What do you think?
Rate this book
Rock 'n' Roll Babylon
In this completely updated edition, rock journalist Gary Herman takes a revealing look at the antics of stars such as Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain, and David Bowie. From the 1960s to the present, over 200 stark photos testify to the decadence, tragedy, and absurdity of the rock star life. "About the most detailed overview of the whole rock scene...you'll ever see." Theodore Sturgeon
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1981
4 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 17, 2023
I wasn't impressed with this one, but I must point out that I read the original 80's addition: I believe a number of further editions have been produced to cover another 30 years of rock shenanigans and perhaps those versions have had some of the phrasing and attitudes updated for the times too.
There are some good points badly made: of course the 'sexual liberation' of the 60's was less liberating for women than men, but I'm not sure accusing female artists of 'sexual stereotyping' is the best way to prove that.
Overall, although there were some interesting facts in here, I found the tone a bit negative. I KNOW it's meant to be about the bad side of rock fame, but there are times when it reads like the author doesn't even like any of the music much.
There are some good points badly made: of course the 'sexual liberation' of the 60's was less liberating for women than men, but I'm not sure accusing female artists of 'sexual stereotyping' is the best way to prove that.
Overall, although there were some interesting facts in here, I found the tone a bit negative. I KNOW it's meant to be about the bad side of rock fame, but there are times when it reads like the author doesn't even like any of the music much.
December 26, 2017
I have a paperback copy that is not listed here. This is an interesting read if you want a synapsis (at least until 1982) of the all the sordid events in rock & roll with a special emphasis on death. There are some great and crazy stories in here about everybody from Elvis Presley to Sid Vicious but there is a bunch of stuff that most people would prefer not to see (a picture of the body of Roy Orbison's 11 year son being carried out of a burnt-out house) is 0ne. By now most people are overwhelmed with celebrity info, but this is worthwhile if you want the rock & roll version.
August 31, 2025
Interesting through the early 80s but lost my interest as time went on. The glossy finish is good for the many interesting photos I've never seen before elsewhere, but makes the text difficult to read, and the photo captions are even harder. Your mileage may vary but I'm relieved to be done with the book.
January 7, 2022
The pictures are great, but oh man, the ponderous writing. Yikes. I wished for a mind-palate cleanser afterward.
August 3, 2020
2-20-20 – Finished this tabloid-like book obviously patterned after Kenneth Anger’s popular Hollywood Babylon two book series. It is even laid out exactly the same in terms of the print content and the actual font & photo layouts.
Contains sections on the first generation Rock Stars and Teen Idols, Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘N’ Roll, Road Fever/Stage Fright, etc. Not much new for hardcore music nuts, but there are a few interesting nuggets.
In the mid-60’s, Dylan turned the Beatles on to grass, as they were exclusively pill-poppers at the time.
In the late 60’s, Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful were caught in flagrante delecto in the famous raid of Keith Richards’ house Redlands outside London. It was whispered rather loudly that the two had discovered a novel use for Mars Bars in their sexual escapades.
On July 3, 1969, Rolling Stone Brian Jones was found mysteriously dead at the bottom of the swimming pool on his sprawling estate. There is still much mystery surrounding his actual death, but not about the site of the tragedy. He had purchased the previous estate of author A.A. Milne & his son Chrstopher Robin, of Winnie the Pooh fame.
Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys was friends with Charles Manson, and let the psycho and his Family stay at his house for a period, during which time the Family members supposedly ran up a huge gonorrhea medical bill which Wilson paid. He finally had to have his manager kick them out.
Keith Moon died the day after Buddy Holly’s birthday on September 6, 1978. He died of an overdose of Heminevrin, which is a sedative and hypnotic used in treating and preventing symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal. He took 32 tablets and didn’t wake up.
Tommy Bolin died of a drug overdose in 1976 in Miami Beach while touring with his new band "Sailor," trying to mount somewhat of a comeback.
Frank Zappa was the son of a chemist and his first job was as an art director in advertising for a greeting card company.
Lou Reed shot up on stage in November of 1974 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.
During his extended “Lost Weekend” period in the mid-70’s, hanging out primarily with Harry Nilsson and May Pang, John Lennon was visiting the famous Troubadour Club in LA, and he became so shit-faced that he heckled the Smothers Brothers who were on stage and paraded around the club with a sanitary napkin on his head. They all finally got kicked out.
