The music press is an astute commentary on contemporary culture. In its time it has spawned prodigious talents who have helped advance - and destroy - new cultural trends.
Gordon's latest book, written with contributions from Cameron Crowe, Mark Perry, Jessie Hynde, Tony Parsons and Garry Bushell, is the first complete account of this phenomenon - from NME and Melody Maker in the 50s; the explosion of new American formats in the 60s with Rolling Stone and Interview; the punk explosion in the 70s; through Details, The Face and i-D et al and the 80s obsession with materialism and consumer power; to the 1990s with the boom of "laddism" and the launch of Loaded, Q, Mojo and Smash Hits.
A fascinating work of remarkable insight, the story ends on the brink of a new media age.
