I need one that’s not particularly partisan, neither a collection of hagiographies nor hit-pieces, and was written by somebody who doesn’t have his head up his a*s all the time. Oh, and eclectic: I will probably need to read up on the genres, but I need a good general primer. Which means, not one written for musicians.
I know, I know. Simple, right? But surely something like this must exist. People love to argue about music.
All I know on the topic is that Neil Gaiman once wrote a biography of Duran Duran of which he is now deeply ashamed.
IS IT AVAILABLE FOR SALE?
It’s very sought-after in hardcopy and rather expensive. Humble Bundle released a digital copy in a Gaiman bundle a little while back, but I foolishly didn’t buy it then. Below is an article about the book generally and a review of it by John Scalzi.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/hay-festival/11638724/Neil-Gaiman-The-book-I-wish-Id-never-written.html
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2015/09/22/duran-duran-neil-gaiman-and-beginnings/
Heh. Thanks. BTW, the picture of Duran Duran in the Telegraph article is close to the aesthetic (at least one of them*) that I’m aiming for. It just lacks a couple of demons being run through by the band’s guitars.
*Another is of Marky Ramone with a tactical field drum stalking Communist sewer monsters under the streets of NYC. And he’s not trapped down there with them. They’re trapped down there with him.
Hmmm.
.
So many different things going on at the same time, and everyone biased about how what they were doing was new and fresh, or really big, or not at all reactionary but nothing like those guys ..
.
The ’80s were when folk rock got boring, when the kids got sick and tired of their older brothers’ country-infused singer-songwriter schtick, and demanded something edgy, something gritty, something sleek and sexy and damaged and jagged and dangerous .. something kinda like Blondie only bigger, better, faster ..
.
As the hippie movement caught the industry flat-footed in the ’60s (and Napster caught ’em flat-footed again in the ’90s) the ’80s new wave and synth-pop and Friday Night Videos tapped Springsteen and Mellencamp and yes, Billy Joel’s bitter anger, doubled down with Flock of Seagulls and Duran Duran and Human League and Kajagoogoo’s synthesizers, and .. slowed down a little with Spandau Ballet – still bitter, still angry ..
.
It was a great time to be alive, man.
.
Mew
What type of 80’s music? Pop, nu wave, glam metal, hard rock,…
Yes. Hip-hop and country, too.
https://www.amazon.com/All-Over-Map-Heroes-Musician/dp/1574416685/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1494368631&sr=8-7&keywords=townes+van+zandt+book
If you pull this one up (due to be released May 15) you will access a bunch of influential Texas singer/songwriters stuff.
Below is one in a series that focus on Townes Van Sandt. (got my husband this one)
https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Here-Morning-Songwriting-University-ebook/dp/B006OE61WC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1494368631&sr=8-3&keywords=townes+van+zandt+book
Ooh. Thankee sai.