Underground: Cursed Rockers and High Priestesses of Sound - by Arnaud Le Gouëfflec (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

They don't do it for the fame, they do it for the music -- these rock legends and priestesses of sound are the outsiders, the trailblazers, artists who changed the face of music forever simply for the love of it.

From Captain Beefheart to Patti Smith, this odyssey through the rock hinterlands is perfect for fans of outsider artists, rock history aficionados, and those modern vinyl lovers who want to discover the saga that got music to where it is today. Featuring an all-new foreword from writer and musician Michael Moorcock, this is the essential guide to the weird and wonderful performers that became legends in their own right.

Although not widely known, each of these artists has changed the history of music. So, to celebrate the incredible contributions of these unsung heroes, Arnaud Le Gouëfflec and Nicolas Moog have brought their stories to vivid life.

Discover the sensitive and manic-depressive genius Daniel Johnston; the Peruvian queen of exotica, Yma Sumac; the improbable blind and homeless Moondog; the classy bargain hunters of The Cramps; the legendary Patti Smith; and many, many more.

A veritable illustrated bible of the underground music scene, this anthology of 50 biographies invites you to discover little-known maestros and creators of underheard masterpieces. This is a book for the simply curious, as well as the connoisseur!

Includes:

• Moondog
• Daniel Johnston
• Colette Magny
• The Residents
• Sun Ra
• Tall Dwarfs
• Kevin Coyne
• Yma Sumac
• Sky Saxon
• Jonathan Richman
• Éliane Radigue
• John Fahey
• Raymond Scott
• Boris Vian
• Giant Sand
• Chris Black
• XIXA
• Golden Boots
• The Cramps
• Merrell Fankhauser
• Lydia Lunch
• Can
• Neu!
• Kraftwerk
• Faust
• Hans-Joachim Roedelius
• Alex Chilton
• Nico
• Billy Childish
• Nurse with Wound
• Eugene Chadbourne
• Crass
• Captain Beefheart
• Brigitte Fontaine
• Lee Hazlewood
• Kim Fowley
• Dub
• Patti Smith
• Un Drame Musical Instantané
• Black metal
• Les Légions Noires
• Townes Van Zandt
• Cosey Fanni Tutti
• Peter Ivers

Review Quotes

"The creators' infectious delight and deep appreciation for these brilliant weirdos comes across loud and clear." Publisher's Weekly

"Underground manages, through its many anecdotes and its sense of storytelling, to open the doors to incredible worlds." Rolling Stone

"This book is a gem for anyone who appreciates unusual music and will nourish the eyes and ears of those with a taste for the off-kilter. Honestly, the list of essential albums at the end is worth the price of admission in itself!" Adam Hocker, Albertine

"Such an entertaining journey through many artists who've never gotten their appropriate flowers. Packed with information but presented through sharp, easy-to-follow storytelling and charming illustrations, it's a graphic novel that any fan of weird and wonderful music would enjoy." The Vinyl Factory

About the Author

Arnaud Le Gouëfflec is 47 years old and has many stories to tell. His career as an author, as atypical as it is prolific, is characterized by a refusal to let himself be locked into a genre. Both a novelist and comic book scriptwriter, he is also a singer and songwriter. The common denominator: writing, fueled by various sources of fascination, from noir to serial novels to Fantômas, from SF to pataphysics, from comics to rock.

Nicolas Moog is a French cartoonist and author. He is also a musician (vocals, guitar, banjo, double bass, double bass, percussion) in several neo-blues formations such as Thee Verduns, and performs regularly on stage in Europe and the United States of America.