The story of the year that rock music exploded, featuring almost every star who defined the decade
David Hepworth has been writing about, broadcasting about and
speaking about music since the 70s. He was involved in the launch
and/or editing of magazines like Smash Hits, Q, Mojo and The Word
among many others.
He was one of the presenters of the BBC rock music programme
Whistle Test and one of the anchors of the Corporation's coverage
of Live Aid in 1985. He has won the Editor of the Year and Writer
of the Year awards from the Professional Publishers Association and
the Mark Boxer Award from the British Society of Magazine
Editors.
He is a director of the independent company Development Hell and
divides his time between writing for a variety of magazines and
newspapers, speaking at events, broadcasting work and blogging. He
lives in London.
'I was born in 1950,' he says, 'which means that in terms of music
I have the winning ticket in the lottery of life'.
David Hepworth's argument is simple: 1971 was "the most febrile and
creative time in the entire history of popular music". It's an
enormous assertion but he makes his point with infectious
enthusiasm . . . Whether you agree is beside the point. This is a
compelling love letter to a year of timeless music.
*Q*
A clever and entertaining book . . . Hepworth proves a refreshingly
independent thinker. His style is pithy and his eye for anecdotal
detail sharp . . . a thoroughly provoking delight
*Daily Telegraph*
This is no ‘my generation is cooler than yours’ nostalgia trip.
Just as movements in art, jazz or TV undeniably had Golden Ages
then so too with the long-playing record and its seismic effect on
subsequent generations. David Hepworth’s forensic sweep of this
astonishing twelve months is thoroughly absorbing and appropriately
rollicking, expertly guiding us through one miraculous year in all
its breathless tumble of creation.
*Danny Baker*
A good mix of entertainment, insight and odd facts. Hepworth’s
thesis is largely convincing
*Mojo*
An engaging and thought-provoking read. It’s a dry-eyed but deeply
felt love note to the date when rock was still busy inventing
itself. Hepworth points out more than once that at the time he had
no idea how lucky he hwas. He knows now – and so do we
*Mail on Sunday*
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