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10 Real-Life Rock Bands Who Have Their Own Graphic Novels
from: screenrant.com
By JESSICA JALALI
From Kiss to Blondie, from Pink Floyd to the Doors, these iconic rock bands get the comic book treatment with their own graphic novels.
Any rock fan who finds their nose constantly buried in a comic will find a match made in heaven with graphic novels based on real-life rock bands. Many tackle the sometimes-complicated origins of these iconic rock bands as well as describe the bands' trajectory. Meanwhile, other graphic novels focus on a band's classic album and either narrate the journey of the making of that album or interpret the songs using a comic book art style.
Given that rock music has always had a rebellious ethos, combining rock bands with the graphic novel form makes a lot of sense - due to comics' reputation in the twentieth century. Back when comics were first gaining popularity with America's youth, they were derided by the establishment, and many didn't even consider them literature. This is akin to the derision rock music got in its early years - as well as rock's clash with the establishment and status quo. Years later, the marriage between rock and graphic novels is perfect.
10. Motorhead
Known for their 1980 song "Ace of Spades," Motorhead is beloved by hard rock fans everywhere. Often regarded as the forerunners to heavy metal's resurgence in the United Kingdom, Motorhead is known for their aggressive, incredibly fast, and extremely loud music. As a result, the band was always a favorite to see live. Published in 2021, Motorhead: The Rise of the Loudest Band in the World by Mark Irwin and David Calcano chronicles the story of the band's rise alongside the story of frontman Lemmy Kilmister. The book reads like a history and biography of the band but with an inventive and exciting graphic novel format.
9. The Grateful Dead
Formed during the height of California's counterculture in 1965, the eclectic band the Grateful Dead is famous for its fusion of different musical genres like folk, rock, jazz, country, and blues. The band was especially known for long and mostly instrumental onstage improvised jams. The focus of the graphic novel Grateful Dead Origins by Chris Miskiewicz, Noah Van Sciver, and Aladdin Color is the incredible story of this iconic band, which started as the bar band the Warlocks and went on to become one of the most beloved bands ever. Also, the graphic novel gives readers information on each of the band members, like Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir.
8. Motley Crue
Known for their theatrical stage performances and their '80s hits "Girls, Girls, Girls" and "Home Sweet Home", Motley Crue are a heavy metal glam band. They were known for their androgynous costumes and unrestrained personas; Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx were especially notorious members. The wild stories of the band provide great material for the 2021 graphic novel, The Dirt: Declassified by Leah Moore, Jose Maria Beroy, and John K Snyder III, which sees Motley Crue working as undercover agents. Maybe at some point, The Dirt: Declassified will be a graphic novel to hit the big screen.
7. Rush
The pride of Canadian rockers, Rush are renowned for their complex compositions that are mixed with science fiction, fantasy, and philosophy. The band got their start in 1968, but their most famous hits, "Tom Sawyer" and "Closer to the Heart," were respectively released in 1981 and 1977. Rush: The Making of Farewell to Kings by David Calcano, Lindsay Lee, Ittai Manero, and Juan Riera offers a unique perspective on the rock band-graphic novel marriage. Rather than delving into the backstory of the band as a whole, this graphic novel focuses on the making of Rush's successful 1977 album Farewell to Kings. The graphic novel also receives some awesome contributions from Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson.
6. JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS have a slew of rock hits, including iconic songs "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" and "Bad Reputation." JOAN JETT has been a longtime fixture of the rock scene, she was a teenager in the all-girl '70s rock band, The RUNAWAYS. Jett and The BLACKHEARTS' hard rock edge makes its way into the 2022 anthology graphic novel JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS 40x40: Bad Reputation / I Love Rock-n-Roll. An all-women team of comics creators comes together to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the group's most famous albums. The graphic novel features 20 stories, all paying homage to the albums' iconic songs.
5. Kiss
Known for their trademark makeup and wild pyrotechnic stage shows, Kiss is a band ingrained in popular culture. Their likeness has been splattered on everything from t-shirts to pinball machines, they've made numerous appearances on tv shows, and they've even had their own movies and cartoon specials. Famous for their 1975 song "Rock and Roll All Nite", Kiss has multiple graphic novels dedicated to them, many covering the band's origins or the making of their albums. However, the most unique of the bunch, Kiss / Zombies by Ethan Sacks and Rodney Buchemi, features Kiss try to bring back music after it's banned as a result of a zombie apocalypse.
4. Pink Floyd
An early British psychedelic group, Pink Floyd's philosophical lyrics and epic compositions are hallmarks of the beloved band. Known for their massively successful albums, The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, Pink Floyd is often regarded as one of the best progressive rock bands ever. The Pink Floyd Experience by Ken Landgraf, Spike Steffenhagen, Jay Allen Sanford - and more - collects five issues of the Rock 'N' Roll Comics series It shows the band's beginnings in addition to their splits and reformations over the years. Featuring art from Marvel and DC all-star Landgraf, The Pink Floyd Experience will enthrall Pink Floyd fans and comic book fans alike.
3. Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses were well known for their party lifestyle during the late '80s and early '90s. While the notoriety of the band has grabbed headlines, the band is also known for their masterful lyrics, astonishing guitar solos, and one of the most successful debut albums ever: Appetite for Destruction. Once featured Rock N' Roll Comics #1 in 1989, the band is no stranger to being featured in comic books. But they take their comic-book fame one step further with Reckless Life: The Guns N' Roses Graphic Novel by Jim McCarthy and Marc Olivent. The book chronicles all the highs, lows, and dramas of the band's sordid history.
2. Blondie
Commonly mistaken to be Debbie Harry's stage name, Blondie is actually the name of the iconic rock band. Blondie is well known for their disco hit "Heart of Glass" and the rocker "One Way or Another" in addition to a multitude of other phenomenal songs. Blondie: Against the Odds by comics icons Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and even more provides an interesting look at the band - as well as the environment where they flourished, New York City. Chronicling the oral history of the band through the medium of a visually stunning graphic novel, this graphic novel includes the perfect mix of information and art that fans of the band would expect.
1. The Doors
Fronted by one of the most charismatic frontmen in rock history, Jim Morrison, the Doors are one of the seminal bands of the '60s. The Doors are familiar to audiences for their hits "Hello, I Love You," "Light My Fire," and "Break On Through (To the Other Side)." Written by Leah Moore with the surviving members of the Doors - as well as a host of artists - Morrison Hotel looks at the influence and impact of the band along with discussing the cultural context in which they flourished. The graphic novel blends the importance of the Doors with the time and place of the iconic '60s band. |
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