The Art of British Rock: 50 Years of Rock Posters, Flyers and Handbills

From custom-designed posters for provincial ballrooms in the late ‘50s to the computer-generated images of today, rock music illustration has reflected — and influenced — crucial changes in popular visual art. With classic examples (some unseen for many years) of key styles, including pop art, psychedelic illustration, punk "do-it-yourself," and digital imaging, the book documents the stunning visual style of British rock from the era of the Beatles and Rolling Stones to the present-day art of the Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, and the Kaiser Chiefs. The book is arranged chronologically, and by genre within chapters, with art by both uncredited artists and internationally known designers and design groups, from Michael English, The Fool, and Alan Aldridge of ‘60s fame to Hipgnosis in the ‘70s, Central Station Design and 8vo in the ‘80s, and Dtylorouge and Designers' Republic in the ‘90s. Special features in each chapter focus on a particularly influential designer relevant to the period being covered, while the introduction provides an overview of the history of rock graphic design, both in Britain and internationally.