Author:Royal Albert Hall
The most iconic concert hall in the world celebrates 150 years with a stunning review of history's finest performances and performers.
Opening with a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II, this beautiful book celebrates 150 moments that have shaped The Royal Albert Hall over the last century and a half. From The Beatles to the Suffragettes, Albert Einstein to Winston Churchill, Mohammed Ali to B.B. King, few other buildings have housed such a stunning variety of era-defining people and events.
This gorgeous, illustrated guide takes you behind the scenes of one of the most well-loved concert halls in the world, offering insights into the building’s iconic architecture, as well as its lesser-known quirks such as the reinforced toilets designed for Sumo wrestlers. This book features events ranging from the world's first sci-fi convention in 1891 to the annual Cirque du Soleil, which requires the auditorium to be transformed into a gymnasium. Autographs and candid comments from incredible performers who have appeared on its stage, like Russell Howard, Eric Clapton and Katie Derham, give a unique insider’s perspective on an esteemed and beloved British institution.
With never-before-seen images, insights and more, this is the ultimate celebration of a British architectural icon which continues to inspire artists and audiences from around the world.
David Hepworth's books go against one of the core rules of rock & roll. You are supposed to get worse the more you release. He doesn't seem to get that. This latest may be his best. Where's the tradition in that?
—— Danny BakerHepworth's ability to mock subjects he has a clear affection for and cast well-worn anecdotes in a fresh light makes his history of rock'n'roll's special relationship a zippy delight
—— The TimesA waspish and witty book
—— The HeraldFascinating and entertaining
—— Hot Press MagazineAnother tremendously enjoyable read, full of good stories, expertly told: in other words, satisfaction guaranteed
—— The SpectatorExhaustively researched… If you think you know the history of CSN&Y then read this and, like me, you will be surprised at what you learn
—— Tom Povey , RNRDoggett…treasure[s] the band’s early oeuvre and writes with empathy about the group
—— Holly George-Warren , Times Literary SupplementBorn in Germany but based in the UK, Schutte is able to assess Kraftwerk from both the German and non-German perspective. This is a lucid, accessible, authoritative and indispensable account of the Düsseldorf group once mocked for their Teutonic 'otherness', who went on to lay the foundations for modern electronic music.
—— David Stubbs, author of Future Days: Krautrock and the Building of Modern GermanySchutte positions Kraftwerk not merely as a popular music phenomenon but as the embodiment of our transition from the uncertainty and hope of post-war Europe through to 21st century techno-hyperreality. A forensic analysis of Kraftwerk's socio-political roots and their ongoing cultural effect. Schutte sees beyond the regular band trivia to show a deeper understanding of the impact of Kraftwerk on all aspects of popular culture which enclose us.
—— Dr Stephen Mallinder, founding member of Cabaret Voltaire and WranglerSchütte follows the foundational electropop group that inspired David Bowie's alienist late 1970s adventures and a multitude of electrovariations. He charts how they were a surprising European component in the emergence of hip-hop, as much through their sung-spoken words as their machine-made rhythms ... The book functions nicely as an introduction for newcomers to Kraftwerk's history.
—— Paul Morley , Financial TimesA love letter to the LP
—— The SunAn enthusiast’s account of the golden age of vinyl
—— Culture, The Sunday TimesPhillip Schofield has spoken candidly about his coming out process and his current mental health struggles in his autobiography
—— Pink NewsTakes readers on the journey Phillip has taken to get to where he is today. Fans will delight at a nostalgic look back at Phillip's life, relish the behind the scenes stories, and feel touched by the emotional honesty in his writing
—— Northern Life MagazineDazzling
—— Evening StandardFull of anecdotes about onscreen mishaps and meeting the famous
—— Daily MailThe silver-haired overlord of daytime TV . . . Schofe's candour is admirable
—— Evening StandardIn this soul-bearing autobiography, Phillip looks back on his broadcasting career . . . A frank and highly readable life story
—— Sunday ExpressA composer who can write as eloquently as he sings. A rare bird, indeed!
—— Leah BorromeoWith our new-found love of wildlife, this book promises to lift the spirits of not just bird enthusiasts, but nature lovers, too.
—— People's FriendThe exuberance of folk-singer Sam Lee's The Nightingale is irresistible
—— Bird WatchingA master storyteller
—— Guardian praise for Sam Lee's Singing with Nightingales