Below is another roundup of rock books that are on preorder or out now. It’s good to not only listen to music but to read about it, right? Right.
The Necromancer of Rock: The Origins of Death SS (1977-1982) was written by Death SS O.G. Steve Sylvester, with Gianni Della Cioppa, and features contributions from Danny Hughes, Thomas Chaste and Thomas “Hand” Chaste, Claud Galley, and Paul Chain. “This book is the final answer for those who thirst for every detail, background history, or bit of spicy gossip related to the circumstances which lead five suburban teens to incarnate as the Kings of Evil,” Sylvester wrote in the introduction.
There’s lots of photos, a Death SS comic, a foreword by Mortiis, Q&As, and more. It’s out now from Anja Bound in its second edition and translated into English.
The classic and beloved King Diamond album Abigail is getting the graphic novel treatment. King wrote the graphic novel with Dan Watters and artist Damien Worm to bring it to life.
It’s on preorder from Z2 Comics on hardcover, softcover, and deluxe edition, the latter including the hardcover, a slipcase, an Abigail graphic novel picture disc LP, art prints, and greeting cards. They’re shooting for an October 2021 release date.
Marc Wasserman has written Ska Boom! An American Ska & Reggae Oral History, featuring interviews with The Untouchables, Bim Skala Bim, The Toasters, The Uptones, The Scofflaws, Let’s Go Bowling, Mephiskapheles, and more, with a foreword by Horace Panter of The Specials.
It’s on preorder from DiWulf Publishing and the first 500 preorders include a free ‘80s ska 80-minute mix CD, so move fast to grab that. The book is out on July 4, 2021.
No Speed Limit: Québec Métal (1964-1989) is in its second, revised and English-translated edition and features quotes from Voivod, Obliveon, Hou-Lops, Offenbach, Aut’Chose, D.D.T., Sword, D.B.C., Damnation, Gorguts, and more.
Félix B. Desfossés wrote the book from Ian Campbell’s concept, and Ian Christe, Samuel Dufour, and Rob Milley revised this new edition.
It’s out now on softcover from Quartz.
Punk Women: 40 Years of Musicians Who Built Punk Rock is a new book by David Ensminger with biographies, interviews, band anecdotes, and photos, featuring Bikini Kill, The Guttersluts, Bratmobile, Spitboy, the Germs, The Slits, and more. It includes a foreword by Katy Otto of Trophy Wife.
It’s out now on paperback from Microcosm Publishing.
Related: Our last roundup of books was in 2019. Happy reading!
