New book asks ‘who is the real Amy Winehouse?’

As wild child Amy Winehouse celebrates her five-star Grammys success, John Blake Publishing have announced the publication of her first biography. Amy Winehouse: She Told Us She Was Trouble reveals her journey from childhood pranks to stardom and rehab. It takes the story right up to her recent tribulations, including the controversial crack-pipe video.

Author Chas Newkey-Burden says: “Forget rehab! Recognition at the Grammys is exactly what the doctor ordered for Amy. She has the potential to be a huge star in America and I think a couple of Grammys on Sunday will mark a new beginning for her.”

Amy Winehouse is the most talked about singer-songwriter of her generation. Her soulful voice has won her critical acclaim, scores of awards and fans from all walks of life, while her turbulent and decadent lifestyle has made her an irresistible target for the popular press. But who is the real Amy Winehouse?

This fascinating biography traces her story from her childhood in North London, through to her eventful time at the Sylvia Young Theatre School. It follows her as she takes early steps to fame under the management of Pop Idol guru Simon Fuller and then signs her first deal with Island Records. Her bestselling second album Back To Black has earned her nominations for Grammys, earning Amy growing international acclaim.

With original interviews and revealing anecdotes included along the way, Amy Winehouse: She Told Us She Was Trouble tells the gripping 'behind the scenes' story of this living legend, right up to 2008, when her husband Blake Fielder-Civil faced trial. Chas Newkey-Burden’s compelling portrait is an exclusive look at the life of the country's greatest living singer. She told us she was trouble, but we know that she's so good.

John Blake Publishing: March 2008: £17.99

Chas Newkey-Burden is the author of Paris Hilton: Life On The Edge and Great E-mail Disasters. His next book - Not In My Name: A Compendium of Modern Hypocrisy - was co-written with Julie Burchill and is published in April.