When Rock Met Disco: The Story of How The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, KISS, Queen, Blondie and More Got Their Groove On in the Me Decade

Disco was a gay, black, and brown underground New York City party music scene that was galvanizing and affirmative, with hypnotic power to uplift a broad spectrum of the populace. It was a primal and gaudy fanfare for the apocalypse, a rage for exhibitionism, and a free of moralizing. In 1978, rock music was commercially and artistically successful, with disco responsible for roughly 40% of the records on Billboard's Hot 100. Rock stars who went disco crossed a musical rubicon and forever smashed cultural conformity, demonstrating the impact of this unique place and time.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 298 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2023
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation

Disco, a vibrant and diverse underground music scene in New York City, emerged as a powerful force that captivated the hearts of many. Its unique blend of gay, black, and brown cultures created a distinct sound that resonated with a broad spectrum of the populace. While rock and disco differed in many ways, their sociological and aesthetic differences were equally significant. Disco was a celebration of life, a force that uplifted and affirmed the human spirit. Its hypnotic power to move people made it the dominant music of the late 1970s. Disco was a primal and gaudy fanfare for the apocalypse, a celebration of exhibitionism and freedom from moralizing. It was a musical passageway into the future, a symbol of the possibilities that lay ahead. 1978 was a pivotal year for the record industry, with rock music experiencing unprecedented success. Disco, on the other hand, played a significant role, accounting for approximately 40% of the records on Billboard's Hot 100. The popularity of disco was driven by the massive success of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which revived the Hustle and dance studios across America. Despite its apparent excesses and ritual zealotry, disco was a conservative realm, with outdated rules such as a formal dress code and dance floor etiquette. When most 70s artists embraced disco, it was the daring rockers who had the most impact, bringing their intensity and personality to a faceless phenomenon. Rock stars who ventured into disco crossed a musical rubicon, forever changing the landscape of rock. The disco crossover not only influenced rock but also had a lasting impact on cultural conformity. The ongoing dance-rock phenomenon is a testament to the enduring influence of this unique place and time.

Weight: 481g
Dimension: 222 x 156 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781493063895