Perfect gifts for everyone on your list…
Your It List presents our top picks for gifts this holiday season for everyone on your list.
Harry Potter Page to Screen by Bob McCabe
Coming in at over 500 amazing pages, Harry Potter: Page to Screen opens the doors to Hogwarts castle and the wizarding world of Harry Potter to reveal the complete behind-the-scenes secrets, techniques, and over-the-top artistry that brought J.K. Rowling’s acclaimed novels to cinematic life.
Buy Harry Potter Page to Screen or watch a video.
How I Got This Way by Regis Philbin
In this entertaining memoir, the irrepressible Reege—consummate talk-show host, man-about-town, loving husband, father, and yes, obsessive sports fan—looks back at his years in show business and is filled with stories of lessons learned—and elbows rubbed—with extraordinary, and often unsuspecting, teachers.
Buy How I Got This Way or read an excerpt.
Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis by David Wills
In Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis, David Wills has gathered spectacular, museum-quality work from Marilyn’s key photographers to create this dazzling portfolio of images from every period of Marilyn Monroe’s adult life, from her wedding day in 1942 till just weeks before her death two decades later, this stunning collection pays homage to her continually evolving style and extraordinary beauty.
Buy Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis or read an excerpt.
100 Unforgettable Dresses by Hal Rubenstein
100 Unforgettable Dresses is filled with the stories, secrets, intrigue, and insights behind the most indelible dresses in our collective memories. This book celebrates the staying power of these gorgeous, sleek, sultry, and outrageous creations as well as the lasting impact they’ve had in fashion, popular culture, and our own lives.
Buy 100 Unforgettable Dresses or read an excerpt.
Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon
With unparalleled honesty, Dyan Cannon shares the heartwarming and heartbreaking story of her magical romance and stormy marriage to screen legend Cary Grant. He was the ultimate star, defining Hollywood glamour as well as cinematic achievement. She was a bright new actress, beautiful and funny. What could possibly go wrong?
Buy Dear Cary or read an excerpt.
The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories by hitRECord and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
To create The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1, Joseph Gordon-Levitt directed thousands of collaborators to tell tiny stories through words and art. Reminiscent of the 6-Word Memoir series, The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1 brings together art and voices from around the world to unite and tell stories that defy size.
Buy The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories, read an excerpt or watch a video.
Manolo Blahnik and The Tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker by Camilla Morton, illustrated by Manolo Blahnik
International bestselling author Camilla Morton reimagines the classic “Elves and the Shoemaker” fairytale, blending elements of famed shoe designer Manolo Blahnik’s life story into the fabric of the immortal “Once Upon a Time” favorite, complete with original illustrations from Blahnik himself.
Buy Manolo Blahnik and The Tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker or read an excerpt.
The History of the World According to Facebook by Wylie Overstreet
Now, for the first time, a full-length history of the world, from its creation up through present day, as if Facebook had existed all along and Abraham Lincoln had written a status update about “taking the missus to the theater” and Ben Franklin had done the same alerting his network that he’d signed the Declaration of Independence. Filled with hundreds of real-life historical figures and thousands of not-at-all-real Facebook statuses, this is the definitive humor book for a new generation of scholars.
Buy The History of the World According to Facebook or read an excerpt.
The Art of The Adventures of Tintin by Weta Workshop
Go behind the scenes and explore the movie-making magic that comes alive on screen in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film The Adventures of Tintin, shown through text, photos and illustrations from Weta Worskshop, the ground-breaking and Academy Award-winning visual effects team.
Buy The Art of The Adventures of Tintin or read an excerpt.
Menagerie by Sharon Montrose
Celebrated author and photographer Sharon Montrose presents a compendium of wild and domestic animal portraits displayed in unusual and innovative ways-the perfect gift for the legions of fans of cute animals everywhere.
Buy Menagerie or read an excerpt.
The History of American Graffiti by Roger Gastman and Caleb Neelon
Unprecedented in scope, The History of American Graffiti is the definitive story behind the most influential art form of the last one hundred years. With more than one thousand photographs from more than two hundred photographers, The History of American Graffiti captures the look and feel of a genuine American art form with exceptional clarity and detail.
Buy The History of American Graffiti or read an excerpt.
Casting !t: Just Kids
It was announced yesterday via MediaBistro that rock goddess and National Book Award winning author Patti Smith with be helping adapt her amazing memoir Just Kids (my Favor!te book of 2010) for the screen alongside screenwriter and Tony Award winning playwright John Logan.
If you haven’t heard (I can’t see how you haven’t), Just Kids is Smith’s memoir of arriving in New York in 1967 and the then 20 year old’s chance encounter with Robert Mapplethorpe, another 20 year old aspiring artist. It’s her story of their love, their friendship, their art and a New York few would recognize today.
So the question goes out… who would you cast as Smith and Mapplethorpe?
