Suggested Reading: "The Sound And The Fury: A Rock's Backpages Reader" edited by Barney Hoskyns (2003)

The Sound and the Fury: 40 Years of Classic Rock Journalism: A Rock's Backpages Reader by Barney Hoskyns

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The Sound And The Fury: A Rock's Backpages Reader" is a fun to read collection of top-notch music journalism featuring stories from the archives of RocksBackpages.com that hop-scotch across four-plus decades of rock and roll history and give the reader an insight into what type of treasures lies waiting for them on the RocksBackpages.com website.

A few of the great tales told in this print collection include a story on the Beatles 1964 American Invasion (by Al Aronowitz), the rise of David Bowie (Steve Turner, 1974), the rise of Bruce Springsteen (Jerry Gilbert, 1974), an interview with a smarty-pants Madonna (Glenn O'Brien, 1990), eyewitness accounts from Monterey Pop (Michael Lydon, 1967) and the Stones' Altamont (David Dalton, 1999), and an excellent I-was-there tale of rock and roll debaunchary with the New York Dolls, Wayne County and the Magic Tramps ("Glittermania In Gotham" by Miles, 1972).

All this would almost be enough, but you also get stories on Perry Farrell and his Lollapalooza festival of the early 90's, a crazy interview with Ice Cube, the story of the rise and demise of N.W.A., a great Lenny Kaye penned piece on Grand Funk's legendary sold-out show at Shea Stadium circa 1971, as well as stuff on John Lennon, Abba, Warhol and the Velvets, the Nashville scene circa 1976...and there's even more. Fun, must reading for fans of rock music of any genere and an excellent introduction to what must be a truly staggering archive of material at Rock's BackPages.com.