Band Together

<p> From <I>The Joshua Tree</I> to <I>Blood Sugar Sex Magik</I> from <I>Automatic for the People</I> to <I>OK Computer</I> they produced some of the most memorable rock albums of the post-punk era. Beyond the music though the members of U2 R.E.M. Radiohead and the Red Hot Chili Peppers share several common bonds. Having emerged from punk's do-it-yourself ethos they embody collective creativity over individual artistry. With the exception of the Chili Peppers' revolving-door guitarists each band's lineup has remained stable while the groups outlasted most of their contemporaries. The twin factors of group-inspired music and long-term collaboration make these four bands important case studies in modern rock and roll.</p><p> With a focus on creative dynamics author Mirit Eliraz studies four of the most popular critically acclaimed and prolific rock bands of the last quarter century. Introductory chapters offer band bios; reasons for formation; and each group's friends collaborators and business partners. Middle chapters discuss the governing structures and general relations within the bands; obstacles to unity and survival; how diverse elements are merged into a productive whole; role divisions; the collaborative process; and life on the road. Concluding chapters cover external influences on band dynamics; the evolution of each band's communal life; and challenges to the band paradigm.</p>