📖 Overview
Mark Blake is a British music journalist, author and broadcaster who has written extensively about rock music since the 1990s. His work particularly focuses on the history of influential rock bands and musicians from the 1960s-1980s.
Blake's most notable works include the comprehensive Pink Floyd biography "Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd" (2007) and "Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen" (2010). He also authored "Pretend You're in a War: The Who and the Sixties" (2014), offering detailed accounts of these bands' histories through extensive research and interviews.
As a journalist, Blake has contributed to Q magazine, Mojo, Classic Rock, and the Times (London), establishing himself as an authority on classic rock. His archival research and ability to secure interviews with prominent musicians and industry figures have helped provide new insights into well-documented musical periods.
Blake continues to write about music and has published additional works including "Stone Me: The Wit & Wisdom of Keith Richards" (2015) and "Bring It On Home: Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin & Beyond" (2018). His deep knowledge of rock history and attention to historical detail have made his books valuable resources for music enthusiasts and scholars.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently highlight Blake's thorough research and interview access to key music figures. His Pink Floyd biography "Pigs Might Fly" receives specific praise for uncovering new details about the band's history through firsthand accounts.
What readers liked:
- Deep archival research and primary sources
- Clear, straightforward writing style
- Balance between technical music details and human interest stories
- Inclusion of rare photographs and documents
What readers disliked:
- Some find the chronological narrative structure dry
- Occasional repetition of well-known facts
- Limited coverage of post-1980s periods for some bands
- Technical music terminology can be dense for casual readers
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
"Pigs Might Fly" - 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings)
"Is This the Real Life?" - 4.0/5 (2,100+ ratings)
Amazon:
"Pigs Might Fly" - 4.5/5 (280+ reviews)
"Pretend You're in a War" - 4.4/5 (150+ reviews)
Most critical reviews focus on wanting more personal band details rather than questioning Blake's research accuracy.
📚 Books by Mark Blake
Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd
A biography of Pink Floyd from their Cambridge beginnings through their rise to fame, conflicts, and later years, based on interviews with band members and associates.
Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen A comprehensive biography of Queen tracing their journey from formation to Freddie Mercury's death, incorporating interviews with band members, friends, and colleagues.
Pretend You're in a War: The Who and the Sixties An account of The Who's early years and rise to fame during the 1960s, detailing their emergence from London's mod scene.
Stone Me: The Wit & Wisdom of Keith Richards A collection of quotes and observations from Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, arranged chronologically across his career.
Up and Down with The Rolling Stones An edited version of Tony Sanchez's memoir about his time as Keith Richards' assistant and confidant during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen A comprehensive biography of Queen tracing their journey from formation to Freddie Mercury's death, incorporating interviews with band members, friends, and colleagues.
Pretend You're in a War: The Who and the Sixties An account of The Who's early years and rise to fame during the 1960s, detailing their emergence from London's mod scene.
Stone Me: The Wit & Wisdom of Keith Richards A collection of quotes and observations from Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, arranged chronologically across his career.
Up and Down with The Rolling Stones An edited version of Tony Sanchez's memoir about his time as Keith Richards' assistant and confidant during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
👥 Similar authors
Nicholas Pegg writes about David Bowie and chronicles music history with deep research and archival material. His detailed documentation style matches Blake's approach to music biography.
Paul Trynka focuses on Bowie, Iggy Pop and other influential rock figures of the 1970s. His interview-based narratives cover similar territory to Blake's work on Queen and Pink Floyd.
Barney Hoskyns specializes in chronicles of the 1970s music scene and writes about the business side of rock. His work examining Led Zeppelin and the Los Angeles music industry parallels Blake's interest in the machinery behind rock stardom.
Clinton Heylin produces comprehensive band histories with emphasis on Dylan and punk rock. His research methodology and focus on primary sources aligns with Blake's factual approach.
Philip Norman writes biographies of major rock figures including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Elton John. His mix of cultural context and band dynamics resembles Blake's analysis of rock's golden era.
Paul Trynka focuses on Bowie, Iggy Pop and other influential rock figures of the 1970s. His interview-based narratives cover similar territory to Blake's work on Queen and Pink Floyd.
Barney Hoskyns specializes in chronicles of the 1970s music scene and writes about the business side of rock. His work examining Led Zeppelin and the Los Angeles music industry parallels Blake's interest in the machinery behind rock stardom.
Clinton Heylin produces comprehensive band histories with emphasis on Dylan and punk rock. His research methodology and focus on primary sources aligns with Blake's factual approach.
Philip Norman writes biographies of major rock figures including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Elton John. His mix of cultural context and band dynamics resembles Blake's analysis of rock's golden era.