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Wired Up! is the first book to fully
document the underground European glam rock scene of the early 1970s,
cataloging hundreds of the best and most sought after junkshop glam,
proto-punk and bubblegum 45 sleeves from the 1970-76 period. The history
of this highly influential but seldom discussed moment in rock 'n' roll
is told through reproductions of the colorful, outrageously designed
record sleeves as well as first-hand accounts from some of the musicians
who were there, such as Alan Gordon of Hector, Jesse Hector of the
Hammersmith Gorillas and Gordon Nicol of Iron Virgin. Wired Up! is truly
a labor of love, requiring several years of research--digging through
record bins and scouring online auctions--as well as the assistance of
several prominent collectors, including Phil King, bass player with The
Jesus & Mary Chain and driving force behind the groundbreaking
Glitterbest compilation of UK glam, and Robin Wills, guitarist with The
Barracudas and author of the Purepop blog. While a handful of
better-known names are present--Bay City Rollers, Gary Glitter, The
Osmonds, Suzi Quatro, Slade, Sparks, The Sweet--the bulk of Wired Up! is
given over to a proudly revisionist history of a parallel pop universe,
one populated by the now-forgotten likes of Carol and the Boston
Garden, Floating Opera, Galahad, Lemming, The Panics, Punchin' Judy and
Union Joke.
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