.

And finally, The Clash. Fifty years later, The Clash is no longer just a band, they are a symbol of what rock can be when it has urgency, politics, style, rage, curiosity, and ambition all working at once. In my opinion, the point of The Clash was never just that they made great records. The point was that they sounded like people trying to break something open. They pushed beyond punk, pulled in reggae, dub, rockabilly, funk, and whatever else served the song. So who is the next Clash? Can rock produce another rebel band that can change a landscape?

To me, the real question is not whether rock ’n’ roll can survive. It is proving that it will, and can keep surviving. The better question is: what form does it take next?

On the Radar

Books

• Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash (Revised and Updated 50th Anniversary Edition) by Pat Gilbert

  Release Date: May 14, 2026

• Neil Young: Reflections in Broken Glass (Updated and Revised) by Sylvie Simmons

  Release Date: May 26, 2026

• A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond by Kim Thayil

  Release Date: June 9, 2026

• Bowie Odyssey 76 by Simon Goddard

  Release Date: June 9, 2026

• Stranded in the Future by Robyn Hitchcock

  Release Date: July 7, 2026

• Blow By Blow: The Story of Jeff Beck by Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill

  Release Date: July 14, 2026

• Is This It: The Never-Ending Rise and Fall of the Strokes (and Rock ‘n’ Roll) by Steven Hyden

  Release Date: August 8, 2026

• Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland by Ashley Kahn

  Release Date: August 11, 2026

• In My Darkest Hour: A Memoir by Dave Mustaine

  Release Date: September 8, 2026

• The Other Side of a Dream: My Life In and Out of Blondie by Clem Burke

  Release Date: September 8, 2026

• Devil On My Shoulder: A Memoir by Alice Cooper

  Released Date: October 6, 2026

Documentaries

Other than the new Gregg Allman documentary released this month, there’s nothing new to report on the rock doc front. So I’ll leave you with a handful of good ones released earlier this year that I highly recommend checking out.

• The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel

  Release Date: March 20, 2026

• The Godfather of Gigs: Ron Delsener Presents

  Release Date March 26, 2026

• Billy Idol: Should Be Dead

  Release Date: March 26,2026

• Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert

  Release Date: April 7, 2026

• Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It

  Release Date: April 16, 2026 (Theaters only)

• Gregg Allman: Music of My Soul

  Release Date: June 17, 2026 (Theaters only)

Big news for guitar fans! Two legendary live events are coming, and Neil Young just dropped a new concert film.

• First up is Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2026, September 26-27, in Austin, Texas at Moody Center. This is a monster lineup and here are a few names already committed: Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., Pete Townshend, Billy Gibbons, Buddy Guy, Trey Anastasio, Sonny Landreth, John Mayer, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Tommy Emmanuel, and Marcus King.

• And then, a few days later, Buddy Guy’s 90th birthday will be celebrated in New York City on October 1 at Radio City Music Hall. This one-night event will feature Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, Jon Batiste, Gary Clark Jr., Joe Bonamassa, Billy F. Gibbons, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and many more.

• Free Neil! Neil Young just unveiled a concert film titled Corduroy Plants on his Neil Young Archives website. The hour-long flick, documenting Young’s 2025 Love Earth Tour with The Chrome Hearts, can currently be viewed on the platform for free.

From the Rock Talk Studio Podcast

Every Tuesday on the Rock Talk Studio podcast, the discussion is all about rock history and culture, through the books, docs, stories, and products that matter. If podcasts are your thing, or if you’re just interested in learning more, here are a few highlights-

• Ranking Rock’s 5 Greatest Resurrections

• The Definitive Clash Bio- The Clash Passion is a Fashion Book Review

• Ozzy as an AI Avatar: Tribute, Exploitation, or the Future of Rock?

• Van Halen, The Clash, Jeff Beck, Soundgarden, and More: 7 New Rock Books on My Radar

So when the paperback edition came out this month, it felt like the perfect excuse to put Heartbreaker back in the spotlight. And even better, Ari Surdoval, who co-wrote the book with Mike Campbell, was kind enough to send me a signed copy of the newly released paperback edition to give away to one of my BLAST!! subscribers.

But not only that, Ari also surprised me with a signed copy of his book Double Nickels (also a terrific read I highly recommend) to sweeten the deal. How cool is that?! Thanks Ari! You rock!

All Rock Talk Studio Blast!! subscribers are instantly entered in to win. If you’re not a subscriber, and you want a free subscription plus a chance to win these two great books, you know what to do.

Subscribe now

Let’s stay in the award-winner world for a minute, because when people ask me which Rock Talk Studio award winners they may not have heard of, but absolutely should, I usually find myself coming back to these titles.

They are the under-the-radar stories. The overlooked artists. The weird corners of rock history. Let’s give a few of these past Rock Talk Studio honorees a much-deserved nod. And, hopefully, add a few titles to your must-watch/read list!

Soul Serenade: King Curtis and His Immortal Saxophone by Timothy Hoover

RTS Award: 2024- Book I Learned The Most From

How does jazz saxophonist King Curtis fit into a rock ‘n’ roll conversation? Pretty easily, actually.

Doyle Bramhall of Delaney & Bonnie fame and Duane Allman were close friends of his. He opened for The Beatles at Shea Stadium and kept that opening slot throughout the tour. Jimi Hendrix played in Curtis’s band before launching his solo career. King Curtis played with Buddy Holly. He also played on a John Lennon record. Is that enough rock cred?

Timothy Hoover spent 20 years writing this book, and it shows. Soul Serenade is a dazzling pull-back-the-curtain look at an underappreciated giant whose fingerprints are all over American music.

If you want to expand your rock ‘n’ roll knowledge beyond the usual names, dig into this one.

Play All Night: Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East by Bob Beatty

RTS Award: 2023- Best Book About a Band

This book deepened the Duane Allman mythos for me by focusing on something essential: his relentless pursuit of the sound he heard in his head and the band he was meant to be in.

Bob Beatty writes like a fan, for the fans, but with a historian’s discipline and respect for the facts. And he is, in fact, a real historian.

The result is a finely constructed collection of interviews, reviews, recollections, and quotes that track The Allman Brothers Band from its earliest formation to its breakthrough triumph: At Fillmore East.

Beatty is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the Allman Brothers, and he continues to produce some of the best content about the Allman Brothers universe. If you’re a Brothers fan, I also highly recommend you check out his site, Long Live the ABB: Conversations From The Crossroads.

And if you want to hear a great conversation I had with Bob, who’s one of my favorite people to talk rock ‘n’ roll with, we chop it up about the Allman Brothers, Leon Russell, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Joe Cocker, and Mad Dogs & Englishmen. Listen Here.

Revival 69: The Concert That Rocked the World

RTS Award: 2024- Best Documentary

How does a Toronto festival in 1969 go from a near non-event to one of the biggest rock ‘n’ roll moments of the year?

That’s the wild ride of Revival 69.

The film tells the story of the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, a show that somehow became Toronto’s answer to Woodstock, complete with chaos, big personalities, last-minute drama, and a lineup loaded with rock history.

This was John Lennon’s first live performance with a band other than The Beatles. And if that isn’t enough of a draw, the doc also features legendary performances from Alice Cooper, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, and Bo Diddley.

It’s messy, fascinating, funny, historic, and full of “how did this actually happen?” energy. Exactly the kind of rock documentary I love.

Mysteries In The Music: Case Closed by Jim Berkenstadt

RTS Award: 2023- Best rock ‘n’ roll book not about a band or musician

AND

The Beatles Who Vanished by Jim Berkenstadt

RTS Award: 2024- Best Expanded Edition Book

Jim Berkenstadt is the only author to win two Rock Talk Studio awards, and for good reason.

Known as the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Detective,” Jim has built his reputation by digging into the myths, mysteries, and half-told stories that surround music history.

Mysteries in the Music explores stories connected to The Beach Boys, John Lennon, Bob Marley, Elvis, and more.

The Beatles Who Vanished answers one of the strangest Beatles questions: Whatever happened to Jimmie Nicol, the drummer who briefly stepped in for Ringo Starr and helped save The Beatles’ first world tour?

If you like the detective-work side of rock history- the buried details, the unresolved questions, the stories behind the stories- Jim’s work is absolutely worth your time.

Little Richard: I Am Everything

RTS Award: 2023- Best Documentary

The wild genius of Little Richard finally gets the spotlight it deserves in Little Richard: I Am Everything. This documentary makes the case, powerfully, that Richard wasn’t just one of rock ‘n’ roll’s founding figures. He may have been the founding figure.

But what makes the film so compelling is that it doesn’t flatten him into a simple legend. It explores the contradictions, the brilliance, the pain, the faith, the sexuality, the showmanship, and the impossible force of nature that was Little Richard. The film doesn’t shy away from any of it.

The result is a documentary that gives Richard his proper place in rock history- not as a footnote, not as an influence- but as one of the original architects of the entire thing.

On the Radar

Books

• The Rolling Stones: The Biography by Bob Spitz

  Release Date: April 21, 2026

• I Am Phil by Phil Ehart

  Release Date: April 21, 2026

• Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash (Revised and Updated 50th Anniversary Edition) by Pat Gilbert

  Release Date: May 14, 2026

• A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond by Kim Thayil

  Release Date: June 9, 2026

• Bowie Odyssey 76 by Simon Goddard

  Release Date: June 9, 2026

• Blow By Blow: The Story of Jeff Beck by Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill

  Release Date: July 14, 2026

• In My Darkest Hour: A Memoir by Dave Mustaine

  Release Date: September 8, 2026

• Is This It: The Never-Ending Rise of the Strokes by Steven Hyden

  Release Date: August 8, 2026

• Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland by Ashley Kahn

  Release Date: August 11, 2026

• Devil On My Shoulder: A Memoir by Alice Cooper

  Released Date: October 6, 2026

Documentaries

Not a lot happening right now on the new documentary front, so I’m going to leave some of the titles released in March on the list. I highly recommend all three of them by the way!

• The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel

  Release Date: March 20, 2026

• The Godfather of Gigs: Ron Delsener Presents

  Release Date March 26, 2026

• Billy Idol: Should Be Dead

  Release Date: March 26,2026

• Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert

  Release Date: April 7, 2026

• Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It

  Release Date: April 16, 2026 (Theaters only)

• Gregg Allman: Music of My Soul

  Release Date: June 17, 2026 (Theaters only)

  ---

From the Rock Talk Studio Podcast

Every Tuesday on the Rock Talk Studio podcast, I help serious music fans navigate rock history and culture, from artifacts and untold stories to books, docs, new releases, and rediscoveries. If podcasts are your thing, or if you’re just interested in learning more, here are a few highlights-

• Grateful Dead’s Vault Surprises and Rush’s 2112 at 50

• Power Ballads, Excess, and the Secret War for 80s Radio

• Van Halen, The Clash, Jeff Beck, Soundgarden & More: 7 Rock Books on My Radar

What’s Worth Your Attention

The Rolling Stones: The Biography by Bob Spitz

This is one of the greatest rock ’n’ roll stories from one of, if not THE, greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands. And it’s written by a true rock ‘n’ roll writer, Bob Spitz, who also wrote the great Beatles and Led Zeppelin biographies. At the center of the book are Mick and Keith, and that strange, volatile, one-of-a-kind bond that built the Stones, pushed others out of the picture, and somehow still seems to be the engine behind the whole thing more than 60 years later.

Play Dead

Play Dead may be one of the most significant new developments for Grateful Dead fans in years. The new Grateful Dead-branded app from Nugs TV gives listeners access to a high-resolution streaming library built around the band’s live legacy, including 20 previously unreleased shows at launch, with two additional vault releases arriving every Tuesday. As archivist David Lemieux put it, “This is the most complete way the Dead have ever been able to share the vault.”

