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Phil Rose

5 June 2019 | Email This Post Email This Post | Print This Post Print This Post

The author and president of the Silvan Tomkins Institute Phil Rose discusses his new book Radiohead: Music for a Global Future (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019), with Joseph Planta.


Radiohead: Music for a Global Future by Phil Rose (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Radiohead


Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

I didn’t know much about Radiohead, but it was fascinating to read about the music group, their music, their influences and their impact in a new book by Phil Rose, who joins me now. Radiohead: Music for a Global Future looks at the cultural phenomenon, as well as the members of the group and their engagement not only with their fans but the wider world and issues of contemporary import. I found it fascinating reading this book, despite not knowing who Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, or Philip Selway were. I found Mr. Rose’s discussion of the themes Radiohead explores such as disenfranchisement, apathy, the environment, terrorism, the apocalypse, and more engaging. The book looks at the history of the band, and its place in music history. Phil Rose has taught at several Canadian universities, and is president of the Silvan Tomkins Institute. He has authored several books including Roger Waters and Pink Floyd: The Concept Albums, Radiohead and the Global Movement for Change, and Confronting Technopoly. This book is published by Rowman & Littlefield and is part of their Tempo series that looks at rock and popular music through the lens of social and cultural history. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Phil Rose; Dr. Rose, good morning.