Great Rock and Roll Street Art


Book Description

A collection of nearly 750 original punk rock concert posters produced in the San Francisco Bay area from 1977 to 1989.




Rock 'n' Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip


Book Description

The Sunset Strip, circa 1967. What was happening then is now absolutely clear. Rock 'n' roll and the kids who lived it were coming of age - right there on The Strip. And, as if to define the era, a few independent minds in the music industry posted giant, temporary monuments that said it all. Billboards. Bigger than life. Hand-painted homages to rock. In Rock 'n' Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip, Robert Landau showcases these signs of the time, a time when rock was the most important music ever recorded, when youth, politics, and art merged to turn counterculture into mainstream culture.




The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 1


Book Description

An Epic Journey through the Golden Era of Rock & Roll Embark on a thrilling musical voyage with The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 1. The book traces the evolution of rock and roll from its humble origins in the 1920s, culminating in the seismic shift ushered in by the Beatles in the 1960s. This rollercoaster ride through the decades invites you to tap your feet to the music of vaudeville and minstrel acts, rhythm and blues, and the unmistakable sounds that defined post-World War II America. Our guide through this iconic era is none other than celebrated writer Ed Ward. With his definitive narrative style enriched by a profound knowledge of music, Ward spotlights lesser-known heroes and big-name legends alike. Uncover the fascinating stories of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Ray Charles. Delve into the unsung tales of pioneers such as the Burnette brothers, the “5” Royales, and Marion Keisker. For all music lovers and rock & roll fans, Ward spins story after story of some of the most unforgettable and groundbreaking moments in rock history, introducing us to the musicians, DJs, record executives, and producers who were at the forefront of the genre and had a hand in creating the music we all know and love today.




Bruce Springsteen and the Promise of Rock 'n' Roll


Book Description

Describes the life and music of one of America's greatest rock artists, providing an overview and analysis of the cultural, political, and personal forces that influenced his music and led him to explore issues like war, class disparity, and prejudice.




William S. Burroughs and the Cult of Rock 'n' Roll


Book Description

William S. Burroughs's fiction and essays are legendary, but his influence on music's counterculture has been less well documented—until now. Examining how one of America's most controversial literary figures altered the destinies of many notable and varied musicians, William S. Burroughs and the Cult of Rock 'n' Roll reveals the transformations in music history that can be traced to Burroughs. A heroin addict and a gay man, Burroughs rose to notoriety outside the conventional literary world; his masterpiece, Naked Lunch, was banned on the grounds of obscenity, but its nonlinear structure was just as daring as its content. Casey Rae brings to life Burroughs's parallel rise to fame among daring musicians of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, when it became a rite of passage to hang out with the author or to experiment with his cut-up techniques for producing revolutionary lyrics (as the Beatles and Radiohead did). Whether they tell of him exploring the occult with David Bowie, providing Lou Reed with gritty depictions of street life, or counseling Patti Smith about coping with fame, the stories of Burroughs's backstage impact will transform the way you see America's cultural revolution—and the way you hear its music.




The Art of Classic Rock


Book Description

For forty years, collector Rob Roth has gathered rare examples of rock tour posters, advertising posters, rock memorabilia, original artwork and items of merchandise. His spectacular collection is so vast that it has never all been put on public display, but when visitors to his spacious New York loft apartment—visitors like Elton John and Alice Cooper—caught a glimpse of some of the material Roth has collected over the years, they were amazed and urged him to let rock fans see the dazzling array of artifacts. When designer John Varvatos saw the collection, he was so stunned by it that he begged Roth to lend him pieces for his new store in Las Vegas. More of Roth's pieces will be on display in the Varvatos Soho store and other upcoming locations in the fall of 2010. Varvatos has even offered to host a launch party in the Soho store for the book at its time of publication. For many, the items lovingly cataloged in the pages of The Art of Classic Rock will evoke nostalgic memories of their youth—of blazing lights, drifting smoke and of the all-pervading power of their favorite rock concerts. Unlike anything else on the market, The Art of Classic Rock is a lavishly produced presentation of the most vivid and exciting artwork from the rock world, as well as a guide to understanding the the most influential rock banks of our time. Each section of The Art of Classic Rock focuses on a well-known band, covering its defining tours and albums to show how the band's iconic designs and graphic styles changed, and to provide an overview of rock history from the period. An introduction to each section puts the images in context, outlining the stage the band and its acts had reached in their development when the particular images and designs displayed were used, and discussing the art and artists behind the work. Each piece of art also features a caption describing exactly what it is, while items with a particular story are accompanied by longer, more detailed text. The Rob Roth collection has been meticulously photographed specifically for this book by photographer Richard Marot who spent hundreds of hours working with a team of technicians to ensure that the images appearing in The Art of Classic Rock are a sumptuous and accurate representation of the truly stunning Rob Roth Collection.




Supernatural Strategies for Making a Rock 'n' Roll Group


Book Description

Washington, D.C.-based rock 'n' roll antihero Ian F. Svenonius provides an unparalleled and exquisitely provocative how-to guide for rock bands.




Don1, the King from Queens


Book Description

Among the famous graffiti artists from New York City's 1970s subway era was an unassuming talent from the unassuming borough of Queens. The Italian-American rock and roller who wrote "DON 1 MAFIA" blasted onto the scene like a meteorite out of nowhere. His influence on this art form transcended the inner city and he became a legend and a household name. But his descent from the top of this name game, a result of the hedonistic lifestyle of New York City at the time, was just as swift, and for years DON1 has lived in obscurity. Fortunately, as a photographer studying at the prestigious school of Art and Design, DON1 documented his iconic work, along with that of his well known contemporaries, using his trusted 35mm camera. This penetrating work takes the reader inside the supernova that was DON1's creative life with nearly 200 never before seen graffiti photos of the most undocumented NYC train lines and an even rarer glimpse at work from his black book.




The Future of Rock and Roll


Book Description

In 1983, an Ohio radio station called WOXY launched a sonic disruption to both corporate rock and to its conservative home region, programming an omnivorous range of genres and artists while being staunchly committed to local independent art and media. In the 1990s, as alternative rock went mainstream and radio grew increasingly homogeneous, WOXY gained international renown as one of Rolling Stone's "Last Great Independent Radio" stations. The station projected a philosophy that prioritized such independence—the idea that truly progressive, transgressive, futuristic disruptions of the status quo were possible only when practiced with and for other people. In The Future of Rock and Roll, philosopher Robin James uses WOXY's story to argue against a corporate vision of independence—in which everyone fends for themselves—and in favor of an alternative way of thinking and relating to one another that disrupts norms but is nevertheless supported by communities. Against the standard retelling of the history of "modern rock," James looks to the local scenes that made true independence possible by freeing individual artists from the whims of the boardroom. This philosophy of community-rooted independence offers both a counternarrative to the orthodox history of indie rock and an alternative worldview to that of the current corporate mainstream.




Graffiti World


Book Description

The original collection featured in "Graffiti World" highlighted more than 2,000 illustrations by 150 artists from around the world. This updated edition includes a new section devoted to work created in the five years since the book's first edition.