The Virgin Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Pop Rock

Cut through the haze of rock reference with the updated second edition of this illustrated encyclopedia. There are over 1800 entries on the stars who have shaped rock history, whether they were destined to become icons or bygones, influential or infamous. Each entry provides essential facts and opinion on songwriters, musicians and producers and includes a sidebar of star-rated recommended albums. There are over 600 images to complement the text and a full album listing for each act at the back of the book.

This is a fully cross-referenced encyclopaedia covering all aspects of rock music. Approximately 1800 entries provide information on rock gods, punk icons, teen idols and one-hit-wonders, such as ABBA, Tori Amos, Anthrax and Dire Straits. The information has been taken from the Encyclopaedia of Popular Music database and is presented in A to Z format. Each entry offers biographical information, dates, information on albums and singles, opinions on songwriters, musicians and producers, and star-rated albums.

This is the definitive guide to the most popular form of music, which at its widest interpretation covers a spectrum of genres, from rock 'n roll and soul to pop and funk. A-Z entries and evocative photopraphs complete the experience.

The best-selling illustrated rock reference book of all time offers the most complete guide available to rock 'n' roll past and present. "A better choice than The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock."--Library Journal "The best up-to-date rock encyclopedia."--New York Times. Full-color photographs.

Covering the most influential musicians and moments of the last four decades, this updated edition includes new entries on the current crop of Britpop bands like Oasis, Blur and Supergrass, singer/songwriters including Tori Amos, Alanis Morissette and Sheryl Crow, and acts ranging from The Prodigy to Jamiroquai and Mudhoney.

The aim of this book is to provide a complete handbook of information and opinion about the history of the music of the 1970s. There are over 1000 entries on the bands, musicians, songwriters, producers and record labels of this decade, everyone who had any significant impact on the development of rock and pop music. From the stars who, unlike Hendrix, Joplin and Morrison, survived the sixties only to be dudded as dinosaurs, to the angry reactions of punk and the new wave and the sounds of glam rock and disco, this encylopaedia aims to answer any query about any aspect of seventies music. As well as the giants of the decade, such as Queen, Abba and Fleetwood Mac, the book also includes those artists who only flourished briefly.

This is the ultimate guide to the most popular form of music, which at its widest interpretation covers a spectrum of genres, from rock 'n' roll and soul to pop and funk.