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Bomp! Saving the World One Record at a Time [HC,2008]
From 1966 to 1978, "Bomp!" was the magazine of rock-and-roll commentary and criticism that provided a view from the garage of the most crucial era in rock history. This retrospective is composed of rare gems from the magazine, including early interviews with The Doors and The Grateful Dead.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 14, 2007
I worked for Greg Shaw for a week and I really doubt anyone in his circle would even remember me, but the late visonaire (Shaw) left us something wonderful. Mostly memories.
In the late 70's I bought all my punk singles at Bomp, and that is where I discovered Devo and the world of Chris Stamey (The Sneakers EP - a must to have!), The Weirdos, and others of that period. It was just wonderful to walk into that room to see this alternative world in place.
Greg Shaw besides a record store owner and a record label was also a music writer. He was someone who was right in the middle of the action, but also seems to be out of that world as well. I don't know why I feel that way - but I think when one writes about their social or passionate world they are sort of taking a step outside to see what's 'inside.'
This is a wonderful book regarding his publication (BOMP) as well as his world via the writings by Shaw as well as others. Pretty much an essential Los Angeles book to have in your collection.
In the late 70's I bought all my punk singles at Bomp, and that is where I discovered Devo and the world of Chris Stamey (The Sneakers EP - a must to have!), The Weirdos, and others of that period. It was just wonderful to walk into that room to see this alternative world in place.
Greg Shaw besides a record store owner and a record label was also a music writer. He was someone who was right in the middle of the action, but also seems to be out of that world as well. I don't know why I feel that way - but I think when one writes about their social or passionate world they are sort of taking a step outside to see what's 'inside.'
This is a wonderful book regarding his publication (BOMP) as well as his world via the writings by Shaw as well as others. Pretty much an essential Los Angeles book to have in your collection.
February 2, 2021
For those of us who did not subscribe to rock ‘n roll magazine/fanzine Bomp! and its various predecessors (that is: practically everybody on this planet), this book (and volume 2) is the next best thing: an anthology of passionate writing about rock ‘n roll – rockabilly, girl groups, garage punk, acid rock, punk, new wave, powerpop… Every genre counts, as long as the music is made and performed with the heart. The book contains interviews, record reviews, all kinds of opinions, background stories, letters, tons of photos… in short: an overview of several decades of alternative music.
The history of Bomp! is the life story of its founder Greg Shaw, who evolved from a kid crazy about rock ‘n roll (and science fiction) into an over-enthusiastic music lover, music writer and editor, music analyst, record company owner, music visionary and everything in between, never for one moment losing his initial drive and love of music. The sections in which his partner Suzy describes the daily business at Bomp! HQ, the hassles with bands or bill collectors, or Greg’s utter lack of financial insight (why pay bills? They’re just a distraction!) are often hilarious.
The book looks great, feels great and, I’m tempted to say, sounds great. That is: it makes you want to listen to good, heartfelt music.
The history of Bomp! is the life story of its founder Greg Shaw, who evolved from a kid crazy about rock ‘n roll (and science fiction) into an over-enthusiastic music lover, music writer and editor, music analyst, record company owner, music visionary and everything in between, never for one moment losing his initial drive and love of music. The sections in which his partner Suzy describes the daily business at Bomp! HQ, the hassles with bands or bill collectors, or Greg’s utter lack of financial insight (why pay bills? They’re just a distraction!) are often hilarious.
The book looks great, feels great and, I’m tempted to say, sounds great. That is: it makes you want to listen to good, heartfelt music.
October 19, 2024
A huge, messy celebration of Greg Shaw, his fanzines and the music he loved. It’s very clear that Shaw was a complex, complicated man but it’s also very clear that so many of the people who passed his way have incredibly fond memories of the man and his life’s work (because it’s also clear that these are as inexorably linked as his love affair with music). It’s also a beautiful celebration of fan culture and zines as a whole, helped in no small way by the fact Shaw was as big an SF nut as he was a rock one, so it made absolute sense to cross pollinate one scene to another and thusly pretty much giving birth to modern zine culture in one giddy, opinionated swoop
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July 17, 2010Greg Shaw was one of those rare non-musicians whose influence on the development of pop music was incalculable. First as a publisher of fanzines and later as the head of the Bomp! Records label, Greg was in the forefront of chronicling and championing underappreciated music of the ’60s and ’50s, as well as supporting and promoting the burgeoning punk and new wave scenes. This book is primarily an anthology of articles and features by Shaw and other writers reprinted from his various publications, plus a historical and biographical overview provided by Mick Farren and ex-wife Suzy Shaw.