Kristen Stewart (age: 21) and Robert Pattison (age: 25)
Surely these two will be at the top of studio exec’s wish list. Stewart, proved that she could rock in her transformation into Joan Jett in the film biopic The Runaways and the resemblance between the two [rumored] real-life couple to the originals is uncanny. But the fit and the two megastars’ ties to the mega-Twilight-franchise may not hit audiences (or Ms. Smith) the right way.
Frances Bean Cobain (age: 19) and Ezra Miller (age: 18)
The Princess of Grunge as the Godmother of Punk? Can Miss Cobain act? Who knows? But if she can – and would want to step up into the Hollywood world, the photos by Hedi Slimane that recently were released prove she has the look – and the balls – to play Smith. I’d cast the currently almost famous Ezra Miller as Mapplethorpe against Cobain’s Smith. He has the East Village circa 1967 thing down already – and if his performance in the upcoming We Need to Talk About Kevin is as amazing as is being predicted, this could be the massive follow-up he will be looking for.
Emma Watson (age: 21) and Nicholas Hout (age: 21)
Former Harry Potter student Emma Watson seems poised for an image-crashing turn in to catapult her out of Hogwarts. I’d pair her with fellow Brit Nicholas Hout, who came to fame years ago in About a Boy and crashed his own child-star image in the amazing British take on Gossip Girl (but dirtier and better) Skins. His follow-up to that, playing the lovelorn college boy pining for a night with professor Colin Firth in Tom Ford’s A Single Man.
Jennifer Damiano (age: 20) and Eddie Redmayne (age: 29)
Perhaps the modern day Smith and Mapplethorpe might be found forty blocks north of The Village and on Broadway. Jennifer Damiano got amazing attention for her originating role in Spring Awakening. Followed by her Tony-nominated role in Next to Normal. Currently she’s starring in Spider Man. So she should be looking for a new job soon. The Mapplethorpe to Damiano’s Smith? Eddie Redmayne, the Tony award-winning star of Red and the upcoming film My Week with Marilyn.
So who do you think should be cast as Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe in Just Kids?
hitRECord + It Books + Tiny Stories
It Books and hitRECord Partner to Publish The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories Series
The first book in a three-book partnership to hit stores in December 2011
NEW YORK, NY (July 5, 2011) – It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced today that it has acquired publishing rights to the Tiny Book of Tiny Stories series with Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s open collaborative production company hitRECord. The new book titled The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume I is scheduled to be published in December.
The ‘tiny’ book will feature a number of (very) short stories and illustrations developed through hitRECord. With the help of his entire creative collective, Gordon-Levitt will cull, edit and curate the massive number of contributions into a finely-tuned collection.
“It’s very exciting for me and hitRECord – now more than 45,000 artists strong – to be working with It Books and HarperCollins to bring ‘Tiny Stories’ to the mainstream – a dream come true, really,” says Gordon-Levitt.
“We think what hitRECord is doing is new and groundbreaking. We’re thrilled by the prospect of working with them to capture this mass collaborative art in book form,” says Mauro DiPreta, Vice President and Associate Publisher for It Books. He acquired the project from Creative Artists Agency.
Throughout the month of July, Gordon-Levitt is inviting the worldwide creative community to join in on the Tiny Stories collaboration. Artists can participate by submitting their writing and illustrations, and they’re also encouraged to edit and remix others’ contributions. The ‘Tiny Stories’ collaboration is already a hive of activity and can be found at the hitRECord website at: http://hitrecord.org/records/407384.
Click HERE to see a video of Joseph Gordon-Levitt announcing the Tiny Stories partnership (starts at approximately 9 mins).
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About It Books: Launched in September 2009, It Books is dedicated to publishing exceptional books in entertainment, music, fashion, design, art, celebrity, pop culture and sports. It Books has published numerous New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestsellers including the # 1 New York Times bestsellers Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern and Red by Sammy Hagar as well as Getting the Pretty Back by MollyRingwald, Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand, The Red Hot Chili Peppers by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss, All My Life by Susan Lucciand The EveryGirl’s Guide to Life by Maria Menounos. Upcoming publications include Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon and Beauty, Disrupted by Carré Otis.
It Books is an imprint HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). It Books can be found online at www.YourItList.com, www.Facebook.com/YourItList, www.Twitter.com/YourItList and www.Twitter.com/ItBooks.
About hitRECord: Founded and directed by Golden Globe-nominated actor and artist Joseph Gordon-Levitt, hitRECord is an open collaborative production company where members can contribute their work in various forms including music, videos, text and drawings. Members are then encouraged to add, edit, remix and collaborate with each other. HitRECord currently has over 45,000 active members worldwide. Over 1,000 creative contributions are added daily and over 100 new artists join hitRECord each day. As with all of hitRECord’s money-making productions, profits for ‘The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories’ will be split 50-50 between hitRECord and the book’s contributing artists.
