Musicologist, Author, Critic. His knowledge encompassed both classical and popular music. In 1988 his book "The New Shostakovich," containing a wealth of information never before published in the west, reopened debate about the controversial Russian composer; conductor Maxim Shostakovich, the composer's son, called it "One of the best books about Dmitri Shostakovich I have read". MacDonald garnered even more acclaim for "Revolution in the Head" (1994), a song-by-song analysis of The Beatles which many music critics consider definitive. Long a victim of depression, MacDonald committed suicide at his home in Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire, at age 54. He left unfinished a book about David Bowie.
Musicologist, Author, Critic. His knowledge encompassed both classical and popular music. In 1988 his book "The New Shostakovich," containing a wealth of information never before published in the west, reopened debate about the controversial Russian composer; conductor Maxim Shostakovich, the composer's son, called it "One of the best books about Dmitri Shostakovich I have read". MacDonald garnered even more acclaim for "Revolution in the Head" (1994), a song-by-song analysis of The Beatles which many music critics consider definitive. Long a victim of depression, MacDonald committed suicide at his home in Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire, at age 54. He left unfinished a book about David Bowie.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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