Even The Good Girls Will Cry: A 90’s Rock Memoir by Melissa Auf der Maur

Melissa Auf der Maur has the historical point of view and cultural vantage point (bass player for Hole and Smashing Pumpkins) to make this a one-of-a-kind book about the deeper story of ‘90s alternative rock. Plus the Courtney Love stories are hard to beat.

The Godfather of Gigs: Ron Delsener Presents

This is pure rock ’n’ roll history about a man many people outside the East Coast may not know. Ron Delsener was an iconic New York concert promoter behind more than 40 years of major shows, and this documentary does a terrific job of capturing exactly who this iconoclast is. Now in his 80s, he is still funny, sharp, energetic, and completely obsessed with music, production, and the thrill of the live show. It’s not slick or overly polished, but it is full of personality. This guy is a character, and I love him. It also features great artist commentary from Bruce Springsteen and Little Steven, Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, Paul Simon, Bon Jovi, Gene and Paul from Kiss, along with enough history to make Ron Delsener Presents a must-see.

Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2026

Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2026 returns to Austin’s Moody Center on September 26-27, bringing two nights of top-tier guitar talent to a festival that has always been about more than just the lineup. Clapton is joined by names like Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., and John Mayer, while Pete Townsend and Trey Anastasio make their Crossroads debuts.

What’s Developing

Gregg Allman Documentary

If any artist deserves a documentary with real soul, Gregg Allman has to be near the top of the list. And this summer, we may finally get one. Music of My Soul, the new Gregg Allman documentary, has officially been announced for theaters. There is no streaming release yet, but I have to think that will come after the theatrical run.

CSN Documentary

Graham Nash is saying the upcoming Crosby, Stills & Nash documentary is not going to be the usual story about conflict and dysfunction. Instead, he says it focuses on the deep love that held the band together, even through all the tension. Nash pointed to the way that connection shows up in performance, in the chemistry, the laughter, and the sense that underneath everything, these guys really did love each other. The project is also expected to include 33 previously unreleased songs, but no release date has been announced.

Peter Frampton Documentary

If this documentary delivers on what the Tribeca Film Festival is promising, Frampton could be one of the more meaningful rock docs of the year and is set to premiere at the festival on June 4 in New York. It traces Frampton’s story from the massive success of Frampton Comes Alive! to a later chapter shaped by his degenerative health diagnosis. Add in interview appearances from Ringo Starr, Bill Wyman, Tom Morello, Sheryl Crow, Alice Cooper, Herb Alpert, Cameron Crowe, Nancy Wilson, and Roger Daltrey, and this looks like a documentary with real weight.

Alice Cooper, Dave Mustaine, and Kim Thayil Memoirs

Three interesting memoirs are set to release through the end of the year. Alice brings the longest resume to the list; Mustaine’s book is framed around his 2019 throat cancer diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and what that period forced him to confront; and the Soundgarden story will be explored in-depth from guitarist Kim Thayil. All three have released dates announced which I list in the “On The Radar” section below.

Book Giveaway! - The Rolling Stones: The Biography by Bob Spitz

A story about two boys deserves a two-book giveaway. Thanks to my friends at Penguin Press, two of you have a chance to win the new Rolling Stones biography written by Bob Spitz.

One of the benefits of subscribing to the Rock Talk Studio Blast!! is that you are automatically entered into all giveaways. Good luck, everyone!! And if you’re not subscribed yet, you know what to do.

Subscribe now

On the Radar

Books

• Rush and 2112: 50 Years by Daniel Bukszpan

  Release Date: March 10, 2026

• Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A 90’s Rock Memoir by Melissa Auf der Maur

  Release Date: March 17, 2026

• The Rolling Stones: The Biography by Bob Spitz

  Release Date: April 21, 2026

• I Am Phil by Phil Ehart

  Release Date: April 21, 2026

• A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond by Kim Thayil

  Release Date: May 19, 2026

• Bowie Odyssey 76 by Simon Goddard

  Release Date: June 9, 2026

• Blow By Blow: The Story of Jeff Beck by Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill

  Release Date: July 14, 2026

• In My Darkest Hour: A Memoir by Dave Mustaine

  Release Date: September 8, 2026

• Is This It: The Never-Ending Rise of the Strokes by Steven Hyden

  Release Date: August 8, 2026

• Devil On My Shoulder: A Memoir by Alice Cooper

  Released Date: October 6, 2026

Documentaries

• The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother Hillel

  Release Date: March 20, 2026

• The Godfather of Gigs: Ron Delsener Presents

  Release Date March 26, 2026

• Billy Idol: Should Be Dead

  Release Date: March 26,2026

• Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert

  Release Date: April 7, 2026

• Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It

  Release Date: April 16, 2026 (Theaters only)

• Gregg Allman: Music of My Soul

  Release Date: June 17, 2026 (Theaters only)

From the Rock Talk Studio Podcast

Every Tuesday on the Rock Talk Studio podcast, I help serious music fans navigate rock history and culture, from artifacts and untold stories to books, docs, new releases and rediscoveries, so they can better understand what to explore, experience, and invest in next.

If you want more information about a few topics touched on in today’s Blast!!, here’s a great place to start.

RTS Episode 114-

Gregg Allman documentary is coming, plus a Rolling Stones biography not to miss

RTS Episode 112-

Jerry Garcia’s Tiger, Melissa Auf der Maur memoir, and the Return of Crossroads

RTS Episode 113-

Springsteen Tour, Billy Idol doc, and the Tom Petty Estate

Los Lobos: Native Sons

This documentary was announced in 2024, title and everything. There was even a trailer! Word was it was finished, and the buzz was building around an early 2025 release.

It’s 2026, guys. What’s going on?

Update: Last week, the Native Sons documentary actually premiered at the South by Southwest festival in Texas. So, yes, the doc has been seen. Still no official release date though.

Watkins Glen

In 2023, I got an email from the producers of this documentary asking if I’d be interested in doing some promo around it. I heard a little more from them, and then…zip.

Update: Still nothing.

Too bad, because I would love a documentary about that legendary festival featuring The Allman Brothers Band, Grateful Dead, and The Band.

While we may not have the doc (yet), I do have a recommendation. If you’re looking for great insight into the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, the book Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the ‘70s by Alan Paul includes a few well-researched chapters covering some key moments from that unforgettable weekend.

Ann Wilson: In My Voice

Ann came out at the end of 2025 and announced that she had created a documentary, not about Heart, but about her personal career.

Okay, I’m in. One of the best female voices in rock (maybe the best?). Since then, though, it’s been pretty quiet.

Update: On March 17, Ann Wilson announced she’ll be embarking on a 10-stop North American tour to screen her forthcoming documentary. After each screening, Wilson will take part in a live Q&A alongside director Barbara Hall.

Still no official release date though.

Billy Idol: Should Be Dead

The Idol doc premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 10, 2025. Reviews were really strong, and I’ve been dying to see it. And now, we finally have an update.

Update: Hulu just announced it will begin streaming the documentary on March 26, 2026. So by the time you read this, it will be officially released!

Yes…we’ve got one. 🙌

Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition

A new Iron Maiden documentary is on the way, set to explore five decades of their iconic reign.

Update: The film will be released exclusively in cinemas worldwide on May 7, 2026. They’ve also just dropped the first trailer, and it looks like the Maiden doc that Maiden fans deserves.

Books

• The Kinks: The Day-By-Day Story Pt 1: 1940-1971 by Doug Hinman & Andrew Sandoval

  Release Date: February 20, 2026

• KISS ‘76: Twelve Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land by Martin Popoff

  Release Date: February 24, 2026

• Raised on Radio: Power Ballads, Cocaine, and Payola- The AOR Glory Years 1976-1986 by Paul Rees

  Release Date: February 24, 2026

• Rush and 2112: 50 Years by Daniel Bukszpan

  Release Date: March 10, 2026

• Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A 90’s Rock Memoir by Melissa Auf der Maur

  Release Date: March 17, 2026

• The Rolling Stones: Biography by Bob Spitz

  Release Date: April 21, 2026

• A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond by Kim Thayil

  Release Date: May 19, 2026

• Bowie Odyssey 76 by Simon Goddard

  Release Date: June 9, 2026

• Devil On My Shoulder: A Memoir by Alice Cooper

  Released Date: October 6, 2026

Documentaries

• Eddie Vedder: A Matter of Time

  Release Date: February 9, 2026

• Paul McCartney: Man on the Run

  Release Date: February 25, 2026

• The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother Hillel

  Release Date: March 20, 2026

• Billy Idol: Should Be Dead

  Release Date: March 26,2026

If you’re looking for the next great rock ’n’ roll book or documentary to check out, let’s take a look at some of the recent titles I’ve previewed, reviewed, and recommended on the Rock Talk Studio podcast.

Most of the reviews come in under 15 minutes and are packed with just enough insight, without spoiling anything, to help you decide if it’s worth your time and money. Have a listen.

• Bumping Into Geniuses: From Woodstock to Nirvana, Inside the Rock n Roll Business with Danny Goldberg (Book)

• Rolling Stones 1969 Tour (Book) and Toni Iommi (Doc)

• Paul McCartney: Man on The Run (Doc)

• KISS- KISS 76 (Book)

• Eddie Vedder: A Matter of Time (Doc)

• The Beatles Project Worth Your Time Right Now (Books and Docs)

• Grateful Dead: The Definitive List (Book and Docs Bobby Weir Tribute)

• David Gilmour: Luck and Strange, Studio/Live (Book)

Then something interesting happened.

Someone asked for Paul McCartney recommendations.
Then Bruce Springsteen.
Followed by someone looking for books about grunge (that was a tough one).

I’m calling these “cluster recs,” and they’re organized by artist or theme, designed to take you below the surface and into the good stuff.

So let’s play a little game called:

“If _________ is your jam, let’s dig into the deep cuts!”

Bruce Springsteen

Tonight In Jungleland: The Making of Born To Run (book)- How did he do it? Now we know how Bruce went from the brink of being dropped by his record label to creating a career-saving, defining masterpiece. Listen to the podcast episode review.

Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run (doc)- A companion piece to the book, this came first, and through incredible footage, captures the chaos inside the recording studio.

Bruce Springsteen: In His Own Words (doc)- A BBC documentary that takes a close, songwriter-focused look at Bruce Springsteen, using rare archival footage and candid moments to dig into his roots and the rise of the E Street Band.

Springsteen: The Howard Stern Interview- It’s not a book or a documentary, but it’s absolutely worth watching. Bruce Springsteen talks openly about his process, his life, and where the songs come from, while sitting down with Howard Stern, and plays a few really moving acoustic tracks along the way. Even if you’re not a Stern fan, I’d challenge you to check this out. He raises his game here and gets into parts of Springsteen’s story you don’t always hear. Listen to the podcast review.

Women Rockers

Patti Smith: M Train (book)- Patti released her second memoir Bread of Angels at the end of last year. (Listen to the podcast episode review). It served as both a prequal and sequel to her masterpiece Just Kids and sits in between them, creating an insightful bridge to the two books while taking you even deeper into her magical way of being.

She’s a Badass: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism (book)- Far from being just a book about feminism (and, in fact, most of the rockers interviewed didn’t embrace that label), it offers a smart, engaging look at a remarkable group of female musicians and the realities of their careers. Featuring voices like Ann Wilson, Suzi Quatro, Gina Schock, Orianthi, Suzanne Vega, Exene Cervenka, Donita Sparks, and Tanya Donelly, the book adds insightful depth to the conversation around women in rock. Listen to the podcast episode review.

Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery (doc)- This is all about the incredible courage, extraordinary talent, and the amazing women who came together to create a one-of-a-kind event in music history. It had never been attempted before and has yet to be repeated with the same level of success. Listen to the podcast episode review.

