Jeff Lynne: Electric Light Orchestra - Before and After

Description

A passionate music fan from childhood and much-respected teenage guitarist in his native Birmingham, Jeff Lynne rose through the ranks of various semi-professional local groups to become front man of the critically-acclaimed Idle Race, join the ever-popular Move, and help form the groundbreaking Electric Light Orchestra.After co-founder Roy Wood left in 1972, Lynne turned what had been a struggling fusion of rock and classically-inspired music into one of Britain's most consistently successful acts. Following a run of hit singles and albums plus sell-out concerts throughout the world, he laid the group to rest in 1986 and combined a solo career with membership of the ultimate super group the Traveling Wilburys. His production credits include George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Del Shannon and above all the Beatles on their two final singles in the mid 90s. In the 21st century he returned to recording and performing under the ELO group name. This is the first-ever biography of one of the most highly-regarded rock performers of the last fifty years and includes full details of his spectacular career.

John Van der Kiste has published over forty books including works on royal and historical biography, local history, true crime, music and fiction, and is a contributor to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. His previous titles include Queen Victoria's Children, Kaiser Wilhelm II and The Romanovs: Tsar Alexander II of Russia and his Family and Alfred - Queen Victoria's Second Son and Prussian Princesses for Fonthill . He lives in Devon.

"When you read Van der Kiste you know that you're reading someone who knows much more than he's telling you rather than a writer who has managed to shoehorn in every bit of research that he's done. He easily places Lynne in the context of the musical scene at the time and also within what was happening in other spheres. It was a pleasure to read..."-- "The Bookbag"