About the Book
Celebrating a half century of design in posters, flyers and advertising ephemera, The Art of British Rock highlights the UK's distinct contribution to rock'n'roll graphics. From custom designed posters for provincial ballrooms in the late 50s to the computer-generated images of today, rock music illustration has reflected - and influenced - crucial changes in popular visual art. With classic examples (some unseen for many years) of key styles including pop art, psychedelic illustration, punk 'do-it-yourself' and digital imaging, the book documents the stunning visual style of British rock from the era of the Beatles and Rolling Stones to the present-day art of indie guitar bands, cutting-edge soloists and contemporary clubland. Arranged chronologically, The Art of British Rock features more than 350 posters ranging from the work of anonymous artists to internationally acclaimed designers including the Hapshash group in the 60s, Hipgnosis and Barney Bubbles in the 70s, and Malcolm Garrett, Peter Saville and Vaughan Oliver in the 80s and beyond. All are the subject of special features within each chapter.
Concluding with the mix of retro and state-of-the-art design that has characterised rock poster illustration in the first decade of the 21st century, this is a unique account of more than 50 years of British rock'n'roll art.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Early Days Jerry Lee Lewis 58 Buddy Holly 58 Beatles/Acker Bilk 61 Beatles, New Brighton 61 Billy Fury package/ 62 Beatles/Gerry & Pacemakers 63 Chuck Berry 63 Beatles. Exeter 63 Rolling Stones. Sheffield 63 Beatles. Torquay 63 Early Club feature Everly Brothers package 63 Detours (Who), Ealing 63 Detours,(Who), Leicetser Square 63 Animals. Swindon 65 Buddy Guy, Ware 65 Bristol Chinese Jazz Club 65 Uxbridge Blues/Folk Festival 65 Who, Club Noreik 65 Gerry package, Yarmouth 66 Kinks, Torquay 66 Jeff Beck. Torquay 67 Chapter 2 Mod, Pop Art Rolling Stone, Hereford 63 Beatles , Liverpool 63 Beatles Xmas show, 63 High Numbers (Who), Harrow 64 Alan Price, Exeter 67 Who, Marquee Maximum R&B 64 Who, Marquee art exhibition 2007 Pop Art feature Who, Pictures of Lily 67 Who , Windsor 65 Who, Portsmouth 65 Who Portsmouth 67 Pink Floyd, Portsmouth 67 Manfred Mann package, Exeter 65 Package show, Newcastle 67 Package show, B'ham 68 Hendrix, Windsor 67 Cream, Southampton 67 All Night Party (Floyd) Leeds 67 Pink Floyd, Hampstead 68 Move, Marquee 67 [Hapshash] Midnight Rave 67 Fleetwood Mac, Regents St Poly 67 Chapter 3 Psychedelia Dylan, Royal Albert Hall 66 Luv Me [Hapshash] Coming to UFO[Hapshash] Pink Floyd UFO[Hapshash] 5th Dimension[Hapshash] Arthur Brown[Hapshash] Hendrix Saville Theatre[Hapshash] Who [Hapshash] Hendrix Filmore[Hapshash] Julie Felix [Hapshash] Photo in Hapshahsh studio Hapshash feature interview, Nigel Waymouth Paul McCartney [Richard Avedon] John Lennon [Richard Avedon] Ringo Starr [Richard Avedon] George Harrison [Richard Avedon] Beatles [Richard Avedon] Beatles [Alan Aldridge] Oz magazine ad [Martin Sharp] Oz cover [Martin Sharp] Oz cover [Martin Sharp] [plus other Oz covers] Underground Press feature interview, Barry Miles International Times no 11 International Times /Dylan [plus other IT covers] International Times fund-raiser gig Oz/Dylan [Martin Sharp] Dylan [Martin Sharp] Oz flower children /poster issue [Martin Sharp] Hyde Park Legalise Pot rally [Martin Sharp] Cream [Martin Sharp] Cream album cover [Martin Sharp] Hendrix [Martin Sharp] Live Give Love [Martin Sharp] Donovan [Martin Sharp] A is for Apple [The Fool] 'Wonderwall' movie poster 'Yellow Submarine' movie poster Summer of Love 40th/ 2007 [Adrian Day] Summer of Love 40th/ 2007 [Matt Douthwaite] Summer of Love 40th/ 2007 [Mongsterr] Chapter 4 Prog Rock 10cc/ Deceptive bends [Thorgerson] Alan Parsons [Thorgerson] Cranberries [Thorgerson] Floyd sticker [Thorgerson] Floyd / Pulse [Thorgerson] Floyd/Back Catalogue [Thorgerson] Hipgnosis feature interview, Storm Thorgerson ??? Roger Dean feature Interview Roger Dean unspecified Roger Dean material King Crimson tbc Emerson, Lake & Palmer tbc Bowie/ Aladin Sane 73 Bowie/ Ziggy Stardust 72 + add more Bowie? Lindisfarne 