• hitRECord website: www.hitrecord.org
Tiny Stories collaboration page: http://hitrecord.org/records/407384
• hitRECord Twitter: www.twitter.com/hitrecord
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Twitter: www.twitter.com/hitRECordJoe
Bridesmaids have more fun.
Source: http://a-red-lipstick.blogspot.com/
Ruth Hussey was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of “last-minute” bridesmaid Elizabeth Imbrie to Katharine Hepburn’s Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story.
- Source: http://twoweddingbelles.blogspot.com/
Cameron Diaz could have picked a better choice of bridesmaid than Julia Roberts in My Best Friend’s Wedding.
Lady Gaga shot by Nick Knight
All the blogs and the Facebooks and the Twitters and the hashtags #bornthiswayfriday are all a buzzing today with the release of the cover to Lady Gaga’s long awaited Born this Way. Since she debuted a small portion of the title track at the VMAs in December her fans have been desperate for more information about the song and the album.
But we’re here to talk about Nick Knight, the famed British fashion photographer. Having already shot for the world’s top designers, Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, Levi Strauss, Yohji Yamamoto. Yves Saint Laurent it only seems natural that he’d turn his lens toward Gaga. Knight’s image is sure to be one of the most viewed photograph of the decade. He recently published a midcareer retrospective of his work, from 1990 to the present day, called Nick Knight. Looking through the pages of his book you can see many similarities with the way he has captured Gaga and the transition of his work over the past twenty years.
Signed copies of It’s Not Really About the Hair!
Unable to make it to one of Tabatha Coffey’s book signings but still want a signed copy of It’s Not Really About the Hair? You’re in luck!
Bookends Bookstore in Ridgewood, New Jersey will accept phone orders for those fans who would like to purchase signed copies of Tabatha Coffey’s It’s Not Really About the Hair.
To order your signed copy please call Bookends at 201-445-0726 between 9:00 am to 6:00 pm est.
Signed books will be available to pick up at Bookends, 211 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey beginning the morning of January 26.
For an additional fee, Bookends can ship signed copies Domestically and Internationally. Personalization, in addition to signature, is available.
Our Favor!te Things 2010: Kevin Callahan
Favor!te Book:
“Who can know the heart of youth but youth itself?”
Favor!te Movie:
A bit different from last year’s pick. But incredible. Claustrophobic. Heart breaking. Amazing. Don’t see if it you have any doubts about your current relationship.
Favor!te TV show:
Totally missed out on this show while it was on the air, but it is definately something to fill the time in between Law & Order: SVUs.
Favor!te Blog/Website:
Favor!te YouTube Video:
I enjoyed learning about Alfred Hitchock’s films.
Come meet Tabatha Coffey!
Come out and meet Tabatha Coffey, star of the hit Bravo show Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, as she promotes her new book It’s Not Really About the Hair!
211 East Ridgewood Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
January 26, 2011, 7:00 PM
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10019
January 28, 2011, 7:00 PM
279 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA 02446-2908
February 2, 2011, 7:00 PM
1739 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, OH 43212
February 10, 2011, 4:00 PM
Barnes & Noble / Fashion Institute of Technology
227 W. 27 Street
New York, NY 10001
Click HERE to read an excerpt and HERE to pre-order your copy today!
Your It List Holiday Giveaway – Avatar Prize Pack!
As 2010 comes to a close all of us at Your It List are looking back at an amazing year and want to say thank you to you. Over the next few weeks we’ll be offering up some prize packs for you to enter to win. First one up… Avatar Prize Pack! It’s hard to believe that a full year has gone by since the film that has forever changed the way movies are made was released in theaters. Now you can relive the experience of seeing Avatar for the first time with the Your It List / Avatar Prize Pack.
What you’ll win: 1 Avatar DVD, 1 Avatar Blu Ray + DVD and 1 copy of the New York Times bestseller Avatar: An Activist Survival Guide.
What you have to do: Follow us on Twitter! Head over to www.Twitter.com/ItBooks and follow us. Then tweet a link to this post (http://bit.ly/AvatarYIL) and add the hashtag #AvatarYIL. We’ll select 5 winners at random at 7:00 pm est on Friday, December 17 and DM you for your mailing address.
Metal: The Hardest Rock of All
Following Grunge, Alternative, and Hip Hop Your It List and Rolling Stone now bring you back to The ’90s and into the hardest rock of all: Metal.
The metal chapter kicks off with an introduction by the one, the only, the legendary Slash of Guns’n'Roses fame and the chapter includes articles from David Fricke about Metallica, Kim Neely on Guns’n'Roses, the man himself Neil Strauss chronicles Marilyn Manson and ends with a return from David Fricke this time writing against Rage Against the Machine.
