Immortal Axes: Guitars That Rock

by Lisa S. Johnson, Brad Tolinksi (With), Suzi Quatro (Afterword), Peter Frampton (Foreword by), Seymour Duncan (Foreword by)

Overview

Renowned rock photographer Lisa S. Johnson rounds up over 150 of rock’s most legendary artifacts: the guitars belonging to music icons ranging from B.B. King to Kurt Cobain, St. Vincent to the Beatles, and many more.

With a foreword by Peter Frampton and afterword by Suzi Quatro.

Named Guitar International's Guitar Book of the Year 2021, Immortal Axes is a collection of beautifully shot guitar photos, each accompanied by a touch of musical history, an anecdote, or a personal story of the wielder and their axe. Johnson’s photos capture rock musicians across time, including Jimi Hendrix, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Jimmy Page, Tom Petty, Lita Ford, Susanna Hoffs, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Dave Grohl, Nancy Wilson, and Michael Anthony.

Every photograph documents these fabled instruments in gorgeous detail, capturing the intimate wear and character of each, including:

• B.B. King’s iconic Gibson, nicknamed“Lucille,” in a glorious profile that highlights its lovingly worn tuners
• Queen guitarist Brian May’s entirely handmade “Red Special”
• The Band bassist Rick Danko’s unusual and rare fretless Ampeg bass guitar
• And many more

 
Johnson's debut book, 108 Rock Star Guitars, received rave reviews, and in Immortal Axes, she raises the bar even further for music fans everywhere. This stunning book is a must-have for guitar lovers and every reader who wants to know more about their favorite guitarists and the instruments they cherish.

Perfect for:

• Music and photography lovers
• Readers interested in American and British rock history
• Aspiring and experienced musicians looking for objects to be inspired by

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781648960239
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	09/28/2021
Pages:	388
Sales rank:	1,055,575
Product dimensions:	11.20(w) x 11.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Lisa S. Johnson's remarkable photos and her body of work have led to collaborations with the Malibu Guitar Festival, Museum of Making Music, and Museum of Design Atlanta. Lisa previously published 108 Rock Star Guitars. She collaborated with former Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine and author Brad Tolinski for Immortal Axes. Johnson lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her partner and their two boxer dogs.

Editorial Reviews

"Immortal Axes: Guitars That Rock is the undisputed champion of photo books. It clocks in at a little over five pounds and packs a powerful punch as it documents the instruments of B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, and more than 150 music legends....[P]erfect for any music lover. It’s a great conversation starter, whether you’re debating the coolest guitar or discussing the important music history they hold in their strings."
– The Aquarian Weekly,

"

"[A] suitably hefty, weighty homage to what is arguably the most versatile of all musical instruments....Immortal Axes: Guitars That Rock is a feast for the eyes. In fact, it's well nigh impossible to direct the attention away from the stunning color photos and read the accompanying text authored by Johnson, related to the history of the objects as well as her photo shoots."
– All About Jazz ,

"

"[A] glossy guitar museum in print form, perhaps one of the most comprehensive photographic guitar books ever published....If you’re a guitar player, a guitar lover, or maybe just a musician who appreciates the artistry of a classic looking instrument alongside the history that goes with them, then this is your next coffee table book."
– Holy City Sinner,

"

"It’s impossible to casually flip through this collection without taking notice of the colors, the layout and the overall essence of these instruments showcased in their element. Music fans, instrument aficionados, guitar players, fans of photography and individuals who appreciate style and content will love the gift of Immortal Axes: Guitars That Rock for the holidays or anytime of the year."
– Vintage Rock,

"

"Guitar porn is the best phrase for this photographer’s eye-popping immersions into 160 instruments, complemented with text by former Guitar World editor (and Eddie Van Halen biographer) Brad Tolinski."
– Oakland Press,

"

"Guitar geeks get their gear on in this coffee table photography book about celebrity axes....Once you get your hands on this book, you will want to get your fingers on these strings."
– Den of Geek,

"

"Johnson's latest large-format photo book covers guitars of 150 stars, from Eldon Shamblin to John 5, Jimi and Duane to Susanna Hoffs. It's big, impressive, and packed with 350 pics."
– Vintage Guitar

