This book is a magical mystery tour through popular music history, featuring trailblazing acts from the 1950s to the present. Colorful, stylish illustrations bring to life artists like Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Joan Jett, and Madonna, plus bands such as The Beatles, The Clash, Beastie Boys, and Pearl Jam, all of whom have inspired countless boys and girls to become musicians over the past seventy years. Included throughout are hand-picked recommendations from every time period, forming an extended playlist of over 1,000 songs that pay tribute to the genre and its many sounds. Divided into thirty-five different chapters, this vivid collection also covers the artistic movements that influenced rock or were influenced by it, such as blues, jazz, soul, and hip hop.

The pioneers of rock -- Rock cowboys -- Mississippi blues -- Soul and rhythm -- Old traditions, new guitar -- Riding the waves -- Swinging '60s -- Psychedelic '60s -- Jamaican rhythms -- The '60s weren't just peace and love -- Electric symphonies -- Hard as a rock -- Helmsmen -- Feathers and glitter -- Super pop -- Wacky bands -- Raise your devil horns! -- Women at the helm! -- Smash it! -- Smash it harder! -- New wave -- Melancholic rock -- Folk punk -- Madchester -- Yo! -- Alternative nation -- Machines at the helm! -- Flannel shirts -- '90s generation -- As Brit as it gets -- Mixing board -- Fused metal -- New millennium -- Enchanted forest -- Reshuffle and deal again -- Navigate an orchestra of music genres.