Buy your copy of The ’90s today.
Cool Gifts for Everyone on Your List
Your It List presents our eleven top books to give this holiday season.
Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Lifeby Justine Picardie
Richly illustrated with hundreds of color and black and white photos, Coco Chanel illuminates Chanel’s path from little-known seamstress to the aristocracy of style in this stunning look at the fashion icon.
Perfect Gift for anyone who loves Chanel in all it’s forms – clothes, perfume, jewelry, bags, shoes –as well as all those who loved Audrey Tautou‘s award-winning role of Gabrielle Chanel in the film Coco Before Chanel.
Buy Coco Chanel, read an excerpt or watch a video.
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
The # 1 New York Times bestseller and inspiration for the hit CBS sitcom, $#*! My Dad Says, starring William Shatner, Justin Halpern’s memoir of his dad is laugh out loud hilarious and heartwarming at the same time. You’ll never think of little league, Denny’s or your dad the same way again.
Perfect gift for your Dad, for fans of the show and followers of Twitter.com/ShitMyDadSays.
Buy Sh*t My Dad Says or read an excerpt.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
One of the biggest bands in the world, The Red Hot Chili Peppers finally bring fans an audacious look back at their thirty-year odyssey, in their own words and accompanied by over 300 photos.
Perfect gift for all RHCP fans, past and present, and those who can’t wait for their next album.
Buy The Red Hot Chili Peppers or read an excerpt.
The Tattoo Chronicles by Kat Von D
The New York Times bestselling follow-up to High Voltage Tattoo, The Tattoo Chronicles delves deep into Kat Von D‘s personal journals and notebooks to reveal one tumultuous year in the life of the star of TLC’s LA Ink and contains photos taken and drawings made by Kat herself as well as the stories behind some of the most meaningful tattoos Kat has ever created.
Perfect gift for fans of LA Ink and lovers of tattoos.
Buy The Tattoo Chronicles, read an excerpt or watch a video.
How to Beat Up Anybodyby Judah Friedlander
An instructional and inspirational Karate book by the World Champion and star of 30 Rock, Judah Friedlander. Learn how to beat up street gangs, attackers with weapons, ninjas, dinosaurs, and gangs of street ninjas with weapons riding on dinosaurs! With over 500 photographs, this is a book that could quite possibly save your life.
Perfect gift for fans of 30 Rock and anyone wanting to survive.
Buy How to Beat Up Anybody, read an excerpt or watch a video.
Harry Potter Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley
The official, behind the scenes guide to ALL the Harry Potter Films, including the recently released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Volume 1 AND the upcoming Volume 2, Harry Potter Film Wizardy shows fans why Yule Ball ice sculptures never melt, where Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts are really “minted,” how to get a Hippogriff to work with actors, the inspiration behind Hogwarts castle, and why Dementors move the way they do.
Perfect gift for all Harry Potter fans.
Buy Harry Potter Film Wizardry, read an excerpt or watch a video.
The Simpsons World: The Ultimate Episode Guide by Matt Groening
At 1,200 pages, this cromulent compendium provides a comprehensive synopsis of every episode for the past twenty years, including every couch gag, every “D’oh” and “Mmm…” Homer has ever muttered, every song ever sung by citizens of Springfield, over 400 character profiles and lots more stuff you may have missed!
Perfect gift for all Simpsons fans.
Buy The Simpsons World or read an excerpt.
Designs on Film by Cathy Whitlock
Open the curtain on movie magic and explore the set designs of the biggest films in movie history including The Wizard of Oz’s yellow brick road, Cleopatra‘s ancient Egypt, the Dakota apartment building in Rosemary’s Baby, Norma Desmond’s “white elephant of a place” from Sunset Boulevard and the vast world of Pandora from Avatar.
Perfect gift for fans of classic films and those interested in behind the scenes details of their favorite films.
Buy Designs on Film or read an excerpt.
The Art of Classic Rock by Rob Roth
For many, the items lovingly cataloged in the pages of The Art of Classic Rock will evoke nostalgic memories of their youth—of blazing lights, drifting smoke and of the all-pervading power of their favorite rock concerts.
Perfect gift for fans of classic rock, especially the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Queen, Alice Cooper and Elton John, as well as fans of album and music poster art.
Buy The Art of Classic Rock, read an excerpt or watch a video.
Al Jaffee’s Mad Life by Mary-Lou Weisman
A biography of Al Jaffee, creator of the massively popular MAD magazine “fold-in” delves deep into the artist’s life and brings readers from the shtetls of Lithuania to the streets of New York and deep inside the world of the top cartoonists of the 20th century, fully illustrated by Jaffee himself.
Perfect gift for fans of MAD magazine and readers interested in 20th century America.
Buy Al Jaffee’s Mad Life, read an excerpt or watch a video.
