Everybody knows somebody who is a heavy metal fan - fact!

If you are already a fan, our hats off to you. If not, let Philip Kerr be your guide as he takes you back through his life and shows how metal has shaped and enhanced every bit. Diving into Heavy Metal! is a journey of discovery, beginning with Philip as a naive child who found himself transfixed by an incredible sound. There tends to be a misrepresentation of heavy metal fans as weird misfits, and many books and films lampoon the subject. Not so in Philip's book as he invites the reader into the story of a community of fans across the world joined by their love of this extraordinary music.

Many aspects of metal are covered as Philip discovers them on his journey: heavy metal, thrash metal, glam metal and more. He'll show you some of the more major events in music history, take you to a Sabbat gig in Derby, to see Guns N' Roses in Manchester, to the Clash of the Titans at the Birmingham NEC, and to the artillery barrage otherwise known as Motörhead! He'll also shed light on some of the murkier parts of the scene as he delves into the world of death metal.

Whether you're a long-time fan, a recent initiate or a complete newbie, Diving into Heavy Metal! has something for everyone. And while the narrative bursts with humour and passion, it's also above all an honest look at this music that so many fans centre their lives around and without which, Philip says, he isn't sure where he'd be!