Negatives - by Amy Fleisher Madden (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Through rare and never-before-seen photographs, Amy Fleisher Madden, founder of Fiddler Records, thoughtfully and lovingly put together this moving archive of the second and third waves of emo. With a foreword by Chris Carrabba and revealing essays from Frank Iero, Geoff Rickly, Norman Brannon, and Matt Pryor, as well as insights and bite-sized narratives from photographers and other musicians of the era, this heartwarming time capsule expounds an extraordinary moment in music history, a scene that gave life to not only numerous big names but also to a powerful sound and even more powerful friendships"--

Book Synopsis

A gorgeous hardcover time capsule of the emo music scene as it was from 1996 to 2006, featuring never-before-seen photographs and never-before-told stories from key emo musicians, photographers, and icons.

While the term emo has become a familiar label, there was a time when that wasn't the case. Many bands of the mid-to-late '90s would never have classified themselves as such. With the advent of the 2000s, the previously underground emo scene was put on the map, and the term and sound of the genre morphed into something new. Today, the musical and cultural impact of this movement is alive and well, responsible for some of the biggest and most influential acts of the 21st century, from Jimmy Eat World to My Chemical Romance, and the emo label has been reclaimed by those who can't imagine life without it.

Through rare and never-before-seen photographs Amy Fleisher Madden, founder of Fiddler Records (Dashboard Confessional, New Found Glory, Recover, and more), thoughtfully and lovingly put together this moving archive of the second and third waves of emo. With a foreword by Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional and revealing essays from Frank Iero, Geoff Rickly, Norman Brannon, Matt Pryor, Jesse Johnson, Andrew McMahon, and Bob Nanna, as well as insights and bite-sized narratives from photographers and other musicians of the era, this heartwarming time capsule expounds an extraordinary moment in music history--a scene that gave life to not only numerous big names but also to a powerful sound and even more powerful friendships.

Featuring more than eighty bands, including:

• Jimmy Eat World
• Dashboard Confessional
• My Chemical Romance
• Texas Is the Reason
• Taking Back Sunday
• The Get Up Kids
• Thursday
• Fall Out Boy
• American Football
• Jawbreaker

From basements and VFW halls to dive bars and holes-in-the-wall, during long overnight drives through the middle of nowhere and stolen moments of sleep in carbon-copy motels, Negatives captures the heart of what made up this tight-knit community, an official archive of life as it was, taking you on stage, behind the curtain, and on the road.

A UNIQUE LOVE LETTER FROM EXPERT AUTHOR: The first of its kind, Negatives is not a critic's take--rather a touching and heartfelt time capsule and photographic archive of the scene as told by those who lived it.

RARE AND NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN MATERIAL: Founder of Fiddler Records Amy Fleisher Madden compiles hundreds of high-quality photos of more than eighty bands, as well as essays and bite-sized narratives from photographers and key musicians of the era.

STAR CONTRIBUTORS: Foreword by Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional) with essays by Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance), Geoff Rickly (Thursday), Norman Brannon (Texas Is the Reason), Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids), Jesse Johnson (Motion City Soundtrack), Bob Nanna (Braid, Hey Mercedes), and Andrew McMahon (Something Corporate).

A MUSIC GIFT FOR EVERY EMO FAN: Focusing on the second and third waves (1996-2006), Negatives includes hundreds of high-quality images of bands including Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, My Chemical Romance, Texas Is the Reason, Taking Back Sunday, The Get Up Kids, Thursday, The Promise Ring, American Football, Saosin, and more.

Perfect for:

• Emo fans of all kinds and all waves
• Fans of second-wave bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, third-wave bands like My Chemical Romance, and indie emo bands like Death Cab for Cutie
• Music history fans
• Musicians and aspiring musicians
• Photography enthusiasts
• Music lover's gift idea for birthday, graduation, holiday, or any special occasion

Review Quotes

A Books Worth Gifting in 2023 gift guide pick.

--Vulture

Gift Guide Pick

"It's a definite love letter to an era of music that has meant a great deal to so many"

--Men's Journal

Included in Best Christmas Gifts Under $50 guide

--New York Magazine

"Amy Fleisher Madden has made the ultimate emo book."

--Alternative Press

About the Author

Amy Fleisher Madden founded the independent record label Fiddler Records in Miami when she was sixteen years old. Before she could even vote, she discovered and broke bands like Dashboard Confessional, New Found Glory, and several other emo and indie darlings. She closed her label after ten years in 2006 and went on to work in advertising. She is the author of A Million Miles, a YA novel. Today she is a freelance creative director, writer, and sometimes photographer living in Tennessee.