The Lost Rolling Stones Photographs by Larry Marion
A revealing look at the earliest days of the legendary Rolling Stones, captured in a collection of personal, never-before-seen photographs—the largest single trove of such important rock images ever uncovered—shot as the band were on the brink of international stardom.
Perfect gift for all fans of The Rolling Stones and readers of Keith Richards’s memoir Life.
Buy The Lost Rolling Stones Photographs or read an excerpt.
Kara DioGuardi hits A Helluva High Note
It Books is thrilled to be publishing A Helluva High Note by the amazing Kara DioGuardi, coming April 2011.
Hip Hop: The Revitalization of Rap
The Editors of Rolling Stone have brought you back to when Grunge Was King and when Alternative Went Mainstream. In YourItList’s third installment from The ’90s: Inside Stories from the Decade that Rocked we give you Hip Hop: The Revitalization of Rap.
In addition to an introduction from RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, Rolling Stone brings you back to Snoop Dogg and Dre in Compton from 1993, “The Short Life and Violent Death of Tupac,” Anthony Bozza’s “Eminem Pisses off the World,” as well as essays about Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and Missy Elliott.
Buy your copy of The ’90s today.
The ’90s – When Grunge Was King
With the last few weeks of 2010 in front of us, Your It List is looking back – way back to the 1990s with The ’90s: Inside Stories from the Decade that Rocked by the Editors of Rolling Stone.
Each week we will bring you back into the ’90s through photos from the biggest names in music from Metal to Pop, Hip-Hop to Jam Bands.
This week we remember When Grunge Was King.
The Grunge chapter includes articles about Pearl Jam by Cameron Crowe, The Seattle Scene by Michael Azerrad, Soundgarden by Kim Neely and Kurt Cobain by David Fricke, as well as an introduction from Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden fame.
Buy your copy of The ’90s today.
Meet The Red Hot Chili Peppers in Los Angeles
November 4, 2010 is a day Red Hot Chili Peppers fans have been waiting for! Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith and Flea will be making an appearance at Barnes & Noble: The Grove at Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles to sign copies of their book The Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History. Please see below for event rules and regulations.
“I am struck with the moments of these photos, the feelings of the times they were taken, and where we were at on our beautiful and happy-sad journey. It’s pretty fucking heavy, actually, like thinking how much we have changed over the years, and all the different dynamics of our lives that shaped us, and also realizing so clearly that nothing has changed at all—we’re all still just trying to get it on, make something great. It is all here, nothing can hide: all the honesty, the pretense, the courage and one-of-a-kind-ness, the unbridled joy, the melancholy, and the shields we put up to shelter our scared, vulnerable little selves.” —Flea
Please note:
- Only those in possession of a bracelet will be granted admittance the day of the signing.
- A limited number of bracelets will be available at Barnes & Noble: The Grove at Farmer’s Market beginning on Wednesday, November 3 at 9:00 am PST.
- The band will only be signing copies of The Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History. No albums or memorabilia, please.
- The signing will begin promptly at 12:00 pm PST. Please arrive early.
- Photography and audio/video recording devices are not allowed within the venue.
Jerry Lee Lewis to Pen Autobiography for It Books
LEGENDARY ROCK ’N’ ROLL PIONEER JERRY LEE LEWIS TO WRITE AUTOBIOGRAPHY FOR IT BOOKS
NEW YORK, NY (October 13, 2010) – It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced today a deal to publish the memoir of rock ’n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis in 2012.
The book was acquired at auction by Cal Morgan, Vice President and Editorial Director of It Books. The agent was Erin Hosier of the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency.
One of the greatest showmen of all time, Jerry Lee Lewis is one of the founding pioneers of rock—and his life story is at least as dramatic as his famously outrageous performances. From his childhood in Louisiana and his evangelical upbringing (Jimmy Lee Swaggart was his double first cousin) to his expulsion from Bible college in Texas, Lewis always knew he was going to be a star. In this long-awaited memoir, he will share a lifetime of untold stories, from his early years at Sun Records, where he lit up the music charts in 1957 with the back-to-back hits “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire”; to his longtime friendships with Sun stablemates Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and others; to the scandal that scuttled his first UK tour and jeopardized his career; to his triumphant comeback in the late 1960s, when he became the #1 Country Music star in America; to the cycles of excess and tragedy that dogged him for decades—to his present-day comeback with a pair of hit CDs, Last Man Standing and Mean Old Man. The result will be a truly no-holds-barred memoir—a rock epic if ever there was one.
“I have spent my life listening to those who know so little say so much about me and my life,” said Lewis. “I am ready to say a whole lot about why I lived my life the way I did. People can read it, burn it, or never give it another thought. Either way the truth is about to be told, and I’m the only man still standing who can touch it.”
