Books by Chris Wade

Writer, musician and filmmaker Chris Wade takes a look at the early years of Pablo Picasso. In a series of essays, Wade goes from Pablo's childhood in Malaga, his time in A Coruna, vitally important periods in Madrid and Barcelona, through his brief stay in the village of Horta and his eventual arrival in Paris to explore the roots and inspiration of his art and life. Explored within are the details of Pablo's birth, infant years, early developments, friendships and family dynamics, not to mention his earliest artistic passions, all of which led to his culture shifting work of the 20th century. The essays are illustrated with historical and new photographs taken by the author.

In this book, Chris Wade explores Stanley Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of Stephen King's novel, The Shining. The film concerns Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), who takes on the job of winter caretaker for the isolated Overlook Hotel, taking with him his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and Danny (Danny Lloyd), only to find the vast establishment is home to a host of spirits and dark forces. The Shining is one of the most discussed, dissected and popular films of the past fifty years, garnering an intense cult following which seems to grow as the years go on. Wade explores various themes prevalent in the film, examines the differences between Kubrick and King's visions, and digs deep to look at the various subliminal and metaphorical layers beneath the surface.

George Melly was a larger than life figure, a jazz singer, raver, raconteur, writer, art lover and cultural icon. This book goes chronologically through his life and work, taking in his formative years, his emergence as a jazz star, his legendary books and other varied activities. It also includes interviews with his wife Diana, his son Tom, cartoonist and fellow jazzer Wally Fawkes, plus contributions from other people who knew him. So fasten your seat belt and take a ride on the Mellymobile... Chris Wade is a writer, musician and filmmaker. He runs the acclaimed music project Dodson and Fogg, writes non fiction books and makes films. His other work includes Cutey and the Sofaguard, an audiobook narrated by Rik Mayall.

The Classic Album Series highlights records from the past, forgotten, overlooked and cherished alike, selected for their influence, relevance and worth. In this edition, writer, musician and filmmaker Chris Wade looks at Bob Dylan's hit album Desire, first released in January of 1976. Featuring the musical dynamics of Dylan, Scarlet Rivera on violin, Emmylou Harris on backing vocals, Rob Stoner on bass and Howie Wyeth on drums, not to mention the song writing contributions of Jacques Levy, the LP is one of the most remarkable and exotic of Dylan's long career. This book looks at the making of the album itself, the songs within, their meaning and power, as well as the record's importance in the whole of Dylan's oeuvre. Also includes snippets of interviews the author conducted with Rivera, Stoner, and engineer Don Meehan.

The Classic Album Series highlights records from the past, forgotten, overlooked and cherished alike, selected for their influence, relevance and worth. In this edition, writer, musician and filmmaker Chris Wade looks at Black Sabbath's landmark record, Paranoid, released in 1970. It was a big seller in its day, though one could perhaps judge it more thoroughly by its influence, longevity and undying power. Featuring landmark songs like Iron Man, War Pigs, Fairies Wear Boots and the hit single title track, Paranoid is as close to perfection as early Heavy Metal ever got, and remains a firm rock classic nearly fifty years later. This book celebrates the sounds within, from a personal viewpoint, and also looks at the legacy of its eight perfect songs. Chris Wade is a UK based writer, musician, artist and filmmaker.

The Classic Album Series highlights records from the past, forgotten, overlooked and cherished alike, selected for their influence, relevance and worth. In this edition, Chris Wade looks at the classic years of Lindisfarne in the 1970s, taking in their studio albums such as Nicely Our of Tune, Fog on the Tyne, Dingly Dell and Back and Fourth, as well as Alan Hull's seventies solo work. Also included are interviews conducted by Wade with Lindisfarne members Ray Laidlaw, Ray Jackson and Rod Clements. This is a portrait of a fine band in their prime, creating songs which are still anthems to this day, even if the band themselves have not garnered the credit they truly deserve. Chris Wade is a UK based writer, musician, artist and filmmaker. His work includes the acclaimed music project Dodson and Fogg, films such as The Apple Picker, and numerous fiction and non fiction books. He also worked with Rik Mayall who voiced his audiobook Cutey and the Sofaguard and edits the ongoing Hound Dawg Magazine.