Traveling-On The Path of Joni Mitchell (book)- Author Ann Powers sets out to understand someone she knows she may never fully figure out- Joni Mitchell. Powers frames the book as a “dual journey,” through Mitchell’s life and her own, using Joni almost like a flashlight to illuminate larger questions about art, identity, and self-creation. Listen to the podcast episode review.

Oral Histories

Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson (book)- There are a few things that make this special. First, it was written by David Leaf, a longtime friend of Brian Wilson, which gave him rare access to Wilson and the people around him. Second, it tells a beautiful story about how something that haunted Brian for decades, the Smile album, was finally confronted, reclaimed, and transformed into the fully realized work of art it was always meant to be. Listen to the podcast episode review.

I Don’t Want To Go Home: The Story of the Stone Pony (book)- What makes this so great is who shows up. You hear from Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, John Popper, Steven Van Zandt, Zakk Wylde, and Southside Johnny- alongside the bartenders, door staff, radio DJs, and the club’s three owners. The result is a wide, deep, and rollicking portrait of a legendary rock ’n’ roll cathedral that’s still standing: The Stone Pony. Listen to the podcast episode review.

Sharing In The Groove: The Untold Story of the 90’s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene that Followed (book)- I loved the way this digs into how the jam band scene exploded in the ’90s, tracing the bands and local scenes it grew out of. You hear directly from key players like Trey Anastasio, Dave Matthews, John Popper, and Derek Trucks, along with groups like Medeski, Martin & Wood and The Greyboy Allstars. It gives you a real sense of how interconnected, and influential, that whole scene became. Listen to the podcast episode review.

Tom Petty

Tom Petty and Me: My Rock ‘n’ Roll Adventure with Tom Petty (book) by Jon Scott- Scott was a lifelong friend who helped build Tom’s career. Tom actually dedicated I Won’t Back Down to Jon at his last concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

Conversation With Tom Petty (book)- Writer Tom Zollo would drive up to Tom Petty’s house in Malibu and spend Saturdays hanging in his living room talking. Casual, yes- which makes the book special- but also telling about Petty as a musician and as a person. Listen to the podcast episode review.

Heartbreakers Beach Party (doc)- I love how raw this documentary is. Petty and the band were just beginning to taste stardom on a whole new level. Cameron Crowe, who never directed a movie before, follows them around, and in the end, we get an intimate look at the Long After Dark period of the band.

Books

• David Gilmour: Luck and Strange - Studio/Live Photographs by Polly Samson

  Release Date: January 6, 2026

• The Kinks: The Day-By-Day Story, Pt 1: 1940-1971 by Doug Hinman & Andrew Sandoval

  Release Date: February 20, 2026

• KISS ‘76: Twelve Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land by Martin Popoff

  Release Date: February 24, 2026

• Is Everybody Ready For The Next Band: The Rolling Stones 1969 US Tour by Richard Houghton

  Release Date: February 25, 2026

• Rush and 2112: 50 Years by Daniel Bukszpan

  Release Date: March 10, 2026

• Bumping Into Geniuses: My Life Inside the Rock and Roll Business by Danny Goldberg

  Release Date: March 10, 2026

• Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A 90’s Rock Memoir by Melissa Auf der Maur

  Release Date: March 17, 2026

• The Rolling Stones: The Biography by Bob Spitz

  Release Date: April 21, 2026

• Bowie Odyssey 76 by Simon Goddard

  Release Date: June 9, 2026

Documentaries

• Eddie Vedder: A Matter of Time

  Release Date: February 9, 2026

• Paul McCartney: Man on the Run

  Release Date: February 25, 2026

• The Rise of The Red Hot Chili Peppers

  Release Date: Match 20

Fresh off the Book and Doc Newswire!

• Courtney Love’s new upcoming documentary Antiheroine debuted at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtney contributes to the doc as she also prepares to put out a new album. No streaming release date set yet.

• The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers was originally billed as a career retrospective of the band, but the Chili Peppers quickly issued a post-release statement clarifying that the documentary focuses specifically on the band’s early years with original guitarist Hillel Slovak.

• What did The New York Times name one of the most anticipated books of 2026? The Rolling Stones: The Biography. Much of the buzz likely stems from veteran rock writer Bob Spitz’s cachet. This one should be worth the wait.

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The Rock Talk Studio has officially entered its fourth year, with more than 100 episodes under its belt-something I’m incredibly proud of. That’s 100 recommendations pointing you straight to the good stuff. The goal is simple: connect you with your next great rock n roll book or documentary. Come on over and have a listen to the Rock Talk Studio Podcast.

This week, Rock Talk Studio hits two milestones, both of which I’m really proud of. Here’s why I’m grinning.

The Rock Talk Studio podcast just released its 100th episode, and 2026 kicks off our fourth year diving into the books, docs, and stories behind all that great rock ’n’ roll history.

Why Rock Talk Studio Exists

If you love rock history but don’t have time to chase every new book or documentary release, this show is for you. I gladly do the watching, reading, and digging so you don’t have to.

What You’ll Always Get Here

• I won’t recommend everything- only what I feel is worth your time.

• I do this with the utmost respect for the intelligence of serious rock fans.

• I care about context, history, and storytelling.

• And I’ll keep doing the work so listeners don’t waste their time when it comes to finding a great rock ’n’ roll book or documentary to check out.

Why I Recommend What I Recommend

If it’s on the Rock Talk Studio podcast, it’s earned its spot. I’m not here to recommend everything, only the releases I genuinely want to share and believe deserve your attention.

If you haven’t checked out the podcast, or if you’ve missed the last few episodes, this is the perfect place to jump in-

Top 10 Rock n Roll Books of 2025

Top 10 Rock n Roll Documentaries of 2025

My Personal Thank You

So whether you’ve been listening since the early episodes or you found the show last week—thank you for being a part of this. Your support, feedback, and curiosity are what keep this going.

100 Episodes In, and Just Getting Started. Thanks, Everyone!!

This newsletter is sponsored by Thames & Hudson who have just released the great new book David Gilmour: Luck and Strange Studio/Live

Step inside the making of David Gilmour’s latest album Luck and Strange and its tour through intimate, atmospheric photographs you won’t find anywhere else. From moody black-and-white studio and rehearsal shots to vibrant color images from live shows in Rome, London, L.A., and New York, every page is filled with music, energy, and feeling. Beautifully printed and deeply personal, this book is the perfect visual companion for fans, capturing Gilmour’s journey from the studio to the stage.

To celebrate the new release, our friends at Thames & Hudson are offering up TWO copies of the book as a giveaway to the Rock Talk Studio audience. And anyone with a subscription to this newsletter is automatically entered! So, if you haven’t subscribed yet and want to get in on the book giveaway plus all the other news about the world of rock ‘n’ roll books and docs, you can subscribe (for free!!) here-

Subscribe now

Now let’s take a look at all the latest rock ‘n’ roll books and docs that are heading our way. The list is always small to start the year, but hang tight. Luckily, we have a ton of quality in what has been announced so far and hoping for more good stuff soon.

Books

• David Gilmour: Luck and Strange - Studio/Live Photographs by Polly Samson

  Release Date: January 6, 2026

• The Kinks: The Day-By-Day Story Pt 1: 1940-1971 by Doug Hinman & Andrew Sandoval

  Release Date: February 20, 2026

• KISS '76: Twelve Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land by Martin Popoff

  Release Date: February 24, 2026

• Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A 90’s Rock Memoir by Melissa Auf der Maur

  Release Date: March 17, 2026

• Bowie Odyssey 76 by Simon Goddard

  Release Date: June 9, 2026

Documentaries

• It’s Never Over: Jeff Buckley

  Release Date: December 5, 2025

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (Streaming)

  Release Date: January 23, 2026

• Eddie Vedder: A Matter of Time

  Release Date: February 9, 2026

• Paul McCartney: Man on the Run

  Release Date: February 25, 2026

Because the Grateful Dead have always meant so much to me, and with Bobby Weir’s passing this month sparking lots of questions about the best Dead books and documentaries to check out, I put together a special edition of the Rock Talk Studio podcast celebrating one of America’s greatest bands. It was great fun paying tribute to one of the most iconic, game changing bands in rock ‘n’ roll. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did putting it together. Check it out on February 2 at the Rock Talk Studio Podcast

Welcome to the 3rd Annual Rock Talk Studio Awards! So many incredible rock ’n’ roll books dropped in 2025, it’s honestly kind of ridiculous. A few, though, blew everything else away and earned this year’s Rock Talk Studio Awards. And no, I didn’t forget the documentaries- I’ve got trophies ready for the best rock docs 2025 delivered, too. I watched it all. I read it all. Now let’s hand out some awards!

The Books

Best Rock ‘n’ Roll Book

Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell and Ari Surdoval

The book that hit the number one spot on my monthly Top 5 list the moment it was released, and never let go. Mike Campbell’s humble, honest delivery tells the story of what it was like partnering with Tom Petty all those years. This is the other side of the story. It not only fills in gaps in the Petty legend, but also opens the door to the inner world of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Best Book About a Band

Teenage Wasteland: The Who at Winterland 1968 and 1976 by Edoardo Genzolini

The very interesting concept behind this book is what pushed it ahead of a few other contenders. It offers a fresh take, utilizing 500 photographs taken by people who actually attended the shows. It’s an innovative approach that succeeds because it delivers these images alongside comprehensive coverage of The Who, capturing the band on very different, distinctive nights in their career.

Best Book About a Band Member

Waiting on The Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses by Peter Wolf

The former lead singer of the J. Geils Band wrote a memoir that isn’t really about him. Rather, it’s more about the people he admired- the ones who inspired him, amazed him, challenged him, and joined him on some truly wild adventures.

So, what makes this different from the usual rock ’n’ roll memoir? It’s who he spent time with: Alfred Hitchcock, Muddy Waters, David Lynch, Faye Dunaway (to whom he was married for five years), Van Morrison, Andy Warhol, Aretha Franklin, Julia Child, Norman Rockwell, and Marilyn Monroe, to name just a few.

Best Book NOT About a Band or Band Member

The Uncool by Cameron Crowe

Reading The Uncool feels like stepping into an alternative version of the movie Almost Famous. Except this time, the moments aren’t reenacted; they’re the original stories. And they are pretty mind blowing!! All those behind the scenes Almost Famous moments, plus stories that honestly are hard to believe actually exist. Who interviews David Bowie, Jimmy Page, Greg Allman, Ronnie Van Zant, Joni Mitchell, Glenn Fry and a ton of others at age 15?

The Documentaries

Best Rock ‘n’ Roll Documentary

Stories of Surrender: Bono

It’s artsy, it’s gutsy, confessional, raw and…just spectacular! What an amazing piece of work. Bono did a book tour to support his memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story in 2022, and it was a one-man show where he took moments from his book and acted them out. And this capture from the Beacon Theater in New York is totally without a safety net. He shared his deeply personal memories of his dad, mom, wife, and bandmates and did it with such dramatic flair, it left me pretty much speechless.

Best Documentary About a Band

Becoming Led Zeppelin

The easiest pick of all the awards, this powerhouse of a documentary celebrates the formation of Led Zeppelin and their first two records. The live footage kicks ass, and the participation of the three surviving members makes this one for the ages. It took a long time to get this made (over 7 years!), and it surpassed all expectations.

