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Uncommon People

The Rise and Fall of the Rock Stars 1955-1994
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( 2,067 ratings, 248 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Uncommon People by David Hepworth explores the lives and careers of rock 'n' roll icons from 1955 to 1995, examining how these entertainers transformed music and culture over four decades. The book delves into the personal stories and significant moments that defined these artists and their impact on the music industry. It's an insightful tribute to the legends that have shaped rock and the cultural landscape they influenced.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the transformative power of music and the impact of rock stars on cultural history. David Hepworth weaves together engaging stories about iconic musicians, offering insights into their lives and how they shaped the music world. If you're a music enthusiast looking to delve into the lives of the legends who defined eras, this biography will appeal to you.

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As heard on BBC 6 Music with Shaun Keveny, BBC Radio 5 Live and Talk Radio with Eamonn Holmes

The age of the rock star, like the age of the cowboy, has passed.

The definitive and most entertaining book on the cult of the rockstar over the last 40 years from one of Britain's leading music writers

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The definitive and most entertaining book on the cult of the rockstar over the last 40 years from one of Britain's leading music writers.

As heard on BBC 6 Music with Shaun Keaveny, BBC Radio 5 Live and Talk Radio with Eamonn Holmes.

The age of the rock star, like the age of the cowboy, has passed. Like the cowboy, the idea of the rock star lives on in our imaginations.

What did we see in them? Swagger. Recklessness. Sexual charisma. Damn-the-torpedoes self-belief. A certain way of carrying themselves. Good hair. Interesting shoes. Talent we wished we had.

What did we want of them? To be larger than life but also like us. To live out their songs. To stay young forever. No wonder many didn't stay the course.

In Uncommon People, David Hepworth zeroes in on defining moments and turning points in the lives of forty rock stars from 1955 to 1995, taking us on a journey to burst a hundred myths and create a hundred more.

As this tribe of uniquely motivated nobodies went about turning themselves into the ultimate somebodies, they also shaped us, our real lives and our fantasies. Uncommon People isn't just their story. It's ours as well.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Uncommon People by David Hepworth is praised for its engaging and insightful exploration of the rise and fall of rock stardom. Critics highlight Hepworth's clever writing and ability to capture poignant, celebratory, and bittersweet moments in music history. The book is described as a fitting farewell to an era, filled with humour, insight, and memorable anecdotes that evoke vivid images of iconic musical moments.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784162078

Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 April 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Black Swan

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 335g

Pages: 448

About the Author

David Hepworth has been writing, broadcasting and speaking about music and media since the seventies. He was involved in the launch and editing of magazines such as Smash Hits, Q, Mojo and The Word, among many others. He was one of the presenters of the BBC rock music programme The Old Grey Whistle Test and one of the anchors of the corporation's coverage of Live Aid in 1985. He has won the Editor of the Year and Writer of the Year awards from the Professional Publishers Association and the Mark Boxer award from the British Society of Magazine Editors. He lives in London, dividing his time between writing for a variety of newspaper and magazines, speaking at events, broadcasting work, podcasting at www.wordpodcast.co.uk and blogging at www.whatsheonaboutnow.blogspot.co.uk. He says Chuck Berry's 'You Never Can Tell' is the best record ever made. 'This is not an opinion,' he says. 'It's a matter of fact.'

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