Influente autore, cantante e chitarrista, il carismatico, enigmatico, idiosincratico Alex Chilton è stato più di una semplice rockstar: era, ed è, un'autentica figura di culto. Alex lottava contro i suoi demoni - tare genetiche, alcol, mal d'amore, suicidio -e intanto sbancava le classifiche, sfidava il sistema, inventava il power pop e stabiliva i canoni espressivi e operativi di quel modo di intendere la musica che oggi conosciamo come 'indie' o 'alternative'. Sullo sfondo degli studi e dei locali di Memphis, del CBGB e dei vicoli di New York, delle bellezze e delle devastazioni di New Orleans, luoghi simbolo di un'esistenza dai contorni gloriosi e tragici al contempo, Un uomo chiamato Distruzione ripercorre nei minimi dettagli la vita di Chilton dalle prime esibizioni negli anni Sessanta con i Box Tops, giovanissimi hitmaker con singoli epocali quali The Letter e Cry Like a Baby, passando per i dischi seminali dei Big Star negli anni Settanta, fino alle sperimentazioni con il punk e il roots e a una prolifica, per quanto sconnessa, carriera da solista. Con il contributo di tutti coloro che hanno conosciuto e amato Alex Chilton, 'Un uomo chiamato distruzione' racconta la storia di un'icona musicale e traccia le coordinate dell'evoluzione del rock attraverso mezzo secolo.

A 50 anni dalla sua morte, un ritratto intimo e avvincente che scava in profondità nella vita di Janis Joplin e nella sua musica. Una delle più straordinarie interpreti del rock, una voce che sapeva accendere i cuori di chi la ascoltava, e non ha perso un briciolo della sua forza. Una donna che ha cambiato le regole del gioco. Janis Joplin è stata la prima rockstar donna. La sua traiettoria artistica fu così rapida e abbagliante da cristallizzarla ben presto - subito dopo la morte per overdose a soli ventisette anni - nel personaggio trasgressivo e senza filtri che aveva a lungo recitato in pubblico: una leggenda maledetta a uso e consumo dei teenager, e sempre, soprattutto, una voce. In realtà, Janis è stata molto più di questo. Per molti aspetti misteriosa e sfuggente, a distanza di cinquant'anni rimane una fonte di ispirazione e una figura chiave per comprendere l''emancipazione', non solo femminile. Nel ripercorrere la sua vicenda umana e musicale, Holly George-Warren è perciò ripartita da zero, raccogliendo una miriade di testimonianze inedite dalla viva voce di chi Janis l'ha conosciuta da vicino. Dall'infanzia texana nel Triangolo d'oro petrolifero alle fughe in autostop verso la San Francisco della controcultura psichedelica, dalla black music scoperta in dischi semiclandestini e bettole della Louisiana fino al tragico epilogo al Landmark Motor Hotel di Los Angeles: 'Janis. La biografia definitiva' racconta una vita unica, appassionante e contraddittoria, degna di un romanzo dell'adorato Jack Kerouac. Janis Joplin è stata - scopriamo - una beatnik on the road, un'as

In John Varvatos, the legendary designer reveals his perspective on how rock & roll music and style have influenced his own designs and fashion worldwide. Varvatos’s personally curated collection of more than 250 images are some of the most provocative ever shot by top rock photographers from the late 1960s to today, from the Rolling Stones to the Kings of Leon. The featured photographers are among the world’s finest, including Mick Rock, Bob Gruen, Elliott Landy, Danny Clinch, Lynn Goldsmith, and more. Also included are select images from Varvatos’s own advertising campaigns, featuring artists such as Slash, Iggy Pop, Scott Weiland, and Miles Kane. Varvatos’s captions and incisive commentary on the artist and his or her look accompany each image. Every chapter also contains numerous quotes from the musicians themselves, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Iggy Pop, Jack White, Pete Townshend, Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, and Patti Smith. An extraordinary anthology of some of the finest images in rock & roll and the most influential rock looks in fashion and popular culture, this volume will delete music lovers, and fans of music photography, fashion, and fashion history

Set on 700 acres of rolling farm hills in Manchester, Tennessee, Bonnaroo is a four-day music and camping festival that draws in over 80,000 fans every summer. Featuring over 120 musical performances, along with comedy, cinema, sustainability workshops, and more, the grounds are converted into a virtual city of music and art. With over 200 photographs of some of the most legendary musical acts of all time, and numerous personal contributions by musicians and patrons, Bonnaroo: What, Which, This, That, The Other celebrates 10 years of this beloved music festival and the impact it has made on American culture. Whether fans of the Dave Matthews Band, Eminem, Radiohead, or Metallica, all music lovers unite to experience the magic of Bonnaroo.

