Rowman & Littlefield adds to its eclectic Tempo Music Series a deep dive into the glam-rock scene

of the late 1960s and its influence on present-day performers. Music academic Philo takes on David

Bowie, Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music, and Marc Bolan of T. Rex in an entertaining yet scholarly approach.

peeling back the curtain on what motivated each performer to glam it up in their very popular music,

personae, and performances. Among many insights, Philo makes a key point that Bolan strived for top hits

that seemed contrary to the arching album concepts that Bowie constructed, yet both exalted in a similar

embrace of outlandish fashion to provoke as well as entertain. The bending of gender roles and sexual

orientation is carefully explored, especially in light of the easing of strict laws against homosexuality in the

UK in 1967. An immense glam-rock time line is included, listing major global events alongside recording

history to provide historical context. Philo’s well-researched study is a shining primer of the glam side of

rock and roll.

Booklist

The book's seven chapters abound with quotations and contemporaneous accounts, and Philo's expertise and subtle understanding of this unique substyle of rock music is exhibited throughout. He is painstaking in accounting for glam’s evolution, from its roots in the early 1970s, through its proliferation, to its influence on future generations—with specific mention of artists such as Nirvana, Oasis, and Lady Gaga. The opening time line—which begins with the birth of Bryan Ferry and ends with the death of David Bowie—adds substance, as do a copious selection of further reading and an even more voluminous list of suggested listening.

Choice Reviews

Simon Philo’s comprehensive knowledge of glam rock is unrivaled. As a fellow fan-scholar, I read Glam Rock with admiration, appreciation, and excitement—Philo authoritatively details how Bowie and Roxy’s Bryan Ferry became the most influential musicians in the history of British rock and roll.

Neil Nehring, Professor, University of Texas at Austin, and author of Flowers in the Dustbin: Culture, Anarchy, and Postwar England

A forensic and thorough analysis of Glam in all its manifestations, from its origins to its legacy – a detailed book that washes away the glitter and mascara and peers deep into the soul of this colourful, joyous genre of music.

Jeff Evans, author of 'Rock & Pop on British TV'