Sunday, March 30, 2014

Celebrating the Art of British Rock

The Art of British Rock – 50 Years of Rock Posters, Flyers and Handbills – Mike Evans (Frances Lincoln Limited)

Clearly rock ‘n’ roll is a unique musical form of art, but over the course of it’s history it has spawned a second, equally ambitious form of art in the form of album covers, posters and the visual representations that accompany the music.

Veteran music writer Mike Evans examines the form in his latest book, The Art of British Rock – 50 Years of Rock Posters, Flyers and Handbills; a historical archive of over 350 examples to illustrate not only the five decades, but the notable artists and the range of styles through the years.


Evans delivers an amazing journey through the changes that are part and parcel of the transition through the early sixties stacked poster style through the psychedelic era and on into the progressive giants like Yes, Hawkwind and Genesis.

The Art of British Rock showcases the a stunning array of artistic styles and development of the rock art form; ranging from the very simple concert bill to the complex, multi-layered, digital graphics of the current era. While certainly the Brits are to be recognized and celebrated for the musical British Invasion and later the Punk/New Wave movement; they should also be credited for offering up numerous easily recognizable, signature rock art styles highlighted here.

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