“Waiting for the Sun – A Rock ‘n’ Roll History of Los Angeles”

by Beverly Paterson in Reviews

Pinching its name from the third Doors album, “Waiting for the Sun – A Rock ‘n’ Roll History of Los Angeles” was originally published in 1996, then reissued in the United Kingdom in 2003 with a profile on Beck. Now available in paperback, bolstered by an introduction from the author, penned this year, “Waiting for the Sun – A Rock ‘n’ Roll History of Los Angeles” lives up to its lofty title and then some.

The first chapter of the book focuses on the forties and early fifties, the pre-rock and roll era, when the region revolved around blues, jazz and big band artists. Professor Hoskyns performs a remarkable job of tracing the roots of rock and roll by providing information and background on various musicians and clubs responsible for the development of such scenes.

Although Los Angeles fathered a fair share of rock and roll acts in the fifties, it wasn’t until the sixties the city turned into an amazingly creative playground and became the music capital of the country. Be it the surf pop of The Beach Boys, the folk rock and psychedelic innovation of The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield, the sophisticated harmony pop of The Association, the cranky garage punk of The Seeds and The Standells, the eerie acid meditations of Love and The Doors, the warped and witty musings of Frank Zappa or the hippy hillbilly twang of The Flying Burrito Brothers, Los Angeles dispatched an endless stream of refreshing sounds throughout the decade, that to this day, remain as influential and vital as they did then.

During the seventies, Los Angeles and its surrounding suburbs continued to deliver a mixed bag of audio tricks. The early part of the decade boasted a thriving singer-songwriter community, starring the likes of Jackson Browne, Randy Newman and J.D. Souther, while the mid-seventies yielded glossy pop efforts from The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and Fleetwood Mac. Inspired by The Sex Pistols across the pond, not to mention The Ramones in New York, The Germs, The Weirdos, The Screamers, The Dils and Black Flag kicked off the Los Angeles punk rock movement with force and fury. Countless power pop bands also emerged at the close of the decade, with The Knack being the most commercially successful of the pack. By now, the Los Angeles music business was a corporate monster, driven by image, marketing and money. To be sure, much of rock and roll’s initial electricity and excitement was nixed in the process. However, not all was lost, as the eighties witnessed the arrival of the Paisley Underground, a collection of young bands paying homage to the best and brightest music of the sixties. A solid hard rock scene surfaced as well. Despite the fact their lyrics were horribly stupid and sexist, they piled on the cosmetics, were bathed in tattoos and wore spandex, Motley Crue, Ratt and Guns ‘n’ Roses offered a return to real guitar rock and cut a string of catchy tunes.

Ample space is additionally given to producers, engineers, label owners, promoters and groupies, leading to a mighty colorful cast of characters. Drugs, drinking, deaths, sour deals and overblown egos accompany the stories behind the making of the great records. Covering the good, the bad and the ugly, “Waiting for the Sun – A Rock ‘n’ Roll History of Los Angeles” is a splendid and picturesque read. Here’s a book not to be missed at any cost.