Best Documentary About a Band Member

And So It Goes: Billy Joel

It’s not a flashy doc, but it covers a ton of ground- five hours’ worth! Yes, it’s a long one. In a lot of ways, it feels like it’s pushing back against the people who think Billy Joel is uncool, especially the critics from his most prolific years. A fair amount of time is spent on Joel bucking the critics, being pissed off, and acting out. And to Joel’s credit, he admits it. He confesses. He reflects. He professes to being a vengeful drunk, and, more than a few times in his life, in being very lost. It’s an expansive, thoughtful profile of Joel’s life, and it ultimately leaves you with a deeper appreciation for him as a musician. It’s a doc that answers the question of why this so called “uncool” guy’s songs have resonated with so many people for so long.

Best Documentary NOT About a Band or Band Member

Norman’s Rare Guitars

This is a very touching story about a legendary store in Tarzana, California, where Tom Petty, Slash, Marcus King, Melissa Etheridge, Joe Bonamassa, Lenny Kravitz, and more, came to play guitars and hang out. But this story is about more than rock stars and great guitars. It’s about Norm Harris, his family, how this legendary place was born, and how it continues to inspire guitar players from around the world.

And that’s a wrap on Rock Talk Studio’s 2025 best of the best! Whatcha think? Hit me with your thoughts. Comments, critiques, your picks- I want it all.

For a look back on the previous years’ award winners, links to the podcast episodes are below-

2024 Rock Talk Studio Awards

2023 Rock Talk Studio Awards

The end of the year always leaves the New Release/Coming Soon list a little short. The good news is, we should know a lot more by the end of January. Here’s what we have in the hopper so far…

Books

• David Gilmour: Luck and Strange - Studio/Live by Polly Samson

  Release Date: January 6, 2026

• Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A 90’s Rock Memoir by Melissa Auf der Maur

  Release Date: March 17, 2026

• Bowie Odyssey 76 by Simon Goddard

  Release Date: June 9, 2026

Documentaries

• The Beatles: Anthology

  Release date: November 26, 2025

• It’s Never Over: Jeff Buckley

  Release Date: December 5, 2025

• Paul McCartney: Man on the Run

  Release Date: February 25, 2026

This month’s BLAST!! wraps up year one of the Rock Talk Studio newsletter!! I launched it as an extension of what I love to do every Tuesday on the podcast- review, preview, and recommend the latest rock ’n’ roll books and documentaries. I wanted a single place you could venture back to anytime for the most up-to-date info in the rock book and doc world. I hope I’ve hit the mark and that you’ve enjoyed reading the monthly catch up as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it out.

Cheers to another year of discovering amazing rock ’n’ roll stories together! More books, more docs, and more insights coming your way in 2026!

The Coffee Table Books

Spotlight Titles:

[Sponsored by our friends at Thames & Hudson]

Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams

• This book stands as the official chronicle of the band’s story and triumphs; it’s a comprehensive account of Maiden’s 50 year legacy. And it’s done by bringing their story to life through a visual narrative of photographs and memorabilia. The presentation is just top notch. And, it goes without saying...Iron Maiden fans are in for a treat with this one!

Oasis: Trying to Find a Way Out of Nowhere

• With rare, unrestricted access, photographer Jill Furmanovsky captured Oasis in all their raw power, humor, and moments of vulnerability. Her photographs and stories reveal a deep trust and genuine connection between the band and the photographer. 557 photos, 30+ years of access!

Annie Lennox: Retrospective

• This is a (gorgeous) photo-heavy look at the amazing Annie Lennox’s career. It spans seven decades and really shines the light on Lennox’s unique sense of style. The book is structured chronologically and filled with Annie’s writings about her memories and untold scenes accompanying the photographs.

Bon Jovi: Forever

• If you’re a Bon Jovi fan, this one is a must have. It’s a massive (probably the most all-inclusive coffee table book I’ve read this year) look back at 40 years of hits, photos, and behind-the-scenes moments from the band’s vault. It offers an unparalleled glimpse into their journey through rare artifacts, stunning photography, and the personal insights of Jon Bon Jovi himself.

Pearl Jam Live! 35 Years of Legendary Music and Revolutionary Shows

• Though makers of great records, to me Pearl Jam is even greater as a live band. That’s where you get the power, depth, and unity of the band to it’s fans. If you’ve ever been to a Pearl Jam show, you know what I’m talking about. And that’s what you get in this new book.

Queen: A Night at the Opera: 50 Years

• This isn’t just a book, it’s a front-row seat to the moment Queen became immortal. With over 250 stunning images, behind-the-scenes stories, and rare insights, this book captures the chaos, craft, and brilliance behind Queen’s boldest leap. Built like a coffee table book, packed like a vault, this is the ultimate Queen fan artifact.

Teenage Wasteland: The Who at Winterland, 1968 and 1976

• This book delivers a fresh approach with its focus on two shows in San Francisco that sets itself apart. And it really works! It packs in more than 500 photos, taken by actual attendees, while still offering a thorough look at The Who during these pivotal moments in the band’s career.

Tom Petty: The Life & Music

• Split into 75 chapters, you get 75 moments that stand out over his long career. And even though the book does chronologically tell the story of his career and his life, these moments aren’t your typical career highlights. I particularly like how they included lesser known facts, pictures, and insight into Petty’s story.

The Memoirs

Spotlight Title:

Last Rites by Ozzy Osbourne

• The truth behind Ozzy’s final years. The second memoir from Oz unearths the incredible battle he waged to grace the stage one more time.

The Bread of Angels by Patti Smith

• This is a powerful memoir that spans decades. Patti shares memories of rebellious youth, creative breakthroughs, a deep love story with Fred “Sonic” Smith, and the painful losses that never stopped her from forging ahead.

Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell

• Chock-full of stories never told, this memoir uncovers the inner workings of Mike’s relationship with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. One of the best books I have read this year.

Insomnia by Robbie Robertson

• Published after his passing, Robbie Robertson’s 2025 memoir looks back at his intense artistic and personal connection with Martin Scorsese in the years following The Band’s split.

The Uncool by Cameron Crowe

• Pure rock ‘n’ roll history here. Never has anyone ever interviewed such a comprehensive group of legends like David Bowie, Gregg Allman, Jimmy Page, Ronnie Van Zant, Joni Mitchell, Glen Frey, let alone at the age of 15!

Waiting On The Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses by Peter Wolf

• Peter Wolf authors one of this year’s most unique memoirs. Alfred Hitchcock, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, David Lynch, Julia Child, Norman Rockwell, Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker and Faye Dunaway all play a significant part in this story.

The Oral Histories

Spotlight Title:

Alternative for the Masses: The 90’s Alt-Rock Revolution

• More than 60 new interviews were conducted exclusively for this genre-busting book, capturing a moment in rock ‘n’ roll history when underground music took over the mainstream.

Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the 90’s Jam Band Explosion

• Candid memories and quotes from Trey Anastasio, John Popper, Derek Trucks, Steve Lillywhite, Dave Matthews, Karl Denson, John Medeski, and more.

Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival

• This book features over 200 wild, over the top, no holds barred interviews from artists, promoters, and crew on how Lollapalooza reshaped the music industry and became a cultural phenomenon.

SMiLE: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson

• Brian Wilson’s album SMiLE didn’t come out in the ‘60’s when it was made. And it was so visionary, it nearly broke him. This tremendous book gives you everything you ever wanted to know about how SMiLE became myth, obsession, burden, and then finally, against all odds, triumph!

The Others (not to be missed books)

Spotlight Title:

[Sponsored by our friends at Thames & Hudson]

Buzz Me In: Inside the Record Plant Studios

• This is all about how two men (with a little help from Hendrix) built the go-to recording hub of the decade. Over-the-top partying, tight deadlines, all-night sessions, and egos the size of hotel suites- this is the 1970s music scene in full throttle. Get the scoop on how iconic records like Hotel California, Rumours, 1999, Songs in the Key of Life, Damn the Torpedoes, and many others were made.

Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band

• The biography that finally does justice to one of rock’s most heartbreaking and beautiful voices. Author Stephen T. Lewis paints a vivid, deeply human portrait of Richard Manuel: gentle, complicated, and quietly unraveling.

The Cars: Let The Stories Be Told

• The Cars’ three surviving members help writer Bill Janovitz work through the history of the band. How did this Boston unit become one of the 80’s most influential bands? Let the stories be told!

The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership that Rocked the World

• From the award-winning biographer of Elvis Presley comes a groundbreaking look at the King and his controversial manager. Drawing on never before seen letters, it reveals the Colonel not just as a reviled figure, but as Elvis’s confidant, friend, and architect of his success.

Tonight In Jungleland: The Making of Born To Run

• Springsteen’s Born To Run was made under the presence of a ton of record label pressure. It was “do or die” time for Bruce. This is the story about how, after selling roughly 50K of his first two records, he created this career-defining masterpiece.

Loud and Clear: The Making of the Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection

• This book is equal parts technical chronicle and counterculture memoir that dives deep into the Grateful Dead and the massive, brain-bending machinery used to build their iconic sound system- The Wall of Sound.

  ---

P.S. From the Rock Talk Studio family to yours, wishing you all the best this holiday season! Can’t wait to rock you with more great books and docs in 2026!

Matt Sorum- Double Talking Jive

This is one of the most cringe-worthy books I’ve read in the last few years. The amount of cocaine ingested alone is enough to make you genuinely grateful that The Cult, Guns N’ Roses, and Velvet Revolver’s drummer is still with us. It’s packed with wild, wild tales and anchored by a surprisingly compelling redemption story.

Sly Stone- Sly Lives: Aka The Burden of Black Genius

Though Sly passed this year, I’m still including this one. He was a trailblazer. He was a revolution. And then, suddenly, it was over. Too much fame too fast, and way too much excess. This documentary is a powerful exploration of what fame did to Sly Stone…and how he somehow survived it.

Lucinda Williams- Don’t Tell Anyone the Secrets I Told You

Lucinda is a scrappy fighter who has bucked the odds her whole life. She held nothing back in the telling of her life story, including a tragic upbringing, severe family mental health issues, and surviving a lot of male ego in the record business.

Chris Stein- Under a Rock

A life shaped by mental health struggles and addiction created a chaotic world for Blondie guitarist Chris Stein. His memoir Under a Rock reveals the underbelly of New York City and the places he chose to live, roam, and create during a wild era of music and art.

Ozzy Osbourne- Last Rites

Have to include the Oz Man on this list. I recently finished his second memoir, Last Rites, and we all know Ozzy lived a wild life. But even with that knowledge, there were so many “I cannot believe this actually happened” moments in this book. Kudos to Ozzy for the valiant fight against not only his addictions, but also his failing physical health, in his quest to perform one last time. We’re lucky to have had him with us for so long, and lucky he gave us this final memoir that he wrote right up to the end.

Other Survivor Tales

If you’d like to go deeper than the last few years, let’s bow down to a handful of the all-time classic rock ‘n’ roll survivor tales-

• Mötley Crüe’s Dirt

• Slash (the autobiography)

• Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis

• Led Zeppelin’s story Hammer of The Gods

• Life by Keith Richards

  Thanks for reading Rock Talk Studio BLAST!!! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Every month, I track the rise and fall of the most badass rock ‘n’ roll reads and docs. New entries crash the charts, old legends fight to stay on top, and sleeper picks sneak up the ranks. Who’s climbing? Who’s falling? Who got snubbed? Well, this month brings the most changes to the Top 5 all year- we’ve got a new number 2 and number 5 in the book category!

Rock Talk Studio’s Top 5 Books

1. Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. The Uncool by Cameron Crowe

   Previous Ranking: New to the charts this month!

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses by Peter Wolf

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Last Rites by Ozzy Osbourne

   Previous Ranking: New to the charts this month!

