Sonic Boom! The History of Northwest Rock: From Louie Louie to Smells Like Teen Spirit [Paperback]

Peter Blecha (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

In this epic exploration of the Pacific Northwest's esteemed garage rock traditions, Peter Blecha, Seattle's "rock 'n' roll archaeologist," skillfully weaves together the untold tales behind the rise of the region's early dance halls, recording studios, record labels, radio stations, and 1950s rockabilly, RandB, and doo-wop groups. The result is a compelling saga about an isolated region of America that, against all odds, managed to win global acclaim by stubbornly making music merely to satisfy its own provincial pop needs. Illuminating the creative continuum that arcs between the earliest rockin' pioneers and more recent demigods, Sonic Boom! reveals how one backwater music scene could produce such disparate mega-talents as the Ventures, Jimi Hendrix, Heart, Robert Cray, Queensryche, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Nirvana, and of course the legendary garage stompers, the Sonics. The culmination of over two decades of research, Sonic Boom! benefits from the 500-plus exclusive interviews that Blecha conducted with trailblazing DJs, sound engineers, label founders, and the leading luminaries of Northwest rock, including such hitmakers as the Kingsmen, the Ventures, the Frantics, the Sonics, the Wailers, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Dave Lewis, Ron Holden, Merrilee Rush, Larry Coryell, Heart, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...an excellent and informative look at the birth of a music scene...Blecha knows his regional music history...an easy and enticing read." PopSyndicate.com

"...an often surprising and entirely enlightening exploration of Northwest rock history... thanks to Blecha, the rollicking musical past of this corner of the country won't quietly disappear... the stories are skillfully compiled and thankfully told..." Seattle Sound

"This is a great read, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of Northwest rock and roll." Jet City Blues

"Sonic Boom reclaims our region s dominance in rock annals and cements Blecha s reputation as its foremost historian." Seattle Metropolitan

"Sonic Boom will remain as the source book for anyone interested in the rock of the Pacific Northwest." Expressmilwaukee.com

"Blecha strikes a winning balance through a mixture of scrupulous research and genuine passion for his subject." Blurt

Sonic Boom "was written exactly the way a book, or a song should be written ...it was hard putting it down, and I practically dog-eared every page for reference points." Jerseybeat.com

"The Northwest musical influence on the entire rock culture has been overlooked for way too long. This is a great book for anybody who loves Rock 'n' Roll and its hidden history." Allan Handelman, Rock Talk radio

"Blecha lovingly limns the history of rock music in Seattle and the northwestern U.S. ...and the predominant celebratory tone can be infectious." Booklist

"...plain and simple, a highly enjoyable read... I say it stands up with Charles Cross's Hendrix bio as NW canon...." Tom Dyer, President, Argosy University "

Blecha s angle is different. He pens the story from behind the scenes of the early radio stations, recording studios and record labels." Puget Sound Business Journal

"Finally...this puts it all in perspective for those who thought Oregon and Washington were little more than places with a lot of rain." curledup.com

"Seattle s unofficial curator of rock n roll charts the evolution of Northwest rock specifically the era book-ended by those two unmistakable riffs as told by the musicians, fans, promoters, scenesters, and label heads who lived it." Gibson.com

"The deep rock 'n' roll history of the Northwest has finally been fully chronicled so grab your favorite flannel shirt and find the nearest Starbucks to sit down in and soak up the Sonic Boom." CMJ:

--Various

"The deep rock 'n' roll history of the Northwest has finally been fully chronicled so grab your favorite flannel shirt and find the nearest Starbucks to sit down in and soak up the Sonic Boom." CMJ: --cmj

