Screaming Life: A Chronicle of the Seattle Music Scene [Hardcover]

Charles Peterson (Author, Photographer), Michael Azerrad (Introduction), Bruce Pavitt (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1995

A leading rock photographer and the biographer of the band Nirvana trace the growth of the ""grunge"" music scene in Seattle during the early 1990s, in an illustrated book including a compact disc recording of the scene's leading bands. 50,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Charles Peterson's photographs capture being at a Seattle grunge show better than any verbal description. The thrashing energy, the chaotic sweat, the sense of an imminent explosion of the room and of the entire scene are all seen in these black-and-white photos that are somehow sharpest when blurriest. And apparently, the photo on the cover is not upside down. That's Kurt Cobain supposedly doing a nonchalant flip in mid-strum in mid-show: aplomb in chaos, the hallmark of the music. A great companion volume to Clark Humphrey's Loser, a definitive history of the Seattle music scene from the '60s to the present.

From the Publisher

"Along with a lot of bruises and broken equipment, Peterson got something that was unique and true, what live rock music is all about: a commotion of hair, sweat, guitars, drums, and wires, which he juggled using classical compositional elements all rendered in glorious black and white. Somehow he managed, in the midst of the chaos, to snap photographs that are works of art..." --Michael Azerrad, Screaming Life

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins; 1st Edition. edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062586408
• ISBN-13: 978-0062586407
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,064,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect grunge photo album., March 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Screaming Life: A Chronicle of the Seattle Music Scene (Hardcover)

If it's possible to see music, this is where to look. From Kurt's upside down guitar playing to Andy Wood's heartbreakingly direct gaze, these photos are riveting. I felt like I was there.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is quintessential., August 23, 2005

By 

Sliver (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Screaming Life: A Chronicle of the Seattle Music Scene (Hardcover)

I love this book. If you can get a copy that comes with the cd, do it. The music is so real, so encapsulating. I know you're going to love it, just as I do. My biggest recommendation is to get the book with the cd; I cannot stress this enough. You will feel the scene rise up in you. Ahhh...real, for once. In fact, leaf through the book while listening to the cd...it's an experience, to say the least.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Its a Screaming Grunge Life!, July 18, 2010

By 

C. Friend (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Screaming Life: A Chronicle of the Seattle Music Scene (Hardcover)

I purchased this book recently and could not wait for it to arrive, but have to say that although it does contain some amazing images (the one of Kurt on the cover is totally wicked), it should by no means be considered comprehensive. To wit, there is only 1 very small image of Alice in Chains in the entire book, and barely a mention of the band. Since it is doubtful that the photographer wasn't aware of the band's enormous popularity, I can only conclude that the omission was intentional. This is my major criticism of the book.

That being said, Peterson is an excellent photographer who managed to get some incredible images from some awesome musical icons. He is also very generous in discussing the equipment used, which, as a photographer myself, I totally appreciated. I am impressed with the depth and movement contained in his work. He obviously knew Cobain well, as his beautiful images appear to capture the essence of the artist's soul. I also enjoyed seeing his images of Andy Wood. And all the girls are well-represented........

Unfortunately, my used book did not contain the CD.........a major bummer! In any event, the book now lives on my coffee table, which is where it will stay before I put it to rest on my bookshelf with the others.