   Listen to the podcast review

Rock Talk Studio’s Top 5 Docs

1. Bono: Stories of Surrender

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Becoming Led Zeppelin

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Norm’s Rare Guitars

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Billy Joel: And So It Goes

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Beach Party

   Previous Ranking: 5

   Listen to the podcast review

It’s shrinking! You’ve probably noticed the new-release list getting smaller as we approach the end of the year. No worries, this happens every year. It’s just the way publishers space out their releases. Once the 2026 titles start getting announced, I’ll be sure to add them to our list of upcoming books and docs to look forward to.

Books

• Last Rites by Ozzy Osbourne

  Release Date: October 7, 2025

• Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams by Steve Harris

  Release Date: October 7, 2024

• Oasis: Trying To Find a Way Out Of Nowhere by Jill Furmanovsky and Noel Gallagher

  Release Date: October 14, 2025

• Pearl Jam Live!: 35 Years of Legendary Music and Revolutionary Shows by Selena Fragassi

  Release Date: October 14, 2025

• Jack White: Collected Lyrics and Selected Writings, Volume 1 by Jack White

  Release Date: October 21, 2025

• The Uncool: A Memoir by Cameron Crowe

  Release Date: October 28, 2025

• Alternative for the Masses: The ‘90s Alt-Rock Revolution by Greg Prato

  Release Date: October 28, 2025

• Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Ted Widmer

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Bread of Angels: A Memoir by Patti Smith

  Release Date: November 4, 2025

• Tom Petty: The Life and Music by Gillian Gaar

  Release Date: November 4, 2025

• Insomnia: A Memoir by Robbie Robertson

  Release Date: November 11, 2025

• This Angry Pen of Mine: Recovering the Journals of Layne Staley by Layne Staley

  Release Date: November 11, 2025

Documentaries

• Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now

  Release Date: October 7, 2025

• Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

  Release Date: October 21,2025

• Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

  Release Date: October 24, 2025

• One to One: John and Yoko

  Release date: November 14, 2025

• The Beatles: Anthology

  Release date: November 26, 2025

• It’s Never Over: Jeff Buckley

  Released Date: December 5,2025

• Paul McCartney: Man on the Run

  Release Date: February 25, 2026

  ---

P.S. What’s the one gift every rock ’n’ roll fan wants for the holidays? A great rock ’n’ roll book! With that in mind, I’ve put together a special Holiday Shopping Guide that will be sent to all subscribers as a bonus newsletter on December 9th! It’ll be packed with killer recommendations, something for every music lover on your list. Keep an eye out for it next week!

P.S.S. I started this month’s newsletter with gratitude, and I want to end it the same way. Thank YOU- to everyone who reads this and supports the Rock Talk Studio project I launched three years ago. One of the reasons people tell me they enjoy what I do is because they can feel the enthusiasm I have for rock ’n’ roll. A lot of that passion comes from being able to share new rock ’n’ roll books and docs with you, and to talk about the art form we all love.

I’m grateful to be able to keep doing this, and I’ll continue bringing you the good stuff as Rock Talk Studio heads into its fourth year!

I Don’t Want to Go Home: The Oral History of the Stone Pony

This is the one that changed my mind because it included bartenders, agents, radio DJs, the mayor, local regulars at the bar, plus a handful of rockers- Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, Zack Wilde, Southside Johnny, and Patti Smith. This combination sheds light on how a bar that barely survived a race riot, the closing of its doors a few times, and three ownership changes managed to hang on and become an iconic, still-thriving historic landmark in New Jersey. The power of music is strong in this one!

Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Rock’s Wildest Festival

This is a backstage pass to the moment music festivals were reinvented. With over 200 raw, unfiltered voices, this oral history digs into the chaos, genius, and fire that Perry Farrell sparked in 1991, and how that wild experiment rewired rock, culture, and youth itself. Before Coachella, before $18 smoothies at festivals, before more traffic than LA rush hour, there was Lollapalooza. The A-list contributors to this oral history do not hold back.

Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the 90’s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene that Followed

Speaking of A-List contributors, I can’t think of anyone that was left out of this one. All the big names of the 90’s Jam Bands are here, plus (and this is what makes this such an enjoyable read) bands that were on the fringe of this wave but still contributed to the overall scene. A well-researched presentation here.

Alternative for the Masses: The Oral History of the ’90s Alt-Rock Revolution

Another scene explosion from the ’90s! And why did this one make the list? Because it offers a very alternative look at perhaps the last great moment in rock ’n’ roll history. This is not a linear retelling, and it’s not all about Nirvana. It comes at you from a multitude of angles, goes all over the place, and ends up being a fascinating, good time.

Every month, I track the rise and fall of the most badass rock ‘n’ roll reads and docs. New entries crash the charts, old legends fight to stay on top, and sleeper picks sneak up the ranks. Who’s climbing? Who’s falling? Who got snubbed? Let’s dig in.

Rock Talk Studio’s Top 5 Books

1. Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses by Peter Wolf

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Smile: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Teenage Wasteland: The Who at Winterland 1968 and 1976 by Edoardo Genzolini

   Previous Ranking: 5

   Listen to the podcast review

Rock Talk Studio’s Top 5 Docs

1. Bono: Stories of Surrender

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Becoming Led Zeppelin

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Norm’s Rare Guitars

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Billy Joel: And So It Goes

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Beach Party

   Previous Ranking: 5

   Listen to the podcast review

This newsletter is sponsored by Thames & Hudson, who will be sending one lucky winner this incredible book- Oasis: Trying To Find a Way Out of Nowhere

Oasis: Trying to Find the Way Out of Nowhere features the stunning photography of Jill Furmanovsky, who’s been capturing the Gallagher brothers since 1994.

From Definitely Maybe to Be Here Now to their 2025 comeback, this is the visual story of a band that defined an era.

All Rock Talk Studio Blast!! subscribers are automatically entered to win, so if you haven’t subscribed, now’s the time! Hit that button while subscriptions remain free!

Subscribe now

Books

• The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Bill Janovitz

  Release Date: September 30, 2025

• Last Rites by Ozzy Osbourne

  Release Date: October 7, 2025

• Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams by Steve Harris

  Release Date: October 7, 2024

• Oasis: Trying To Find a Way Out Of Nowhere by Jill Furmanovsky and Noel Gallagher

  Release Date: October 14, 2025

• PEARL JAM LIVE! 35 Years of Legendary Music and Revolutionary Shows by Selena Fragassi

  Release Date: October 14, 2025

• Jack White: Collected Lyrics and Selected Writings, Volume 1 by Jack White

  Release Date: October 21, 2025

• The Uncool: A Memoir by Cameron Crowe

  Release Date: October 28, 2025

• Alternative for the Masses: The ‘90s Alt-Rock Revolution by Greg Prato

  Release Date: October 28, 2025

• Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Ted Widmer

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Bread of Angels: A Memoir by Patti Smith

  Release Date: November 4, 2025

• Tom Petty: The Life and Music by Gillian Gaar

  Release Date: November 4, 2025

• Insomnia: A Memoir by Robbie Robertson

  Release Date: November 11, 2025

• The McCartney Legacy: Volume 2: 1974 - 80 by Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair

  Release Date: December 10, 2024

Documentaries

• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

  Release Date: September 12, 2025

• Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now

  Release Date: October 7, 2025

• Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

  Release Date: October 21,2025

• Deliver Me From Nowhere: Bruce Springsteen Biopic

  Release Date: October 24, 2025

• The Beatles: Anthology

  Release date: November 26, 2025

• Paul McCartney: Man on the Run

  Release Date: February 25, 2026

PS…

Billy Peterson’s dad took me and his son to my first rock ‘n’ roll concert. It’s was Kiss at the Springfield Civic Center in Massachusetts. I was 14. After that concert I would argue with anyone who would listen that Kiss Alive II was a better live album than Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young 4 Way Street. Okay, I might have been a little off. One thing I know for sure- that concert lit the fuse and sparked a love for rock ‘n’ roll that still burns bright today. So my glass goes up to ACE- thanks for being part of the beginning of this lifelong story.

Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Times Journey Through Rock ‘n’ Roll History

Based on the fantastic Bill Janovitz book, Russell, the eccentric kid from Tulsa who moved to Los Angeles, became one of the most sought-after musicians of the 1970s. One of his first gigs was playing in Jerry Lee Lewis’s band, which led to him joining the legendary Wrecking Crew. Russell’s wild house in the Hollywood Hills became a haven for crazy times and nonstop recording sessions. And of course, there’s his unforgettable run as musical director for Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour. He was one of a kind, super eccentric, endlessly creative, and truly one of the most important music makers of the decade

Peter Wolf- Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses

Based on Peter Wolf’s memoir, you’ll discover that the man best known for the overplayed radio hit Centerfold by the J. Geils Band just might be the most interesting person in rock ’n’ roll. The number of actors and actresses needed to tell his story would be staggering, and the casting choices for the people Wolf crossed paths with would be wild. We’re talking Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Faye Dunaway (whom he was married to), Norman Rockwell, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Andy Warhol, and Waylon Jennings, just to name a handful. Whoever edits this into a film will surely have their work cut out for them. Wolf has led a fascinating life, and it would make for a jaw-dropping movie.

Drums and Demons: The Tragic story of Jim Gordon

One of the most tragic stories in rock ’n’ roll, Jim Gordon was the drummer everyone wanted on their record. A genius in the studio, he played with John Lennon, Frank Zappa, The Beach Boys, Neil Young, Carly Simon, and Leon Russell, to name just a few. He was also a member of Derek and the Dominos. But then the voices began. Gordon was plagued by severe mental health struggles and was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia. Despite multiple attempts to find help, his illness overtook him, and in a horrifying turn, he killed his mother at the age of 38. He spent the rest of his life in prison, where he died at 77.

The Colonel and The King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley and the Partnership That Rocked the World

The first couple hundred pages of this book are all you need. They tell the story of Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, who became Tom Parker…and then Colonel Tom Parker. As a teenager, Andreas stowed away on a ship to America, only to be caught and deported back to the Netherlands. Not to be deterred, he tried again, and this time made it to America. With only a fifth-grade education and nowhere to live, he joined the circus. How did that person go on to become the most successful music manager of all time? It’s all in the book (and maybe one day, movie)!

Every month, I track the rise and fall of the most badass rock 'n' roll reads and docs. New entries crash the charts, old legends fight to stay on top, and sleeper picks sneak up the ranks. Who’s climbing? Who’s falling? Who got snubbed? Let’s dig in.

Rock Talk Studio’s Top 5 Books

1. Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses by Peter Wolf

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Smile: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Teenage Wasteland: The Who at Winterland 1968 and 1976 by Edoardo Genzolini

   Previous Ranking: 5

   Listen to the podcast review

Rock Talk Studio’s Top 5 Docs

1. Bono: Stories of Surrender

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Becoming Led Zeppelin

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Norm’s Rare Guitars

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Billy Joel: And So It Goes

   Previous Ranking: New To The Charts This Month!

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Beach Party

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

   ---

This newsletter is sponsored by Thames and Hudson Publishing, who will be sending one lucky winner this incredible book- Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams!

Celebrating 50 years of Maiden, this colossal collection leaves you with a complete career retrospective. The book includes never-before-seen photography from the Iron Maiden archives, iconic album and single artworks, photographs of the band’s instruments past and present, stage props, hand-written lyrics, and artifacts. It even has excerpts from Steve Harris’ diary. And of course, more Eddie than you can imagine!

All Rock Talk Studio Blast!! subscribers are automatically entered to win, so if you haven’t subscribed, now’s the time! Hit that button while subscriptions remain free!

