David Bowie

In his new memoir, The Uncool, Crowe reflects on his adventures and misadventures as a teenage music journalist. He also writes about what life was like in his family, and how he convinced his parents to allow him to go on the road before he'd even graduated high school.

The icon's new album plays like a collection of discreet singles, with each performed in a different style, genre and mood. In this way, the album isn't a return to form, in part because David Bowie never took one form to begin with.

His new book is Picture This: Debby Harry and Blondie. Rock photographed many musicians before they were famous. The British-born photographer took pictures of Lou Reed, Brian Eno and Ziggy Stardust (aka David Bowie) when he was just a cult figure in London. His book Blood and Glitter is about the Glam Rock era.

Rock historian Ed Ward examines glam rock, the 70s movement that glorified glitter, fashion. The two best examples are David Bowie and T. Rex.