Tyla J Pallas certainly has a way with words and when you marry that to a natural ability to embroider a fine yarn you have a winning combination.

Dog Tales is Tyla at his very best, if you have a hankering for Tales of Rock and Roll excess counterbalanced with some wonderful obseravtions on family life and the characters we all meet along our respective journeys you will find this a hugely enteryaining read...

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If you expected a book by Neil Young to be an easy or conforming read then of course you would be entirely wrong.

Neil Young is certainly an interesting character, fueled by love and obsessions 'Waging Heavy Peace' takes you to some unusual places along the way on a ride that doesn't play by the rules...

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A couple of the things that immediately grab you about Peter Hook and his book of the life and times of Joy Division are that firstly he may not have the most scholarly approach to the subject and secondly that he seemingly has an endless supply of anecdotes.

The former point however is rendered immediately redundant by the fact that Hook is a very endearing narrator bursting with great stories, that even in the first few pages draw you in: whether it’s his clearly affectionate notes on Salford or his story of the origins of the name ‘Joy Division’ or even the tale of their first ever gig (something every new band should read).

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Sometimes you just need to sit back and throw on a good Metal DVD and relax. And you know what after doing just that I’m ready to do it again. If like me you’ve not watched many Metal DVDs this year then make sure you use the festive season wisely.

I’d always had a soft spot for the band Tank since their early days and still have good memories of seeing the band live back in the day.  To bring you right up to date Tank 2012 is a mighty machine, fronted by Rainbow/Malmsteen force of nature Doogie White they are a force to be reckoned with, and this live DVD, released this week in the US is testament to that.

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There is no point debating the significance of Bruce Springsteen to American music and so to read the first biography in 25 years to offer Bruce’s cooperation, as well as the input of significant figures from his family, band and longtime manager producer Jon Landau there was always going to be every chanCe we got something special: and we do.

Perhaps the most interesting thing for the reader is that writer Carlin manages to take a fresh look at established Springsteen mythology and in doing so turns up some interesting takes on established stories and at times even makes you take a step back and revisit your opinion of the subject.

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It’s over 30 years now since Bob Marley died, and finally we have a documentary that is a fitting tribute to the man. Kevin MacDonald has managed to get it just right- balancing a compelling narrative with some exhaustive and informative interviews, but still managing to keep the music well and truly in the foreground. This is very much a look at Bob through family eyes, and dwells far more on the personal and spiritual than the political and succeeds largely because of that.

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I think the thing I most like about this memoir is the spirit that shines through it. Even from the very first pages where we see a young girl with her fair share of childhood problems, you glimpse a truly strong and persistent spirit that you can both root for and empathise with.  There are also some wonderfully wrought images and themes that are established early on that persist throughout the book, that can only come through the eyes of an artist.

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Where do you begin with a story about one of the iconic figures of Aussie Rock? Well Jeff Apter’s book starts in as good a place as any – Shirl onstage briefly with Rod Stewart in the 80’s post Skyhooks, not singing, or as a special guest, but fixing a cable as part of the crew for the night. He is of course recognised by the crowd as a bemused Rod sings on over chants of ‘Shirl, Shirl, Shirl’.

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McKagan is as changed a man as anyone could be after being an integral part of the excesses and madness of the Guns n’ F’n Roses circus of their heyday - why, in the introduction to this guts-spilling volume of memoirs, he agonises over how strict he needs to be at his teenage daughter’s birthday party.

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Slim Spires is a character – and a dangerous one at that. In this memoir he regales readers with takes of his life led less ordinary – as a member of biker gangs, clashing with the police, doing time in jail, indulging in the pleasures of the flesh and – above all – dispensing brutal street justice to those that cross him or those he is loyal to.

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