In un momento assai critico per l'America, il festival di Woodstock diede luce a una nuova comunità che condivideva valori e aspirazioni e credeva nella possibilità del cambiamento; un ideale che avrebbe esportato in ogni parte del mondo. Ci sono voluti quarant'anni per assistere ad alcuni dei mutamenti preannunciati in quei tre giorni d'agosto, oggi testimoniati da gruppi ecologisti, da organizzazioni come MoveOn, e dall'elezione del primo Presidente afroamericano (c'è chi sostiene che senza la rassegna del '69 non sarebbe potuto accadere). Con la sua rivisitazione dell'inno nazionale, Hendrix diede voce a un futuro in cui un Barack Obama avrebbe potuto parlare di cambiamento e di speranza al mondo intero. Quarant'anni dopo, il 'Wall Street Journal' si è riferito alla giornata in cui Obama ha assunto i poteri di Presidente degli Stati Uniti con le seguenti parole: 'la Woodstock di Washington'.

Nel pomeriggio del 15 agosto 1969, era un venerdì, tra i prati e le colline di Bethel, nella contea di Sullivan (Stato di New York) prendeva il via quello che è passato alla storia come il festival musicale per eccellenza: Woodstock. Quei tre giorni di musica costituiscono uno degli eventi storici che più hanno influenzato l'immaginario collettivo di intere generazioni di giovani. E come accade per tutti gli eventi di portata planetaria, su Woodstock si sono sedimentati miti, leggende, narrazioni. Per fare chiarezza, colui che ideò e organizzò il festival, Michael Lang, ha raccolto in un libro la sua versione dei fatti. In un momento assai critico per l'America, il festival di Woodstock diede luce a una nuova comunità che condivideva valori e aspirazioni e credeva nella possibilità del cambiamento; un ideale che avrebbe esportato in ogni parte del mondo. Ci sono voluti quasi cinquant'anni per assistere ad alcuni dei mutamenti preannunciati in quei tre giorni d'agosto, oggi testimoniati da gruppi ecologisti, da organizzazioni come MoveOn, e dall'elezione del primo Presidente afroamericano (c'è chi sostiene che senza la rassegna del '69 non sarebbe potuto accadere). Con la sua rivisitazione dell'inno nazionale, Hendrix diede voce a un futuro in cui un Barack Obama avrebbe potuto parlare di cambiamento e di speranza al mondo intero. Quarant'anni dopo, il 'Wall Street Journal' si è riferito alla giornata in cui Obama ha assunto i poteri di Presidente degli Stati Uniti...

Since 1986, a legion of rock & roll stars has congregated annually for a star-studded, rollicking evening that has become one of the most celebrated events of the year and the hottest ticket in rock?the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. For more than two decades, this ceremony?usually held at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria?has paid homage to the legendary artists, producers, songwriters, disc jockeys, and others who have made rock & roll an international musical and social phenomenon. Now, for the first time in published form, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The First 25 Years reveals the personal, behind-the-scenes dramas, once-in-a-lifetime performances, inspirational toasts, and colorful acceptance speeches that make up rock's most unforgettable night. In their own words, rock's biggest names tell of the inspirations behind their music as they salute the pioneers who paved the way. Containing archival memorabilia, collectible album cover art, and never-before-published photographs of rock's most iconic figures, this comprehensive volume is organized by year, with insightful chapter introductions that contextualize rock & roll's historical and cultural relevance. A wealth of first-person quotations and anecdotes that intimate the truth behind the music and a complete collection of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's program guides round out this must-have reference for anyone interested in rock's progeny. In equal parts a tribute to rock & roll and a contribution to its continued legacy, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The First 25 Years is the definitive volume for those who rock.

The story of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair begins with Michael Lang, a kid out of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, who liked to smoke a joint and listen to jazz. He would find his way to Florida, open a head shop, and produce his first festival—Miami Pop, featuring Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and others—then travel to Woodstock, where, after meeting Artie Kornfeld, his vision for a festival where folks could come and stay for a few days amid the rural beauty of upstate New York would become a reality. With Artie, new partners John Roberts and Joel Rosenman, and his handpicked crew, Lang booked talent, from Janis Joplin and the Who to the virtually unknown Santana and Crosby, Stills and Nash; won over agents, promoters, and townspeople; took on fleets of volunteers; built a festival site from the ground up; and, in the end, created the landmark cultural event that defined a generation.

