Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion

by Paul Grushkin, Dennis King

Authoritative, eye-popping, and massive, Art of Modern Rock is the first and last word on contemporary concert posters. An art form that has grown hand-in-hand with the independent music scene, heralding small and large gigs alike, the posters have emerged from visually creative street-level notices to prized collectibles rendered in a variety of styles and media. Today's poster artists combine the expressive freedom pioneered in the poster revolution of the 1960s with the attitude and the do-it-yourself approach of the punk scene, creating an unprecedented surge of innovative poster production on an international scale. Featuring over 1,600 exemplary rock posters and flyers from over 200 international studios and artists, Art of Modern Rock is the long-anticipated sequel to coauthor Paul Grushkin's The Art of Rock . Profiles and quotes from the pioneers in the field and their emerging heirs share nearly 500 gloriously packed pages of poster after mind-blowing poster. As brash and colorful as the burgeoning scene it documents, Art of Modern Rock is the must-have book for music and poster fans and collectors.

Genres: Art, Music, Nonfiction, Design, Art Design, History, Pop Culture

492 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2004

About the author

Paul Grushkin is the author and co-author of four best-selling rock & roll histories, collectively selling over one million copies.

Grushkin’s books include:

ROCKIN’ DOWN THE HIGHWAY: The Cars and Stars that Made Rock Roll
Voyageur Press/MBI Publishing (October, 2006)

ART OF MODERN ROCK: The Poster Explosion
co-authored with Dennis King
Chronicle Books (2004)

TREASURES OF THE HARD ROCK CAFÉ
co-authored with Joel Selvin
Rare Air (2000)

THE ART OF ROCK: Posters from Presley to Punk
Abbeville Press (1987)

GRATEFUL DEAD BOOK OF THE DEAD HEADS
co-authored with Cynthia Bassett and Jonas Grushkin
Wm. Morrow (1983)

Grushkin is a graduate of Stanford University (1974).

Reviews

[Johnny Di Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biased review, as I'm one of the artists in this book. The first book, The Art of Rock, was my Bible when I was a kid, & introduced me to artists who'd become personal heroes of my career; Stanley Mouse, Shawn Kerri, & Rick Griffin. I'd stay up all night getting baked & stealing all I could from that book. A group of poster artists came together in Philly for a monster poster show called Artifacts of the Improbable, including live music at the Trocadero. I heard that author Grushkin was going to be there & was stoked, I just wanted to say thank you for the first book. Little did I know he'd interview me & include me in the publication. For me, it as like being asked to be the 13th apostle.

The book is stellar, over 400 artists from around the planet, (& before this book, who knew there were poster artists in Transylvania?) creating some of the best art on the planet for every band that ever payed music. The book design is inspired, with themed chapter that breaks down the styles & genres. You'll need hours to make it through,...

My copy is signed & marked by at least 30 of these artists, who are close personal friends. Nyah nyah!!

Also check out the companion books by co author Dennis King. The Poster girls book in particular includes more of my work, including two posters on the back cover. Yes, I'm geeking out. You would too if you were in this one! ;)

[Kanako Okiron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tooooooo longgggg but I loved it so it was fine. My dad owned a Coop poster (Soundgarden and You Am I), and I remember staring at it for hours as a kid trying to figure out what on earth “Goldilocks was a Fink” meant. I couldn’t tell whether the “oo” in Coop were eyes or not, it used to freak me out.
Just makes you realise that there are so many bands with amazing posters, and accept that there will be bands you’ll never listen to in your lifetime.
It made me realise how much I want to be a poster artist but I’m just not that good, so a little bit of envy there but if there are any bands reading this, listen up: I’d love to make your posters!!!!

[Michael Duckworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narrates the story of one of the most original and amazing genres in music; rock n' roll. It's very descriptive about dates, people and concerts. A very underrated book.

[Onecard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narrates the story of one of the most original and amazing genres in music; rock n' roll. It's very descriptive about dates, people and concerts. A very underrated book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feast for the eyes. A hell of a coffee table book.

[Brian O'daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! Yeah, there's technically not much to "read," but who cares? It's packed with some of the most eye-catching imagery you'll ever see, and that's exactly the point. It's probably the most worn coffee table book I own. The dust cover on it was already torn and tattered when I found the book in the store from all the previous customers who obviously couldn't resist it either. I didn't even care, because the book was still in good shape, and I had to have it all to myself! Definitely the most perused of all of my art books, and I have a lot of them, being a graphic designer myself. Simply put: pure unadulterated eye candy worth its weight in gold (and it's a HEAVY book).

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book to use in my uni work, and I loved it. Not a book full of textual reading as the majority was imagery, but the text parts provided some lovely insights into the designers works and the techniques/genres on show. The images are stunning and I was spoilt for choice for material to use. I couldn't put the book down once I'd started reading as I was constantly scanning the pages in appreciation of the poster designs. Brilliant collection.

[P.M. Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of poster art, this is the book for you!

Nearly 500 pages of nearly every band you can think of, from Green Day to Electric Frankenstein. Beautiful large coffee-table book, with big, beautiful, color graphics.

If you're a fan of this form or art, you'll find more than one page you'll consider framing.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huge coffeetable book. Wasn't as balanced as I thought I'd be. Think it focuses on posters created in the late 90's early 00's; much more recent poster art is vastly diverse. Nice glossy reprints, though.

[Nicco Mele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this rich visual book and frequently page through it.

[Gigi Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visual overload! Raw talent with color explosion!

[Rishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

whenever i start a new design project i flip through this thing first - for inspiration

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

$70 but worth it.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

the sweetest part of this book was coming across a poster from a show I was at in athens years ago.

[Bonnie]

favorite of Nicco's

[Anna]

I love this book! Some of my friends were in this book. This was really the first book that melded together the second wave of screenprinting and gigposters.

[Codester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me want to buy all of the music posters in existence.

[Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty awesome book if you're into poster art.

[Bobby Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biased as I'm one of the artists in the book, but it's comprehensive and full of gigposter goodness.

[joke · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book because is very very good for that moments when you are boring

[Bookish Madness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rock art a good book for fans of this genre of music

[Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing resource for inspiration. Visually stunning; full of great images.

[Ink drinker ☕️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic art for music lovers! approved!!

[Mike Bell]

Wow. The ultimate gig poster collection. A study in design styles.

[Alex Hogan]

Good

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite books to look at time and time again. Love the style