An electrifying collection of the finest, most entertaining, & illuminating writing on & from the rock & roll scene-from its earliest days to the present, from the brightest moments of he biggest stars to obscure but compellingly significant treasures. The crazy, exhilarating, endlessly creative world of rock & roll has fascinated us-& some of our best writers-since the earliest days of he genre. This anthology of almost 100 essays includes Joan Didion writing on a Doors recording session, Tom Wolfe on the Beatles, Patti Smith recalling her first response to the Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa testifying before Congress, and Yoko Ono explaining John Lennon's death to the press and her son. The offerings are divided into eight sections: a definition of rock 'n roll, ancestors of the genre, superstardom, weirdness (the excess of fame), first-hand rock experiences, soul, the critics, and tributes. A rock's gallery of glossy b&ws occupies the middle pages. McKeen is journalism chair at the University of Florida where he teaches courses on rock and roll.