Roadwork: Rock & Roll Turned Inside Out [Hardcover]

Tom Wright (Author), Susan VanHecke (Author), Pete Townshend (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2007

As a friend and cohort of some of rock music's biggest legends - the Who, Rod Stewart, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Joe Walsh, and countless others - photographer Tom Wright was given unparalleled access to almost every aspect of the musicians' lives, on- and offstage. Roadwork is a compilation of over 200 of Wright's groundbreaking photographs and the true stories behind the captivating pictures that have earned him praise as "America's most important documenter of the 1960s and 1970s rock 'n' roll scene". Gritty and realistic, poignant and beautiful, Wright's photos powerfully deconstruct the glamour of life on the road, capturing the true essence of rock 'n' roll: the musicians, the roadies, the fans, and the beautiful women who voraciously followed these rock bands. Over the years, Wright has allowed almost no commercial access to his work; his photographs have been available to only the musicians he's worked with and a handful of record company executives ... until now. Roadwork offers a rare glimpse into the extraordinary life and stunning art of Tom Wright, the man Joe Walsh dubbed "the Jack Kerouac of rock 'n' roll." Includes 180 black and white photos (60 of those are full page) and an eight page color section.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Filled with anecdotes, insights and frank opinions, Roadwork is a breezy and warm insider's view of the music world told by someone who loved the life and the people -- but also isn't afraid to say what he really thought of them (or, apparently, tell them to their faces). --Gary Graff, Oakland Press (May 2007)

I can honestly say that it's probably the best book on rock & roll ever published. -- Steve Riggio, CEO, Barnes & Noble Booksellers

Probably one of the best books about rock 'n' roll you'll ever see. -- Pete Townshend

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423413008
• ISBN-13: 978-1423413004
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,058,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real rock and roll, May 11, 2007

By 

Patrick Cullie (Lyons, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Roadwork: Rock & Roll Turned Inside Out (Hardcover)

disclamer. i'm tom's friend and colleague. but if you want to read about a real life in rock and roll and look at the pictures that go with it, "roadwork" is the book. the stones, the who, the eagles, the james gang, so many more...tom knows them, travelled with them, photographed them. and there's no hyperbole here, folks...just the straight story from a guy who lived the life, starting in the sixties in london and continuing on 'til today. and yeah, the story is captivating, but what will get you and what will stick with you long after you close the book,...are the pictures. candid, black and white photographs. in hotel rooms, backstage, airports, cars, dressing rooms, recording studios. minus the flash bulbs and the hair stylists. i was reminded of something i've always loved about tom's rock and roll photographs...the fact that you get a holistic view of what was going on. his camera pays the same respect to the roadies and the groupies as it does to the musicians. this is the real deal, folks. take it from me, buy this book. i did.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, May 27, 2007

By 

Kevin Colby - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roadwork: Rock & Roll Turned Inside Out (Hardcover)

This is a must have for all you rock & roll fans out there. Tom Wright provides us with a unique glimpse into rock in it's heyday, having lived through it and having recorded it with his wonderful photo's. Who/Pete Townshend fans will especially find this book fascinating. The book is a great document of the times. Imagine, being a young American living in London in 1962 and influencing the musical/social direction of the great Pete Townshend! (and that's just the beginning) Buy it now!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A memoir which is insightful, thrilling reading., October 19, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roadwork: Rock & Roll Turned Inside Out (Hardcover)

In 1967, barely out of his teens, Tom Wright found himself at the center of the British Invasion period, touring with such notable groups as the Who, Rolling Stones, Eagles and more: ROADWORK: ROCK & ROLL TURNED INSIDE OUT follows his life and influence on the rock world as a while, and is a 'must have' for any serious library of rock and roll music history. For two decades Wright captured the rock scene with his camera: ROADWORK pairs his black and white shots with a memoir which is insightful, thrilling reading.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch