Having committed his life’s memoirs to paper, popular recording artist Will Young has announced he’s to release an autobiography in October.

Set for publication via Little, Brown Book Group, the tome will span standout moments from Young’s ten varied years in the media glare; from his 2002 ‘Pop Idol’ victory, to his role as co-producer of Ralph Fiennes’ acclaimed ‘Coriolanus’, to a cameo in an episode of ‘Skins’. A varied career, indeed.

Says Young: “Writing this book has been surprisingly more fun and emotional for me than I would ever have thought. It often isn’t until you look back on situations in life that you can see the real humanity, humour and madness of what was occurring… In equal measures!”

I think, technically, all books are smokable if you’re really determined. Except e-books, I suppose. Maybe Snoop Dogg is trying to communicate that his new ‘smokable songbook’ will not be available in digital form. Oh, also, it will be printed on Rizlas.

The collection of some of his best known lyrics, entitled ‘Rolling Words: A Smokable Songbook’, will be printed on Snoop’s own line of kingsize Rizla rolling papers. The ink is non-toxic too; he’s thought of everything. Here to tell you more is Snoop himself:

Tim Burgess is to relate his life’s memoirs so far in an aptly-titled new tome ‘Telling Stories’, which is, of course, christened after The Charlatans’ classic LP of 1997.

Set for publication via Penguin on 26 Apr, the book is said to “describe the mad life of a rock star: the dynamics of the band, the creativity, the sex and the drugs but also the rock n roll”.

Sex, drugs, rock n roll… and cereal? What of the cereal, that’s what I’d like to ask. Fortunately, Tim will be addressing such queries – not to mention playing material from his forthcoming solo LP – at a ‘Totes Amazeballs’ book launch on 25 Apr at St James Church in London.

McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter are to script a seasonal children’s picture book entitled ‘The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas’, publisher Random House has announced.

Fletcher outlines the concept: “It’s about a boy who gets a dinosaur for Christmas which goes on an unstoppable festive eating rampage until Christmas is gone. The only way to get Christmas back is for the dinosaur to poop it out”.

So, a sort of reptilian/faecal interpretation of ‘The Grinch’ meets ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ then. Charmed, I’m sure.

Adding a wish that the book will be “the first of many”, Tom continues: “I think it’s easy to see that this book comes from Dougie’s fascination with dinosaurs, my love for Christmas and a shared obsession with poop”.

McFly intend to release their collective memoirs, having signed a deal with Transworld Publishers to issue an as-yet untitled book. Might I suggest ‘McFly: Reality Rocks’ as a prospective title. No? Oh.

Billed in PR speak as “a frank, funny and original insight into the lives of one of the UK’s best-loved bands”, readers are promised the chance to “get to know the men behind McFly in a way they never thought they would”. Many readers, and the Attitude Magazine-purchasing public in particular, are pretty well acquainted with all of McFly already. But wait… that’s not all, because the book will also “shine a light on what it takes to make it to the top and stay there for nine years, all told in McFly’s unique and inimitable style”.

Cee Lo Green’s life story so far is to be published next year, the eccentric R&B star having struck a deal with US-based Grand Central Publishing.

It will be co-written by Rolling Stone’s David Wild, and of the memoir Cee Lo says this: “FORGET YOU? After reading my book, there will be no doubt that I am meant to be. You will enter into the supernatural, the surreal and the extraordinary. As Cee Lo Green, aka ‘everybody’s brother’, I will make you a believer. I talk about art imitating life; YOU discover CRAZY”.

Good luck with that project Mr Wild, you have my deepest respect.

Now in his 83rd year, the very venerable Mr Burt Bacharach has struck a deal with HarperCollins for the publication of his life’s memoirs. Due in November, it will take its title from the 1963 classic, written by Bacharach and lyricist Hal David for Dionne Warwick, ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’.

With biographer Robert Greenfield confirmed to assist with a story “told in Bacharach’s own words”, the book will chronicle the songwriter’s many achievements and accolades, as well as the demise of his and David’s professional partnership.

Evidently not content with his various roles as Major Lazer producer, Mad Decent chief and Blackberry ambassador, Diplo now has his own book in development.

It’s entitled ’128 Beats Per Minute: Diplo’s Visual Guide To Music, Culture, And Everything In Between’ (so a sort of ‘world according to Diplo’, then), and will comprise a collage of photographs, playlists and commentary arranged into chapters according to country. Featuring a foreword by fashion designer Alexander Wang, the book will be available via Universe Publishing in April.

Elsewhere in stuff involving Diplo, a party cruise liner bearing the dancehall DJ ran aground last week after striking some sand dunes. The likes of Skrillex, Tommy Lee and Korn (yes, really) were also aboard the ‘Holy Ship’, which was stranded for a day in Grand Bahama having run into (and damaged) a good-sized slab of underwater reef.

Mixmag reports that some of the boat’s 2500 revellers were heard screaming “We’re all going to die!”, though that may have actually been caused by Skrillex starting up his afternoon set in the tikki lounge. No passengers were harmed, though the same can’t necessarily be said for the rare corals and the livelihoods of local fishermen.

Here’s a very conscientious video of the incident:

Elton John has announced that he will publish a new book later this year entitled ‘Love Is The Cure: Ending The Global AIDS Epidemic’.

It will chronicle his work with AIDS charities, as well as other anecdotes and case studies, such as his memories of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991 AIDS-related pneumonia of course, and the story of Ryan White, a US teenager who took his school to court after it attempted to expel him for being HIV positive.

John said in a statement: “[AIDS] is a disease that must be cured not by a miraculous vaccine, but by changing hearts and minds, and through a collective effort to break down social barriers and to build bridges of compassion. Why are we not doing more? This is a question I have thought deeply about, and wish to answer – and to help change – by writing this book”.

The book is due to be published by Hodder & Stoughton in July.

Memoirs attributed to late hip hop pioneer Gil Scott-Heron are to be published next year, it’s been announced.

Canongate will release ‘The Last Holiday’, which charts Heron and Stevie Wonder’s 1980 ‘Hotter Than July’ tour, in early January. Heron, a passionate civil rights activist, organised the outing to garner public support for a federal holiday in honour of Martin Luther King. It is thought that the memoirs will be made available just before King’s birthday on 15 Jan, now a recognised US holiday of course (or thereabouts, next year’s Martin Luther King Day is actually on 16 Jan).

Canongate have previewed a chapter in which Heron remembers first hearing the news of John Lennon’s assassination after a show with Wonder in Oakland, California. You can download both the audio and text versions of the extract here.

Louise Harrison, sister of late Beatle George, is to publish a book about her brother in order to “get the truth out” and debunk the “garbage [that] has been written about George and The Beatles”.

She told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: “So much garbage has been written about George and The Beatles. I think it’s my duty to get the truth out. Half of the stuff has been written by people who spent maybe an hour on a plane with The Beatles. There’s been all kinds of myths and fantasies written about them. At least I have some facts to go on, because I was there – from even before they were The Beatles”.

With the book now mostly written, Louise Harrison apparently hopes to have the book published within the next two years.

Previously unreleased footage on Michael Jackson on his 1993 ‘Dangerous’ tour is to be auctioned in London later this month, it has been announced.

According to The Independent, the video, recorded in Buenos Aires, was given to a Brazilian chauffeur as “a bonus” for his time spent ferrying the singer around during the tour. The driver kept the VHS tape a secret until after Jackson’s death in 2009, when he posted a short section to YouTube. That clip was then taken down due to a copyright notice, and Sony Music and the Michael Jackson estate both subsequently claimed ownership of the footage. However, the driver was seemingly later named the legal owner of the recording, allowing the big sale.

According to reports, the two hour tape features performance and backstage footage, and features appearances from Jordy Chandler, the teenager who later launched the first child abuse lawsuit against the singer. As a result, the tape has a reserve price of £4 million, which it is expected to be exceeded when it goes up for sale on 26 Nov.

Ted Owen, CEO of Fame Bureau auctioneers, told The Independent: “I’m very excited that this tape is finally going to be seen because of its quality, the amount of cameras used and the sheer closeness you are to the performance when watching it”.

Elsewhere in Jackson news, the singer’s former PA (and brother of Jackson producer Eddie Cascio) Frank Cascio is due to publish a book, entitled ‘My Friend Michael: An Ordinary Friendship With An Extraordinary Man’, detailing his time spent working with the singer and the friendship he had with him as a child. In it he apparently admits to paying off doctors and getting prescriptions in his own name to feed the singer’s desire for prescription drugs, claiming that he first saw Jackson taking propofol (the drug that ultimately killed him) after he was legitimately prescribed it for injuries sustained in a fall in 1999.

Publishing house Faber And Faber has announced that it is employing Jarvis Cocker as its new Editor At Large, which will see him commissioning books for future publication.

Publishing Director Lee Brackstone said of the new appointment: “Jarvis felt like a natural fit with the Faber sensibility, both as author and editor, and I’m sure the small list of books he will develop will represent his eccentric and yet popular touch. We now have an excellent portfolio of authors from the pop world and our intention is to develop these relationships and continue to build a reputation as the home for exciting and original writing on music”.

Cocker added: “I am proud, and more than a little excited, to be asked to work with Faber in an editorial capacity. It is my dearest hope that we will produce some fantastic books together”.