Books

• The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Bill Janovitz

  Release Date: September 30, 2025

• Last Rites by Ozzy Osbourne

  Release Date: October 7, 2025

• Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams by Steve Harris

  Release Date: October 7, 2024

• Oasis: Trying To Find a Way Out Of Nowhere by Jill Furmanovsky and Noel Gallagher

  Release Date: October 14, 2025

• PEARL JAM LIVE! 35 Years of Legendary Music and Revolutionary Shows by Selena Fragassi

  Release Date: October 14, 2025

• Jack White: Collected Lyrics and Selected Writings, Volume 1 by Jack White

  Release Date: October 21, 2025

• The Uncool: A Memoir by Cameron Crowe

  Release Date: October 28, 2025

• Alternative for the Masses: The '90s Alt-Rock Revolution by Greg Prato

  Release Date: October 28, 2025

• Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Ted Widmer

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Bread of Angels: A Memoir by Patti Smith

  Release Date: November 4, 2025

• Tom Petty: The Life and Music by Gillian Gaar

  Release Date: November 4, 2025

• Insomnia: A Memoir by Robbie Robertson

  Release Date: November 11, 2025

• The McCartney Legacy: Volume 2: 1974 – 80 by Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair

  Release Date: December 10, 2024

Documentaries

• Jeff Buckley: It’s Never Over

  Release Date: August 8

• Devo: The Documentary

  Release Date: August 19, 2025

• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

  Release Date: September 12, 2025

• Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now

  Release Date: October 7, 2025

• Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

  Release Date: October 21,2025

• Deliver Me From Nowhere: Bruce Springsteen Biopic

  Release Date: October 24, 2025

• The Beatles: Anthology

  Release date: November 26, 2025

• Paul McCartney: Man on the Run

  Release Date: February 25, 2026 - Our First 2026 Release Date!!

  ---

PS: Going to send you off with the trailer to the new Ann Wilson Documentary. It’s scheduled to be release in 2026. No firm date yet-

Soul Serenade: King Curtis and His Immortal Saxophone by Timothy Hoover

King Curtis opened for the Beatles when they played Shea Stadium. A young, just starting out guitar player named Jimi Hendrix was in Curtis’s band. Curtis also worked with Buddy Holly, Aretha Franklin, and Delaney & Bonnie. One of his best friends was Duane Allman!

When I first received this book, I wasn’t sure it was “rock ’n’ roll enough” for what I usually feature on the Rock Talk Studio podcast. I had to really think about including it. No regrets here! I’m glad I didn’t pass on it, it’s a great look at a truly underappreciated talent. I’ll admit, I didn’t realize the full extent of King Curtis’s brilliance, and I love when a book expands my rock ’n’ roll knowledge like this.

Author Timothy Hoover invested 20 years of his life into putting this story together. His commitment, passion, and storytelling shine on every page.

Play All Night: Duane Allman and the Journey To Fillmore East by Bob Beatty

This book adds depth to the myth of Duane Allman by pulling back the curtain on his relentless pursuit of the band he longed to create. It’s a finely woven collection of interviews, reviews, recollections, and quotes from band members, marching chronologically from the group’s earliest days to their triumph at the Fillmore East. And I’ll just come right out and say it—they recorded the best live album ever!!

What I love about Beatty’s approach is that you gain a strong sense of what Duane was building. He truly was a visionary, and the book lets you progress alongside him as the pieces of his vision start coming together.

*Bonus Rec: Check out Long Live The ABB: Conversations From The Crossroads Bob Beatty’s Substack, where he shares some of the best Allman Brothers content out there. It’s my go to Allman Brother stuff!

Mr. Jimmy Documentary

This is the story of Akio Sakurai (‘Mr. Jimmy”), who for 30 years devoted his life to playing like Jimmy Page and recreating Led Zeppelin concerts note for note in tiny Tokyo clubs, until the day it all changed, when Jimmy Page himself walked in the door.

It took director Peter Michael Dowd four years to complete this film, much of that time spent securing the rights to 25 Zeppelin songs and other classic blues numbers. The soundtrack is phenomenal.

This is a story like no other, bizarre in some ways, but ultimately a tremendous documentation of a man completely transformed by the power and passion of Zeppelin’s music, and by the mystique of not just Page’s playing, but the aura of the man himself.

Every month, I track the rise and fall of the most badass rock 'n' roll reads and docs. New entries crash the charts, old legends fight to stay on top, and sleeper picks sneak up the ranks. Who’s climbing? Who’s falling? Who got snubbed? Let’s dig in.

Rock Talk Studio’s Top 5 Books

1. Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses by Peter Wolf

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Smile: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Teenage Wasteland: The WHO at Winterland 1968 and 1976 by Edoardo Genzolini

   Previous Ranking: 5

   Listen to the podcast review

Rock Talk Studio’s Top 5 Docs

1. Bono: Stories of Surrender

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Becoming Led Zeppelin

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Norm’s Rare Guitars

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Billy Joel: And So It Goes

   Previous Ranking: New to the charts!

   Listen to the podcast review

5. SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

   Previous Ranking: 5

   Listen to the podcast review

This month’s Rock Talk Studio Blast! is sponsored by:

The Outlaw Music Festival 10th Anniversary branded merchandise!

And three Rock Talk Studio Blast Outlaws got a chance to win some of this incredible merch. I love the motif of these shirts-they do a camping tee, a fishing tee, there is even a 10th Anniversary hoodie! Thanks again to the Outlaw Music Festival branded merchandise for hooking us up.

Check out all the great Outlaw Music Festival merch here.

I want to send out a big congrats to the Rock Talk Studio Blast Subscribers who won the giveaway and who will be repping the Outlaw Merch!

Noel M, Josh F, and Nancy O - YOU ROCK!!

Books

• Tonight In Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run by Peter Ames Carlin

  Release Date: August 5, 2025

• The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership that Rocked the World by Peter Guralnick

  Release Date: August 5, 2025

• Living in the Present with John Prine by Tom Piazza

  Release Date: September 9, 2025

• Annie Lennox: Retrospective

  Release Date: September 23, 2025 (NEW ADDITION!)

• The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Bill Janovitz

  Release date: September 30, 2025

• Last Rights by Ozzy Osbourne

  Release Date: October 7, 2025

• Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams: The Official Visual History by Bruce Dickinson and Steve Harris

  Release Date: October 7, 2025 (NEW ADDITION!)

• Jack White: Collected Lyrics and Selected Writings Volume 1 by Jack White

  Release Date: October 21, 2025

• The Uncool: A Memoir by Cameron Crowe

  Release Date: October 28, 2025

• Alternative for the Masses: The '90s Alt-Rock Revolution - An Oral History by Greg Prato

  Release Date: October 8, 2025 (NEW ADDITON!)

• Oasis: Trying to Find a Way Out of Nowhere by Noel Gallagher and Jim Furmanovsky

  Release Date: October 14, 2025 (NEW ADDITION!)

• Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Ted Widmer

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Bread of Angels: A Memoir by Patti Smith

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Insomnia: A Memoir by Robbie Robertson

  Release date: November 11, 2025

Documentaries

• Billy Joel: And So It Goes

  Release Date Part One: July 18, 2025

  Release Date Part Two: July 25, 2025

• Jeff Buckley: It’s Never Over

  Release Date: August 8

• Devo: The Documentary

  Release Date August 19 (NEW ADDITION!)

• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

  Release date: September 12, 2025

• Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery

  September 30, 2025 (NEW ADDITION!)

• Deliver Me From Nowhere: Bruce Springsteen Biopic

  Release Date: October 24, 2025

• The Beatles Anthology (NEW ADDITION!)

  Release Date: November 26, 2025

PS: The Rock Talk Studio podcast has just released it’s 80th episode this month. That’s 80+ rock n roll book and doc recs for you! And every episode is currently free in the archives. I invite you to come on over, jump in, in and find a new title to check out.

For books not about a band or band member, check out:

• Hope I Get Old Before I Die by David Hepworth

  Why do so many aging rock stars manage to come back bigger than ever, decades after their peak? Veteran music journalist David Hepworth traces this surprising phenomenon, through key cultural moments, shifts in music marketing, and the enduring appeal of rock icons who’ve turned longevity into legacy.

  Listen to the podcast review

• Whyte Python World Tour by Travis Kennedy

  A fictitious novel that is equal parts parody and a large love letter to the excesses of 1980s music culture. It's funny and witty and full of nostalgia. This book is overflowing with the charm of ’80s tunes and retro vibes!

  Listen to the podcast review

• Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studios by Martin Porter and David Goggin

  Ever wonder how one place captured lightning in a bottle over and over again? Most music books tell you who made the hits. Buzz Me In tells you how, and where, the magic actually happened. This book is full of legendary sessions and what it took to not only create these songs, but how the deals got made, how egos were catered to, and how all the over the top partying was juggled.

  Listen to the podcast review

Into Oral Histories? Here are a few good ones:

• Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf

  With rare access and decades of research, Leaf gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how Smile, Brian Wilson’s biggest heartbreak, somehow turned into his most unlikely triumph.

  Listen to the podcast review

• Sharing In The Groove by David Ayers

  I didn’t realize the jam band tentacles stretched this far and wide. With major voices like Trey Anastasio, Dave Matthews, John Popper, Steve Lillywhite, John Medeski, and Derek Trucks contributing, its scope and influence turned out to be much bigger, and more interesting, than I expected.

  Listen to the podcast review

• I Don’t Want to Go Home: The Oral History of the Stone Pony by Nick Corasaniti

  How does a bar open a few years after a race riot that burnt most of the town down, and actually thrive in the ashes? Mystics, rockers, rogues, and renegades. That’s how! Well, at least according to Steven Van Zandt, who, along with over a hundred other contributors, tells this tale of the legendary Asbury Park bar in New Jersey- The Stone Pony.

  Listen to the podcast review

Memoirs your thing? Here are three classics:

• Brothers by Alex Van Halen

  Alex lovingly remembers life with Eddie. He is older now and looking back at his life and all the times he shared with his baby brother. He recounts how music became their shared language- and how their bond was all that mattered.

  Listen to the podcast review

• Don’t Tell Anybody the Secret I Told You by Lucinda Williams

  This book is about as real, raw, sweet, and honest as any memoir I have ever read. Lucinda’s ability to be so brutally honest is what makes this so good. When you listen to her music, you are listening to her life; it’s laid right out there, just like the pages of this book.

  Listen to the podcast review

• How I Got There and Why I Never Left by Robyn Hitchcock

  Hitchcock uses 1967 as a grounding point, one that served as a model of how he wanted to always feel, not only in 1967, but for the rest of his life. The writing of this book is very unconventional. It’s full of nostalgia, irony and melancholy musings that you can’t help but get caught up in.

  Listen to the podcast review

  ---

And if those books are not enough, there is always the current Top 5 to jump into!

Every month, I track the rise and fall of the most badass rock 'n' roll reads and docs. New entries crash the charts, old legends fight to stay on top, and sleeper picks sneak up the ranks. Who’s climbing? Who’s falling? Who got snubbed? Let’s dig in.

Rock Talk Studio’s Top 5 Books

1. Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses by Peter Wolf

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Smile: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Teenage Wasteland: The WHO at Winterland 1968 and 1976 by Edoardo Genzolini

   Previous Ranking: 5

   Listen to the podcast review

Rock Talk Studio’s Top 5 Docs

1. Bono: Stories of Surrender

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Becoming Led Zeppelin

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Norm’s Rare Guitars

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Beach Party

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

5. SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

   Previous Ranking: 5

   Listen to the podcast review

This month’s Rock Talk Studio Blast! is sponsored by:

The Outlaw Music Festival 10th Anniversary branded merchandise!

And three Rock Talk Studio Blast Outlaws will be repping this merch soon! That’s right, I will be raffling off three versions of the merch to three of my subscribers! Not a subscriber? Click the button below- it’s free!

Subscribe now

I love the motif of these shirts- they do a camping tee, a fishing tee, there is even a 10th Anniversary hoodie! Thanks again to the Outlaw Music Festival branded merchandise for hooking us up. The winners will be announced on the August 12th Rock Talk Studio podcast.

