Rock: The Definitive History

The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 1 1920 – 1963 – Ed Ward (Flatiron Books)

Author Ed Ward is no stranger to the history of rock music. He has authored countless articles for a wide variety of music and popular culture magazines, definitive biographies of great artists, and is the co-author of Rock of Ages: The Rolling Stone History of Rock & Roll, which dates back to a time when Rolling Stones actually meant something in the world of music. Ward also served as the longtime rock & roll historian for National Public Radio’s (NPR) Fresh Air program, which counts as listeners some 14 million folks.

So it’s a safe bet that Ward’s bona fides are firmly in place to tackle a massive, three-part project that traces the roots of rock & roll with a fervent complete-ists approach. In The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 1 1920 – 1963 Ward goes deeper than just the roots of rock, but takes things down to the granular level, examining the DNA of the music.

If you are looking for an encyclopedia of rock, something you can whip out to settle arguments or fuel debates about the legends of rock, then this may not be your cup of tea. Ward is looking way beyond those simple thought processes; he uses a scientist’s eye toward how minstrel shows and vaudeville spliced their DNA into country, roots, R&B and gave birth to the behemoth that moved and influenced generations.

This, the first of what will become a three volume set be run a little off the beaten path for those casual rock fans. As it progresses you can start to see the direction Ward is heading in those future volumes. If you are a student or historian of the music, The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 1 1920 – 1963, certainly deserves a place on your bookshelf. Has a fan of the minutiae of music, I found myself putting Ward’s theories to the test, revisiting music to trace the influences that he spells out long the way. Which for me makes this volume a success and has me primed for the future editions.  

A Guitar Hero’s, Guitar Hero

Michael Bloomfield: the Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero – Ed Ward (Chicago Review Press)

If you’ve paid even passing attention to bluesy rock then you’ve likely heard the late guitarist Michael Bloomfield’s masterful licks; if not directly than via the legion of legendary players that he spawned, influenced or inspired.

Originally published in 1982, Michael Bloomfield: the Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero, by Ed Ward has been remixed and remastered for a completely updated publication featuring a foreword by ZZ Top guitar slinger Billy Gibbons. Ward, the longtime contributor and rock ‘n’ roll historian for NPR’s Fresh Air program and numerous print publications writes lovingly of Bloomfield’s guitar virtuosity without slipping too far into fanboy status.

Bloomfield’s is a cautionary tale that is so familiar to so many in the rock realm because it’s been repeated so many times. A young guy flashes on the scene and scores early success only to fall prey to the temptation of chemical abuse and his shining star flashes out too soon; Bloomfield succumbed to a drug overdose at the age of 38, almost ancient by rock standards, but still too young.

Ward details Bloomfield’s career in a way that he makes the case for his stature and legacy among the most influential guitarists of not only his era, but of all time. His flight path through the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, playing with Bob Dylan, founding Electric Flag and recording the seminal Super Session album are among his many transcendent credits the Ward uses to make a case that is pretty hard to argue against.