"The guitars featured in photographer Lisa S. Johnson’s new book Immortal Axes aren’t immortal just because they belonged to timeless stars, from Elvis to Chet Atkins to Eric Clapton. Many of the instruments themselves defied the odds, surviving fire, flood, theft, even a plane crash."
– The Wall Street Journal ,

"

"This is a beautiful book that simply celebrates the classic instruments used by the great masters – Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Joan Jett, and so many more – but the wealth of the beautiful photos implies so much more."
– Goldmine ,

"

"Weapons-grade guitar porn. Photographer Lisa S. Johnson has passed this way before with 108 Rock Star Guitars , but it's a treat to see more of her museum-quality photography portraying the musical instrument as historical artefact."
– Classic Rock,

"

"The hands down winner of our Guitar Book of the Year 2021 goes to Lisa S. Johnson’s beautiful book, Immortal Axes – Guitars That Rock, a tome that took significant research, miles on the road to meet with guitarists, guitar techs and other guitar gurus, and a magnificent photographic “eye” to capture the spirit and the beauty of our favorite instrument."
– Guitar International,

"

"Metalheads and acoustics, rejoice. The arrival of Lisa S. Johnson’s new, image-driven book Immortal Axes: Guitars That Rock may prove to be something akin to your greatest, nerdiest fantasy....Johnson doesn’t just showcase the beauty and texture of the electric guitar models themselves, she also highlights the personal histories behind each of them."
– VENTS Magazine,

"

"This book isn't simply a collection of photographs of guitars with or without their owners, oh no, this is 'guitar art', carefully constructed and created artistic photos of some of rock's (and other genres too) most iconic instruments....And you don't simply get a photo or two of the instrument being highlighted, you get stories of their creation, the year, make and model and the part they played (pun intended) in the artist's history. You also get some front and back photos and closeups of the headstock and pickups, again, all masterfully and artistically laid out by the author."
– KNAC.com,

"

"Photographer Johnson (108 Rock Star Guitars) delivers another eye-popping coffee-table tome that presents the instruments of musicians as diverse as B.B. King, Kurt Cobain, St. Vincent, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, Dave Grohl, Nancy Wilson, Tom Petty and many more. Johnson's passion for these artists and their instruments veers into the abstract, yet possesses a sensual and ethereal aura, illustrating the intimate wear of each guitar."
– Music Connection,

"

"An elegant...tribute to nature...Beautifully written and illustrated."
– Publishers Weekly,

"

"[M]usic fans will find much to entertain them in Immortal Axes: Guitars that Rock....Many legendary instruments are lovingly displayed in this coffee table book, including Jimmy Page’s 1968 Double Neck of “Stairway to Heaven” fame. Oddities include Jerry Garcia’s pretzel-shaped 1981 Alembic."
– Shepherd Express,

"

"In this sequel to 108 Rock Star Guitars, photographer Johnson examines 160 guitars (mostly electric) belonging to legendary musicians in a variety of genres: rock, country, blues, and jazz….For each lavishly and lovingly photographed axe (vintage and newer models), she lists the make, model number, and sometimes the luthier; includes a story about photographing the instrument; and discusses the importance of the guitar and its player in rock history....Johnson enthusiastically reminds readers about the dominance of raging, explosive electric guitars and the fiery guitarists who helped define music during the last half of the 20th century."
– Library Journal STARRED REVIEW,

"

From the Publisher

★ 08/01/2021

In this sequel to 108 Rock Star Guitars, photographer Johnson examines 160 guitars (mostly electric) belonging to legendary musicians in a variety of genres: rock (David Gilmour, Elvis Presley, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Peter Frampton); country (Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Merle Haggard); blues (B. B. King, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy); and jazz (Charlie Christian, George Benson). She often spotlights guitars that belonged to several members of a single band (Iron Maiden, the Bangles, the Who, Nirvana, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead). She also features the instruments of such guitar gods as Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Les Paul, and Jeff Beck. For each lavishly and lovingly photographed axe (vintage and newer models), she lists the make, model number, and sometimes the luthier; includes a story about photographing the instrument; and discusses the importance of the guitar and its player in rock history. VERDICT Rock's popularity has lately been eclipsed by rap and electronic dance music, but Johnson enthusiastically reminds readers about the dominance of raging, explosive electric guitars and the fiery guitarists who helped define music during the last half of the 20th century.—David P. Szatmary, formerly at Univ. of Washington, Seattle

Library Journal