“Mr. Lewis personifies the American story, in all its richness and contradiction,” said Morgan. “He’s a man of astonishing natural talent, profound belief, and indomitable spirit. What a thrill to have the chance to work with him on this unforgettable book.”
Jerry Lee Lewis was the first person inducted in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, at its opening ceremony in 1986. His original recording of “Great Balls of Fire” was elected to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” received this honor in 1999. He has garnered countless honors, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Rolling Stone ranked him one of their Top 25 Greatest Artists of All Time, and he is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Hit Parade Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Lewis has had 14 #1 Hits, 47 Top 20 hits, and 10 Golden Records. In 2010, actor Levi Kreis won a Tony Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Lewis in the hit Broadway show Million Dollar Quartet. At the age of 75, Lewis is currently on tour in support of his latest CD, Mean Old Man, a deluxe 18-track collection of duets and collaborations with some of the greatest musicians in rock and country music.
About It Books: Launched in September 2009, It Books is dedicated to publishing exceptional books in entertainment, music, fashion, design, art, celebrity, pop culture and sports. It Books has published numerous New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestsellers including Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern, Getting the Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald, Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway by Cherie Currie, I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks, Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand and Satiristas by Paul Provenza and Dan Dion. Upcoming publications include Blow by Blow by Detmar Blow with Tom Skyes, The Red Hot Chili Peppers by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, How to Beat Up Anybody by Judah Friedlander, True Whit by Whitney Port, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss and Al Jaffee’s Mad Life by Mary Lou Weisman. It Books is an imprint HarperCollinsPublishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). It Books can be found online at www.YourItList.com, www.Facebook.com/YourItList, www.Twitter.com/YourItList and www.Twitter.com/ItBooks.
Happy Birthday Macaulay Culkin (and some others)
There’s been a lot of attention today on the Twitters and the Facebooks and the Internets drawn to the thirtieth birthday of Home Alone star Macaulay Caulkin, starting (as far as I can tell) from the tweet from forever-young actor @GaryJBusey Macaulay Culkin turns 30 today, but I still don’t trust him to be left home alone followed by countless blogs relaying the information that Culkin will be spending his birthday “home alone” with some close friends.
In honor of Mac’s birthday, and all of us born in 1980, here’s a quick rundown of the wealth of talent born the year Reagan was elected and Lennon was killed.
January 17 – Zooey Deschanel, American actress
January 18 – Jason Segel, American actor
January 22 – Christopher Masterson, American actor
January 28 – Nick Carter, American pop singer
February 11 – Matthew Lawrence, American actor
February 12 – Christina Ricci, American actress
February 15 – Conor Oberst, American singer/songwriter
February 27 – Chelsea Clinton, First daughter
April 1 – Bijou Phillips, American actress and socialite
June 17 – Venus Williams, American tennis player
June 26 – Jason Schwartzman, American actor
July 10 – Jessica Simpson, American singer
July 20 – Gisele Bündchen, Brazilian supermodel
August 26 – Macaulay Culkin, American actor
September 9 – Michelle Williams, American actress
September 25 – T.I., American rapper
November 12 – Ryan Gosling, Canadian actor
December 18 – Christina Aguilera, American singer
December 19 – Jake Gyllenhaal, American actor
Meet Kat Von D
We are thrilled to announce the following appearances where Kat Von D will meet fans in conjunction with the release of her latest book The Tattoo Chronicles, on sale Tuesday, October 26, 2010.
If you’re unable to meet Kat on tour, pre-order your copy of The Tattoo Chronicles today.
Complete schedule after the jump.
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Susan Lucci to Pen Autobiography
New York, NY (July 28, 2010) – It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced today that it will publish television legend Susan Lucci’s autobiography in 2011. As the most famous face in daytime television history, Lucci has held audiences spellbound for years as the sexy, sassy, beautiful “woman you love to hate,” Erica Kane on ABC-TV’s All My Children.
The book was acquired by Lisa Sharkey, Senior Vice President and Director of Creative Development for HarperCollins from Mel Berger of William Morris Endeavor. Vice President and Executive Editor, Hope Innelli will edit the book.
In her autobiography Lucci will recount her forty year-long career on All My Children, playing the beautiful and controversial character. As Erica Kane, Lucci has experienced many intense moments on screen: married many times on air, was one of daytime’s first working mothers, and has dealt with many of life’s greatest tragedies. In addition to providing readers with an exciting and satisfying behind the scenes look at her career, Lucci will devote much of the book to her personal life off-camera. Lucci will reveal information on her devastating car accident, her miscarriage, and the joy that came with finally winning an Emmy in 1999 after eighteen previous nominations. She recounts her experiences on Broadway, performing to sold-out audiences across the country as a cabaret, nightclub performer, and as a celebrity dancer on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Named one of Barbara Walters’ “Ten Most Fascinating People,” Lucci will give readers an intimate look into her life as a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, philanthropist, entrepreneur and iconic actress.
