Description
Discover the enthralling life of John Fahey in the captivating memoir, Dance of Death. This comprehensive biography unveils the untold story of one of the most influential acoustic guitarists in history, whose sound has reverberated across generations, inspiring artists from Leo Kottke to Jimmy Page. With a profound exploration of Fahey’s groundbreaking music catalog, covering over forty albums he released from 1959 until his passing in 2001, this title delves deep into the fusion of folk, blues, and experimental sounds that Fahey masterfully crafted.
Steve Lowenthal, an esteemed journalist, meticulously investigates Fahey's personal battles, including his struggles with stage fright, addiction, and mental health. His journey through the chaos of creativity and the music industry is a testament to resilience. Readers will appreciate the insight into Fahey's visionary independent label, Takoma, and how he reshaped the landscape of American music while fighting personal demons. Dance of Death is not just a biography; it’s a rich tapestry of musical rebellion and artistry, spotlighting a man whose legacy endures.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781613738795
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2018
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781613738795
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2018
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Description:
John Fahey hovers ghostlike in the sound of almost every acoustic guitarist who came after him, from Leo Kottke to Jimmy Page. In essence, John Fahey is to the solo acoustic guitar what Jimi Hendrix was to the electric: the man whom all subsequent musicians had to listen to.Fahey made more than forty albums between 1959 and his death in 2001, most of them featuring only his solo steel-string guitar. He fused elements of folk, blues, and experimental composition, taking familiar American sounds and recontextualizing them as something entirely new. His artistic voice transformed the cultural landscape of his time—and ours.Yet despite his stature as a groundbreaking visionary, Fahey's intentions—as a man and as an artist—remain largely unexamined. His memoir, How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life, was largely fiction; his liner notes were full of half-truths. John Fahey's real story has never been told—until now.Journalist Steve Lowenthal has spent years researching Fahey's life and music, talking with his producers, his friends, his peers, his wives, his business partners, and many others. He describes how Fahey introduced prewar blues records and the men who made them to a broader public; how his independent label Takoma set new standards; how he battled his demons, including stage fright, alcohol, and prescription pills; how he ended up homeless and mentally unbalanced; and how, despite his troubles, he managed to found a new record label, Revenant, that won Grammys and remains critically revered.This portrait of a troubled and troubling man in a constant state of creative flux is t
Steve Lowenthal, an esteemed journalist, meticulously investigates Fahey's personal battles, including his struggles with stage fright, addiction, and mental health. His journey through the chaos of creativity and the music industry is a testament to resilience. Readers will appreciate the insight into Fahey's visionary independent label, Takoma, and how he reshaped the landscape of American music while fighting personal demons. Dance of Death is not just a biography; it’s a rich tapestry of musical rebellion and artistry, spotlighting a man whose legacy endures.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781613738795
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2018
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781613738795
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2018
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Description:
John Fahey hovers ghostlike in the sound of almost every acoustic guitarist who came after him, from Leo Kottke to Jimmy Page. In essence, John Fahey is to the solo acoustic guitar what Jimi Hendrix was to the electric: the man whom all subsequent musicians had to listen to.Fahey made more than forty albums between 1959 and his death in 2001, most of them featuring only his solo steel-string guitar. He fused elements of folk, blues, and experimental composition, taking familiar American sounds and recontextualizing them as something entirely new. His artistic voice transformed the cultural landscape of his time—and ours.Yet despite his stature as a groundbreaking visionary, Fahey's intentions—as a man and as an artist—remain largely unexamined. His memoir, How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life, was largely fiction; his liner notes were full of half-truths. John Fahey's real story has never been told—until now.Journalist Steve Lowenthal has spent years researching Fahey's life and music, talking with his producers, his friends, his peers, his wives, his business partners, and many others. He describes how Fahey introduced prewar blues records and the men who made them to a broader public; how his independent label Takoma set new standards; how he battled his demons, including stage fright, alcohol, and prescription pills; how he ended up homeless and mentally unbalanced; and how, despite his troubles, he managed to found a new record label, Revenant, that won Grammys and remains critically revered.This portrait of a troubled and troubling man in a constant state of creative flux is t