Screaming Life: A Chronicle of the Seattle Music Scene

by Charles Peterson (photography), Bruce Pavitt (foreword), Michael Azerrad (introduction)

"Along with a lot of bruises and broken equipment, Peterson got something that was unique and true, what live rock music is all about: a commotion of hair, sweat, guitars, drums, and wires, which he juggled using classical compositional elements all rendered in glorious black and white. Somehow he managed, in the midst of the chaos, to snap photographs that are works of art..." --Michael Azerrad, Screaming Life

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Photography, Art, History, Art and Photography, Reference

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Michael]

Pictures are amazing. The writing is OK. Azzerad's book, "Our Band Could Be Your Life" is much better writing than the essay included in this book.

[Brad]

"Seattle wouldn't have happened without the help of four very crucial individuals: Sub Pop chiefs Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman, producer Jack Endino, and photographer Charles Peterson. If Pavitt and Poneman were, respectively, the scene's right and left brains, then Endino was the ears and Peterson was the eyes." (from Michael Azerrad's Introduction)

[Carina]

Papa vond dit een keer op een hoop naast het vuilnis, het meurt naar rook en het boek staat krom. Maar het is wel echt cool om te lezen, want Nirvana en nog wat andere gave bands zitten er ook in.

[Elyssa]

This book captures the Seattle music scene from its early roots of then-unknown grunge bands playing in small venues to its explosion into the mainstream world. The edition I own also includes a CD of songs from those good old days. I should listen to it more often and fondly remember spending my twenties in OlyWA.

[Chris Freeman]

Charles Peterson's photos of the Seattle music scene, before and after it exploded. Influenced my photography for years.

[Stevie]

Sure looks fun being in the band. Some day my son is going to have the band and he will let me sing a song so that I will know what it feels like. You should come and dance.