“I am so excited to share my life experiences with my fans,” Susan Lucci said. “It Books gave me the extraordinary opportunity to tell my story.”
About It Books: Launched in September 2009, It Books is dedicated to publishing exceptional books in entertainment, music, fashion, design, art, celebrity, pop culture and sports. It Books has published numerous New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestsellers including Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern, Getting the Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald, Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway by Cherie Currie, I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks, and Satiristas by Paul Provenza and Dan Dion. Upcoming publications include Blow by Blow by Detmar Blow with Tom Skyes, The Red Hot Chili Peppers by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, How to Beat Up Anybody by Judah Friedlander, True Whit by Whitney Port, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss and Al Jaffee’s Mad Life by Mary Lou Weisman. It Books is an imprint HarperCollinsPublishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). It Books can be found online at www.YourItList.com, www.Facebook.com/YourItList, www.Twitter.com/YourItList and www.Twitter.com/ItBooks.
PR Contacts:
Alberto G. Rojas, Senior Director of Publicity, 212-207-7891; alberto.rojas@harpercollins.com
Joseph Papa, Associate Publicist, 212-207-7326; joseph.papa@harpercollins.com
Sex and Drugs and Guns N’ Roses
Steven Adler, the infamous former drummer for Guns N’ Roses, kicked off his book tour to promote My Appetite for Destruction tonight at Book Revue in Long Island to a rapt crowd of fans.
In his memoir, Adler shares the shattering untold truth of GNR and his own personal struggles with addiction, as seen on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Adler bares it all in My Appetite for Destruction including:
- His childhood: As a young teen Steven was lured into a private party where he was sexually assaulted and beaten. Never before has this shocking, harrowing tale been told. Steven emerged a less trusting, but wiser 14 year-old. He reveals how he discovered a way to learn how to play from some of the best rock drummers in the world.
- His love life: One of Steven’s lovers, thinking Steven was leaving her, tried to commit suicide by jumping out a fifth-floor window. And his first wife went out with one of her girlfriends one night, never to return…
- His health: Steven delves into the brutal depression and humiliation borne of his botched suicide attempts, his drug-related heart attacks, and the debilitating stroke that caused him muscular paralysis and permanently slurred speech.
- His band-mates: How Slash, against all reason, reached out to help Steven one last time after the rest of Guns N’ Roses had given up on him. How Duff snubbed Steven, humiliating him in front of thousands of fans at Farm Aid. And what Slash and Axl Rose did to Steven that can never, ever be forgotten.
- His heroics: How Steven discovered a seemingly unconscious and non-responsive Nikki Sixx all alone, and saved his life.
- …and his endless antics: How Steven managed to earn the seething wrath of Axl Rose, Eddie Van Halen and Rod Stewart. And incredible accounts of how Guns N’ Roses’ endless partying made virtually every night a gamble on whether they’d make it to the stage or to the morgue.
*Expires October 27, 2010.
The stories behind Mad Men revealed
The wait is finally almost over… the new season of Mad Men premieres July 25th on AMC. It’s about time. The recently released Season 4 poster has been getting a ton of attention including this in-depth examination and search for hidden meaning from TV Guide.
But to find out the real meaning behind the hit show you’ll need to read Mad Men Unbuttoned: A Romp Through 1960s America by Natasha Vargas-Cooper, the woman behind the highly popular blog The Footnotes of Mad Men.
In the book, Vargas-Cooper turns her eye to everything from Lucky Strike to Madienform, gray flannel suits to Burt Cooper’s Japonism, Grace Kelly to John Cheever — and examines iconic morsels from the show and the error. Very Short List agrees, Mad Men Unbuttoned is like a little time machine that takes us, as Mr. Draper so elegantly put it, ‘to a place where we ache to go again.’”
Still need more Mad Men in your life and on your computer screen? You can download two Mad Men wallpaper designs for your computer: What’s in Don Draper’s Desk and What’s in Joan Holloway’s Purse.
Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders or Books-a-Million.
Tell someone what you really think
The amazing SomeEcards.com have joined forces with the equally amazing Shit My Dad Says to bring you the perfect sayings from Sam Halpern fit to match any occassion (birthday, wedding, farewells, new baby and more).
Visit the Shit My Dad Says at SomeEcards.com store and let the truth be heard. Some choice examples:
Oh, and don’t forget to buy the # 1 New York Times bestseller Sh*t My Dad Says book.
It Books signs Sammy Hagar for Autobiography
PRE-ORDER now at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
NEW YORK, NY (June 24, 2010) – It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced today a deal to publish Sammy Hagar’s autobiography in 2011. Hagar, the multi-platinum Red Rocker, is best known as the bombastic front man of Van Halen, one of the biggest-selling rock groups in history, and the lead singer of the hard rock group, Chickenfoot.
