Author(s): John Harris

Music

HAIL! HAIL! ROCK'N'ROLL is the ultimate guide to what Spinal Tap called 'the majesty of rock, the mystery of roll'. Gloriously irreverent, it is also satisfyingly definitive, with a list of every Glastonbury line-up; a dictionary of obscure genres from Alt.country to Shoegazing; a brutally honest guide to the Beatles' solo albums; the surprising wit and wisdom of Shaun Rider and Noel Gallagher; Bob Dylan's collected thoughts on Christianity and Keith Richards' less-collected thoughts on drugs; and a handy flow chart that shows you how to listen to all of Captain Beefheart's albums without going insane. From essential stage equipment to strange collaborations (Lou Reed and Kiss, anyone?) to the long, tragic journey of the rock moustache, HAIL! HAIL! ROCK'N'ROLL is an endlessly fascinating miscellany from one of the best music writers around.