Check out all the great Outlaw Music Festival merch here.

Books

• Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the '90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed by Mike Ayers

  Release Date: July 22, 2025

• Tonight In Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run by Peter Ames Carlin

  Release Date: August 5, 2025

• The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Bill Janovitz

  Release date: September 30, 2025

• Last Rights by Ozzy Osbourne

  Release Date: October 7, 2025

• Jack White: Collected Lyrics and Selected Writings Volume 1 by Jack White

  Release Date: October 21, 2025

• The Uncool: A Memoir by Cameron Crowe

  Release Date: October 28, 2025

• Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Ted Widmer

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Bread of Angels: A Memoir by Patti Smith

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Insomnia: A Memoir by Robbie Robertson

  Release date: November 11, 2025

Documentaries

• Billy Joel: And So It Goes

  Release Date Part One: July 18, 2025

  Release Date Part Two: July 25, 2025

• Jeff Buckley: It’s Never Over

  Release Date: August 8

• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

  Release date: September 12, 2025

Deliver Me From Nowhere: Bruce Springsteen Biopic

Release Date: October 24, 2025

ENCORE #1: :::RIP OZZY:::

ENCORE #2: Turn it up to 11!

So not only is there a new #1, but to top it off, coming up later this summer are two more docs that just might challenge the new king. Mind double blown!! Needless to say, crowning this new #1 has kicked up a serious dust cloud of debate in my head ever since. Let’s add more fuel to the fire…

1. Deliver Me From Nowhere (the Bruce Springsteen biopic)

Release Date: October 24, 2025

I will let the trailer speak for me on this one-

2. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

Release Date: September 12, 2025

This is the official sequel to the 1984 music mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. Director Rob Reiner is back, all three original band members are back, and the drummer is still a game time decision. Special guests include Paul McCartney, Elton John, Chad Smith, and Lars Ulrich.

Every month I track the rise and fall of the most badass rock 'n' roll reads and docs. New entries crash the charts, old legends fight to stay on top, and sleeper picks sneak up the ranks. Who’s climbing? Who’s falling? Who got snubbed? Let’s dig in.

Rock Talk Studio Top 5 Docs

1. Bono: Stories of Surrender

   Previous Ranking: None- First month on the charts

   ***Find out how and why this doc dethroned the mighty Zeppelin on the July 8th episode of the Rock Talk Studio Podcast

2. Becoming Led Zeppelin

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Norm’s Rare Guitars

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Beach Party

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

5. SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

Rock Talk Studio Top 5 Books

1. Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses by Peter Wolf

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Smile: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Teenage Wasteland: The WHO at Winterland 1968 and 1976 by Edoardo Genzolini

   Previous Ranking: 5

   Listen to the podcast review

This month’s BLAST!! is sponsored by Motorbooks

Motorbooks is hooking up two Rock Talk Studio Blast!! subscribers with a free copy of this new GNR coffee table-style beauty!

Guns N’ Roses at 40 is a hardcover beast, featuring a sleek embossed cover and packed with full-color photos, gatefold timelines, and handmade Sunset Strip flyers. It’s 191 pages of pure class-with just the right amount of dirt under the nails.

From the band’s street-level beginnings to their chaotic superstardom, this book captures it ALL. A must-grab for diehards and anyone curious as to how GNR blew up and survived.

Books

• Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band by Stephen T. Lewis

  Release date: June 17, 2025

• Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studio by Martin Porter and David Goggin

  Release date: June 17, 2025

• Guns N’ Roses at 40 by Martin Popoff

  Release date: June 17, 2025

• DIO: The Unholy Scriptures: The Complete Unofficial Chronicle of Ronnie James Dio’s Solo Canon by Martin Popoff

  Release Date: June 28, 2025

• Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the '90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed by Mike Ayers

  Release Date: July 22, 2025

• Tonight In Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run by Peter Ames Carlin

  Release Date: August 5, 2025

• The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Bill Janovitz

  Release date: September 30, 2025

• Jack White Collected Lyrics and Selected Writings Volume 1 by Jack White

  Release Date: October 21, 2025

• The Uncool: A Memoir by Cameron Crowe

  Release Date: October 28, 2025

• Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Ted Widmer

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Bread of Angels: A Memoir by Patti Smith

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Insomnia: A Memoir by Robbie Robertson

  Release date: November 11, 2025

Documentaries

• Bono: Stories of Surrender

  Release date: May 30, 2025

• Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between

  Release Date: June 6, 2025

• Billy Joel: And So It Goes

  Release Date Part One: July 18, 2025

  Release Date Part Two: July 25, 2025

• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

  Release date: September 12, 2025

• Deliver Me From Nowhere: Bruce Springsteen Biopic

  Release Date: October 24, 2025

  ---

Encore to end all encores: We just lost two extraordinary musical icons this month- Sly Stone and Brian Wilson. I highly recommend the documentary Sly Lives! aka The Burden of Black Genius if you want to witness the cultural, musical, and style revolutions Sly helped spark. And check out the new book Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson to get a deeper sense of Wilson’s creative genius, and the courage that came with it. In the words of the great Neil Young, “long may you run.”

1. Insomnia by Robbie Robertson

   Release Date: November 11, 2025

   Robbie Robertson’s posthumous memoir chronicles his decades-long creative partnership with filmmaker Martin Scorsese. It delves into their intertwined personal and professional lives, including periods of personal upheaval that led them to become roommates and collaborators on films like Raging Bull and Casino.

   Connection-

   Testimony by Robbie Robertson

   Release Date: November 16, 2016

   Insomnia picks up where Testimony leaves off. Testimony was Robertson’s first memoir. It’s also one of my favorite rock ‘n’ roll memoirs. It just really captured his voice and vibe while providing great insight into his incredible upbringing and life inside The Band.

2. Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Bill Janovitz

   Release Date: September 30, 2025

   Finally! The definitive book about The Cars, with access to the surviving members of the band and everyone who surrounded them.

   Connection-

   Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time’s Journey Through Rock & Roll History by Bill Janovitz

   Release Date: June 18, 2024

   Author Bill Janovitz is on a roll! Just last year (2024), he put out this riveting biography that gives Leon Russell the spotlight he earned, while exploring the complexity he never shied away from. Janovitz nails this musical chameleon—a fearless pioneer whose career blazed across decades of American music.

3. Bread of Angels: A Memoir by Patti Smith

   Release Date: November 4, 2025

   I will read anything by Patti! This is her third memoir, kind of a follow up to her first memoir Just Kids. Speaking of…

   Connection-

   Just Kids by Patti Smith

   Release Date: November 2, 2010

   An absolutely beautiful book. Patti Smith’s award winning memoir is on my all time top 5 rock ‘n’ roll memoir list. Might even be number one if not for my Dylan obsession.

4. Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born To Run by Peter Ames Carlin

   Release Date: August 5, 2025

   Bruce Springsteen’s big breakthrough and iconic rock ‘n’ roll classic Born To Run is dissected with this deep inside look. The author includes discussions with Springsteen and the E Street Band members to tell this fascinating tale.

   Connection-

   Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run (Documentary)

   Release Date: November 15, 2005

   Directed by Thom Zimny, the film offers an in-depth look at the album's development, featuring archival footage from 1973 to 1975. The black and white behind the scenes studio footage is worth the price of admission!!

   Double Connection-

   The Name of This Band is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin

   Release Date: November 5, 2024

   Author Peter Ames Carlin is giving Bill Janovitz (see #2 and #3 above) a run for his money! He’s another author that put out two outstanding books back-to-back. The Name of This Band is R.E.M. actually won the Rock Talk Studio Podcast Award for best book about a band in 2024!

   Listen to the podcast review here.

   ---

Books

• The Rock And Roll Almanac: A Day-By-Day Journey Through 70 Years of Legendary Music History by Andrew Craneman

  Just Released!

• Carlos Santana: Love Devotion Surrender: A Visual Journey by Jeff Tamarkin

  Release date: May 26, 2025

• Bono: Stories of Surrender by Bono

  Release date: May 30, 2025

• Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band by Stephen T. Lewis

  Release date: June 17, 2025

• Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studio by Martin Porter and David Goggin

  Release date: June 17, 2025

• Guns N’ Roses at 40 by Martin Popoff

  Release date: June 17, 2025

• Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the '90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed by Mike Ayers

  Release Date: July 22, 2025

• DIO: The Unholy Scriptures: The Complete Unofficial Chronicle of Ronnie James Dio’s Solo Canon by Martin Popoff

  Release Date: June 28, 2025

• Tonight In Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run by Peter Ames Carlin

  Release Date: August 5, 2025

• The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Bill Janovitz

  Release date: September 30, 2025

• The Uncool: A Memoir by Cameron Crowe

  Release Date: October 28, 2025

• Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Ted Widmer

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Bread of Angels: A Memoir by Patti Smith

  Release date: November 4, 2025

Documentaries

• Bono: Stories of Surrender

  Release date: May 30, 2025

• Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between

  Release Date: June 6th

• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

  Release date: September 12, 2025

• Deliver Me From Nowhere: Bruce Springsteen Biopic

  Release Date: October 24, 2025

  ---

Every month I track the rise and fall of the most badass rock 'n' roll reads and docs. New entries crash the charts, old legends fight to stay on top, and sleeper picks sneak up the ranks. Who’s climbing? Who’s falling? Who got snubbed? Let the debate begin.

Top 5 Books

1. Heartbreaker by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses by Peter Wolf

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Smile: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf

   Previous Ranking: New to the charts this month!!

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Teenage Wasteland: The WHO at Winterland 1968 and 1976 by Edoardo Genzolini

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

Top 5 Docs

1. Becoming Led Zeppelin

   Previous Ranking: 1

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Norm’s Rare Guitars

   Previous Ranking: 2

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Beach Party

   Previous Ranking: 3

   Listen to the podcast review

4. SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

   Previous Ranking: 4

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Still not enough docs released this year to fill out the Top 5. That all changes next month! Finally!!

   ---

This newsletter is sponsored by Thames & Hudson, the world's great publisher of illustrated books on Art, Architecture, Design, Photography, Fashion, Lifestyle, Music, History.

Thank you for supporting the Rock Talk Studio BLAST!! and my passion of sharing with you all the great new rock ‘n’ roll books and documentaries out there. One of the ways I can up the ante in my thank you for being a subscriber is to offer up free books, like this month’s give away-

Buzz Me In: Inside the Record Plant Studios by Martin Porter and David Goggin

It’s the heyday of the recording studio and two men decide to take it to the next level. Audio engineer Gary Kellgren and businessman Chris Stone, inspired by their connection to Jimi Hendrix, decided to role the dice and build a recording studio. This book takes you on a wild uninhibited ride through what it took to create, build, run, produce, and make rock ‘n’ roll history.

All Rock Talk Studio Blast!! subscribers are automatically entered to win this great book. If you haven’t subscribed and are interested in winning, just hit that subscribe button!! *Eligible to US residents only.

As of this month, there are two scheduled for the rest of the year. Two! However, they could very well have the potential to be so good that they just might save 2025. The first is a Springsteen bio pic based on Warren Zanes’ book Deliver Me From Nowhere (shameless plug- this was the winner of the Rock Talk Studio’s 2023 Book of the Year Award. Podcast review is here, if you haven’t already heard it).

And the second scheduled rock doc of 2025 is the two-part And So It Goes HBO Billy Joel doc, which premieres at the Tribeca Festival in June. Here’s the rub though- no solid release date has been given for either of them. But I’m going out on a positive note here and saying that right now, for 2025, it looks like it’s quality over quantity.

