This sequel to Grammy-nominated bestseller Under the Big Black Sun
continues the up-close and personal account of the L.A. punk scene--and
includes fifty rare photos.
Picking up where Under the Big Black Sun left off, More Fun in the
New World explores the years 1982 to 1987, covering the dizzying
pinnacle of L.A.'s punk rock movement as its stars took to the
national--and often international--stage. Detailing the eventual
splintering of punk into various sub-genres, the second volume of John
Doe and Tom DeSavia's west coast punk history portrays the rich cultural
diversity of the movement and its characters, the legacy of the scene,
how it affected other art forms, and ultimately influenced mainstream
pop culture. The book also pays tribute to many of the fallen soldiers
of punk rock, the pioneers who left the world much too early but whose
influence hasn't faded.
As with Under the Big Black Sun, the book features stories of triumph,
failure, stardom, addiction, recovery, and loss as told by the people
who were influential in the scene, with a cohesive narrative from
authors Doe and DeSavia. Along with many returning voices, More Fun in
the New World weaves in the perspectives of musicians Henry Rollins,
Fishbone, Billy Zoom, Mike Ness, Jane Weidlin, Keith Morris, Dave Alvin,
Louis Pérez, Charlotte Caffey, Peter Case, Chip Kinman, Maria McKee, and
Jack Grisham, among others. And renowned artist/illustrator Shepard
Fairey, filmmaker Allison Anders, actor Tim Robbins, and pro-skater Tony
Hawk each contribute chapters on punk's indelible influence on the
artistic spirit.
In addition to stories of success, the book also offers a cautionary
tale of an art movement that directly inspired commercially diverse acts
such as Green Day, Rancid, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wilco, and Neko Case.
Readers will find themselves rooting for the purists of punk juxtaposed
with the MTV-dominating rock superstars of the time who flaunted a "born
to do this, it couldn't be easier" attitude that continued to fuel the
flames of new music. More Fun in the New World follows the progression
of the first decade of L.A. punk, its conclusion, and its cultural
rebirth.
