Was punk just another moment in music history, a flash in time when a group of young rebels exploded in a fury of raw sound, outrageous styles, and in-your-face attitude? Greil Marcus, author of the renowned Lipstick Traces, delves into the after-life of punk as a much richer phenomenon--a form of artistic and social rebellion that continually erupts into popular culture. In more than seventy short pieces written over fifteen years, he traces the uncompromising strands of punk from Johnny Rotten to Elvis Costello, Sonic Youth, even Bruce Springsteen. Marcus's unparalleled insight into present-day culture and brilliant ear for music bring punk's searing half-life into deep focus. Originally published in the U.S. as Ranters and Crowd Pleasers.

Greil Marcus writes for many publications, including Esquire, Interview, and The Threepenny Review. He is the author of Lipstick Traces, The Dustbin of History (both by Harvard), and Invisible Republic.

Other HUP Books by Greil Marcus

• The Dustbin of History
• Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century
• Dead Elvis: A Chronicle of a Cultural Obsession