The Rocklopedia Fakebandica

Rating:
Summary: You'll Laugh 'Til Your Hair Hurts
Review: Simply put, this book is absolutely dandy. T. Mike Childs has written more than a hilarious and sardonic encyclopedia of fictitious music groups. Taken as a whole, The Rocklopedia Fakebandica is a study of the influence of marketing on pop culture. Unlike most (or at least many) real-life music groups, each of the bands in this book represents someone's attempt to sell something other than just music. The Monkees, for example, were primarily a vehicle to accumulate ratings and advertising dollars. Jem and the Holograms were created to sell dolls and accessories. Even Spinal Tap, a "band" that displayed genuine musical brilliance, made music to sell movie tickets. This isn't to say that fake bands can't stimulate and inspire us (I'd buy a full-length record by Sgt. Blind Kiwi Tarzan in a heartbeat ), but The Rocklopedia Fakebandica demonstrates brilliantly that the lines separating art and advertising continue to blur.

It is also worth mentioning that Jason Torchinsky's illustrations are equally as dandy.