Lesley-Ann Jones

SERIALISED IN THE MAIL ON SUNDAY AND THE TIMES, AND AS FEATURED ON BBC RADIO AND LONDON LIVE TV . . . In this startling, funny and agonizing book, Lesley-Ann Jones relives the glory days and walks again on the wild side with tears, laughter and a whole lotta love. The respected biographer of Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and Marc Bolan, LAJ began her career as an intern at London's Capital Radio, and worked with Debbie Harry and Blondie, Spandau Ballet and Leo Sayer at Chrysalis Records. She experienced 15 minutes of fame as a television presenter at the inception of Channel 4. She subsequently reinvented herself as a reporter and celebrity interviewer on the Sun, the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday and the News of the World. She was directly involved in 3 of the most explosive celebrity scandals of the age: Bill Wyman's affair with schoolgirl Mandy Smith, Gary Glitter's exposure as a paedophile, and Hugh Grant's arrest in Los Angeles following his dalliance with a prostitute. The Gloria Gaynor of the written word, she survived not only the toughest street on Earth and near-fatal illness but also life-changing divorce, culminating in the killing of her lawyer. TUMBLING DICE offers, at its heart, the evolving psyche and growing awareness of a green-gilled hack on a quest for exclusives and a thrilling lifestyle, but essentially, of course, for love . . . "Hilarious, revealing, shocking and hugely enjoyable account of the wild, weird world of celebrity and even wilder, weirder world of tabloid journalism," says Piers Morgan . . . "LAJ has always shone her light brilliantly, if sometimes too accurately, on others. She now turns it articulately and entertainingly onto herself - a scoop " comments Sir Tim Rice . . . TUMBLING DICE is "brilliant, unputdownable, a tour de force. The best book about celebrities that I have ever read. I wish I'd written it," raves Simon Napier-Bell, manager of the Yardbirds, Marc Bolan, Wham , Sinead O'Connor and George Michael . . . "Lesley-Ann was both the glamour and the guts of rock journalism. No one got closer to the story, nor nearer to the core of a crazy time. She was there and she was all there," is broadcaster Robert Elms's take . . . columnist Matthew Parris adds, "Boy oh boy, Tumbling Dice is sensational The stories are amazing and the storyteller, Lesley-Ann Jones, brings such intelligence, self-knowledge and honesty to a life recollected, that by the second page of the introduction, I was hooked." . . . and journalist Martin Townsend observes: "It was almost impossible to be at a gig, party, reception or other rock-related shindig from the late '70s, '80s and beyond without seeing Lesley-Ann. She was everywhere, and seemed to know everyone, from rock stars to hotel doormen."

*** By the Sunday Times bestselling author of BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY ***'A fascinating insight into one of the greatest artists of our lifetime.' Evening Standard'This is a personal friendship in writing... an endearing and powerful tale of a man who conquered the entire entertainment industry with his creative force.' VarietyHis music thrilled the generation it was written for, and has entertained and inspired every generation since. HERO: DAVID BOWIE is an intelligent exploration of the man behind the myths and the makeup told from the very beginning. Respected music journalist and biographer Lesley-Ann Jones knew David Jones from the days before fame, when he was a young musician starting out, frustrated by an industry that wouldn't give him a break and determined to succeed. Here she traces the epic journey of the boy from Bromley born into a troubled background, to his place as one of the greatest stars in rock history. Jones has interviewed numerous friends and associates of Bowie, many of whom have never spoken publicly about him before. Drawing on this new material and meticulous research, the real story of Bowie's family background is told; the true inspiration behind the creation of Ziggy Stardust is revealed, and we learn how his marriage to Angie ended in agony following his comeback from a near fatal drug addiction. Jones also revisits Bowie's tragic relationship with his brother and his deep bond with T Rex frontman Marc Bolan. Bowie's rebellious nature, his many sources of inspiration and creativity, and his complex, intense personality are discussed here, creating a unique and compelling portrait of an extraordinary man. This is Bowie as you've never seen him before.