Books

• Queen & A Night at the Opera: 50 Years by Gillian G. Gaar

  Released: April 1, 2025

• Yoko: A Biography by David Sheff

  Released: April 8, 2025

• Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf

  Released: April 15, 2025

• To Hell with Poverty!: A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four by John King

  Released: April 15, 2025

• Carlos Santana: Love, Devotion, Surrender: A Visual Journey by Jeff Tamarkin

  Release date: May 26, 2025

• Bono: Stories of Surrender by Bono

  Release date: May 27, 2025

• Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band by Stephen T. Lewis

  Release date: May 28, 2025

• Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studio by Martin Porter and David Goggin

  Release date: June 17, 2025

• Tonight In Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run by Peter Ames Carlin

  Release Date: August 6, 2025

• The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Bill Janovitz

  Release date: September 30, 2025

• Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Ted Widmer

  Release date: November 4, 2025

• Bread of Angels by Patti Smith

  Release date: November 4, 2025

Documentaries

• Bono: Stories of Surrender

  Release date: May 27, 2025

• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

  Release date: September 12, 2025

That’s what’s coming up. Here’s a look at the best of the best of what’s out.

Top 5 Books

1. Heartbreaker- memoir by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses- memoir by Peter Wolf

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

   Listen to the podcast review

4. Teenage Wasteland: The WHO at Winterland 1968 and 1976- by Edoardo Genzolini

   Listen to the podcast review

5. I Hope I Get Old Before I Die- by David Hepworth

   Listen To the podcast review

Top 5 Docs

1. Becoming Led Zeppelin

   Podcast review coming 4/29/25

2. Norm’s Rare Guitars

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Beach Party

   Listen to the podcast review

4. SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Nothing yet- see above

This month’s newsletter is powered by Motorbooks.

Motorbooks knows rock ‘n’ roll, and they certainly know how to publish it. Quality writing coupled with gorgeous presentation sets this imprint apart, as showcased in their latest book Queen & A Night at The Opera: 50 Years (out April 1, 2025).

With 176 pages and over 250 photos, this collection doesn’t just celebrate the 50th anniversary of Queen’s legendary breakthrough, A Night at the Opera — it offers a comprehensive look at the band’s iconic career. Built like a coffee table book, packed like a vault, this is the ultimate artifact for any true Queen fan.

You can listen to the podcast review of the book here.

P.S.- Motorbooks is taking their sponsorship of the Rock Talk Studio a step further and offering up two give away copies of the new Queen & A Night at the Opera: 50 Years book!! All Rock Talk Studio Blast!! subscribers (that’s you!) are automatically entered in to win!

I’ve read the Warren Zanes thorough and excellently written Petty: the Biography. And, I’ve read the absolute treasure Conversations with Tom Petty by Paul Zollo. Mike Campbell’s memoir is the missing link. These stories weave into the mythos of Petty’s world. They offer a view of a friendship from the other side of the relationship. A view that is deep, humble, real, and reflective. I honestly didn’t expect Campbell to be this confessional. But I’m so glad he was.

As for the Wolf book, when I saw The J. Geils band for the first time in 1978, I lost it. There really isn’t any other way to describe it. I was baptized into their head-spinning, wild party of raw, untapped live energy. It consumed me. I never had so much fun in my life! And, I have waited 40 years to hear all about it. Wolf gave me more than that. This book is 35 chapters on his encounters with the most unusual and extremely interesting people who came into his life. Alfred Hitchcock, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, David Lynch, Julia Child, Norman Rockwell, Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker, and Faye Dunaway all play a significant part in this story. And that is just a handful of names that pop up in this book!

So it’s safe and easy to say that these two books kick off this month’s Top 5.

Top 5 Books

1. Heartbreaker- memoir by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval

   Listen to the podcast review

2. Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses- memoir by Peter Wolf

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

   Podcast review coming 4/1/25

4. Teenage Wasteland: The WHO at Winterland 1968 and 1976- by Edoardo Genzolini

   Listen to the podcast review

5. I Hope I Get Old Before I Die- by David Hepworth

   Podcast review coming 4/8/25

Top 5 Docs

1. Becoming Led Zeppelin

   Podcast review coming 4/29/25

2. Norm’s Rare Guitars

   Listen to the podcast review

3. Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Beach Party

   Podcast review coming 4/15/25

4. Sly Lives! (Aka, The Burden of Black Genius)

   Listen to the podcast review

5. Nothing yet- we need more rock docs in 2025!!

   ---

March brought us a bunch of new title announcements. The list is getting pretty long, so let’s jump right in.

Books

• Queen & A Night at the Opera: 50 Years (The Great Albums) by Gillian G. Gaar

  Release date: April 1, 2025

• Yoko: A Biography by David Sheff

  Release date: April 8, 2025

• Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf

  Release date: April 15, 2025

• Carlos Santana: Love, Devotion, Surrender: A Visual Journey by Jeff Tamarkin

  Release date: May 26, 2025

• Bono: Stories of Surrender by Bono

  Release date: May 27, 2025

• Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band by Stephen T. Lewis

  Release date: May 28, 2025

• Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studio by Martin Porter and David Goggin

  Release date: June 17, 2025

• Tonight In Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run by Peter Ames Carlin

  Release Date: August 6, 2025

• The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Bill Janovitz

  Release date: September 30, 2025

• Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Ted Widmer

  Release date: November 4, 2025

Documentaries

• One to One: John & Yoko

  Release date: April 11, 2025

• Neil Young: Coastal

  Releasee date: April 17, 2025

• Bono: Stories of Surrender

  Release date: May 27, 2025

• Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

  Release date: September 12, 2025

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P.S.- All Blast!! subscribers are now entered to win the new Mike Campbell memoir Heartbreaker!! That’s right! The #1 rated rock ‘n’ roll book is up for grabs. The lucky (and I guarantee, very happy) winner will be drawn during the April 15th podcast, which will feature a review of the new Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers Beach Party documentary.

P.P.S.- Looking for the next great Rock ‘n’ Roll book or documentary to check out? Tune in on Tuesdays to the Rock Talk Studio Podcast for reviews, previews, and most importantly…more great recommendations!

February was officially Led Zeppelin month! Or at least it was here at the Rock Talk Studio as we celebrated the release of a documentary that has been in the works for over seven years. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones all participated in the making of Becoming Led Zeppelin, but the star of the show might be John Bonham. Unearthed audio from Bonzo plays a large part in why this doc is so engaging. The directors stopped at nothing to find lost footage and lost interviews to tell the band’s first 18 months of their mystical, and very LOUD, origin story.

“Researching the footage took a lot of detective work,” said director Bernard MacMahon, “visiting tiny English villages whose residents somehow had footage of Zeppelin at the 1969 Bath festival hidden in their attic.”

Could Becoming Led Zeppelin be 2025’s most highly anticipated documentary? I’m saying right now, hands down, YES!! And it’s also really cool to see Led Zeppelin, once again, the most popular band in the land!

Time for a little backstory. Before it became a staple of this newsletter, the Top 5 lists of rock n roll books and docs were just a personal, running compilation I kept to myself. But then the podcast started to pick up steam, and I kept getting asked, “What are your top 5 books and docs?” So, I started looking at ways I could share my list of Top 5’s. And that one question became the spark that ignited this whole newsletter. Now, I put out a monthly list that you can follow throughout the year that changes as new books and docs come out. It’s a running competition that also serves as a reference for when you’re looking for something new to check out. I hope you enjoy it!

Which leads us into the first Top 5 list of the year! Keep in mind, it will grow and change throughout the year as new titles are released. Case in point, Top 5 Docs below only has three titles, so be sure to keep an eye peeled as it develops.

Top 5 Books

1. Heartbreaker- memoir by Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval

   Coming March 25

2. Waiting on the Moon- memoir by Peter Wolf

   Coming March 11

3. I Hope I Get Old Before I Die- by David Hepworth

   Out now

4. Teenage Wasteland: The WHO at Winterland 1968 and 1976- by Edoardo Genzolini

   Out now

5. Slacker: 1991, Teen Angst, and the Generation It Created- by Rob Janicke

   Coming June 3

Top 5 Docs

1. Becoming Led Zeppelin

   Out now

2. Norm’s Rare Guitars

   Out now- Listen to the review here: Norm's Rare Guitar Doc Review

3. Sly Lives: (Aka, The Burden of Black Genius)

   Out now

February’s Blast!! is brought to you by:

Mad Music Radio is a small cluster of five internet-only non-commercial radio stations bringing you fantastic music 24 hours a day. They also publish stories at least twice a week on the Patreon, Substack, and the Medium platforms. Mad Music Radio, tunes and tales too good to be ignored.

I like that you get a few options to choose from. They have blues, rock, oldies, The Dead, and jazz stations. Whoever does the programing for this has a great ear; I love the diversity, and the way they play cuts so deep, I would almost call them lost.

You can listen here: Mad Music Radio

Books:

• Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of the Bangles by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike

  Release Date: February 20, 2025

  This book covers eight years of the Bangles history. How they broke through with the help of MTV, became the first all-girl band to have five Top 10 hits, exploded globally, and then imploded just as quickly during the height of their success. Three of the founding members; Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Vicki Peterson, contribute to the first authorized biography of this iconic group.

• Teenage Wasteland: The Who at Winterland 1968 and 1976 by Edoardo Genzolini

  Release Date: February 28, 2025

  
  I love the concept of this book. It looks at The Who’s growth and popularity in San Francisco. Though only these California Winterland shows are presented (over 500 pictures in this coffee table style book!!), you can see the progression of one of rock’s all time greatest four piece bands. At the first Winterland show in February 1968, just a few hundred hippies turned up. Eight years later, in March 1976, the venue was packed!

• Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour

  Release Date: March 25, 2025

  As alternative music started to explode, along came Perry Ferrell with his mold-breaking idea for a cultural mish-mash party that ended up changing rock’s touring landscape. This is the definitive oral history of the alt-rock festival Lollapalooza, told by the those who lived it.

• Queen and A Night at the Opera: 50 Years by Gillian G. Gaar

  Release Date: April 1, 2025

  A definitive and exquisitely produced homage to the iconic album and legendary band. The book features Queen’s formation, track-by-track analysis of A Night at the Opera, the tour to support the album, and a look at the band’s career before and after Freddie’s death.

• Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf

  Release Date: April 15, 2025

  On February 20, 2004, Brian Wilson walked onstage at London’s Royal Festival Hall to unveil his long-delayed masterpiece Smile. This is an oral history of how this record, recorded in the 60’s, was resurrected after all these years.

• The Cars: Let the Story Be Told by Bill Janovitz

  Release Date: October 7, 2025

  Bill Janovitz wrote the tremendous rock n roll book Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time’s Journey Through Rock ‘n Roll History. I can’t wait to see what he has to say about The Cars! Especially since he was able to get exclusive access to the surviving members of the band and everyone who surrounded them. We have a long wait before this one comes out, October, but I have a feeling it is going to be well worth the wait!

Documentaries

• Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party

  Release Date: March 11, 2025

  Cameron Crow’s directorial debut finds him traveling around with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers on the Long After Dark tour. This film was played once on MTV at 2am and then got pulled for being “too experimental.” Who can say they saw that original broadcast? This re-issue is fully restored with extra footage.

Big SHOUT OUT to Gary E., this month’s winner of the Chris Stein memoir Under A Rock. It feels great to be able to offer up a free book to the subscribers of the BLAST!! So far I’ve given away the beautiful hard cover Rush at 50 book, the extraordinary memoir from Robyn Hitchcock, 1967, and now, this great read from one of the founders of Blondie. So what’s next? You tell me! What book would you like me to give away next month? Drop a comment and a suggestion!

The Rock Talk Studio February Podcast episodes

• Cheap Trick: American Standard Book Review

• Norm's Rare Guitars Documentary Review (Currently sits as the #2 best doc of the year)

• Book Buzz and Doc News-February 2025