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 the compelling story of a great American outcast.

A brash and dazzling celebration of the instruments that created the sounds of rock and roll from the 1940s to the present day Play It Loud celebrates the musical instruments that gave rock and roll its signature sound-from Louis Jordan's alto saxophone and John Lennon's Rickenbacker to the drum set owned by Metallica's Lars Ulrich, Lady Gaga's keytar, and beyond. Seven engrossing essays by veteran music journalists and scholars discuss the technical developments that fostered rock's seductive riffs and driving rhythms, the thrilling innovations musicians have devised to achieve unique effects, and the visual impact their instruments have had. Abundant photographs depict rock's most iconic instruments-including Jerry Lee Lewis's baby grand piano, Chuck Berry's Gibson ES-350T guitar, Bootsy Collins's star-shaped bass, Keith Moon's drum set, and the white Stratocaster Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock-as works of art in their own right. Produced in collaboration with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, this astounding book goes behind the music to offer a rare and in-depth look at the instruments that inspired the musicians and made possible the songs we know and love.

* Over 100,000 copies of Blue Series 7" vinyl singles have been sold with digital streams and downloads combined actual consumption is over 1 million * Artists include best sellers such as Beck, Dwight Yoakam, Kate Pierson (B52s), Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers), Insane Clown Posse, Tom Jones, First Aid Kit, Courtney Barnett, Stephen Colbert, Chris Thile, Wanda Jackson, Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes). * Grammy winning and multi-platinum musician Jack White produced every session. * Includes extensive interview with White covering the span of the Series, musicians involved, recording techniques, and the direct influence of the Series on his own career. * Interviewees include Colbert, Yoakam, Barnett, Pierson, Jackson, ICP, Dex Romweber, Lillie Mae, Ruby Amanfu and twenty-two more Blue Series artists. * In these exclusive interviews, artists describe their Blue Series recording experience in a behind-the-scenes look at their own creative process and the creative process of producer Jack White. The immediacy of the recordings and unusual circumstances create stories rife with insight and interesting moments. * Features unseen photos of the artists, including Jack White, plus an interview with principle photographer Jo McCaughey. * A sample playlist of the Blue Series curated by editor Ben Blackwell will be included via download card. * Features an exclusive, new Blue Series 7" vinyl single of unreleased tracks. * Foreword written by David Fricke, who is one of the most recognizable names in music journalism. Mr. Fricke witnessed the Dungen Blue Series session and is the only journalist who has been in the studio during one of the recordings. * Preface by TMR co-founder Ben Blackwell. The book also features contributions from TMR co-founder, Consigliere Ben Swank, long-time TMR Queen of Hearts Bonnie Bowden, and TMB editor Chet Weise. * The multi-media Box Set will be designed by Third Man Records Grammy winning design team.