Trevor Baker

Depeche Mode are one of the UK's most popular global bands, a multi-million selling phenomenon - their last album Sounds of the Universe went top three in 25 countries worldwide. But it's their astonishing series of early albums that made them such a legend among their hardcore army of fans. Mostly ignored by the UK press at the time, LPs such as Some Great Reward, Black Celebration an Music For The Masses have grown in stature with every passing year as a new generation of artists have proclaimed their influence. Now, for the first time, with Depeche Modes: The Eary Years, those early classics, from their 1981 debut Speak and Spell to 1993's Songs of Faith and Devotion are examined in-deph, with interviews for session musicians and studio engineers who saw their creation first hand. In 2013, with a new album about to drop, Depeche Mode seem more relevant and important that they ever did and an new generation of fans are waiting to discover them.

This is the first ever in-depth biography of Ashcroft, the frontman for The Verve and also a highly successful solo artist. As a young singer from Wigan, Ashcroft formed The Verve with Nick McCabe and released two critically-acclaimed albums before their third record, "Urban Hymns", turned them into one of the UK's biggest acts. A legendary apettite for psychedelic drugs and even physical collapses from ecstasy abuse, coupled with massive songs such as "Bittersweet Symphony", made Ashcroft one of Britpop's biggest names. However, The Verve was a deeply volatile band and eventually, in 1999, they split acrimoniously following a homecoming gig in front of 40,000 fans in Wigan. Ashcroft had already recorded some aterial on his own and three solo albums duly followed - with corresponding arena tours that often dwarfed the scale of The Verve's own huge venues. Coldplay's Chris Martin introduced him at Live 8 as 'the best singer in the world' while Noel Gallagher wrote the song "Cast No shadow" about him. Then, in 2006, The Verve announced they were reforming for a late 2007 arena tour - completely sold out in minutes - and a brand new album released in the summer of 2008. With Ashcroft's issues with clinical depression, suicidal thoughts, outspoken political views and celebrity admirers, this first-to-the market biography is a tale of rock and roll excess, artistic brilliance and a unique starring role in modern British music.