From the roots of rock in the 1950s to the music of such contemporary favourites as Coldplay and Green Days, this spectacular celebration of rock and roll traces the history and highlights of this most enduring and most controversial of music.From beatniks to punks, and from hippies to rappers, rock has experienced and encouraged countless social and cultural transformations. It has recounted how the world was and how young people wanted it to be, helped several generations to dream and live and produced art and culture which have left an indelible mark on society.Organized chronologically, this comprehensive volume spotlights such pioneers as Elvis Presley, beloved storytellers like Bob Dylan, classic favourites including The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and The Who, punk rockers like Patti Smith and the Sex Pistols, grunge rockers including Nirvana and Pearl Jam, as well as perennial icons Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, and many more.Throughout the book, portraits, and vibrant pictures of the performers in concert as well as images of the greatest albums of all time supplement the entertaining text. With its great photographs, appealing factoids and wealth of titbits, this book will be irresistible to Baby Boomers and teens alike.