Rock 'n' Roll Plays Itself: A Screen History

A raucous cultural history of rock’s relationship with the moving image.

When rock ’n’ roll burst into life in the 1950s, the shockwaves echoed around the world, amplified by images of untamed youth projected on cinema screens. But for the performers themselves, corporate showbusiness remained very much in control, contriving a series of cash—in movies to exploit the new musical fad.

In this riveting cultural history, John Scanlan explores rock’s relationship with the moving image over se...