This is a comprehensive, illustrated book about one of the most enduringly popular forms of music. Combining biography, critical analysis, and detailed reference sections, it profiles all the major heavy metal artists as well as a huge selection of other niche acts from around the world. Metal: The Definitive Guide includes new firsthand interviews with many major metal musicians and detailed discographies. It is the definitive metal encyclopedia.The over 300 illustrations in this book encompass fantastic including artist pictures and memorabilia such as posters, ticket stubs, and much more.

A thoughtfully curated and gloriously illustrated retrospective of the band’s studio releases, Queen, comes just in time for the 45th anniversary of their debut LP and biopic. Formed in 1970, Queen went on to become one of the most popular—and most successful—rock bands of all time. Even following the untimely death of beloved and magnetic frontman Freddie Mercury, and nearly 50 years after their formation, interest in the band has continued, evidenced by scores of reissues, arena tours with surviving members, and a feature-film biopic. In this new installment in Voyageur Press’s Album by Album series, rock journo Martin Popoff convenes a cast of 19 Queen experts and superfans to discuss all 15 of the band’s studio albums (including their soundtrack for the 1980 film Flash Gordon). Panelists include Queen experts, rock journalists, musicians, and record industry figures. The results are freewheeling discussions delving into the individual songs, the circumstances that surrounded the recording of each album, the band and contemporary rock contexts into which they were released, and more. The engaging text of this beautifully designed book is illustrated throughout with rare live performance and candid offstage photography, as well as scads of rare Queen ephemera. The Album by Album series is a unique approach to the rock bio, injecting the varied voices of several contributors. The results have even the most diehard fans rushing back to their MP3 players (or turntables) to confirm the details and opinions expressed!

Required reading for any metalhead, this updated compendium of in-depth, entertaining, and profusely illustrated conversations spanning all of Iron Maiden’s studio albums includes 2021’s Senjutsu. In this new edition of Iron Maiden: Album by Album, prolific rock journalist Martin Popoff pays tribute to Iron Maiden’s discography through a series of in-depth, frank, and fascinating conversations about all of the legendary heavy metal band’s studio albums. Inside, Popoff gathers together metal journalists, authors, and musicians, who offer insights, opinions, and anecdotes about every release. Richly illustrated with thoughtfully curated performance and offstage photography, as well as rare memorabilia, the conversations comprise a unique historical overview of the band, covering: Early albums with original lead singer Paul Di’Anno The songwriting of founder and bassist Steve Harris The impeccable talents of drummer Nicko McBrain and guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers Mega tours undertaken in support of the LPs Fights within the band And much more—even their iconic mascot Eddie is sure to make an appearance or two! Popoff also includes loads of sidebars that provide complete track listings, details on album personnel, and information on where and when the albums were recorded. Reignite your passion for the masters of metal with this captivating album-by-album exploration. Up the Irons!

Music journalist Martin Popoff celebrates a decade of heavy metal debauchery in this illustrated history of Hair Metal bands. In the 1980s, heavy metal went mainstream. The dark themes and brain-busting riffage of bands like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple suddenly fell out of favor—replaced by a new legion of metalheads whose themes of girls, partying, girls, drugs, and girls were presented amid shredding solos and power ballads and who were somehow more acceptable to the masses. In this ultimate guide to the subgenre, acclaimed heavy-metal journalist Martin Popoff examines hair metal in an all-encompassing oral history jacked up by a kaleidoscope of outrageous and previously unpublished quotes, anecdotes, photos, and memorabilia. The Big Book of Hair Metal features the observations of dozens of musicians, producers, promoters, label execs, and hangers-on in examining hair metal’s rise and fall as well as all the bands that kept Aqua Net in business through the Reagan recession: Twisted Sister, Bon Jovi, Poison, Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Warrant, Great White, Whitesnake, Cinderella, Vixen, Skid Row, L.A. Guns, Guns N’ Roses, and dozens more. In crafting a narrative of hair metal, Popoff also examines the factors that contributed to the movement’s rise (including MTV, Reagan’s “morning in America,” and a general move toward prudish morals); the bands that inspired it (the Sweet, New York Dolls, Alice Cooper, and KISS, for a start); and the scenes that nurtured it (the Sunset Strip, anyone?). The ride finally ended circa 1991, when hair metal was replaced by grunge, but what a ride it was. Here it is in all of its primped-up glory.