A teenage publisher of sci-fi and fantasy zines, including Entmoot, the first American J.R.R. Tolkien publication, by 1966 Greg was the co-editor of Mojo Navigator, after Crawdaddy the first "serious" rock music magazine. Reprinted here are perhaps the earliest in-depth interviews with the Grateful Dead, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Country Joe & the Fish, and the Doors. By the dawn of the ’70s, disillusioned by the various turns the music scene had taken, Greg began "Who Put The Bomp!," devoted to celebrating garage punk, surf, rockabilly, girl groups and all other insufficiently appreciated styles of rock. As much as someone like Andrew Sarris rehabilitated the reputation of B-movies and commercial cinema disdained by the critical establishment, so did Shaw and cohorts like Ken Barnes challenge the orthodoxy of "Rolling Stone" and other counter-cultural Brahmans. As punk and new wave began to emerge, "Bomp!" switched its emphasis to the present day, playing up the flash and excitement of the scene, while also providing insightful and considered commentary. Yet by the end of the decade "Bomp!" had ceased publication, Shaw already disappointed with punk’s descent into formula. This is about the time when the Bomp! Records label was born, a still on-going enterprise comprising punk, power pop, new wave and neo-psychedelic releases as well as the hugely influential Pebbles series of garage reissues.
Mick Farren’s text is yet another recap of the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll from a standard post-punk perspective, quite expendable, however Suzy Shaw’s account of living with a guy who was as irresponsible as he was irrepressible is witty, good humored, personable. Near Messianic in the over-reaching promotion of his enthusiasms (take note of the book’s title) Greg tended not to tend to the little things in life – paying taxes, landlords, musicians; taking care of his health;etc. Considering all she had to put up with, first as his wife and continuing as his business partner, (Suzy still rules over the Bomp! empire) the portrait presented is remarkably affectionate.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in the counter-counter-culture, the true under-ground of Rock as it existed from the ’50s through the ’70s. And, yes, Lester Bangs’ "James Taylor Marked for Death" is reprinted, possibly the most important polemic in all of Rock criticism. --Charlie
From ICPL Staff Picks Blog
A teenage publisher of sci-fi and fantasy zines, including Entmoot, the first American J.R.R. Tolkien publication, by 1966 Greg was the co-editor of Mojo Navigator, after Crawdaddy the first "serious" rock music magazine. Reprinted here are perhaps the earliest in-depth interviews with the Grateful Dead, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Country Joe & the Fish, and the Doors. By the dawn of the ’70s, disillusioned by the various turns the music scene had taken, Greg began "Who Put The Bomp!," devoted to celebrating garage punk, surf, rockabilly, girl groups and all other insufficiently appreciated styles of rock. As much as someone like Andrew Sarris rehabilitated the reputation of B-movies and commercial cinema disdained by the critical establishment, so did Shaw and cohorts like Ken Barnes challenge the orthodoxy of "Rolling Stone" and other counter-cultural Brahmans. As punk and new wave began to emerge, "Bomp!" switched its emphasis to the present day, playing up the flash and excitement of the scene, while also providing insightful and considered commentary. Yet by the end of the decade "Bomp!" had ceased publication, Shaw already disappointed with punk’s descent into formula. This is about the time when the Bomp! Records label was born, a still on-going enterprise comprising punk, power pop, new wave and neo-psychedelic releases as well as the hugely influential Pebbles series of garage reissues.
Mick Farren’s text is yet another recap of the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll from a standard post-punk perspective, quite expendable, however Suzy Shaw’s account of living with a guy who was as irresponsible as he was irrepressible is witty, good humored, personable. Near Messianic in the over-reaching promotion of his enthusiasms (take note of the book’s title) Greg tended not to tend to the little things in life – paying taxes, landlords, musicians; taking care of his health;etc. Considering all she had to put up with, first as his wife and continuing as his business partner, (Suzy still rules over the Bomp! empire) the portrait presented is remarkably affectionate.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in the counter-counter-culture, the true under-ground of Rock as it existed from the ’50s through the ’70s. And, yes, Lester Bangs’ "James Taylor Marked for Death" is reprinted, possibly the most important polemic in all of Rock criticism. --Charlie
From ICPL Staff Picks Blog
June 4, 2009
I'm going to admit, it was really hard to read through all the bomp zine scans that made up most of this book. It's still beautiful to look at, and a great testament to one of my favorite punk/indie labels ever.
April 4, 2013
This book is a reprint of 'zines from the 60's and 70's. It was really cool to read about music as it was being created. There are album reviews and concert reviews, featuring the Runaways, Joe Strummer's new band the Clash, the Sex Pistols, Blondie, Iggy and the Stooges, etc.
January 20, 2008
Not as good as I expected it to be. Creem book's better.
Currently reading
January 23, 2008Only read a few pages, will update when finished! for now, piss off!
October 17, 2009
A sort of slapdash history but, in its way, inspiring, especially for fans of 60s garage rock.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews