Twilight of the gods : a journey to the end of classic rock

**“A wise meditation on why classic rock stars keep trucking, both on the road and in our dreams. Every page is an irresistible argument starter.”—Rob Sheffield, __Rolling Stone__** The author of the critically acclaimed __Your Favorite Band is Killing Me__ offers an eye-opening exploration of the state of classic rock, its past and future, the impact it has had, and what its loss would mean to an industry, a culture, and a way of life. Since the late 1960s, a legendary cadre of artists—including the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Black Sabbath, and the Who—has revolutionized popular culture and the sounds of our lives. While their songs still get airtime and some of these bands continue to tour, its idols are leaving the stage permanently. Can classic rock remain relevant as these legends die off, or will this major musical subculture fade away as many have before, Steven Hyden asks. In this mix of personal memoir, criticism, and journalism, Hyden stands witness as classic rock reaches the precipice. Traveling to the eclectic places where geriatric rockers are still making music, he talks to the artists and fans who have aged with them, explores the ways that classic rock has changed the culture, investigates the rise and fall of classic rock radio, and turns to live bootlegs, tell-all rock biographies, and even the liner notes of rock’s greatest masterpieces to tell the story of what this music meant, and how it will be remembered, for fans like himself. __Twilight of the Gods__ is also Hyden’s story. Celebrating his love of this incredible music that has taken him from adolescence to fatherhood, he ponders two essential questions: Is it time to give up on his childhood heroes, or can this music teach him about growing old with his hopes and dreams intact? And what can we all learn from rock gods and their music—are they ephemeral or eternal? "Since the late 1960s, a legendary cadre of artists--including the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Black Sabbath, and the Who--has revolutionized popular culture and the sounds of our lives. While their songs still get airtime and some of these bands continue to tour, its idols are leaving the stage permanently. Can classic rock remain relevant as these legends die off, or will this major musical subculture fade away as many have before, Steven Hyden asks. In this mix of personal memoir, criticism, and journalism, Hyden stands witness as classic rock reaches the precipice. Traveling to the eclectic places where geriatric rockers are still making music, he talks to the artists and fans who have aged with them, explores the ways that classic rock has changed the culture, investigates the rise and fall of classic rock radio, and turns to live bootlegs, tell-all rock biographies, and even the liner notes of rock's greatest masterpieces to tell the story of what this music meant, and how it will be remembered, for fans like himself. Twilight of the Gods is also Hyden's story. Celebrating his love of this incredible music that has taken him from adolescence to fatherhood, he ponders two essential questions: Is it time to give up on his childhood heroes, or can this music teach him about growing old with his hopes and dreams intact? And what can we all learn from rock gods and their music--are they ephemeral or eternal?"--Amazon.com Side 1: "The hero is born and learns about the world...". -- Track 1: "The song is over" -- -- Track 2: "Welcome to the machine" -- -- Track 3: "Rock and roll"-- -- Track 4: "I know there's an answer" -- -- Side 2: "The hero meets the spirit guides who will point him toward greatness...". -- Track 5: "Bob Dylan's dream" -- -- Track 6: "Hello there" (Live at Budokan) -- -- Track 7: "My love will not let you down" -- -- Track 8: "Turn the page" -- -- Track 9: "Draw the line" -- -- Side 3: "The hero is corrupted...". -- Track 10: "Mr. Crowley" -- -- Track 11: "So bad" -- -- Track 12: "Dog eat dog" -- -- Track 13: "Keep on loving you" -- -- Track 14: "You can't always get what you want" -- -- Track 15: "Rock is dead" -- -- Side 4: "The hero discovers the meaning of life, transcending death, and finding god...". -- Track 16: "You enjoy myself" -- -- Track 17: "Junior dad" -- -- Track 18: "Pressing on" -- -- Track 19: "Death don't have no mercy". By mixing personal memoir, criticism, and journalism, Hyden explores the ways that classic rock changed the culture -- how it established the album as music's answer to the novel, and rock concerts as the secular equivalent to church -- and asks whether any of these signposts can endure. He investigates the rise and fall of classic rock radio and determines whether the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is telling the right version of Rock history. He revisits favorite live bootlegs, rereads all the great tell-all rock biographies, and excavates deep down into the liner notes of rock's greatest masterpieces to explain what we can all learn from rock gods and their music.