"The Northwest musical influence on the entire rock culture has been overlooked for way too long. This is a great book for anybody who loves Rock 'n' Roll and its hidden history." Allan Handelman, Rock Talk radio "Blecha lovingly limns the history of rock music in Seattle and the northwestern U.S. ...and the predominant celebratory tone can be infectious." Booklist "...plain and simple, a highly enjoyable read... I say it stands up with Charles Cross's Hendrix bio as NW canon...." Tom Dyer, President, Argosy University " Blecha s angle is different. He pens the story from behind the scenes of the early radio stations, recording studios and record labels." Puget Sound Business Journal "Finally...this puts it all in perspective for those who thought Oregon and Washington were little more than places with a lot of rain." curledup.com "Seattle s unofficial curator of rock n roll charts the evolution of Northwest rock specifically the era book-ended by those two unmistakable riffs as told by the musicians, fans, promoters, scenesters, and label heads who lived it." Gibson.com "The deep rock 'n' roll history of the Northwest has finally been fully chronicled so grab your favorite flannel shirt and find the nearest Starbucks to sit down in and soak up the Sonic Boom." CMJ: --Various

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879309466
• ISBN-13: 978-0879309466
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #761,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The NW Gospel according to St. Peter, May 6, 2009

By 

Tom Dyer (Seattle USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sonic Boom! The History of Northwest Rock: From Louie Louie to Smells Like Teen Spirit (Paperback)

To begin, this is, plain and simple, a highly enjoyable read (as is his "Rock and Roll Archaeologist"). Blecha has a clear love for his subject and has spent many years digging through the backwaters of the Pacific Northwest to accumulate the rich details that that make this volume such a concise yet pleasurable experience.

While the title cites a range from Louie Louie to Nirvana, Blecha's prime focus is on the late 50's and 60's, which takes up 220 of the book's 304 pages, a period largely glossed over in Clark Humphrey's 1995 NW music tome, "Loser." Blecha also creates a much broader and more insightful picture of that era than previously delivered in titles such as the memoirs of KJR uber-boss Pat O'Day, "It Was All Just Rock `n' Roll" or James Bush's "Encyclopedia of Northwest Music."

This is not to belittle Blecha's thoughts on the decades that follow. He was a member of the Debbies in post-punk 80's Seattle and can speak with a first-hand authority on what that scene was about.

As a long time participant in and follower of the Northwest music scene, I say Blecha's latest stands up with Charles Cross's Hendrix bio as NW canon. Buy it. Enjoy. I did.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredibly well researched book, March 30, 2009

By 

Jeffrey R. Beals "Music Business "Lifer"" (Mercer Island) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sonic Boom! The History of Northwest Rock: From Louie Louie to Smells Like Teen Spirit (Paperback)

Author Peter Blecha has come up with THE DEFINITIVE account of the history of Northwest Rock And Roll, in this new book.

Carefully researched, the detail on the people, the politics and most importantly, the music of the Pacific Northwest, should be a "must read" for anyone who has even a casual interest in the phenomenon of
the style of music, that has influenced generations, around the world for over five decades. Additionally, there are numerous previously unseen photos and memorabilia, which add immensely to the flavor of Blecha's text.

Of particular interest is Blecha's soundly based critique of the institutional racism that plagued (many say still does) in the Epicenter of Political Correctness, SEATTLE, Washington, and its unconscious politicians, journalists, and other "keepers of the public interest". He also fairly criticizes the terrible situation that remains shameful in the history of Seattle, in particular, by organized labor, in the personna of the Musician's Union, and its refusal to allow the exposure and growth of black musicians and bands in particular, with
sordid and well-documented detail.
Seattle's Liberal Left establishment needs to read this work, if for these above reasons only, and acknowledge
that in terms of race relations, Seattle has far to go. This book is a worthwhile, and long overdue public account of a unique cultural experience, and its historic contribution to popular music and culture.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the BOOM, May 22, 2010

By 

Paul A. Jones "PA Jones" (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sonic Boom! The History of Northwest Rock: From Louie Louie to Smells Like Teen Spirit (Paperback)

Great book, enjoyable read (read it twice).
If you're from this area and knew the music scene, this will give details you never knew before.
It's laid out in the proper time frame of how the Music evolved from 50's to the 90's
Have recommended this book to others.