78 Be Bop De Luxe/Penzance 74 Roxy Music tbc Chapter 5 Punk and New Wave Eddie & Hot Rods 76 AC/DC/ Manchester 77 Roxy Club gig list 77 Roxy Club / Heartbreakers 77 Damned/ Neat Neat Neat 77 [Barney Bubbles] Adverts/ Gary Gilmour's Eyes 77 Alternative TV 77 Sex Pistols/ Anarchy in UK [Jamie Reid] Sex Pistols/ Coventry Sex Pistols flyer [Jamie Reid] Sex Pistols/ Holidays in the Sun [Jamie Reid] Sex Pistols/ God Save the Queen [Jamie Reid] Sex Pistols/ Pretty Vacant [Jamie Reid] Sex Pistols/ Rock'n'Roll Swindle Malcom Garrett feature Interview Malcom Garrett Buzzcocks/Orgasm Addict 77 [Malcolm Garrett] Xray Spex/ Oh Bondage 77 [Poly Styrene] Xray Spex/ Day World Turned Day-Glo 78 [Poly Styrene] Clash/ White Riot 77 Clash / London Calling 79 Clash/ Cut the Crap 85 Badges spread Jam/ Sound Affects 80 Jam/ In the City 77 Elvis Costello/ My Aim is True 77 Barney Bubbles feature Interview Paul Gorman, BB biographer Rumour/Frogs 79 [Barney Bubbles] Rumour/ Clogs 79 Rumour/ Krauts 79 Rumour/ Sprouts 79 NME Book of Modern Music Hawkwind / Love & Peace 74 Hawkwind/ Astounding Sounds 76 Soft Boys 78 Ian Dury Songbook 79 Blockheads logo 78 Elvis Costello 77 Elvis Costello/ Get Happy 80 Elvis Costello/ Get Happy tour 80 Squeeze/Cool for Cats Art of Noise 86 Souixie/ Singles album 92 Siouxie/ Dazzle 84 Dance Craze movie Chapter 6 Brit Rock to Brit Pop Rolling Stones/ Euro Tour 73 [John Pasche] Rolling Stones' UK Tour 71 [John Pasche] Rolling Stones/ Tongue logo [John Pasche] Rolling Stones/Tattoo You 81 Rolling Stones/ Harlem Shuffle 86 Pete Townshend 82 [Richard Evans] Who programme 81 [Richard Evans] Who programme 79 [Richard Evans] Festivals feature Windsor Jazz and Blues Festival Bath Blues 69 Bath Blues 70 Isle of Wight 69 Isle of Wight 70 T shirts spread Iron Maiden/ Maiden Hell [Hugh Gilmour] Iron Maiden/ Dio [Hugh Gilmour] Iron Maiden/ Virtual XI [Hugh Gilmour] Hugh Gilmour feature interview Hugh Gilmour Whitesnake logo [Hugh Gilmour] Motorhead [Hugh Gilmour] Stranglers [Hugh Gilmour] Thunder [Hugh Gilmour] Led Zeppelin/ Mothership [Hugh Gilmour] Led Zeppelin/ Swan Song Black Sabbath Motorhead Motorhead logo U2/ Boy 80 Talk Talk/ Give It Up 86 ABC/ How To Be A Zillionaire 85 Smiths/ Meat Is Murder 85 Smiths/ Shoplifters 86 Smiths/World Wont Listen 84 Smiths/Girlfriend in a Coma 86 Smiths/tour Pulp/ Common People 94 Pulp/ Mis-Shapes 95 Blur/ Best Of 2000 [Julian Opie] Blur/ Out of Time 2000 [Banksy] Blur/ Think Tank 03 [Banksy] Oasis/Definitely Maybe 94 Oasis/Roll With It 94 Oasis/Don't Look Back in Anger 96 Oasis/Cigarettes and Alcohol 94 Oasis/There and Then 96 Chapter 7 Club, Dance and Techno Duritti Column [8vo] Joy Divison/ Unknown Pleasures [Savile] Halucienda 89 [Saville] Joy Divison/ Substance New Order/ Brixton Academy 87 Hacienda I Peter Saville feature Interview Peter Saville Factory postcard 90 Factory flyer 78 Hacienda 4th Birthday [8vo] Fac 2 sampler Eric B & Rakim [Trevor Jackson] Jimmy Sommerville 89 [Me Co] Flyguys 89 [Me Co] Tackhead sticker [Me Co] Pixies/ Velouria [Vaughan Oliver] Pixies/ Bossa Nova [Vaughan Oliver] Heidi Berry [Vaughan Oliver] Pale Saints/ Comforts [Vaughan Oliver] Lush/ Black Spring [Vaughan Oliver] Rave feature Blackburn Warehouse party London Warehouse party Blast Off Eternity Spital Tribe sound system Spectrum/Theatre of Madness Kratwerk/ Pocket Calculator Chapter 8 New Images Radiohead/ Xendless Xurbia Zu [Peter Murgatroyd] Prefuse [Peter Murgatroyd] Clinic [Peter Murgatroyd] Scotch Egg [Peter Murgatroyd] Coral [Jermaine Rogers] Petting Zoo/ Fat Fox club [The Pinch] Wintersleep [Robert Ralph] Franz Ferdinand Heavy Load/ Stay Up Late [Dan Johnson] Need2Soul [iwant design] Need2Soul/Q Tips [iwant design] Fertilizer Festival [iwant design] Danceflaw [Non-Format] The Heads [Johnny O Rocket] Bonnie Prince Billy [ Jeffrey Lewis [Tom Newell] Daniel Johnstone [Tom Newell] Slow Club [Tom Newell] BondeRole [Jemma Treweek] Vashta Bunyan [Jemma Treweek] Kylesa [Jemma Treweek] A Hawk & A Hacksack [Kathryn Cooper] Cowtown [Kathryn Cooper] Le Singe Blanc [Kathryn Cooper] Big Business [Drew Millward] Black Moth Super Rainbow [Drew Millward] Faith No More [Drew Millward] The Tallest Man on