Praise for Rock Concert:
“Rock Concert tracks the growth of rock-and-roll audiences across the United States from small, dynamic shows after World War II to the televised double-stadium spectacle of Live Aid.”—Washington Post
“With his new book Rock Concert, veteran journalist Marc Myers has marshalled an army to tell the free-wheeling story of the growth of this entertainment staple. Like Legs McNeil’s punk history classic, Please Kill Me and Frank Mastropolo’s recent, Fillmore East: The Venue That Changed Rock History, Myers’ book is a well-ordered oral history weaving through decades of fascinating facts and anecdotes.”—NYS Music
“If your partner loves rock, gift them this book. Or, read it yourself and then impress them with your in-depth knowledge of the history of rock concerts.”—The Zoe Report
“‘You had to be there.’ This account of the rise and evolution of rock through the lens of live performances that brings in DJs, performers, and music journalists takes you there to supply the context and legacy.”—Globe and Mail
“Highly informative…from club gigs in the early 1950s to The Beatles in the early-mid 1960s; from Woodstock in 1969 to Live Aid in 1985; from branding to amplification/lighting; from media coverage to ticketing, Myers and many industry commentators expertly tick them off, one by one.”—Irish Times
“Though its scope and subject matter is wide, Rock Concert is one of the best books on music to come out recently, and its pure first-person, direct quote narrative is the ideal format to tell the story.... Every page offers a new revelation.”—Houston Press
“Entertaining. . . Myers’ book is not a simple hagiography of rock concerts; it’s a story of the development of the rock concert itself, from the 1950s to the 1980s. . . . Reading Myers’ anatomy of a rock concert (his earlier book is Anatomy of a Song) is bound to carry readers back to their memories of their favorite concerts and to encourage them to consider why those memories are so enduring.”—No Depression
“Live performances—and plenty of them—have gone a long way to boost rock ’n’ roll’s popularity over the decades. There are also an increasing number of books about rock stars past and present, but few to none have viewed rock’s burgeoning appeal exclusively through the lens of live performance. Rock Concert by music journalist and historian Marc Myers aims to fill that void and does so with considerable insight and aplomb…Music fans of any age and genre will find a lot of insightful information here. Whether it makes you long for rock ’n’ roll’s good old days—including Woodstock’s now historic mudslide—will depend on your own experiences and the memories Myers’ text arouses.”—Milwaukee Shepherd Express
“Providing excellent context, [Myers has] assembled a narrative whose themes include politics, geography, economics, class, and race, as well as the music itself. And while he necessarily covers familiar territory—the Elvis phenomenon, Dylan plugging in, Woodstock, Altamont—he comes at those watershed episodes from fresh angles, as we hear throughout from promoters, fashion designers, roadies, photographers, and so on...The oral-history approach can be a kick when the voices are engaging, as they frequently are in Rock Concert.”—Air Mail
“Myers deftly weaves a compelling narrative that documents decades of music and cultural history…This book places the live concert in context with the broader story of popular music; its insider perspectives have an immediacy that will appeal to a broad swath of music fans.”—Library Journal
“In Rock Concert: An Oral History as Told by the Artists, Backstage Insiders, and Fans Who Were There, music writer Marc Myers (Anatomy of a Song) gathers insights from nearly 100 people who have had something to do with making live rock happen over the years. Collectively, their observations tell the story of the rock concert—Angus Young's shorts and all.”—Shelf Awareness
“Engrossing…Starting with the emergence of R&B in the late 1940s and ending with 1985’s Live Aid benefit, [Myers] vividly recreates what went on behind the scenes, onstage, and in the crowds with intimate accounts from the people who were there… Eminently entertaining, this is sure to delight rock fans of all persuasions.”—Publishers Weekly
“A multifaceted account of the rise of the rock show from the birth of the genre until Live Aid in 1985…A revealing, absorbing book for those who keep their old ticket stubs close at hand.”—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Marc Myers and Anatomy of a Song:
"In these pieces . . . songwriters and performers speak in their own voices . . . Because of Myers's skill as an interviewer, their pride and enthusiasm come blasting through. Each story is a pleasure to read and will deepen your listening experience . . . Myers bears down hard on these songs and the artists rise to the standards he sets."—New York Times Book Review
"A first-rate playlist . . . A rich history of both the music industry and the baby boomer era."—Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Marc Myers's Anatomy of a Song [is] a winning look at the stories behind 45 pop, punk, folk, soul and country classics . . . A smart, gracious book. His interviews yield some fascinating details."—Washington Post
"[A] splendid volume."—Guardian
"A music lover's dream book."—Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Anatomy of a Song . . . reads like a dream karaoke playlist. Not a dud in sight."—Huffington Post
"Who would've ever guessed the inspiration behind Gladys Knight's soul-stirring "Midnight Train to Georgia" was 70s pinup queen Farrah Fawcett? That's just one of the fascinating song histories revealed in the new book Anatomy of a Song."—New York Post
"The short, sharp chapters breeze by like a particularly well-curated jukebox . . . Fast, fun and informative."—Houston Press
"The most revealing and entertaining compilation of short stories on popular music we have seen this decade."—Goldmine
"Anatomy of A Song. . . gets the lowdown on about forty years of hits straight from the artists' mouths . . . It's always cool to hear how the musical sausage gets made, especially when it's made by geniuses in the field. But Myers also does an outstanding job of unearthing the moments of humor and heartbreak that accompanied the creation of these songs."—American Songwriter
"Myers . . . uncovers the fascinating backstories behind many legendary songs that changed the trajectory of music . . . Culling together anecdotal revelations about happy accidents, deliberately vague lyrical choices and unexpected lapses of confidence, the book manages to both demystify and humanize so many of its iconic subjects . . . Filled with surprises for music fans and aspiring songwriters alike."—BMI Music
"Who doesn't like to listen to musicians tell their stories about the genesis of a song? Or to hear them laugh at the deep meaning that listeners often invest in it when for them it was, well, just a song about a breakup? Myers' book has something for everyone"—No Depression
"The critical ability of Marc Myers shows in his selection of topics and his persistence in hunting down the right people to talk about their songs. But his talent as a writer shows in his willingness to get out of the way and let them talk about their songs . . . Myers pushes his subjects to recollect what had really happened that day in the studio, that moment when the song first came to mind, that instant when the radio began to play it."—Washington Free Beacon
"Countless fun facts dot Anatomy of a Song."—Billboard
"Myers' book succeeds as a collection because he reveals the paradox of popular music: the magical change that transpires once the personal becomes public . . . Perhaps the greatest gift of Anatomy of a Song is its range . . . This is a book that encourages you to go back into your record collection, to the hits you think you remember well."—Las Vegas Weekly
"Myers' . . . work is archival. It is important. It is illuminating."—Under the Radar
"A detailed look at 45 iconic popular songs . . . This will entice general readers and music lovers alike. In his introduction, Myers calls the book an 'oral history jukebox' and popular-music fans everywhere will want to be ready with a pocketful of dimes."—Booklist
"A compelling compendium of behind-the-scenes shop talk that will excite even the most casual music geek."—Bookreporter
"A cultural history of the elusive hit single, focused on artists' recollections and studio alchemy . . . The book's strength lies in thoughtful, wry reflections from artists including Elvis Costello, Jimmy Cliff, Stevie Wonder, Booker T. Jones, Dr. John, and Debbie Harry. An entertaining record of the soundtrack of the baby boomer era."—Kirkus Reviews
"Music fans will enjoy the behind-the-songs stories."—Publishers Weekly
09/27/2021
Myers (Anatomy of a Song), a music writer for the Wall Street Journal, surveys in this engrossing oral history five decades of rock concerts, and the “songwriters, producers, disc jockeys, managers, promoters, and artists sided with the youth culture as it struggled to be heard.” Starting with the emergence of R&B in the late 1940s and ending with 1985’s Live Aid benefit, he vividly recreates what went on behind the scenes, onstage, and in the crowds with intimate accounts from the people who were there. Joan Baez recounts what it was like to perform at the 1963 March on Washington and to lead the crowd in singing “We Shall Overcome”; Bob Eubanks describes how—despite being a disk jockey who’d never produced a concert before—he scrambled to secure the funding to make the Beatles’ legendary Hollywood Bowl performance happen; and Alice Cooper recalls relocating his band from California to the Midwest, where his “lurid and despicable” reputation resonated with Rust Belt kids. Myers also offers a thoughtful overview of the considerable ways in which the rock landscape has shifted since Live Aid, due to the popularity of streaming services and scandals recently brought to light on social media in response to “past or present me-too events.” Eminently entertaining, this is sure to delight rock fans of all persuasions. Agent: Glen Hartley, Writers’ Representatives. (Nov.)
11/01/2021
The live performance is an integral part of the rock and roll experience for both performers and fans; it can create community, offer escape, and even forge political awareness and activism. For this oral history of the evolution of the rock concert, spanning 1950 to 1985, writer and music journalist Myers (Anatomy of a Song) interviewed more than 90 performers, promoters, journalists, and photographers, who discuss early Elvis appearances and package tours in the 1950s, the folk music boom of the early '60s, performances at the March on Washington, the Beatles' early stadium shows, the massive festivals of the late '60s and '70s and the turn to arena and stadium shows, and, finally, the rise of MTV and the increasing sophistication of computerized ticketing in the '80s. Myers deftly weaves a compelling narrative that documents decades of music and cultural history. VERDICT While not a totally comprehensive account, this book places the live concert in context with the broader story of popular music; its insider perspectives have an immediacy that will appeal to a broad swath of music fans.—James Collins, Morristown-Morris Twp. P.L., NJ
2021-09-15
A multifaceted account of the rise of the rock show from the birth of the genre until Live Aid in 1985.
In the beginning, writes music journalist Myers, the rock concert was an impromptu affair. Songwriter Mike Stoller recalls that in the 1940s and ’50s, nightclubs staged shows with several acts on the ticket, and DJs would do same-day announcements when they came together. “White kids who otherwise never would have heard of these events found their way there,” he notes. Black music drew ever larger White crowds thanks to those DJs, foremost among them Alan Freed in Cleveland; as they did, the limits of segregation were tested. Wanda Jackson, the pioneering rockabilly singer, remembers that in the South, the most spacious venues were state fairs, but eventually, rock shows began to move into concert halls once reserved for higher-toned music. There, acts like the Beach Boys could draw huge (and largely White) crowds. As audiences grew, music marathons such as the Monterey Pop Festival of 1967 began to take shape. Then the music changed, at least by the lights of documentarian D.A. Pennebaker. Whereas Broadway tunes were about the notion that life is good, he notes, rock tunes sounded change: “They were saying, ‘This isn’t friendly music. It’s a warning.’ Which is why the cameras in Monterey Pop [Pennebaker’s documentary] gravitate toward the oddness of the concert with a childlike curiosity.” Myers charts the technological changes as well: the development of vast PA systems that enabled concert stalwarts like the Grateful Dead to send their sound out for miles; the wireless electric guitar; and complex stage-lighting systems and props that made Pink Floyd’s The Wall an unforgettable live experience. Closing with the Live Aid benefit of 1985, Myers notes that the rock concert continued but grew sclerotic (and expensive), so that “by the 2000s, the rock concert had fizzled as a rite of passage and was more of an event parents took children along to experience.”
A revealing, absorbing book for those who keep their old ticket stubs close at hand.
