Sylvie Simmons Books

WITH A NEW AFTERWORD BY THE AUTHOR The definitive biography of the late Leonard Cohen - singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and novelist. The genius behind such classic songs as Suzanne, So Long, Marianne, Bird on the Wire and Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen has been one of the most important and influential songwriters of our time, a man of spirituality, emotion, and intelligence whose work has explored the definitive issues of human life - sex, religion, power, meaning, love. I'm Your Man explores the facets of Cohen's life. Renowned music journalist Sylvie Simmons draws on Cohen's private archives and a wealth of interviews with many of his closest associates, colleagues, and other artists whose work he has inspired. Containing exclusive material and interviews, this is the biography to buy on Leonard Cohen.

The definitive biography of one of the most emigmatic, beloved, and celebrated artists of our time. Leonard Cohen's extensive and successful recent worldwide tour has demonstrated that his popularity across generations and borders has never been greater. Cohen's life is one of singular mystique. This major in-depth biography is the book Cohen's fans have been waiting for. Acclaimed writer/journalist Sylvie Simmons has interviewed more than 100 figures from Cohen's life and work, including his main muses; the women in his life -- from Suzanne and Marianne to Rebecca de Mornay and Anjani Thomas; artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, David Crosby, Judy Collins, and Philip Glass; his record producers; his closest friends, from childhood to adulthood; and many of the spiritual figures who have influenced his life. Cohen, notoriously private, has granted interviews himself. Thoroughly researched and thoughtful, penetrating and lively, fascinating and revealing of stories and facts never read before, I'm Your Man offers new perspectives on Cohen and his life. It will be one of the most talked-about books of the season, and for years to come.

In this biography the author explores the facets of Cohen's life from his early childhood in Montreal, to his entree into the worlds of literature and music, his immersion in Jewish culture, obsession with Christian imagery, and deep commitment to Buddhist detachment, including the five years he spent at a monastery outside of Los Angeles and his ordainment as a Rinzai Zen Buddhist Monk. The author draws on research that includes Cohen's personal archives and more than one hundred exclusive interviews with those closest to Cohen, from his lovers, friends, monks, professors, rabbis, and fellow musicians to his muses, including Rebecca DeMornay, Marianne Ihlen, Suzanne Elrod, and Suzanne Verdal

"I was saying things in songs that female singers didn't really say back then. I wasn't submissive or begging him to come back; I was kicking his ass." BRAVE, BEAUTIFUL AND BORN TO BE PUNK, DEBBIE HARRY is a musician, actor, activist, and the iconic face of New York City cool. As the front-woman of Blondie, she and the band created a groundbreaking sound that fused rock, punk, disco, reggae, and hip-hop, producing some of the most cherished pop songs. A muse to bold artists over the past four decades, Debbie Harry's cultural impact is profound, yet she has been reticent about her inner life—until now. In a compelling mix of visceral storytelling and stunning visuals, including never-before-seen photographs and fan art, this memoir redefines the music memoir genre. It captures the gritty essence of 1970s New York City, where Blondie shared the stage with legends like the Ramones and David Bowie. The narrative follows her journey through commercial success, heroin addiction, personal loss, bankruptcy, and the band's breakup, alongside her diverse acting career and advocacy for environmental and LGBTQ rights. This cinematic memoir tells the story of a woman who forged her own path and influenced a generation of artists.

The razor-witted fiction debut of one of the best music writers on either side of the Atlantic, Too Weird for Ziggy is a collection of stories all set in the world of crass A&R men, fans mired in hero worship, and music stars perpetually on the verge of ego tantrum or outright crackup. From a Karen Carpenter cult to a rock 'n' roll seance; from a band of cock-rockers whose starmaking tour goes off the rails when their lead singer starts to grow breasts, to an obsessed fan on a mission from God to marry a woman-battering heavy-metal drummer, these stories are like sitting beside an expert commentator in the front row at the celebrity circus.