'At a certain point in a Ken Russell movie, I always say to myself, The man is mad' Pauline Kael, The New Yorker Ken Russell has made some of the most daring, disturbing and beautifully photographed films of all time. His subjects are astoundingly varied: from deranged 17th-century Ursuline nuns in The Devils to the sexual angst of Tchaikovsky; from the inner demons of Shelley and Byron to a deaf, dumb and blind pinball wizard in Tommy. He is still making films on video, and recently found fame on Channel 4's Big Brother. This first full biography shows how Russell's own life has been as vibrant and engaging as his impish film scenarios. It reveals how Alan Bates and Oliver Reed compared their penis sizes for the nude wrestling scene in Women in Love, and how Russell was even originally set to direct Evita, starring Liza Minnelli. Russell has not specifically authorised the book, but has co-operated to the extent of granting an interview and supplying many rare photos. A madcap tale full of wild ideas, surreal situations and a cavalcade of colourful personalities, Phallic Frenzy is as thrilling a ride as any Ken Russell film. Joseph Lanza's other books include a history of muzak, Elevator Music, and the definitive book on the film-maker Nicolas Roeg, Fragile Geometry.