They don’t do it for the fame, they do it for the
music
— these rock legends and priestesses of sound are the outsiders, the trailblazers, artists who changed the face of music forever simply for the love of it.
From Captain Beefheart to Patti Smith, this odyssey through the rock hinterlands is perfect for fans of outsider artists, rock history aficionados, and those modern vinyl lovers who want to discover the saga that got music to where it is today. Featuring an all-new foreword from writer and musician Michael Moorcock, this is the essential guide to the weird and wonderful performers that became legends in their own right.
Although not widely known, each of these artists has changed the history of music. So, to celebrate the incredible contributions of these unsung heroes, Arnaud Le Gouëfflec and Nicolas Moog have brought their stories to vivid life.
Discover the sensitive and manic-depressive genius Daniel Johnston; the Peruvian queen of exotica, Yma Sumac; the improbable blind and homeless Moondog; the classy bargain hunters of The Cramps; the legendary Patti Smith; and many, many more.
A veritable illustrated bible of the underground music scene, this anthology of 50 biographies invites you to discover little-known maestros and creators of underheard masterpieces. This is a book for the simply curious, as well as the connoisseur!
Includes:
Moondog
Daniel Johnston
Colette Magny
The Residents
Sun Ra
Tall Dwarfs
Kevin Coyne
Yma Sumac
Sky Saxon
Jonathan Richman
Éliane Radigue
John Fahey
Raymond Scott
Boris Vian
Giant Sand
Chris Black
XIXA
Golden Boots
The Cramps
Merrell Fankhauser
Lydia Lunch
Can
Neu!
Kraftwerk
Faust
Hans-Joachim Roedelius
Alex Chilton
Nico
Billy Childish
Nurse with Wound
Eugene Chadbourne
Crass
Captain Beefheart
Brigitte Fontaine
Lee Hazlewood
Kim Fowley
Dub
Patti Smith
Un Drame Musical Instantané
Black metal
Les Légions Noires
Townes Van Zandt
Cosey Fanni Tutti
Peter Ivers