Twilight of the Gods

A Journey to the End of Classic Rock

By: Steven Hyden

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

The author of the critically acclaimed Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me offers an eye-opening and frank assessment of the state of classic rock, assessing its past and future, the impact it has had, and what its loss would mean to an industry, a culture, and a way of life.

Since the late 1960s, a legendary cadre of artists - including the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Black Sabbath, and The Who - has revolutionized popular culture and the sounds of our lives. While their songs still get airtime and some of these bands continue to tour, idols are leaving the stage permanently. Can classic rock remain relevant as these legends die off, or will this major musical subculture fade away as many have before?

In this mix of personal memoir, criticism, and journalism, Steven Hyden stands witness as classic rock reaches the precipice. Traveling to the eclectic places where geriatric rockers are still making music, he talks to the artists and fans who have aged with them, explores the ways that classic rock has changed the culture, investigates the rise and fall of classic rock radio, and turns to live bootlegs, tell-all rock biographies, and even the liner notes of rock’s greatest masterpieces to tell the story of what this music meant, and how it will be remembered, for fans like himself.

Twilight of the Gods is also Hyden’s story. Celebrating his love of this incredible music that has taken him from adolescence to fatherhood, he ponders two essential questions: Is it time to give up on his childhood heroes, or can this music teach him about growing old with his hopes and dreams intact? And what can we all learn from rock gods and their music - are they ephemeral or eternal?

©2018 Steven Hyden (P)2018 HarperAudio

a nice perspective

wonderful book about a section of rock history and how it has changed and is changing still. This book explains the philosophy and challenges of what clasic rock is and where it came from. Fun for any music fan who wants to think a little deeper about the evolution and decline of rock music.

The Longest "Rolling Stone" article that "Rolling Stone" never published

I suppose “Classic Rock”, so called, will be forever haunted by its Ur Nemesis, “Rolling Stone”; a pitiful magazine that assumed early on the role of “Star Maker”. Rolling Stone magazine knew better than you did of what you should pay attention to. Jimi Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced” was panned in the very first issue.

The author, Steven Hyden, seems to have read one too many issues of Rolling Stone. Listening to this is like listening to 8 hours of that magazine. He does have a flair for the vibe of that rag. The vibe? It goes like this: Take whatever artist is raking in the most money at the moment from the sales of their records and concerts, then assign someone to follow them around for — oh, about a week, and then write an article about why the fact that you, and everybody like you, are a fool for digging this artist, band, etc. “Rolling Stone” will tell you what is cool.

And in that way Steven Hyden, too, will try to do the same. The author gets credit for… for trying? I must give him some slack simply for being too damn young for the job - if not in Earth years, than certainly in years of some other kind. Steven. You weren’t there man!

The author gets everything right. He gets everything right because he parrots perfectly everything he was brainwashed to say and think about this music. But, ultimately, he gets everything completely wrong. Or rather, he simply doesn’t get it… period. In a word, he likes all the right stuff for all the wrong reasons.

Fantastic book!

Whether you are a fan of rock or just a music fan, this is a must-read.

I learned new things about even the artists and albums I've been obsessed with for decades. Hyden is a master storyteller. I will be listening to this again soon.

Entertaining book about classic rock, except for the gratuitous woke BS at the end

Good stories and insights on classic rock, but spoiled by tagging on a gratuitous, unnecessary, and sour woke chapter

Good stuff...for the most part

Great book. Funny, informative, interesting, and thought-provoking.

Except for the forced political pandering in one chapter and at the end. Skip that chapter and the last ten minutes and you’ll be gold.

And I’m a fan of things being wrapped up and seeing how a whole comes together. Oh well. Courtney Barnett sucks and music is good or bad because it’s good or bad, not because of the sex or sexual preference or race of the person singing. Propping up terrible writers like Courtney Barnett only cheapens the rock brand, makes it less interesting to converts, and makes it impossible for the next Janis Joplin or Patti Smith to get noticed - or to get judged based on their merits, not their plumbing fixtures.

Sad!

Loved the introspection

I thought Hyden was awesome here. Validating without placating. Recommending to two friends tonight

Excellent book

While I found the performers voice a bit annoying, Hyden proved once again to be a genuinely insightful critic no matter which topic he chooses to focus on.

Enjoyably mediocre

If you think you might like this book, go ahead and get it. The author does a great job of covering the cultural context, history, and impact of classic rock. It will remind you of what it was like to hear and see all these bands for the first time. Predictably, the author offers up a number of assertions and opinions that you won’t agree with or see the same way. I came to appreciate it, because even that aspect kept me engaged. Lastly, terrible narration — what trying too hard sounds like.

If you love Classic Rock, you have to read this book

The author covers the entire spectrum of classic rock from the Beatles and the stones through the Dead and Dylan and all the way up to current day. His anecdotes about Springsteen and prince are priceless and I’ve learned more things about classic rock from this book than anything I’ve ever read in Rolling Stones. A true must read for any fan of classic rock.

An important book that is a must read for any real music lover

What an accomplishment. A book I’ll definitely revisit a few more times throughout the years just to be reminded of why music matters so much.
Thank you