American Song Book
A 2025 200-page book by Phillip Harrington that includes a chapter on Lypswitch
During the 1980s, the Sunset Strip, based in West Hollywood, had become the nucleus for the mighty surge of hard rock that defined the era. Throughout the decade, thousands of hungry musicians, bands, and music industry hopefuls made the pilgrimage in hopes of getting signed to a major label. For a young man in the 1980s, it was the rock and roll version of the American dream. The result was a creative juggernaut. The Strip not only unleashed a tour de force of hard rock, but also became a beacon for fashion, youth culture, and good times. It was, in fact, the longest-running scene in rock history.
American Song is the saga of hard rock (or hair metal if you like) in its glory and at its height - and consequently, its fall. It is the narrative of the bands that should have, could have, and would have made it to the major leagues. It is the story of a genre beloved by millions, far beyond Ratt, Quiet Riot and Poison. It is a tale of rock & roll reality - the conflict, the struggle, and the game of chance that the Sunset Strip had become. Featuring over 15 headlining acts from the hair metal heyday, American Song is a peek into the world we wish we could have again: when rock was king, long hair was the rule, and fun was a byproduct of good music.
HAIR METAL HISTORY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER HEARD: A Fresh perspective on hard rock's ultimate epicenter!
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