NONFICTION

Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock

by Steven Hyden
Dey St: HarperCollins. May 2018. 320p. index. ISBN 9780062657121. $25.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062657152. MUSIC
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In 2016, rock stars were dying at an alarming rate. David Bowie, Prince, Glenn Frey, George Michael—it seemed like half of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was being buried. While each death seemed to bring an ever greater sense of shock, the simple facts are: rock is old, and the people who play it are old. Facing this reality, how will the music be consumed and interpreted in the future? Will these legends live on, or will their music die with them? These and other questions are at the heart of this title. Music critic Hyden (Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me) draws most of his musical taste formation from the classic rock stations of his youth. Understanding that coming generations won't view bands such as Pink Floyd or The Who the way he does, he explores how their music will live on (or won't).
VERDICT Even though the book sprawls into areas such as Phish fandom, it mostly maintains its focus with tight chapters and a clever LP track organization scheme. Fans of the website Pitchfork will find lots to love. [See Prepub Alert, 11/27/17; "Editors' Spring Picks," LJ 2/1/18.]
Reviewed by Brett Rohlwing, Milwaukee P.L. , May 01, 2018
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