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On October 1st, music lovers and rock history aficionados will be treated to an electrifying new release with AMERICAN SONG; LATE 80S ON THE SUNSET STRIP AND THE BANDS ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING BIG — the forthcoming book from author Phillip Harrington. Set against the gritty, glittering backdrop of the late 1980s Sunset Strip, American Song chronicles the meteoric rise — and sudden fall — of the hard rock scene that defined a generation. More than just a recounting of the bands that made it big, this deeply immersive narrative gives voice to the musicians and groups who ruled the scene, only to be swept aside as the industry's tides turned. "We have all heard the stories regarding Motley Crue, Poison, and Guns N' Roses," says Harrington, "but they're only a small part of the actual story. American Song is about the bands that were next in line, destined to be the next big thing — and how an entire movement was derailed just as it hit its stride." Through interviews, rare stories, and vivid detail, American Song captures the chaotic beauty of a music scene on the brink — right before the grunge revolution changed everything. Featuring over 15 headlining acts from the hair metal explosion, this book is a celebration of the music, madness, and mythology of 1980s rock culture — told with honesty, heart, and a healthy dose of hairspray.
Very longtime HardRadio friends MOTLEY CRUE announce a special 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set for Theatre Of Pain, out November 14 via BMG. Released in June of 1985, Theatre Of Pain marked a bold new chapter for Motley Crue - stylistically daring, musically explosive, and unapologetically street glam. Fuelled by the swagger of "Smokin' In The Boys Room" and the anthemic pull of "Home Sweet Home", the Crue's third studio album broke new ground while staying true to their hard rock roots. Theatre Of Pain was their first LP to hit the US Top 10. The album is now RIAA Certified 4X Platinum in the US and 3X Platinum in Canada.
Guns N' Roses frontman and longtime HardRadio friend Axl Rose has teamed up with Sumerian to launch a brand-new multi-volume graphic novel series, AXL ROSE: APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION. "Axl Rose: Appetite For Destruction is a raw, neon-noir fever dream, part rock anthem, part cyberpunk prophecy. Axl and I built a world where rebellion isn't just attitude, it's survival," said Nathan Yocum, Sumerian Comics Co-Founder and series co-creator. "It's Axl like you've never seen him before, on the front lines of a battle for humanity's future." Get info at sumeriancomics.com.