Earth [Drew Millward] Mogwai [Drew Millward] Electric Frankenstein [Drew Millward] Le Club Des Chats [Drew Millward] Queens of the Stone Age/Hammersmith Apollo White Stripes/ Alexandra Palace 2005 The Yanks Are Coming feature The Coral [Denis Loren] Decemberists [Guy Burwell] PJ Harvey [Emek] Tomahawk [Justin Hampton] Eric Clapton/Albert Hall [Firehouse] Gorillaz [Jamie Hewlett] The Kills/ Koko Seasick Steve tour poster Arctic Monkeys Wedding Present/ El Rey [Dan Johnson] British Sea Power/ Newhaven Fort [Dan Johnson] Deadmeadow [Dan Johnson] Pete Doherty book [Pete Doherty] Libertines/ Century Libertines/ Simplicissimus Amy Winehouse [AIGA Design]
About the Author :
With a background as a musician on the 60s rock scene, MIKE EVANS began writing about popular music in the 70s. As a freelance journalist he was a regular contributor to Melody Maker and his work appeared in UK rock magazines including Sounds and Cream. As author his books have included the much acclaimed The Art of the Beatles in 1984, the best-selling Elvis: A Celebration (2002), Waking Up In New York City in 2003, and Ray Charles: The Birth of Soul in 2005. The Beats (an illustrated account of the Beat Generation) appeared in 2007, and Woodstock: Three Days That Shook the World in 2009. He lives and works in London, dividing his time between writing and a freelance editorial consultancy. Ever since he first started working, PAUL PALMER-EDWARDS has been lucky enough to combine his love of music, and of design and designing; from making coffee for Brian Eno, to pasting-up music ads and record covers for EMI records in the 1970s, he managed to find time to perform with a succession of bands (appearing on the short-lived Cabaret Futura live album). Throughout the 1980s, he honed his design skills working for many of the major design companies of that era, while continuing to gig around London, until finally hanging up his guitar to concentrate on design. In 2000, he co-founded Grade Design, specialising in publishing, and has since worked on many award-winning projects as well as being a regular contributor to the Mojo letters page.
Review :
The pictures may induce nostalgia - such as the days when Jimi Hendrix played a hotel in Windsor - but they are also a warning that we all grow up and calm down. People who bought The Clash's first single, White riot, in 1977 are now more interested in their morgages; and most of those drawn to the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival by the event's poster, could now get there with their pensioners' free bus pass. Fans of virtual band Gorillaz have been warned. Mail on Sunday All the heroes of British music graphics are here, including Hipgnosis, Barney Bubbles, Michael Garrett and Peter Saville. Caution: the psychedelic green-orange DayGlo cover is as eye-watering as a protracted guitar solo. Bookseller Nothing transports us back more than rock posters for gigs in the provincial ballrooms of our youth. And now, 50 years of classic UK rock'n'roll graphics have been brought together in The Art of British Rock. Bet you'll spot examples you had on your bedroom walls. Saga As the music industry becomes ever more digitised, it might seem that this sort of graphic ephemmera is losing its importance. This book shows that apparent trivia can ultimately prove something to treasure. Metro This is a truly wonderful book for anybody who's ever looked at an album sleeve or advert and thought, maybe even unconsciously, how great it not only sounds but looks. Designs like these are the mark of genius - and sadly these days, there's far too little of that around. Ham & High Music fans should enjoy this artistic trawl through the 50 years of rock posters, flyers and album cover art. Worth the money alone for the explosion of colour and style an the late 1960s. Artists & Illustrators Everybody will find an image that triggers a host of memories. Evening Standard A worthy addition to any bookcase... Informative as well as easy on the eye, while pithy observations abound. Classic Rock The writing by Mike Evans is succinct and entertaining, and the book's design by Paul Palmer-Edwards is really stunning. The Market
