Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967

Dominic Molon, Diedrich Diederichsen, Anthony Elms, Richard Hell, Dan Graham, Matthew Higgs, Jutta Koether, Bob Nickas, Mike Kelley, Jan Tumlir

Yale University Press, Jan 1, 2007 - Art - 287 pages

The dynamic relationship between rock music and visual art crosses continents, generations, and cultures. Beginning with Andy Warhol's involvement with The Velvet Underground in 1967, artists have maintained a strong connection to rock. Artists such as Slater Bradley, Mike Kelley, and Raymond Pettibon have created album covers and music videos for rock bands, while rock musicians such as Bryan Ferry, John Lennon, and Peter Townsend have emerged from art schools, and punk and new wave bands such as Talking Heads and Sonic Youth have shared the same social and artistic milieu as artists including Robert Longo and Richard Prince.

Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967 looks at the intimate and inspired relationship between the visual arts and rock-and-roll culture, charting their intersection through works of art, album covers, music videos, and other materials. Organized regionally by cultural centers including London, New York, Los Angeles, and Cologne, the essays examine rock and roll's style, celebrity, and identity politics in art; the experience, energy, and sense of devotion rock music inspires; and the dual role that many individuals play in both the sonic and visual realms.

Presenting work that defies a more literal interpretation of the theme and instead suggests the style, energy, and attitude that has come to be associated with rock and roll, this fascinating volume is essential for admirers of contemporary art and culture.

Contents

• LENDERS TO THE EXHIBITION: 6
• FOREWORD Robert Fitzpatrick: 7
• INTRODUCTION Dominic Molon: 8
• NEW YORK: 10
• THE NEW YORK SCENE Dominic Molon: 12
• A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE DOWNTOWN SCENE LATE 70S EARLY 80S TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION Bob Nickas: 20
• CBGB AS A PHYSICAL SPACE Richard Hell: 26
• PLATES: 30
• THE: 70
• THE UK Dominic Molon: 72
• NONMUSICIANS AND THE EMERGENCE OF CONCEPT ROCK Simon Reynolds: 80
• PLATES: 92
• PUNK AS PROPAGANDA Dan Graham: 122
• EUROPE: 134
• ART AND ROCK ON THE CONTINENT Dominic Molon: 136
• WILDE MALER PUNK AND THEORY IN GERMANY IN THE 80S Diedrich Diederichsen: 142
• PLATES: 154
• LOS ANGELES THE WEST COAST: 168
• THIS AINT NO PICNIC LOS ANGELES AND THE WEST COAST Dominic Molon: 170
• PLAYING THE STRIP Jan Tumlir: 176
• PLATES: 190
• ROCK APOCRYPHA BY THE DESTROY ALL MONSTERS COLLECTIVE Mike Kelley: 208
• THE BROADER UNITED STATES: 212
• THE BROADER UNITED STATES Dominic Molon 218 THE BROADER UNITED STATES PLATES: 214
• SENTENCES ON ACDC Anthony Elms: 232
• THE WORLD: 234
• ART ROCK AND ROLL AND THE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Dominic Molon: 236
• PLATES: 239
• A TIMELINE Joe Madura and Dominic Molon: 252
• SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHIES DISCOGRAPHIES AND EXHIBITIONS: 266
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: 281
• INDEX TO ARTISTS AND BANDS: 285

About the author

Dominic Molon is the Pamela Alper Associate Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. He is coauthor of Wolfgang Tillmans (Yale).

Bibliographic information

• Title: Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967
• Authors: Dominic Molon, Diedrich Diederichsen, Anthony Elms, Richard Hell, Dan Graham, Matthew Higgs, Jutta Koether, Bob Nickas, Mike Kelley, Jan Tumlir
• Edition: unabridged
• Publisher: Yale University Press, 2007
• ISBN: 0300134266, 9780300134261
• Length: 287 pages
• Subjects: Art / Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions / General; Art / History / Contemporary (1945-)