At his peak, or nadir, the survivor Alice Cooper was putting away 40 cans of beer and two quarts of whiskey a day, and he and his band were spending $250,000 a year on just booze.
Johnny Rotten dismissed sex as, “Two minutes of slurping noises.”
In the 70’s, Patti Smith ensured her street-credibility by informing the press, that on what one can only presume were good nights, she would apparently attain sexual ecstasy on stage while performing.
Debbie Harry spent the late 60’s in a flower power group called "Wind in the Willows" and also worked as a Playboy Bunny in the New York Playboy Club.
Fun read and falls firmly in the Guilty Pleasure category.
Contains sections on the first generation Rock Stars and Teen Idols, Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘N’ Roll, Road Fever/Stage Fright, etc. Not much new for hardcore music nuts, but there are a few interesting nuggets.
In the mid-60’s, Dylan turned the Beatles on to grass, as they were exclusively pill-poppers at the time.
In the late 60’s, Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful were caught in flagrante delecto in the famous raid of Keith Richards’ house Redlands outside London. It was whispered rather loudly that the two had discovered a novel use for Mars Bars in their sexual escapades.
On July 3, 1969, Rolling Stone Brian Jones was found mysteriously dead at the bottom of the swimming pool on his sprawling estate. There is still much mystery surrounding his actual death, but not about the site of the tragedy. He had purchased the previous estate of author A.A. Milne & his son Chrstopher Robin, of Winnie the Pooh fame.
Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys was friends with Charles Manson, and let the psycho and his Family stay at his house for a period, during which time the Family members supposedly ran up a huge gonorrhea medical bill which Wilson paid. He finally had to have his manager kick them out.
Keith Moon died the day after Buddy Holly’s birthday on September 6, 1978. He died of an overdose of Heminevrin, which is a sedative and hypnotic used in treating and preventing symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal. He took 32 tablets and didn’t wake up.
Tommy Bolin died of a drug overdose in 1976 in Miami Beach while touring with his new band "Sailor," trying to mount somewhat of a comeback.
Frank Zappa was the son of a chemist and his first job was as an art director in advertising for a greeting card company.
Lou Reed shot up on stage in November of 1974 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.
During his extended “Lost Weekend” period in the mid-70’s, hanging out primarily with Harry Nilsson and May Pang, John Lennon was visiting the famous Troubadour Club in LA, and he became so shit-faced that he heckled the Smothers Brothers who were on stage and paraded around the club with a sanitary napkin on his head. They all finally got kicked out.
At his peak, or nadir, the survivor Alice Cooper was putting away 40 cans of beer and two quarts of whiskey a day, and he and his band were spending $250,000 a year on just booze.
Johnny Rotten dismissed sex as, “Two minutes of slurping noises.”
In the 70’s, Patti Smith ensured her street-credibility by informing the press, that on what one can only presume were good nights, she would apparently attain sexual ecstasy on stage while performing.
Debbie Harry spent the late 60’s in a flower power group called "Wind in the Willows" and also worked as a Playboy Bunny in the New York Playboy Club.
Fun read and falls firmly in the Guilty Pleasure category.
September 30, 2013
La misma historia de la música popular -que no del rock- de siempre sólo que aquí resulta de lo más petulante y pretenciosa.
La traducción al español es, simplemente, infame. No se corresponde con una editorial como la suya.
La traducción al español es, simplemente, infame. No se corresponde con una editorial como la suya.
April 5, 2024
Boy did I get a bollocking when my parents found this on my bookshelves, what the hell Mum & Dad, it's just a 1980s historical tome about sex, drugs, rock n' roll and sprinklings of other crimes too. Wholesome low-brow reading.
January 23, 2011
Interesting what he writes, but Gary Herman is, in my opinion, a little bit too "angry" and...disdainful.
November 4, 2013
Complete with pictures and everything you ever wanted to know about rock n roll. This book came in handy when I had to do a report about The Beatles. I love it.
June 21, 2016
Enjoyable, tabloid-y read. The author pretends to condemn the hedonism of the rock star lifestyle but his fascination peeks through.
November 4, 2012
This is the original 1982 edition. Extremely well written with lots of rare photos.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews