Rock 'n' Roll Unravelled: From its Roots to mid-1970s Punk

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll, from its roots in gospel, blues, jazz, folk, rockabilly, country music and R&B, up until it turned full circle the mid-1970s.  Punk rock emerged and took the music back to simple songs played in small, intimate venues. 

As well as the stories of the artists and bands, Rock’n’Roll Unravelled looks at the external events that influenced the music, such as the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights struggle the Cold War and much, much more.

Rock’n’Roll Unravelled’s unique three-part structure results in the total being greater than the sum of its parts and brings the story of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s vividly to life.

Part 1: Timeline

The Timeline gives a chronological listing for all of the events described in Part 2, What Happened Today?  It provides a perspective and enables the observer to read between rock’n’roll’s lines. Discover what else was happening around the time of a particular event.  See careers wax and wane, as musical genres move from one to another.  The Timeline includes many singles, albums, covers and originals, providing a soundtrack to the era.

Part 2: What Happened Today?

Set in a day-by-day, January to December format, What Happened Today? recounts gigs, record releases, recording sessions, band backgrounds, birthdays, deaths, festivals, movies, ‘lost’ albums, failed auditions, famous rock’n’roll events, such as Led Zeppelin’s notorious Mud Shark Incident (28 July 1969), and much, much more.

Part 3: Pocket Histories

A comprehensive cross-referencing of the people, bands and events in What Happened Today? can be found in Pocket Histories.  It also includes: band histories for individuals; backstories of how the major bands came together; lineups at particular gigs, often with additional information about where a musician came from or went to when he/she joined or moved on, and much, much more.

The 700 pages of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled provide a fascinating look at how rock’n’roll developed from its roots in the early 20th century to mid-1970s punk.  They also bring to life the background of the artists and bands that influenced the music that was to follow.  

Further information: Rock'n'Roll Unravelled