Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Recommended Reading: 'Under the Big Black Sun'


There would be no other authority to write the story of the history of L.A. punk better than John Doe of legendary band, X. Last year, Doe, along with Tom DeSavia linked up to write Under The Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk. 


The book, which has a forward from Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong discusses how the sound shaped the youth of the city between 1977 and 1982. Featuring commentary from Exene Cervenka (X), Henry Rollins (Black Flag), Mike Watt (The Minutemen), Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey (Go-Go's), Dave Alvin (The Blasters), Chris D. (The Flesh Eaters), Robert Lopez (The Zeros, El Vez), Jack Grisham (T.S.O.L.), Teresa Covarrubias (The Brat), and historians, Doe narrates how to the scene came about through his eyes.


Just as much about the music, the book is also about the friendships, bonds, love affairs, and cultural impact the music of Los Angeles had on the world by the people who created it.