By the Book

No Sex Please, We’re British: Coil’s Subversively Overt Homosexuality

No Sex Please, We’re British: Coil’s Subversively Overt Homosexuality

Homosexuality drove experimental band Coil’s creativity, yet they rejected the demand that they either embrace performative homosexuality or remain discreet and closeted.

‘Addicted to Noise’: Eyes Were the First Feminist Rock & Roll Band

‘Addicted to Noise’: Eyes Were the First Feminist Rock & Roll Band

Eyes were the first all-woman 1970s feminist rock band. Don’t believe it? This excerpt from Michael Goldberg’s Addicted to Noise backs the hype.

Needles & Plastic: Flying Nun Records, 1981-1988

Needles & Plastic: Flying Nun Records, 1981-1988

In this excerpt from Needles and Plastic, we learn about the force of will, the chance of kismet, and the couple of bands that piloted Flying Nun Records from New Zealand to the US.

‘Totally Wired: The Rise and Fall of the Music Press’

‘Totally Wired: The Rise and Fall of the Music Press’

In this excerpt from Paul Gorman’s history of music magazines, Totally Wired we experience the heady ascent of “rock and pop culture journalism” fueled by the seemingly endless energy of music fans.

In Bob Stanley’s Let’s Do It ‘The Winds Grow Colder’ for Judy Garland and Billie Holiday

In Bob Stanley’s Let’s Do It ‘The Winds Grow Colder’ for Judy Garland and Billie Holiday

In this excerpt from Bob Stanley’s history of pop music, Let’s Do It, the music and stories of iconic singers Judy Garland and Billie Holiday are forever intertwined.

‘Addicted to Noise’: Tom Waits Tests Michael Goldberg’s Sense of Humor

‘Addicted to Noise’: Tom Waits Tests Michael Goldberg’s Sense of Humor

Tom Waits splashes about in his “puddle of consciousness”, testing Michael Goldberg’s sense of humor in this interview excerpted from Goldberg’s new book, Addicted to Noise.

Straight Into Darkness: Tom Petty as Rock Mystic (Excerpt)

Straight Into Darkness: Tom Petty as Rock Mystic (Excerpt)

Happy 40th anniversary to Tom Petty’s Long After Dark album, an underrated manual for creatives in existential crisis. Enjoy this excerpt from Straight Into Darkness: Tom Petty as Rock Mystic.

Aquaman and the War Against Oceans (Excerpt)

Aquaman and the War Against Oceans (Excerpt)

Aquaman can be read as an allegory that responds to the climate change crisis, an era in which the oceans have become sites of warfare and mass death.

‘The New Female Antihero’ (excerpt)

‘The New Female Antihero’ (excerpt)

The New Female Antihero explores how misogyny undermines television’s strong female antiheroes and how that, in turn, stunts our culture’s ability to embrace feminism.

‘No Machos or Pop Stars: When the Leeds Art Experiment Went Punk’ (excerpt)

‘No Machos or Pop Stars: When the Leeds Art Experiment Went Punk’ (excerpt)

In this excerpt of British punk history book, ‘No Machos or Pop Stars’, the Mekons, Gang of Four, and Delta 5 put their anti-hierarchical, anti-capitalist, feminist theory to the test.

Take a Whiff of ‘Perfume’ and Enter the World of Queer Culture

Take a Whiff of ‘Perfume’ and Enter the World of Queer Culture

How did Calvin Klein’s gender-neutral CK One, with its scent like “a vodka tonic with lemon twist”, help inspire gender revolution?Perfume follows the fragrant path into queer culture.

Queer Country: Lesbian and Gay Mainstream Country Artists? (Book Excerpt)

Queer Country: Lesbian and Gay Mainstream Country Artists? (Book Excerpt)

In this excerpt of ‘Queer Country’, Chely Wright, Mary Gauthier, Brandi Carlile, and Amy Ray share the battles they’ve fought to make country music recognize its lesbian artists.

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