Rock 'N' Roll and the Cleveland Connection

by Deanna R Adams

A useful resource for people of all ages who want to know more about rock history, Rock ’n’ Roll and the Cleveland Connection links national and international events in music and the world, though the primary focus is on Cleveland. Rock ’n’ Roll and the Cleveland Connection is the first in-depth look at the people, venues and artists that made Cleveland the “Rock ’n’ Roll Capital of the World.” Author Deanna Adams conducted personal interviews with more than 150 musicians, managers, DJ’s, promoters, record executives, journalists, and club owners―all pioneers of this new musical movement―to compile these chapters of musical history.

648 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Chad Malkamaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough book that looks at the history of Rock and Roll in Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. This book reads as a reference book, going decade by decade through the radio personalities, artists, managers, promoters, record executives, and venue owners that call Cleveland home. A final chapter goes through the process of how the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum came to the north coast.

An excellent reference book, I grabbed it while working on an article about the history of Punk music in Cleveland and Cleveland's role in the New York scene with the Dead Boys, Pere Ubu, and the Cramps connection to Cleveland in a certain extent.

An issue I did have about the book and maybe it's because of all the whinging about the Boomer term the last few years. She uses the term a lot, not as an insult, but as the badge of honor that the generation used for so many years. They loved to tell you how great they were and how much they did for the world and basically everything that is good in the world is because of their influence. Now that OK Boomer came along, I've even read suggestions in the news that Boomers want the term to be equated to a hate crime/hate speech/or a punishable offense.

At the same time this book written by a proud Boomer falls apart when it comes to the music of the late 80s and 90s. The praise she offered to groups before this time reads instead as being pompous, with little regard for the music, using even insulting terms when referring to groups such as NIN (who BTW just got into the Rock Hall), Marilyn Manson, and Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony. The language used when talking about BONE is downright racist and made me really want to shout OK Boomer while reading those chapters. Non the less, it is a good read and the encyclopedic knowledge is great for any scholar looking for a leg up in the field that has very little scholarship.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars (rating shown may differ depending on whether site allows half star ratings).

This book was published in 2002, so it does cover the early days of Rock N Roll but information probably ends around the year 2000 or so and you'll need to consult more recent books if you want information for 2000 and beyond. But I think it does a good job of explaining why Cleveland is a good home for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame--after all, the song is titled "Cleveland Rocks". I've not heard a song called "New York Rocks" ;)

I've read two other books on this subject by this same author and both those were slim volumes with quite a few photographs. I was surprised by how hefty this tome is. And while there are photographs, they seem to be more spread out within the pages than they were in her other books. I did know some of the history for Cleveland, OH area but this book definitely goes into more detail. I most enjoyed the 70s and 80s sections. There were times that I wished I'd been around when certain places were because I think I would have enjoyed going to them (like the teen clubs).