This eclectic compilation of readings tells the history of rock as it has been received and explained as a social and musical practice throughout its six decade history. This third edition includes new readings across the volume, with added material on the early origins of rock 'n' roll as well as coverage of recent developments, including the changing shape of the music industry in the twenty-first century. With numerous readings that delve into the often explosive issues surrounding censorship, copyright, race relations, feminism, youth subcultures, and the meaning of musical value, The Rock History Reader continues to appeal to scholars and students from a variety of disciplines.

New to the third edition:

• Nine additional chapters from a broad range of perspectives
• Explorations of new media formations, industry developments, and the intersections of music and labor
• For the first time, a companion website providing users with playlists of music referenced in the book

Featuring readings as loud, vibrant, and colorful as rock 'n' roll itself, The Rock History Reader is sure to leave readers informed, inspired, and perhaps even infuriated--but never bored.