Explore Rock’s Roots: Discover Cities That Shaped Rock Music History!

Hold on! Before you dive into this book, make sure you’re ready to travel—at least virtually with a record player, thousands of albums, or an internet connection at hand. Opening the comprehensive Rock City Guide will instantly sweep you into a global tour. Jean-Daniel Beauvallet, a veteran writer for Inrockuptibles and author of The Ferryman, invites us on a journey through the cities that have been pivotal to the evolution of rock—and beyond, considering Kingston’s reggae and dub, and Chicago’s house music.

Accompanying him on this whirlwind tour is illustrator and storyboard artist Frédéric Peltier, whose hundred or so illustrations infuse the narrative with texture, fervor, and at times, a touch of mystery. From Athens, the home of R.E.M. and The B-52’s, to Seattle, the book spans 29 chapters, each beginning with a full-page illustration by Peltier that sets the scene.

Discover a Treasure Trove of Anecdotes

Flipping through the pages and starting your reading journey anywhere in the book quickly assures you that you’ve struck gold. Even the most anticipated stops offer surprises, as Beauvallet the scholar takes us back in time—to as far as 1672 for the first paid concert in London! Far from being short on memory, he vividly paints each setting and narrates the revolutions that unfolded there. Those familiar with his work won’t be surprised: the author and journalist does not just celebrate well-known artists but highlights unexpected connections and pivotal, though lesser-known figures. In Liverpool, for instance, he features Clive Langer, the guitarist from Deaf School and Big in Japan, who later produced music for Costello, Madness, Lloyd Cole, and others.

It’s no surprise that the United States (7 chapters) and England (5 chapters) feature prominently in this grand journey, underscoring rock’n’roll’s Anglo-Saxon roots. However, other destinations like Berlin, Cologne, and Düsseldorf offer fresh perspectives on rock’n’roll, not to mention a side trip to Dunedin, New Zealand. France isn’t left out, with Paris, Rennes, and the Norman cities of Le Havre and Rouen getting a nod. Rock City Guide also makes a stop in Bourganeuf, a place in the Auvergne region known for its very underground scene—a destination that will surprise many except for the long-time readers of Inrocks who are familiar with Beauvallet’s quirks.

Rock City Guide by JD Beauvallet (GM Éditions), 272 pages, priced at €29.90. Available in bookstores.