Since 1986, a legion of rock & roll stars has congregated annually for a star-studded, rollicking evening that has become one of the most celebrated events of the year and the hottest ticket in rock—the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. For more than two decades, this ceremony—usually held at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria—has paid homage to the legendary artists, producers, songwriters, disc jockeys, and others who have made rock & roll an international musical and social phenomenon.

Now, for the first time in published form, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The First 25 Years reveals the personal, behind-the-scenes dramas, once-in-a-lifetime performances, inspirational toasts, and colorful acceptance speeches that make up rock's most unforgettable night. In their own words, rock's biggest names tell of the inspirations behind their music as they salute the pioneers who paved the way. Containing archival memorabilia, collectible album cover art, and never-before-published photographs of rock's most iconic figures, this comprehensive volume is organized by year, with insightful chapter introductions that contextualize rock & roll's historical and cultural relevance. A wealth of first-person quotations and anecdotes that intimate the truth behind the music and a complete collection of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's program guides round out this must-have reference for anyone interested in rock's progeny. In equal parts a tribute to rock & roll and a contribution to its continued legacy, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The First 25 Years is the definitive volume for those who rock.

August 15, 1969, Richie Havens, the first act of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, takes the stage and welcomes a crowd of several hundred thousand to the green fields of Max Yasgur's farm - which is quickly becoming the second-largest city in New York State. People are dancing, imbibing, meeting, and helping the ever-increasing stream of new neighbors set up camp. Beyond the fields, the roads are jammed with cars and people, some of whom have been traveling for days to reach the festival site. Havens enthusiastically delivers folk-blues standards and Beatles songs, then begins to improvise, riffing on the refrain 'Freedom.' Freedom is at the heart of the harmony of this landmark cultural event - along with brotherhood, love, and peace. The next three days are the realization of months and years of dreaming and planning, the result of miracles and crises and coincidences.
The story of the festival begins with Michael Lang, a kid out of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, who liked to smoke a joint and listen to jazz and who eventually found his way to Florida, where he opened ahead shop and produced his first festival - Miami Pop, featuring Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and others. In the late sixties, after settling in Woodstock, he began to envision a music and arts festival where folks could come and stay for a few days amid the rural beauty of upstate New York. The idea crystallized when Lang talked it over with Artie Kornfeld, a songwriter and A & R man, and with two other young men they formed Woodstock Ventures. They booked talent, from Janis Joplin and the Who to the virtually unknown Santana and Crosby, Stills and Nash; won over agents and promoters; brought in the Hog Farm commune to set up campgrounds; hired a peacekeeping force; took on fleets of volunteers; appeased the Yippies; and were run out of one town and found another site weeks before the festival.
On the ground with the talent, the townspeople, and his handpicked crew, Lang had a unique and panoramic perspective of the festival. Enhanced by interviews with others who were central to the making of the festival, The Road to Woodstock tells the story from inspiration to celebration, capturing all the magic, mayhem, and mud in between.

The only performer to earn 5 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Gene Autry was the singing cowboy king of American entertainment. Now, in Public Cowboy No.1, Holly George-Warren offers the first serious biography of this singular individual, in a fascinating narrative that traces Autry's climb from small-town farm boy to multimillionaire. Here for the first time Autry the legend becomes a flesh-and-blood man--with all the passions, triumphs, and tragedies of a flawed icon. George-Warren recounts stories never before told, including revelations about Autry's impoverished boyhood, his adventures as an up-and-coming singer, and the impact his unbelievable success had on his personal life. The book provides equally colorful details of Autry's lengthy radio and recording career, which included such classics as 'Back in the Saddle Again' and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'; his movie career, where he breathed new life into the Western genre; and his role in early television. And along the way, we see how he invested shrewdly in radio, real-estate, and television, becoming the only entertainer listed among 1990's Fortune 400. Based on exclusive access to Gene Autry's personal papers, as well as interviews with more than 100 relatives, employees, colleagues, and friends, this engaging biography brings to life a major Hollywood star--a man who, more than anyone else, put Western music and style on the American cultural map.

