Rock Concert

★★★★ Marc Myers GROVE PRESS UK. £20

The live rock experience “from Elvis to Live Aid”.

As Wall Street Journal music critic, Marc Myers combines an academic’s knowledge with an intimate, often gritty grasp of what makes music makers tick. This energetic oral history of live rock blends these elements, as well as personal experiences of fans that emphasise the intense passion music lovers share. From R&B great Big Jay McNeely’s description of leading audiences dancing into the street, to AC/DC guitarist Angus Young’s explanation of how he developed his animated duckwalking stage persona from Chuck Berry, we get a comprehensive, entertaining account of how the communal experience developed. Myers also lets promoters, sound engineers, stage designers and photographers give their perspective. One Deadhead speaks for all devotees when she says, “There was no going home.” Read it loud. Michael Simmons