It all started in London. More than fifty years ago, a generation of teens created something that would change the face of music forever. London, Reign Over Me immerses us in the backroom clubs, basement record shops, and late-night faint radio signals of 1960s Britain, where young hopefuls like Peter Frampton, Dave Davies, and Mick Jagger built off American blues and jazz to form a whole new sound. Author Stephen Tow weaves together original interviews with over ninety musicians and movers-and-shakers of the time to uncover the uniquely British story of classic rock’s birth. Capturing the stark contrast of bursting artistic energy with the blitzkrieg landscape leftover from World War II, London, Reign Over Me reveals why classic rock ‘n’ roll could only have been born in London. A new sound from a new generation, this music helped spark the most important cultural transformation of the twentieth century. Key interviews include: •Jon Anderson (Yes) •Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) •Rod Argent (The Zombies) •Chris Barber (Chris Barber Jazz Band) •Joe Boyd (Producer/manager) •Arthur Brown (Crazy World of Arthur Brown) •David Cousins (The Strawbs) •Dave Davies (The Kinks) •Spencer Davis (Spencer Davis Group) •Judy Dyble (Fairport Convention) •Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (Solo folk/blues artist) •Peter Frampton (Humble Pie, solo artist) •Roger Glover (Deep Purple) •Steve Howe (Yes) •Neil Innes (Bonzo Dog Band; Monty Python) •Kenney Jones (The Small Faces; The Who) •Greg Lake (King Crimson; Emerson, Lake & Palmer) •Manfred Mann (Manfred Mann) •Terry Marshall (Marshall Amplification) •Dave Mason (Traffic) •Phil May (The Pretty Things) •John Mayall (The Bluesbreakers) •Jim McCarty (The Yardbirds) •Ian McLagan (The Small Faces) •Jacqui McShee (The Pentangle) •Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits) •Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster; Emerson, Lake & Palmer) •Jan Roberts (Eel Pie Island Documentary Project) •Paul Rodgers (Free) •Peggy Seeger (Solo folk artist) •Hylda Sims (Club owner) •Keith Skues (DJ: Radio Caroline, Radio London, Radio One) •Jeremy Spencer (Fleetwood Mac) •John Steel (The Animals) •Al Stewart (Solo folk artist) •Dick Taylor (The Pretty Things) •Ray Thomas (The Moody Blues) •Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention) •Rick Wakeman (The Strawbs, Yes) •Barrie Wentzell (Photographer: Melody Maker) “This vibrant pop history makes a strong case for London being the true birthplace of modern rock. . . The book moves at rocket speed as it describes how the music pivoted and grew . . . What results is a passionate study of a unique moment in rock history.” ― Publishers Weekly “Tow does a wonderful job of exploring American blues as a jumping off point for much of the London-based music. In the 1960s, London brought the world The Beatles, the Yardbirds, the Animals, the Who, the Small Faces, the Kinks, the Zombies, Deep Purple, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin, among others . . . Tow’s knowledge and expertise coupled with extensive interviews elevate this book above the crowd.” ― Choice Reviews “[Tow] lays out just how British musicians of the 1960s discovered, internalized, covered, and then built upon the music of American blues musicians” ― Booklist “Rather than regurgitating the research of others, [Tow] draws from many interviews with key musicians including artists Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Rod Argent (the Zombies), and JimMcCarty (the Yardbirds), as well as from memoirs and biographies. His writing is immediate and clearly paints a picture of 1960s London. VERDICT Covering dozens of bands in a variety of styles, Tow pens a sweeping look at a pivotal period of music history.” ― Library Journal “Tow has paired contemporary observations with direct recollections from over ninety musicians who helped foment the scene. Tow does an admirable job pulling apart the many threads that created a musical renaissance the likes of which have not been heard before or since . . . Tow has assembled a great blend of then-contemporary observations with latter day perspectives from those who were there in this delightful and edifying book.” ― Entertainment Today “An extensively-researched, historically-accurate, and uniquely British account of all the factors and circumstances that contributed to make London the ideal birthplace for classic rock during the post-war boom. . . . Tow has really done his homework on this one - the book is strewn with vivid imagery, many hilarious, interesting anecdotes, and numerous artist interviews. . . . Classic rock was, almost out of necessity, a new sound from a new generation, and Tow's book passionately explores how this music helped catalyze one of the most important cultural transformations of the 20th century.” ― Media Entertainment Arts Worldwide “[Tow]’s lyrical style keeps the history moving forward and accentuates the music so eloquently you can almost hear the opening chords of some of your favorite songs. . . London, Reign Over Me hits the high notes of a decade of brill