The Death of Rock 'N' Roll: Untimely Demises, Morbid Preoccupations, and Premature Forecasts of Doom in Pop Music [Paperback]

Jeff Pike (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

Explores the death-rock connection from the poisoning of Johnson in 1938 to the present. Stories about Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Jim Morrison are included as well as frequent means of death, from plane crashes (Ricky Nelson) to asphyxiation (Jimi Hendrix).

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book's subtitle seems to promise a Hollywood Babylon trip down rock's Sleazy Boulevard. Indeed, the lists of deaths by category and chapter titles like "Twitch & Shout: Rhythm and Blues Deaths" seem to confirm a tabloid sensibility. Once past these gonzo tendencies, the reader is rewarded with an informative and thoughtful history of rock'n'roll, from Robert Johnson to Nirvana. Along with dozens of thumbnail sketches of artists now appearing in rock'n'roll heaven, there are longer pieces on composers like Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen who used the theme of death to expand the form of the popular song. Despite many reports of "the death of rock'n'roll" over the last 40-plus years, Pike agrees with Danny & the Juniors's 1959 assertion: "Rock'n'roll is here to stay, it will never die." Recommended for music collections.
- Dan Bogey, Clearfield Cty. P.L. Federation, Curwensville, Pa.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571198082
• ISBN-13: 978-0571198085
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,077,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Death and Rock and Roll Never Looked So Interesting, October 19, 1997

By 

Comixchick (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Death of Rock 'N' Roll: Untimely Demises, Morbid Preoccupations, and Premature Forecasts of Doom in Pop Music (Paperback)

As morbid as it seems, Jeff Pike's "The Death of Rock 'n' Roll" is a fascinating read. If you are the type who wants to know more about the rock world than who sold what to whom for how much, this book will rock your world. Pike has done his homework; you may not have even known some of the subjects were dead. But even if you did, Pike's detailing of his subject matter makes for fascinating conversation at your next cocktail party. "The Death of Rock 'n' Roll" lists its victims... er, subjects, by the type of demise they suffered (for example, "Fell Down" with Donny Hathaway and Sandy Dennis), and then sublists their endtales in chapters grouping the subjects with others in the same fields (e.g., "Oozing Crooners", with Bobby Darin, or "Beatles Bugouts" with Fab Four wannabe Badfinger). As morbid as this all sounds, Pike's prose fascinates, and even makes you laugh (if you can get past your guilt). And you'll finish reading it a little sadder and wiser. The lack of a comprehen

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not great, but definitely interesting, March 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Death of Rock 'N' Roll: Untimely Demises, Morbid Preoccupations, and Premature Forecasts of Doom in Pop Music (Paperback)

my one major problem with this book is pike's tendency to offer his opinion more than i would like. i would have rather read a book that chronicled the deaths of musicians without telling me which ones were talented and which were not. i am not a huge fan of queen, but i don't need pike to tell me that "they weren't that good." i can draw my own opinions, mr. pike. but for any readers who have the same fascination with rock'n'roll and death, and can ignore pike's commentary, i would certainly recommend this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, funny, and sometimes spooky, January 4, 2001

By 

Miranda Prince "Punky Monkey" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Death of Rock 'N' Roll: Untimely Demises, Morbid Preoccupations, and Premature Forecasts of Doom in Pop Music (Paperback)

I've read "The Death of Rock 'n' Roll" a couple of times, and I really enjoyed it. It is intelligently written, and although I may not always agree with Jeff Pike's opinions, they never seem uneducated.

The fact is, a lot of people in the entertainment business die young. If you're obsessed with movie morbidity, read Kenneth Anger's excellent book "Hollywood Babylon." If you're obsessed with dead rock stars (I am), read "The Death of Rock 'n' Roll."

Sometimes I don't know when to take Jeff seriously -- does he really believe Jerry Lee Lewis made a deal with the devil? Either way, his book is one hell of a good read, and I would recommend it to any rock fan.