The Art of Rock

The best-selling visual history of the rock concert poster

Electric, outrageous, erotic, rebellious – rock concert posters are the visual equivalent of the music they advertise. The Art of Rock traces the history of this energizing art form from the bold letterpress posters advertising Elvis’s early shows, through the multicolored fantasies of the psychedelic era, to the avant-garde collages of new wave and punk.

More than 1,500 posters and other graphics – tickets, backstage passes, buttons, handbills – are presented in their original blazing color (or their stark black and white, as the case may be). The text features dozens of exclusive interviews with musicians, concert promoters, and the poster artists themselves, including legends like Stanley Mouse, Alton Kelley, or Wes Wilson – who also designed the cover of this book.

A visual journey through thirty years of rock and roll, as well as a valuable reference, The Art of Rock is an essential volume for every music lover (and art lover).