This book explores and celebrates the later years of Pablo Picasso, one of the most famous and influential artists of all time. In a series of articles, Chris Wade looks at how and why the ageing Picasso remained as restlessly creative as ever before, in an era that is so often glossed over. Alongside essays on his work, articles on his muses and a piece on his death at the age of 91, there is also a new interview with Lydia Corbett, known to the world as Sylvette, who sat for Picasso in 1954. This is a glimpse into another age, the final chapters of Picasso's long story.

ASPECTS OF SALVADOR DALI is a series of articles, essays and interviews on the phenomenon of this legendary Spanish artist and world icon. By separating the book into individual studies on various "aspects" of Dali's personality, life and work, Chris Wade hopes to grasp the complexities of this eccentric and contradictory man, and to unmask the elusive enigma. The book includes an interview with Dali's muse Amanda Lear, plus articles on his childhood, his relationship with his wife Gala, his scientific interests, his suspect political beliefs, his work on film, his sexual obsessions and quirks, his battle between fame and integrity, his damaged reputation as a serious artist, his sad decline, and a personal trip to Dali's museum and resting place, the Teatre-Museu in Figueres. Not a standard biography, but a personal trip into the world of Salvador Dali.

This book takes a look at the cultural and musical impact Madonna's music, films and persona had on the world in the 1980s. It was the decade she helped define with a series of classic albums (from her self titled debut, through Like A Virgin and True Blue to Like Prayer), the hit movie Desperately Seeking Susan, and her revolutionary music videos. She became the most famous woman in the world and a pop idol rivaled only by Michael Jackson. Nearly thirty years since that decade ended, Chris Wade delves into this special time in a series of essays on her work, gaining fresh insights into the phenomenon of early Madonna, as well as interviewing those who worked with her.

George A. Romero: On Screen is Chris Wade's guide to the work of one of the world's greatest maverick directors. The book goes movie by movie through his remarkable career, from Night of the Living Dead to Survival of the Dead, stopping off at Season of the Witch, Martin, Creepshow, Monkey Shines and more classics. There are also fresh interviews with Judith O'Dea, Lori Cardille, Tom Savini, Joe Pilato, Robert Harper, Scott Wentworth and John Harrison, who share their thoughts and memories of working with Romero.

Within these cheaply bound, badly fonted, awfully laid out, mucky pages you will find words so foul you may want to be sick having read them out in your man or woman mind. Stories of perversion, leather barges, sex mules, faded actors, a weather man who choked to death on his own wig, gangsters, drunkards, oily scum bags, lost souls, warehouse dwelling odd balls, post office workers with sex tips and general, all round weirdo berks. Yes these stories come from a perverted mind; but I have to say that I was addicted to malt loaf and chalk when I wrote these vile tales, so strap yer sen in and let loose. Stories: The Hunt for the Mayor of Smoochyville, The Murder of Wiggy Wheaton, Who Killed Beaky Wilson, The Snatcher, You Only Live Once Thank Goodness.Plus poems, artwork and Daily Love Sponge newspaper cuttings...

¿An album by album guide to the music of Leonard Cohen, from his startling debut Songs of Leonard Cohen, right through to the recent Popular Problems. The book also features new interviews by the author with such people as long time Cohen collaborator Anjani Thomas, producer John Lissauer, filmmaker Tony Palmer who made the Bird On A Wire film, and session players such as John Miller, Art Munson and Emily Bindiger, all of whom offer fascinating insights into recording with Leonard Cohen. "Playing his music always made me feel I was within a haiku poem. It resonated with me.." - John Miller

"John, like many great geniuses, was completely his own man. He was always completely genuine and honest. He saw everything with new eyes and I think his great gifts were sometimes a heavy load for him to carry. What I remember most was that he was a good friend that I had a lot of fun with while I had the privilege of witnessing him create some of the most important music of the 20th century." - Dan Richter. A series of articles on John Lennon's recorded work, from The Beatles' Please Please Me, through Imagine and Mind Games, right up to Double Fantasy and Milk Honey. Also features interviews by the author with those who worked with John, like Gary Van Scyoc, Rick Marotta, Lizzie Bravo, Ron Aprea, Gary Mallaber and Dan Richter.

