Books like All the madmen by Clinton Heylin

The birth of rock 'n roll ignited a firestorm of controversy--one critic called it "musical riots put to a switchblade beat"--but if it generated much sound and fury, what, if anything, did it signify? As Glenn Altschuler reveals in All Shook Up, the rise of rock 'n roll--and the outraged reception to it--in fact can tell us a lot about the values of the United States in the 1950s, a decade that saw a great struggle for the control of popular culture. Altschuler shows, in particular, howrock's "switchblade beat" opened up wide fissures in American society along the fault-lines of family, sexuality, and race. For instance, the birth of rock coincided with the Civil Rights movement and brought "race music" into many white homes for the first time. Elvis freely credited blacks withoriginating the music he sang and some of the great early rockers were African American, most notably, Little Richard and Chuck Berry...

Keith Richards chronicles his life as the founding guitarist of the Rolling Stones— from early influences, the formation of the band, iconic songs, wild touring, personal loves, legal troubles, and his enduring rock‑n‑roll legacy.

A collection of Paul McCartney’s own reflections and interviews, offering intimate insights into his life, career, and the history of The Beatles from his unique perspective.