Colorado's rock chronicles
(Book)

The Astronauts, a landlocked 1960s surf band from Boulder, outsold the rival Beach Boys in Japan. Joe Walsh wrote his signature tune "Rocky Mountain Way" in the mountains of Boulder County. Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Leftover Salmon, and String Cheese Incident gave rise to a rootsy community. 30H!3, the Fray, Flobots, OneRepublic, and other breakout stars fueled today's scene. These and dozens of other confident young artists came to define Colorado's amazing and diverse musical legacy as the Centennial State grew from a blip on the national music radar screen to a can't-miss destination for rock 'n' roll's most prominent acts. G. Brown, a fixture in the Colorado rock scene as both a writer and a radio personality, witnessed it all. Over decades, he searched through every library, historical society, newspaper morgue, and private collection to compile materials for Colorado's Rock Chronicles, published by the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. CMHOF director and author Brown takes the reader on a band-by-band tour of Colorado's most memorable moments, from John Denver's Rocky Mountain highs to Van Halen's dressing-room-trashing lows. In all, Brown chronicles 60 years of musicians who have passed through Colorado, recounting the escapades of such international stars as Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, and U2, along with homegrown talents like Firefall, the Samples, and Poco.Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of rare performer photographs, this beautifully produced coffee-table book honors those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Colorado's music.Proceeds from book sales benefit the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, a nonprofit organization that educates the public on everything that's great about the state's music.