State Champ Radio biographies
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Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley’s posthumous biography, This Angry Pen: The Lost Journals of Layne Staley, is finally here.
The 176-page volume was officially released on Nov. 11 via publisher Weldon Owen and contains Staley’s never-before-seen journals, handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, and artwork, giving fans an up-close and personal look at Staley’s life off stage. You can shop the hardcover version of the posthumous work on Amazon for $37.20 or a Kindle version for $16.99. The book is also available at Barnes & Noble for $37. “I hope this book gives you a glimpse of the son I knew, the one beyond the headlines, the one with a beautiful, creative, happy soul,” Nancy McCallum, Layne’s mother, writes in the foreword to the book.
In one excerpt, we see a poem written by Staley, painting a picture of his complicated relationship with fame. It reads, “Wear the crown of fame, and I still feel like I’m pretending. Wonder when I’ll stop myself from rules I’m still bending.” The scribblings are deeply personal, offering a more intimate perspective, coloring Staley’s life with more depth, giving fans a better understanding of his day to day. Alongside the poems and journals, candid photos capture both the highs and lows of his journey.
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This Angry Pen of Mine: Recovering the Journals of Layne Staley
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A Layne Staley biography.
The book also includes contributions from fellow musicians, including drummer Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees, Mad Season), Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Robert Trujillo (Metallica) and Sully Erna (Godsmack), among others. If you or a loved one is interested in getting a fuller picture of Staley — who at just 34-years-old — this book is for you. It would make a great gift to snag ahead of the holiday season for that special someone in your life.
Staley began his musical journey in the ‘80s, performing in glam bands in the Seattle area such as Sleze, which changed its name in 1986 to Alice N’ Chains. In 1987, Staley – along with guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Starr and drummer Sean Kinney – formed a new band and renamed it Alice in Chains. The group would soon become one of the most influential grunge rock outfits of the ‘90s, with their 1995 self-titled album peaking atop the Billboard 200.
Staley became largely reclusive in the latter half of the ‘90s, battling depression and drug addiction during those years. On April 17, 2002, Staley’s body was found in his Seattle apartment, with an autopsy ruling his death as an accidental overdose of cocaine and heroin from two weeks prior.
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Girls, gays and they’s rejoice. Chappell Roan has her own illustrated biography, courtesy of A Little Golden Book.
The book, authored by Cat Reynolds and illustrated by Maria Lia Malandrino, depicts Roan’s life and rise to fame in colorful vignettes. Fans can pre-order the hardcover biography now on Amazon for just $5.57. A Kindle version of the book is also available for $5.99.
Through the book, we are given a glance into Roan’s humble beginnings. We start in Missouri, taking a look at Roan’s upbringing that fostered her love of music. The book tracks her signing with Atlantic Records at 17 to chase her dreams of pop stardom. The “Casual” singer would then transition to Amusement Records and then to Island Records in May 2023. It was through Atlantic Records that Roan released “Pink Pony Club” in 2020, which was later included on her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The track was inspired by Roan’s visit to The Abbey, a gay bar in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. Years after its initial release, song blew up on platforms like TikTok, cementing it as an anthem for the gay community.
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Chappell Roan: A Little Golden Book Biography
An illustrated biography depicting Chappell Roan’s life thus far and rise to fame.
From the single’s release, the book takes us through her success, from her epic music festival sets to releasing hits like “Hot To Go!” “Good Luck, Babe!” “Red Wine Supernova” and “Femininomenon.” Finally, we see Roan blossoming into a superstar, working with the likes of Hozier and Elton John. These days, Roan has become a part of the mainstream, known for rewriting the rules of pop music.
Illustrator Maria Lia Malandrino illustrated the biography colorfully, expressing Roan’s life through bold hues that really represent the musician. We’re given a cartoonish look at the performer’s head-turning ensembles and her support of the queer community through Malandrino’s lens. Author Cat Reynolds took to her Instagram to discuss the book, writing, “I can’t even put into words what a dream come true it was to write a Little Golden Book about one of my all-time favorite artists & someone who is a role model to so many queer people. I am so so so grateful/proud/excited.”
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Little Golden Book has a slew of biographies to read through about top musicians today including Beyonce, Cher, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. Each book is illustrated with care by different artists. The books are catered towards children ages 4 to 8 but can make a great gift for the music fan in your life.
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Little Golden Book Biographies is teaching the next generation of K-Pop fans with the release of their BTS biography.
The book, authored by Jan Ann and illustrated by Hyesung Park, details the life and career of the K-Pop boy group thus far. Currently, the book is available for pre-order on Amazon. It will officially be released on Sept. 2. The hardcover retails for $5.57, while the Kindle version retails for $5.99. Whether you’re new to the K-Pop scene and want to learn more, or just want to give this book a try, the biography certainly makes a great gift for all ages.
BTS: A Little Golden Book Biography (Little Golden Book Biographies)
A biography written about the life and career of K-Pop boy group BTS thus far.
BTS has grown to massive heights, finding success in both South Korea and around the globe, but they didn’t start out that way. The book follows members Jin, Jimin, Jungkook, J-Hope, V, RM, and Suga through their training days at Big Hit Entertainment, an entertainment company established in 2005. The company was later re-branded and re-structured into an independent label under Hybe Corporation in March 2021. The label also reps Tomorrow X Together, or TXT, and South Korean singer Lee Hyun.
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Following their trainee days, we read along to see them become one of the biggest music groups in the world with releases like “Dynamite” and “Yet to Come.” The book also covers their multiple appearances at the United Nations. Since their humble beginnings, the group has gone on to collaborate with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Nicki Minaj, Steve Aoki, Lauv, Halsey, Lil Nas X, Sia, Juice WRLD, Coldplay and Megan Thee Stallion. The boy band’s fanbase is massive, with various sources suggesting a size in the tens of millions, potentially even exceeding 100 million fans worldwide.
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BLACKPINK A Little Golden Book Biography (Little Golden Book Biographies)
A biography about the K-Pop girl group’s journey to stardom.
Illustrator Hyesung Park currently works as an Art Director at Pixar Animation Studios. The creative’s illustrations in the book are extremely colorful, painting a picture of BTS’s life through his lens. Park took to Instagram to speak about the book’s cover art, writing “I aimed to strike a good balance between realism and stylization. I hope this book brings you joy after such a long wait for BTS’s reunion. See you in September!” The cover depicts all the members of BTS posed in a group.
Little Golden Book Biographies has books on a slew of top artists today including Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Cher and Beyonce. While you wait to buy BTS’ biography, K-Pop fans can also pre-order BLACKPINK’s biography now on Amazon for $5.99
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