thePULSESteven Blush’s American Hardcore, A Tribal History (Second Edition)
By R. Peltier
American Hardcore, A Tribal History (Second Edition) will be released on November 1. Author Steve Blush, who has interviewed more than 25 new subjects, added more than a hundred new pieces of art, supplemented his first edition with countless new band bios and expanded discographies, offered a new conclusion, and expanded from 328 to 408 pages, will be visiting libraries, universities, and independent bookstores this fall ~ with special guests on some stops.
AMERICAN HARDCORE: A Tribal History was released in October, 2001 to great success. The book is now in five languages, and it led the way to the creation of the acclaimed documentary “AMERICAN HARDCORE: The History of American Punk Rock 1980-1986.” The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006 and was released theatrically later that year by Sony Pictures Classics. With the resurgence of punk rock, and continued interest in the significant American DIY movement, Blush has expanded the book and will release the second edition on November 1, 2010.
Unlike many second editions, this offering is a new book. Blush has updated all of the chapters, added a new one titled “Destroy Babylon,” which explores the mutant forms of spirituality that came from the movement, and interviewed over twenty-five new subjects. He also has unearthed over a hundred new pieces of artwork, drafted two hundred plus new band bios, and radically expanded the discography. Most significantly, he has offered a new conclusion which is an anomaly within the realm of period studies. The original book was 328 pages; the revised edition is now 408.
The Los Angeles Times cited AMERICAN HARDCORE: A Tribal History as the “definitive treatment of hardcore punk.” Juxtapoz Magazine called the study “the definitive work on one of rock’s most important eras.” Major publications across the globe echoed these sentiments, and the public followed suit via purchases at bookstores and tickets at box offices across the world. Blush is sure to have a packed house as he conducts readings and Q&A sessions at public libraries across the country. The first three of many to be confirmed are:
10/07 Portsmouth, NH Portsmouth Public Library
10/08 Worcester, MA Worcester Public Library
10/09 Portland, ME Portland Public Library
About the Author
Steven Blush promoted hardcore shows in Washington D.C. in the early 80s. He moved to New York in 1986, and founded SECONDS Magazine, publishing 52 issues through the year 2000. Blush has written three books on the subject of rock: AMERICAN HARDCORE: A Tribal History (2001, Feral House), AMERICAN HAIR METAL (2006, Feral House), and .45 DANGEROUS MINDS: The Most Intense Interviews From Seconds Magazine (2005, Creation Books). His writing has appeared in publications including SPIN, Details, PAPER, Interview, Village Voice and The Times of London. For twenty years he worked as a New York City club DJ and promoter, noted for his “Rock Candy” parties at Don Hill’s and sound designs for fashion pioneer Stephen Sprouse.