The book was acquired by Lisa Sharkey, Senior Vice President and Director of Creative Development for HarperCollins from Frank Weimann, President of The Literary Group International. Senior Editor Matt Harper will edit the book.
Hagar will provide readers with incredible behind-the-scenes stories from his multi-platinum career, including his rise as a solo artist and his eleven years with Van Halen, after the controversial departure of original lead vocalist David Lee Roth. During Hagar’s time with Van Halen, the band released four consecutive No. 1 albums. From worldwide stadium concerts tours to private jets, Hagar enjoyed the trappings of fame and success with Van Halen until he was, as he puts it, “unceremoniously fired.” Hagar later thrived as a solo act, leading his band, the Cabo Wabos, before returning triumphantly to Van Halen for an historic reunion tour after which he set off on his own once again.
“I’ve been writing this book my whole life,” says Hagar. “It’s time to put it between two covers.”
Honest and compelling, Hagar’s account spares no one, least of all himself. Hagar’s autobiography reveals the inside story of one of rock music’s most recognizable voices, from his humble beginnings in the town of Fontana, California, to his incredible business success with Cabo Wabo Tequila and the Cabo Wabo Cantinas. The book will be co-authored by Joel Selvin, longtime pop music writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.
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About It Books:
Launched in September 2009, It Books is dedicated to publishing exceptional books in entertainment, music, fashion, design, art, celebrity, pop culture and sports. It Books has published numerous New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestsellers including Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern, Getting the Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald, Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway by Cherie Currie, I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks, and Satiristas by Paul Provenza and Dan Dion. Upcoming publications include Blow by Blow by Detmar Blow with Tom Skyes, The Red Hot Chili Peppers by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, How to Beat Up Anybody by Judah Friedlander, True Whit by Whitney Port, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss and Al Jaffee’s Mad Life by Mary Lou Weisman. It Books is an imprint HarperCollinsPublishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV).
It Books can be found online at www.YourItList.com, www.Facebook.com/YourItList, www.Twitter.com/YourItList and www.Twitter.com/ItBooks.
PUBLICITY CONTACT: Alberto G. Rojas, Senior Director of Publicity, 212-207-7891; alberto.rojas@harpercollins.com
YOURITLIST.COM CONTACT: youritlist@harpercollins.com
IT BOOKS CONTACT: itbooks@harpercollins.com
Why Pearl Jam matters
Its taken a week to wrap my head around Pearl Jam’s show at Madison Square Garden on May 21st - and to get my voice back to normal. Without a doubt, Pearl Jam always puts on an amazing show. Though not seeing them for several years (after seeing them a dozen times in a few short years with the exception of Eddier Veder’s solo acoustic show), maybe I forgot how incredible a group they are.
So…my thoughts on why Pearl Jam matters….
- Ed’s ever-present bottle of wine on stage to, you know, keep his throat from getting dry
- Tribute song, “I’m Open,” dedicated to Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States
- How Eddie still acts amazed when he stands on stage and lets the crowd sing “Better Man” to him
- The crowd clears out for bathroom breaks during a “popular radio song,” (ie “Daughter”) but no one moves when he stands on stage and talks to the crowd
- No matter how massive a Pearl Jam fan you are, you will hear at least one, possibly two, songs you don’t know
- No matter how massive a Pearl Jam fan you are, and how many times you’ve seen them in concert, you will hear at least one song performed that you have never heard them perform live before
- After doing this for twenty years, the band still brings it like its their first concert and keeps it going like it might be their last
- Because even though they will forever be linked by time and place, Pearl Jam is not Nirvana, which is a good thing for both bands
As incredible as the show was as a whole (I would have paid just to hear Eddie belt out “Neverman”), the show was stolen when Eddie invited Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses) out to accompany him on “Hunger Strike.” Watch that performance and sometime around 45 seconds into it Bridwell seems to realize what he is singing and who he is singing with. The only thing better than the look of awe on his face is the look of pride on Ed’s face.
Pearl Jam, Madison Square Garden, May 21, 2010
Main Set:
Corduroy, Hail Hail, Do the Evolution, Worldwide Suicide, Got Some, Breath, Nothingman, I’m Open (Dedicated to Howard Zinn), Unthought Known, Grievance, Amongst the Waves, Present Tense, Not For You/Modern Girl, Push Me Pull Me, Rats, Daughter/WMA, The Fixer, Why Go
Encore 1:
The End (w/ string quartet), Just Breathe (w/ string quartet), Slow Lukin (w/ strings), Black Red Yellow, Sweet Lew, Given to Fly, Spin the Black Circle, Rearviewmirror
Encore 2:
Wasted Reprise, Betterman, Black/We Belong Together, The Real Me, Hunger Strike, Alive, Kick Out the Jams, Yellow Ledbetter/Star Spangled Banner
