Rock’n’Roll Unravelled – Content

With its unique three-part structure, the book tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk – RocknRoll Unravelled content

The following clip provides a brief introduction to Rock’n’Roll Unravelled. It was recorded by the author, Derek Shelmerdine, in conversation with John Lebang on The John Lebang Show.

THE BOOK: WHAT Rock’n’Roll Unravelled IS ALL ABOUT

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots in gospel, blues, R&B, jazz, folk, rockabilly and country music, up until it turned full circle with punk rock in the mid-1970s. Punk emerged and took the music back to simple songs, played by non-virtuoso musicians in small, intimate venues.

As well as the stories of the artists and bands, Rock’n’Roll Unravelled looks at the external events that influenced the music, such as the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights struggle and the Cold War, and much, much more.

Rock’n’Roll emerged in the mid-1950s and continued to develop across the 1960s and ’70s. By the mid-1970s not all of rock’n’roll’s diversity was welcomed by the fans. Prog-rock bands were turning out albums with a single track taking up a whole side and delivering live guitar solos that went on for twenty minutes or more. Major corporations were taking over the industry and popular bands were playing in bigger and bigger venues. This all combined to herald rock’n’roll’s counter-revolution – punk rock.

The Sex Pistols were the poster boys for the genre and epitomised punk’s cynical and anarchic philosophy. Hence, their last concert is taken as my end-point for introducing new artists into Rock’n’Roll Unravelled. Events are listed after that date but only for people and bands that were active before the Pistols’ swan song on 14 January 1978.

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled

UNIQUE THREE-PART LAYOUT
RocknRoll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots up until mid-1970s punk. Not just the story of the music but also the external events which influenced it, such as the Vietnam War and Civil Rights struggle.

• Part 1: Timeline
• Part 2: What Happened Today?
• Part 3: Pocket Histories

Part 1: Timeline

Provides a chronological listing for all of the events described in Part 2, What Happened Today?
This gives a perspective and enables the observer to read between rock’n’roll’s lines.

• Discover what else was happening around the time of a particular event, say, the release of the Beatles’ Love Me Do in the UK on 5 October 1962.
• See careers wax and wane, as musical genres move from one to another.
• The Timeline includes many singles, albums, covers and originals, providing a soundtrack to the era.

Part 2: What Happened Today?

Provides a day-by-day look at the lives and times of rock’n’roll.

• gigs, record releases, recording sessions, band backgrounds
• birthdays, deaths, festivals, movies
• ‘lost’ albums, failed auditions, famous rock’n’roll events
• and much, much more…

Part 3: Pocket Histories

Provides a comprehensive cross-referencing of the people, bands and events in Part 2: What Happened Today?
As well as cross-referencing EVERYTHING in Part 2 – Pocket Histories provides addition information about…

• band histories for individuals
• backstories of how the major bands came together
• lineups at particular gigs
• additional information about where a musician came from or went to, when he/she joined or left a band
• and much, much more…

The 700 pages of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled provide a fascinating look at how rock’n’roll developed from its roots in the early 20th century to mid-1970s punk. They also bring to life the background of the artists and bands that were to influence the music that followed.

A signed and dedicated copy of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled is available as a direct purchase from the website – using PayPal.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT Rock’n’Roll Unravelled…

“…Shelmerdine has made a painstaking effort to document pretty much every event that would prove significant in shaping popular music … [he] has produced a comprehensive guide … in this endlessly distracting and weighty labour of love.”
…..Jamie Atkins, Record Collector magazine
A link will soon be available to the full review.

“You can trace the roads we’ve traveled
Here in Rock And Roll Unravelled!
Well researched and informative as hell!”
…..Dennis Locorriere (Dr Hook)

To see what people are saying about Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.