a-ha: Down To The Tracks

Against all the odds, three Norwegian musicians, collectively known as a-ha, burst on to the scene in 1985 with their worldwide hit, 'Take On Me'. Seemingly overnight, the band were topping charts all over the world, a success propelled in part by an innovative video that captured the imagination of an MTV-loving generation. In truth, however, their success had been the culmination of years of hard work and financial struggle; from their origins in bands such as Bridges and Souldier Blue, through to a period of relative squalor in London as they determinedly sought their breakthrough. At their commercial peak they recorded the theme song for the James Bond blockbuster, The Living Daylights, and, since their formation in September 1982, they have sold over 35 million albums worldwide, influencing bands such as Coldplay, Keane and Radiohead along the way. Since reuniting in 2014, the band have continued to record and perform, and are currently in the midst of a year-long world tour, playing their classic debut album, Hunting High and Low, in its entirety. In Down To The Tracks, Barry Page reflects on a 40-year musical odyssey, taking a detailed look at both the band's pre-fame years and their extensive back catalogue, using archived resources and exclusive new reminiscences from a wide-ranging number of contributors. Additionally, this unique book incorporates a comprehensive overview of the band members' side projects.