BW&BK; Editor In Chief Martin Popoff has just unleashed his Ye Olde Metal: 1979 book. His description reads as follows:

“This is the long-anticipated sixth of the series, and the follow-up to Ye Olde Metal: 1978, Ye Olde Metal: 1977, Ye Olde Metal: 1976, Ye Olde Metal: 1973 To 1975 and Ye Olde Metal: 1968 To 1972.

Like those, it’s also limited to 1,000 copies, signed by me, and it’s numbered. On the cover… RIOT!

For those not in the loop yet, what I’m doing with this is detailed examinations of classic old albums, using new interviews with guys in the bands, maybe a little available press here and there. These are write-ups that are way more exhaustive than any commercially viable (!) book would ever dare. You know me, I just love getting the stories, no matter how few of us hard rock historian types care anymore.

This one’s the best so far as I’ve gotten better – period. Better writing, more involved stories, more memorabilia shots, and again, lots of celebrated and mega-rare Rich Galbraith photos, cool old ads, 45 sleeves and other weird stuff. The book is 265 pages, BIGGEST YET, full trade 6” x 9” dimension, and stuffed with trivia folks ain’t never heard before—I guarantee it.

The chapters this time are:

NEW ENGLAND – New England

NAZARETH – No Mean City

BAD COMPANY – Desolation Angels

MOTÖRHEAD – Overkill

TKO – Let It Roll

TRIUMPH – Just A Game

LEGS DIAMOND – Fire Power

CITY BOY – The Day The Earth Caught Fire

BLACKFOOT – Strikes

STREETHEART – Under Heaven Over Hell

HOUNDS – Puttin’ On The Dog

FOREIGNER – Head Games

RIOT – Narita

WHITESNAKE – Lovehunter

APRIL WINE – Harder... Faster

TEAZE – One Night Stands

Note: a few of these chapters I’ve done in short eBook form already, but these versions are generally LONGER than those, higher word count, as I’ve used some additional research for the print versions.

The next one in the series will be 1980, one per year likely well into the ‘80s, at least. But yeah, the idea is that this is a pretty strange, obscure thing to try, and the hope is that people will “collect ‘em all,” the whole thing making a l’il “same design” heavy metal encyclopedia set as they show up, a series, a cool bunch of collectible books.”

For pricing and ordering information visit MartinPopoff.com.