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Summary
Summary
Twenty-four of the greatest figures of rock 'n' roll are celebrated with in-depth mini-biographies and colorful accompanying block prints. Noted non-fiction writer Kathleen Krull has distilled the essence of each musician or band and brought them to life with behind-the-scenes stories, facts, and entertaining anecdotes. Acclaimed printmaker Stephen Alcorn takes up where words leave off with bold and graphic images that keep you turning the pages.
Author Notes
Kathleen Krull minored in music in college and is a longtime fan of rock and many other kinds of music
Stephen Alcorn spent his formative years in Florence, Italy There he attended the fabled Istituto Statale d'Arte
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Concise, single-page entries chronicle the accomplishments of 24 icons of the rock stage. Krull has chosen the most influential of subjects-entertainers who added elements of rhythm and harmony, innovators of instrumentation, and commentators on contemporary life. Biographical sketches, from Elvis (b. 1935) to Kurt Cobain (b. 1967), include the controversies of public and private lives without sensationalizing. Each entry is paired with one of Alcorn's inspired, eye-catching illustrations. Startling pop-art portraits in polychrome relief-block prints with folk and religious motifs face text in varying colors and fonts, while a thumbnail representation of each portrait decorates the cover. Krull's work recognizes the impact of the art without judging the sometimes antisocial actions of the artists. This slim volume will rock the research of younger music enthusiasts.-Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Krull (Songs of Praise) presents a personal and affectionate paean to 21 male and three female rock legends, whom she labels "bright icons who changed the old ways and brought in the new." A spread is devoted to each of the stars (save the Beatles, who get two), introduced chronologically by birth year-from Elvis to Kurt Cobain. Krull selects some telling details (one of which recurs: Elvis wanted a bicycle for his 10th birthday, and his parents "got him a cheap guitar instead," while Cobain's uncle offered him a choice of a guitar or a bicycle for his 14th birthday, and the teen "took the cheap, secondhand guitar"). Each capsule chronicle of the musician's career faces one of Alcorn's (Let It Shine) full-page, polychrome relief-block print portraits. The author's informal narrative provides some insight into the performers' inspirations, onstage antics and professional milestones, yet a few statements are a bit silly (she writes of Ringo Starr, "with his oversized nose-you just wanted to take him home") or contrived (finding material "within himself," Bob Dylan "would toss off brilliant observations, mysterious, with multiple meanings, gems of genius to go blowing in the wind," she asserts, without lyrics to offer up as examples). Alcorn's stylized, symbol-filled portrayals of the musicians are most effective for 1960s performers such as Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and reggae legend Bob Marley; his fractured portrait of Kurt Cobain is also memorable. Although this introduction is spotty, the design is enticing, and a concluding list of further reading suggestions, Web sites and landmark recordings may inspire fans to do more research. All ages. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Each of twenty-four legendary rockers is profiled and captured in an interpretive color-relief-block-print portrait. Alcorn demonstrates an impressive range, and Krull, who occasionally lapses into sycophancy, is handy with tidbits: Who knew that the Pretenders' scowly Chrissie Hynde used to sell purses? But the book has such a dated look that it's unlikely that as-yet-unconverted kids will find it all that groovy. Reading list, websites. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Krull takes her remarkable gift for witty, brief, and incisive biography to new heights in this compendium. Most of the artists get a single page (the Beatles get more) facing one of Alcorn's fabulous polychrome relief-block prints. Her choices are sound: Elvis to Kurt Cobain, and a host of people who only need one name: Dylan, Jimi, Janis, Joni, Santana, Bono, Bruce. She captures the essence of their music in ways that will send young readers to their parents' or grandparents' music collections (a fine list of sources includes a book, a Web site, and a CD for each artist). Alcorn's dramatic images use the texture inherent in his medium to make beautiful contrasts of patterns, and color creates almost psychedelic light-and-dark effects. He uses iconic imagery brilliantly: showing Bono with a sword and a halo; Cobain as a broken mirror. Readers will be sobered to see just how many of the dead rock stars died because of drug use, but Krull never equates their creativity with their excesses. (Biography. 9+) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 4-6. In prose lit with unabashed hero worship, Krull profiles 24 rock stars, from Elvis to Curt Cobain. In investigating their legends, she's occasionally evasive: Was Dylan actually hooted off the stage for going electric? Did Jim Morrison really expose himself? Still, for encapsulating rock's archetypal tales of rags to riches, spectacular flameouts, and primal music making, Krull's hard to top for energy and passion. Alcorn's full-page polychrome relief prints hark back to the psychedelic posters of the '60s, presenting Elvis as a god; Bono as, at least, a saint; Bowie as an alien (of course); and the faces of Janis and Bob Marley glowing like elementals within writhing masses of hair. Readers will not only be caught up in the swirl of one of the past century's central cultural currents but also find this an irresistible gateway to the music. Krull closes her encomium with systematic lists of recommended books, recordings, and Web sites, so readers can find out more. --John Peters Copyright 2003 Booklist
Table of Contents
| Introduction | p. 4 |
| Elvis Presley | p. 6 |
| The Beatles | p. 8 |
| Bob Dylan | p. 12 |
| Jimi Hendrix | p. 14 |
| Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead | p. 16 |
| Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones | p. 18 |
| Jim Morrison of the Doors | p. 20 |
| Janis Joplin | p. 22 |
| Joni Mitchell | p. 24 |
| Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin | p. 26 |
| Pete Townshend of the Who | p. 28 |
| Bob Marley | p. 30 |
| Eric Clapton | p. 32 |
| Carlos Santana | p. 34 |
| David Bowie | p. 36 |
| Bruce Springsteen | p. 38 |
| Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders | p. 40 |
| Bono of U2 | p. 42 |
| Kurt Cobain of Nirvana | p. 44 |
| Further Reading, Surfing, and Listening | p. 46 |