Freddie Mercury var sangeren i ‘Queen’, og vi glemmer ham aldrig. Men selvom han blev superstar, og alle kan synge med på We are the Champions, så fik ikke ret mange bare et glimt af manden bag glitterfacaden. Han var den første store rockstjerne, der døde af aids, og Lesley-Ann Jones forsøger ikke at skjule hans vilde eksesser. En meget omfattende biografi, ikke blot om, hvordan verden så Freddie, men også om, hvordan han så på sig selv. Et indtagende og bevægende portræt af en af rockmusikkens mest komplekse og elskede personer. Bogen her er baseret på over 100 interviews med Freddies nærmeste, og Lesley-Ann Jones rejste rundt fra London, over Zanzibar og Indien for at lære hans liv at kende. *“Overbevisende definitiv, helt igennem Freddie, en energisk, underholdende og væsentlig biografi.” Sir Tim Rice“Ingen har bedre end Ann-Lesley Jones fanget Freddie Mercurys magiske, fortryllende dualisme.” The Times

"A must-read for any Mercury, Queen, or rock fan...a truly intimate portrait" ("Hollywood Reporter"). As the frontman and lead vocalist for the iconic band Queen, Freddie Mercury is often recognized for his unmatched songwriting skills and flamboyant showmanship. But despite his worldwide fame, few people really knew the man behind the glittering facade. Now, more than twenty years after his death, those closest to Mercury are finally opening up. Author and rock journalist Lesley-Ann Jones delves deep into Mercury's decadent and promiscuous life after spending years interviewing the flamboyant star and his inner circle of family members, band mates, long-term lovers, close friends, and music industry insiders. What emerges is an intimate and complicated portrait of this rock 'n' roll legend, providing new insight on topics such as Mercury's relationship with long-time girlfriend Mary Austin, his dangerous and pleasure-seeking excesses, and Queen's meteoric rise to fame. Sympathetic yet not sensational and based on more than a hundred interviews with key figures in his life, "Mercury" is the definitive account of Freddie Mercury's legendary life in the spotlight and behind the scenes.

*** By the Sunday Times bestselling author of BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY ***From mod folk artist to flower power pixie elfin to the king of glam rockers, Marc Bolan was the ultimate chameleon. His far-reaching musical and stylistic influence is more relevant today than ever with hits such as 'Ride A White Swan', 'Children Of The Revolution', 'Get It On' and 'Hot Love' as fresh and exhilarating as when first released. At the peak of his popularity during his lifetime Bolan was outselling Jimi Hendrix and The Who, and yet relatively little is really known about the hypnotic, enigmatic 20th century boy turned 21st century icon. At last, in the 35th anniversary year of his tragic death, Marc Bolan represents the definite biography. Here rock biographer, Lesley-Ann Jones, paints a meticulous portrait of the T-Rex front man. From his childhood growing up in Hackney to his untimely death at the age of 29, Bolan's life was one of relentless experimentation and metamorphoses. Hallucinogenic drugs, wizardry and levitation, alcoholism, tax evasion and a spectacular fall from grace were to punctuate his short life, as he continued to strive to reinvent himself and his music over and over again. Lesley-Ann has been granted access to those who knew Bolan best, including his partner and the mother of his only son, Gloria Jones and his brother, Harry Feld.

Revealing and intimate, based on more than 100 interviews with key figures in his life, this is the definitive biography of Queen front man Freddie Mercury, one of pop music's best-loved and most complex figures. A revealing, intimate look at the man who would be Queen. As lead vocalist for the iconic rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury's unmatched skills as a songwriter and his flamboyant showmanship made him a superstar and Queen a household name. But despite his worldwide fame, few people ever really glimpsed the man behind the glittering fa ade. Now, more than twenty years after his death, those closest to Mercury are finally opening up about this pivotal figure in rock 'n' roll. Based on more than a hundred interviews with key figures in his life, Mercury offers the definitive account of one man's legendary life in the spotlight and behind the scenes. Rock journalist Lesley-Ann Jones gained unprecedented access to Mercury's tribe, and she details Queen's slow but steady rise to fame and Mercury's descent into dangerous, pleasure-seeking excesses--this was, after all, a man who once declared, "Darling, I'm doing everything with everyone." In her journey to understand Mercury, Jones traveled to London, Zanzibar, and India--talking with everyone from Mercury's closest friends to the sound engineer at Band Aid (who was responsible for making Queen even louder than the other bands) to second cousins halfway around the world. In the process, an intimate and complicated portrait emerges. Meticulously researched, sympathetic yet not sensational, Mercury offers an unvarnished look at the extreme highs and lows of life in the fast lane. At the heart of this story is a man...and the music he loved.

The definitive biography of one of music's greatest legends.