Chronicles Tom Petty's musical career and life for more than three decades, featuring hundreds of unpublished photographs and memorabilia from his personal archives.
Warren Zanes Books
Peter Guralnick is a preeminent chronicler of American popular music, particularly its roots in rock and roll, soul, and blues. His profound historical research and insightful prose bring to life the artists and the cultural milieu that shaped these genres. Guralnick's work is celebrated for its deep empathy and meticulous attention to detail, offering readers an unparalleled understanding of the music's soul. He captures the essence of American vernacular culture through the lens of its most influential musical traditions.
Born in Gainesville, Florida, with more than a little hillbilly in his blood, Tom Petty was a Southern shit kicker, a kid without a whole lot of promise. Rock and roll made it otherwise. Tom Petty's story has all the drama of a rock and roll epic
The story behind Bruce Springsteen’s surprising album, Nebraska, reveals its pivotal role in his career. Without this album, Springsteen might not be the iconic artist he is today. Instead of following his successful album The River with the anticipated Born in the U.S.A., he released a collection of dark, personal songs in 1982, recorded alone on a four-track cassette in his bedroom. Over forty years later, Nebraska stands as one of his most significant works, offering insight into both his artistic vision and personal struggles. The album reflects a turmoil that resonated with the national mood while also hinting at Springsteen’s own mental health challenges, which he would only discuss openly years later. Author Warren Zanes interviewed many involved in the making of Nebraska, including Springsteen himself, along with notable artists and insiders like Rosanne Cash and Steven Van Zandt, to explore their reactions. He also examines cultural influences, such as Terrence Malick’s Badlands and Flannery O’Connor’s short stories, that shaped the haunting songs. The result is a rich and revealing account of a crucial moment in an icon's career, showcasing how Nebraska defied expectations and foreshadowed a home-recording revolution.