America's love affair with cars is most passionate when it comes to the fastest, most powerful, and coolest-looking models on the nation's roads. Author Bob Woods takes readers through the history of flashy "muscle" cars, such as the Pontiac GTO, Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, Dodge Charger, and Chevy Corvette.

Rush: Album by Album pays genuine tribute to this iconic rock band's discography by moderating frank, entertaining conversations about all 20 of Rush's studio albums. Formed in Toronto in 1968, the rock trio Rush has gone on to multiplatinum success behind the distinctive high register and virtuosic bass-playing of frontman Geddy Lee, the legendary drumming and lyric-writing of Neil Peart, and the guitar heroics of Alex Lifeson. Despite having just four chart-topping singles since the release of their debut LP in 1974, Rush has nonetheless sold more than 25 million albums in the U.S. and more than 40 million worldwide. The Canadian trio may be the definition of an "album band," and this new book from prolific rock journalist and acknowledged Rush authority Martin Popoff pays tribute to the band's discography by moderating in-depth, frank, and entertaining conversations about all 20 of Rush's studio albums. Inside, the author gathers 20 rock journalists and authors who offer insights, opinions, and anecdotes about every release. Together, the conversations comprise a unique historical overview of the band, as well as a handsome discography. Popoff also includes loads of sidebars that provide complete track listings, details on album personnel, information on where and when the albums were recorded, and sidebar facts about the albums, their songs, and the band.

Van Halen at 50 is the lively and stunningly illustrated story of the legendary rock band told through 50 seismic releases, appearances, and other milestones.

AC/DC Album by Album is an in-depth discussion of each of the band’s 16 studio albums by prolific rock journalist Martin Popoff and illustrated with phenomenal photography. Formed in 1973, AC/DC became one of the most popular and bestselling bands in rock history with their no-frills approach to loud, heavy, and sweat-drenched blues-based rock music. This new book from prolific rock journalist Martin Popoff pays tribute to the band’s discography by moderating in-depth and entertaining conversations about all 16 of AC/DC’s studio albums, every page illustrated with thoughtfully curated performance and offstage photography and rare memorabilia. Popoff gathers 17 rock journalists and authors who offer insights, opinions, and anecdotes about every release. Together, the conversations comprise a unique history of the band, covering everything from early lineups; the role played by the Youngs’ older brother, George; the songwriting and legendary antics of original vocalist Bon Scott; the mega tours undertaken in support of the LPs; the debut of singer Brian Johnson on the band’s mega breakthrough, Back in Black; the band’s fallow 1980s and 1990s resurgence; and later difficulties, such as Malcolm’s onset of dementia and the legal problems of drummer Phil Rudd.

The Story Of Yes – (Largely) In Their Own Words For his landmark 50th book, top rock writer Martin Popoff abandons his metal musings to celebrate the long and legendary life of Yes, a band he has loved since the 1970s. Using a timeline format, Popoff disentangles the convoluted tale of the band’s hirings and firings, their inspired creations, live triumphs and studio victories (as well as the occasional controversial failure.) With original interviews from Anderson, Bruford, Howe, Wakeman, the late Chris Squire and many others, the tale unfolds via an exhaustive chronology designed to satisfy the most knowledgeable of Yes fans. You just might learn what “Close To The Edge” actually means, or why Alan White and Jon Anderson might be seen prowling the junkyard for car parts! Not content with charting the band’s history, Popoff covers the major projects outside the Yes umbrella, such as Asia, GTR and Rick Wakeman’s extravaganzas, to paint a full picture. If you’ve been moved by classic albums like Fragile, Close To The Edge, Relayer, Going For The One, or more recent offerings like Fly From Here and Heaven And Earth, you’ll love this book, which perfectly captures the spirit of progressive rock’s first, biggest, and best band who have made it their mission to widen our perceptions of what music can be.

Author Bob Woods takes readers on a wild ride through the exciting world of motorcycles. From the history of motorcycles to motorcycle racing, cruisers, choppers, and motocross, biking fans will find plenty here to keep them hooked.