Writer and musician Chris Wade takes a look at the music of the legendary Hawkwind, one of rock's true outsiders. In a series of articles covering every era of the band's career, new interviews with band members and associates, plus a host of previously unseen pictures from the archive of Paul Garbutt, Wade delves deep inside the phenomenon of this remarkable band. Alongside the articles, the book features Paul Garbutt's piece, Hawkwind 100, all about his adventures seeing the band live over the years. Wade also gets fresh recollections from the likes of Paul Hayles, Dick Taylor, Jerry Richards, Steve Swindells, Alan Davey, Doug Smith, John Chase, Celia Humphris, Terry Ollis, Keith Hale, Michael Moorcock, Ashley Howe, Matthew Wright, Nik Turner, Wayne Bardell, Jon Sevink, Ron Tree and Tim Blake.

Writer and musician Chris Wade looks at the work of the iconic and influential Velvet Underground, one of the most legendary, controversial and important groups of the past fifty years. From the Andy Warhol era through to the forgotten final years with Doug Yule, classic albums like The Velvet Underground and Nico, Loaded and White Light White Heat, and landmark live records like Live at Max's Kansas City are explored within. There are also interviews with such people as Velvets' drummer Moe Tucker, Doug Yule, Factory superstar and VU dancer Mary Woronov, plus other members of the band. Chris Wade is a UK based writer and musician. He runs the acclaimed music project Dodson and Fogg and regularly releases books and audiobooks.

In the Music of Bob Dylan, writer and musician Chris Wade explores the recordings of one of the world's finest musical artists. Alongside reviews of Dylan's discography, he interviews those who have worked closely with him throughout the years, including artists and session men. Interspersing their views and recollections with pieces on each record, Wade gets not only a portrait of Dylan the artist, but a well rounded look at how Dylan and his various collaborators related to one another to create moments of musical magic. Chris Wade is an English writer and musician. His music project Dodson and Fogg has received wide acclaim and he has written numerous fiction and non fiction books, as well as comedy audiobooks narrated by such people as the late Rik Mayall.

In the golden age of silent cinema, Buster Keaton was one of the world's most revered filmmakers, his fame and acclaim matched only by Chaplin. However, when his career and personal life took a down turn upon the arrival of sound, Keaton's achievements were forgotten, and for years he was seen as a faded relic from another era. Contrary to popular belief however, Keaton bounced back. He quit the drink, remarried and got his career back on track. In the 1950s and 60s, he kept on working steadily on TV, in commercials, telefilms, mainstream movies and independent features. This book explores the final years, and days, of Buster Keaton. Chris Wade looks at the wide variety of work he took on, such as Film, which Keaton made with Samuel Beckett; The Railrodder, one of his final two- reelers; and a host of other lost curiosities worthy of dusting off and re-evaluating. Wade makes a case for this latter period being a Keaton renaissance. Also includes a new Q and A with Gerald Potterton, director of The Railrodder.

"The ultimate guide to McDowell's career. Much more than a standard biography." -Alternative Reel ¿Here it is, the 2018 Edition, updated with new films and interviews. A look at the long and varied filmography of A Clockwork Orange and Caligula star Malcolm McDowell, whose career has spanned almost 50 years. Includes an extensive film guide and biography, as well as an insight from Malcolm's son Charlie and interviews with directors who have worked with McDowell.

This is the story of DEREK AND CLIVE, the dark and foul mouthed creation of treasured comic duo Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Emerging in the mid 1970s, just as Cook and Moore's working relationship was disintegrating, Derek and Clive started as a private joke, but gained a cult following on bootleg. Bowing to the popular demand of their filthy creations, Pete and Dud recorded three albums as Derek and Clive and released a controversial film. Comedy was never the same again. This book delves into the dirty magic of Derek and Clive, the formation and split of Cook and Moore, and the legacy of their influential alter egos. Wade also gets exclusives from producer Hugh Padgham, who engineered their final album and saw the last fires of Pete and Dud burn out. Relive the grot once again...