Considered one of the best books about rock music ever written, Our Band Could Be Your Life follows the career path of 13 prominent 1980s American hard rock bands. The decade was a tumultuous time, with President Reagan and his conservative nationalist politics clashing with aggressive, do-it-yourself British punk. In-depth interviews with the musicians and main players of the American indie music scene during that time form the basis of Michael Azerrad's book, which shows how the new sound of the underground opened up not just a new music movement, but also the blossoming of a new network of record labels, independent distributors, fanzines, college and underground radio stations, record stores, and clubs and concert venues. Championed by Black Flag, the seed of the hardcore movement started to spread, making way for more groups and a new community of fans who followed and supported them on their never-ending tours. The 13 stories documented in this account tell an unforgettable tale of young people with little formal music training or experience who lose themselves in the energy and urgency of punk music. Their journey wasn't free from obstacles, however; they lived and traveled under extreme conditions. Some threw themselves into the abyss of drugs and alcohol while others, like Minor Threat, opted for a clean, straight-edge lifestyle in order to be able to undertake the intense shows they put on. Multiple albums recorded during this period continue to appear on best-in-history rock lists, and their influence clearly persists today. Some of the groups disappeared; others saw international success. Though their members did not necessarily survive, their music lives on. This book chronicles Black Flag, The Minutemen, Mission of Burma, Minor Threat, Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, Big Black, Dinosaur Jr, Fugazi, Mudhoney, and Beat Happening.
About the Author: Michael Azerrad is a music journalist and a drummer. He has written for Musician magazine, the New York Times, the New Yorker, Revolver, Rolling Stone, and Spin. He is the author of Nirvana: Come As You Are and the editor of Bob Mould's autobiography, See a Little Light. He lives in New York City.