The title says it all. The already detailed King’s Road book by Max Decharne has been expanded and reissued.
How I don’t know. But I’m not arguing. I bought the original some years back, and it was quite an exhaustive read. And I mean that in a good way. It was incredibly detailed and, as far as I could see, as conclusive as a book could get on the subject. But the author Max Decharne (author of the wonderful Straight from the Fridge, Dad: A Dictionary of Hipster Slang and much more) and Omnibus Books have other ideas.
The already large book has had another 30,000 words added, as well as lots of new illustrations. Which can only be a good thing, especially if you haven’t read it before. The new version now comes in at 312 pages. So more than enough to see you through to the warmer months. Or save it and take it on holiday then.
What’s it about? Well, Kings Road, obviously, with the sub-title of the book describing it as ‘The Rise and Fall of the Hippest Street in the World’.
Or if you want the full description…
The King’s Road in Chelsea was at the epicentre of not one but two worldwide cultural shifts.
In the mid-sixties, it became a focal point and shop window for the new ‘swinging’ London, encompassing music, theatre, the visual arts, fashion and much more. It remained at the forefront of developing trends throughout the following decade until it became the breeding ground for UK punk rock, helping inspire youthful rebellion the world over.
In short, it was the place to be. In the time between the formation of the Rolling Stones and the demise of the Sex Pistols, the King’s Road had the attention of the world. Just how this came to be is a classic rise-and-fall story of satisfaction and sedition, featuring some of the most famous people of the late twentieth century and many of the pivotal moments of the fifties, sixties and seventies.
This revised and expanded edition of King’s Road covers the cultural history of the King’s Road, tracking many key figures who lived or spent time there, from Henry VIII to David Bowie, Margaret Thatcher to Vivienne Westwood, Karl Marx to The Beatles, and Mozart to Mary Quant.
The original was well worth picking up. I strongly suspect the new version will be even better. It lands on 13th April 2022, with pre-orders now being taken at Amazon for £25.
Find out more at the Amazon website
