Bøker av John Van der Kiste

Eagles began as a backing group for Linda Ronstadt, then realised they had the potential to strike out on their own.

ELO were formed by Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne as a fusion of rock and classically-influenced music with strings. After their 1971 debut, Wood left and Lynne took them into more commercial pastures. They disbanded in 1986, but Lynne returned with an album in 2001 and as Jeff Lynne's ELO in 2014. This book examines all their studio albums in detail.

The first ever biography of this iconic Birmingham-born musician who rose to become one of the biggest rock stars of the 70s and 80s.

An entertaining biography of The Merry Monarch's fourteen illegitimate children, their place at the royal court and in history.

Sometimes acclaimed as Scotland's finest-ever singer-songwriter, Gerry Rafferty was born in 1947. After developing a passion for several genres of popular music during childhood, from traditional folk and classical to rock'n'roll and the early 1960s beat boom, he played in a couple of bands during his teens.

Released in 1969, Let it Bleed was The Rolling Stones' eighth studio album (tenth in the USA). This account examines in detail the background, inspiration and recording of the songs, the reception of the work as a whole, and its legacy and influence on subsequent generations of bands and performers to this day.

Of Queen Victoria's four sons, the eldest married a Danish princess, one a Russian Grand Duchess, and the other two princesses of German royal houses.

Having moved from jazz, Blues and R'n'B to out-and-out pop in his various 1960s bands, keyboard player Manfred Mann went back to the drawing board in 1971 with a new quartet, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, and the intention of focusing on progressive rock. With a repertoire that leant partly on radical rearrangements of songs by Bob Dylan and then Bruce Springsteen, largely instrumental epics that borrowed from Gustav Holst's The Planets suite, and improvisations based around the interplay between Manfred's newly-acquired moog synthesiser and the lead guitar of Mick Rogers, who left in 1975 but later returned, they soon built up a formidable live reputation throughout much of Europe (particularly in Germany) and America. Apart from the Holst-inspired 'Joybringer', a top ten hit in 1973, British success was slow in coming, until a cover version of Springsteen's 'Blinded by the Light' and its parent album The Roaring Silence three years later took their status to a new level on both sides of the Atlantic. This book examines the nine albums, fluctuating fortunes and various line-up changes from what was to be their best and most prolific decade.

This book portrays the life and character of 'Good King Billy', one of Britain's most endearing sovereigns.

Free were formed in 1968 towards the end of the British blues boom. After two critically acclaimed albums, the release of 'All Right Now' and the album Fire and Water in 1970 brought them major success. Musical and personal differences took their toll and they split after the comparative failure of their next album and single.

This book examines the downfall of James II, how the monarch came to forfeit the goodwill of the nation within three years.

Championed by David Bowie, Mott The Hoople became one of the best known bands of the Glam era. A succession of top twenty singles in 1973 and 1974. Ian Hunter went on to commercial success and critical acclaim as a solo artist.

The first of two books in a new series focussing in on a particular year and a genre within that year. One of the key years in the development of rock music - 1970 saw a change from the hippie era to a harder edged music.

Imperial Austria weathered the year of revolutions in 1848 when Ferdinand abdicated in favour of Francis Joseph, whose reign saw family tragedy and scandal. His successor Charles abdicated in 1918, though his son Otto was a Member of the European Parliament. This examines the final Habsburg chapter, from the Napoleonic era to post-war Europe.

Led Zeppelin were formed in 1968 by guitarist Jimmy Page, vocalist Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. Their style of blues-based hard rock with psychedelic and folk influences made them the world's most successful group on stage and record until they split in 1980. This book examines each track from each album in detail.

Steve Winwood was successively lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist with the chart-topping Spencer Davis Group, the more experimental Traffic, and the short-lived Blind Faith. He then embarked on a successful career as a solo performer, session musician and regular collaborator with his peers. This is the first biography for nearly 30 years.

This is an account of Queen Victoria's relationships with the Emperors, Empresses of France, Germany, Austria and Russia. Victoria had close connections with the royal houses of Germany long before the King of Prussia became the German Emperor in 1871 and with the exiled former Emperor of the French after the fall of the French Empire in 1870.

The first proper biographies of the three younger sisters of Kaiser Wilhelm II, each whose lives were wrecked by tragedy

A compendium of fascinating information about Cornwall past and present, this book contains a plethora of entertaining facts about the county's famous and occasionally infamous men and women, its towns and countryside, history, natural history, literary, artistic and sporting achievements, agriculture, transport, industry and royal visits.

Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, Admiral of the Fleet, was the second son of Queen Victoria. At 18 he was elected King of Greece, but not allowed to accept the crown. While touring Australia in 1868 he narrowly escaped assassination. His last years were clouded by alcoholism, ill-health, and the suicide of his only son and heir.

The little book of Devon

Generously illustrated with a range of engravings, photographs and orginal documents, this chronicle is an entertaining and readable alternative history of Cornwall.

Grim Almanac of Devon

Queen Victoria's children

Since the brutal slaying of the Rev'd John Hay, vicar of South Brent, dragged from his church and slaughtered in 1436, Devon has had its fair share of 'murder most foul'. This book recounts several notable cases from around the county.

Princess Victoria Melita

George V's children

Once a Grand Duchess