The two year role will commence in January. Coincidentally, Cocker’s first book, a collection of his lyrics called ‘Mother, Brother, Lover’, will be published by Faber And Faber next week.

Amy Winehouse’s father Mitch has announced that he has signed a deal with HarperCollins to publish a memoir about his daughter, entitled ‘Amy, My Daughter’. Proceeds from the book will be donated to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which Winehouse Sr set up following the singer’s death this year.

In a statement he said: “I feel that I need to write this book to tell the true story of Amy and to help with my personal recovery. I also want to raise as much money as possible for Amy’s foundation, so all proceeds from the book will go directly to help children who are disadvantaged through illness and substance addiction. I believe that through Amy’s music, her foundation, and this book, her name will live forever”.

HarperCollins editorial director Nick Canham added: “Amy Winehouse was a once in a generation star whose legacy will last for decades. Her untimely and tragic death has left a void in the hearts of all her fans. The strength Mitch Winehouse has shown over recent months is truly admirable. His desire to create a definitive account of Amy’s life, that will solely benefit the foundation he has established in her name, is something that we are incredibly proud to be part of. ‘Amy, My Daughter’ will be a must read for Amy’s legions of fans, and also a heart-breaking account of a father’s love for his lost daughter that will speak to any parent”.

The book is due to be published next summer.

Rod Stewart has penned a deal with Random House for his autobiography, pledging to “hold nothing back” when it comes to discussing his marital and musical endeavours.

He says of the memoir, which is due out next year: “I thought long and hard before committing to write my book. It is a funny old thing telling my life story but I truly intend to hold nothing back. I’ve had quite a life, known some extraordinary people and had some amazing experiences. I’ve waited all this time, until my 50th year in the business and realise I can no longer put it off. Forget skeletons in the closet; this one’s going to be socks and knickers under the bed”. Oh, blimey.

Courtney Love has signed a deal with HarperCollins imprint William Morrow to publish her autobiography. The company announced that the book would “set the record straight” regarding her life with Kurt Cobain, her drug problems and everything else she’s ever considered other people to have told lies about. Which would be everything.

Having read seemingly endless amounts of blogs and tweets from Love over the years, I’m fairly sure she’s set the record straight many times over. Though at least a book will be a bit more coherent. I’d not want to be her editor though. If they can manage to whip everything it into shape by then, the book is due out next autumn.

Oh, now this will be worth a read. Nas has signed a deal with publisher Simon & Schuster imprint Atria Books in the US to publish his autobiography in autumn next year. Currently going by the working title of ‘It Ain’t Hard To Tell’, the book will be written with music journalist Touré.

Touré tweeted earlier this week: “I’ve been talking to Nas about writing his autobiography for fifteen years. This is hip hop history. We’ll tell his life and deconstruct some songs … Nas’s book will be a book every hip hop fan will have to read”.

So, that TI has got very busy very quickly having been released from jail earlier this week. Not only is he already being filmed for a new reality TV show, but he’s signed a deal with HarperCollins to publish his debut novel as well.

Entitled ‘Power & Beauty’, the book was co-written with Marvin Gaye biographer David Ritz. Apparently it’s a story of two friends who are divided when they become caught up in Atlanta’s criminal underworld. It is due to be published next month.

Anyone waiting for a new album or tour from David Bowie might want to occupy themselves with something else for a bit, if claims made by the the author of a new book on the musician are true.

Speaking to Spinner about his new book, ‘David Bowie: Starman’, former editor in chief at Mojo, Paul Trynka said: “My heart says he’ll come back, [but] my head says he’s likely not to. I think he would only come back if he thinks he could deliver something that will be seismic. If you pop back into the stage, it’s got to be something that has a big explosion and lots of flashes. It would be a bit of a miracle if he comes back, but miracles do happen”.

Bowie has not released a new studio album since 2003′s ‘Reality’, and has not performed live since November 2006 when he performed a duet with Alicia Keys at her Black ball event in New York, which raised money for AIDS orphans in Africa. He completed his last full tour in 2004.

It used to be that every popstar had an autobiography, now they’ve all got a book of photographs. Basically, popstars don’t believe their fans can read. Or it’s possible that photographers are much cheaper than ghostwriters. Anyway, Lady Gaga is the latest musician to announce a book of pictures of her doing stuff.

Simply called ‘Lady Gaga’, the book with be published in the US by Grand Central Books in November and will show “intimate, random, behind-the-scenes moments” from throughout her life, including a set of exclusive photos taken during the making of her latest album, ‘Born This Way’.

In other Gaga news, the singer last week paid for fans waiting for her outside the Chateau Marmont Hotel in LA to have a slap up dinner at McDonalds. This is being written up as an act of outstanding generosity, though it’s possible that after she was fined for encouraging her fans to be noisy outside a hotel in Paris recently, she just wanted them to go away.