This book features gritty and compelling photos of influential bands from pioneers such as The Velvet Underground to heavy hitters like Blondie and the Clash. Taken by prominent rock photographers these images capture the raw energy and revolut

The only performer to earn 5 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame--for film, recordings, TV, radio, and live performance--Gene Autry was the singing cowboy king of American entertainment. Now, in Public Cowboy No.1, Holly George-Warren offers the first serious biography of this singular individual, in a fascinating narrative that traces Autry's climb from small-town farm boy to multimillionaire.
Here for the first time Autry the legend becomes a flesh-and-blood man--with all the passions, triumphs, and tragedies of a flawed icon. George-Warren recounts stories never before told, including revelations about Autry's impoverished boyhood, his adventures as an up-and-coming singer, and the impact his unbelievable success had on his personal life. She describes Autry's loving but doomed mother, who died on the brink of her son's success, and his ne'er-do-well father, who married five times and wandered the west. Autry battled his own demons but emerges here in a positive light, an immensely personable man, one of America's most charitable benefactors, known for his boundless generosity, and a patriot who enlisted during World War II. The book provides equally colorful details of Autry's lengthy radio and recording career, which included such classics as 'Back in the Saddle Again' and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'; his movie career, where he breathed new life into the Western genre; and his role in early television, being the first movie star to develop his own TV shows. And along the way, we see how he invested shrewdly in radio, real-estate, and television, becoming the owner of the California Angels and the only entertainer listed among 1990's Fortune 400.
Based on exclusive access to Gene Autry's personal papers, as well as interviews with more than 100 relatives, employees, colleagues, and friends, this engaging biography brings to life a major Hollywood star--a man who, more than anyone else, put Western music and style on the American cultural map.

A companion to the groundbreaking PBS documentary series, this volume is a unique and timeless celebration of the blues, from writers and artists as esteemed and revered as the music that moved them.

Included in this stunning collection are

• Essays by David Halberstam, Hilton Als, Suzan-Lori Parks, Elmore Leonard, Luc Sante, John Edgar Wideman, and many others
• Timeless archival pieces by writers such as Stanley Booth, Paul Oliver, and Mack McCormick
• Evocative color illustrations and rare vintage photography
• Illuminating and in-depth conversations and portraits of musicians, ranging from Robert Johnson and Bessie Smith to John Lee Hooker and Eric Clapton
• Lyrics of legendary blues compositions
• Personal essays by the series directors Martin Scorsese, Charles Burnett, Richard Pearce, Wim Wenders, Marc Levin, Mike Figgis, and Clint Eastwood
• Excerpts from literary masters James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Eudora Welty, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and William Faulkner Tracing the art form's path from juke joints, house parties, and recording studios to musicians such as Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles, Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues proves, in the words of Willie Dixon, 'The blues are the roots; every-thing else is the fruits.'

Completely updated with new entries and extensive revisions of the previous 1,800, The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia Of Rock & Roll is the authoritative volume on the world's music makers -- from the one-hit wonders to the megastars.

In 1983, Rolling Stone Press introduced its first Rock & Roll Encyclopedia. Almost two decades later, it has become the premier guide to the history of rock & roll, and has been selected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum as its official source of information. Giving full coverage to all aspects of the rock scene, it tells the story of rock & roll in a clear and easy reference format, including complete discographies, personnel changes for every band, and backstage information like date and place of birth, from Elvis Presley to Eminem.

Since the last edition, the music scene has exploded in every area, from boy-bands to hip-hop, electronica to indie rock. Here, the Encyclopedia explores them all -- 'NSync, Notorious B.I.G., Ricky Martin, Radiohead, Britney Spears, Blink-182, Sean 'Puffy' Combs, Portishead, Fatboy Slim, Fiona Apple, Lil' Kim, Limp Bizkit, Oasis, Outkast, Yo La Tengo, TLC, and many, many more. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, Third Edition includes all the facts, phenomena, and flukes that make up the history of rock. Accompanying the biographical and discographical information on the nearly 2,000 artists included in this edition are incisive essays that reveal the performers' musical influences, first breaks, and critical and commercial hits and misses, as well as evaluations of their place in rock history. Filled with hundreds of historical photos, The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia is more than just a reference book, it is the bible of rock & roll.

A revised edition of the classic history of rock discusses the evolution of rock music from its earliest origins to today's most influential musical styles and performers. Original. 100,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo.