The Encyclopedia of Punk

When people think of punk they often think of outrageous fashion and iconic bands like The Ramones and the Sex Pistols. But the reality of punk stretches over three decades and numerous countries, with a history as rich and varied as it is shocking and daring. With this lavishly illustrated and authoritative A-Z guide, Brian Cogan leads readers through the fiery history of a furious, rebellious, contradictory, and boundary-redefining musical genre and cultural movement that remains as massively influential as it is wildly misunderstood. As The Encyclopedia of Punk clearly proves, punk music and culture has produced a rich trove of material, above and beyond the hundreds of bands, from books and films to incendiary political movements.

Publishers Weekly

While a "punk encyclopedia" seems like an oxymoron, music writer and musician Cogan nicely succeeds in producing a "useful resource" illustrating "the urgency and importance of punk rock" from its mid-1970s start to "the movement's vitality in the present day." A plethora of great photos-from the Clash and the Sex Pistols to newcomers Groucho Marxists and the Shemps-accompany knowledgeable, fascinating and fast-paced entries that illuminate punk bands' struggle to survive (the Ramones were paid only $5,000 for their starring role in Rock 'n' Roll High School in 1979) while avoiding being co-opted by the mainstream music biz. (Nov.)