Scott Walker : Deep Shade of Blue

Musicians as diverse as Bono, Marc Almond, David Sylvian and Julian Cope have all acknowledged the influence of Scott Walker, and his more mainstream appeal extends to all age groups.

Legend has it that the Walker Brothers were formed when they crashed into each other's sports cars in an LA traffic accident.

Whatever their origins, hits such as "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More" and "Make it Easy on Yourself" won them a huge following and the name "The Blond Beatles".

Scott himself, with his extraordinary voice, became known as the Sinatra of his generation. Yet at the height of their fame Scott Walker left the band, preferring to live a life of obscurity.

Though he cut a number of solo albums, he came to reject the music business more and more; today he lives the life of a recluse in a small West London flat, shunning all publicity. The book includes contributions from close friends, fellow musicians and relatives.