By Selena Fragrassi ∙ April 23, 2024
Celebrate forty years of “hangin’ tough!” A must-have for every devoted New Kids fan, this exquisitely crafted volume chronicles 40 years of the trailblazing boy band through captivating photos, insightful interviews, and a wealth of fascinating facts.
Meet Donnie, Danny, Jonathan, Jordan, and Joey – Boston’s own New Kids on the Block, an iconic group, rooted in their friendship, that skyrocketed to chart-topping success and nestled into the hearts of millions of global fans in the 1980s. Despite the individual and collective challenges faced over the four decades since their formation, the band consistently releases new music, steadfastly embraced by their devoted fanbase affectionately known as «Blockheads.” New Kids fans are loyal and still a force – packing and selling out shows, cruises, and conventions – with excitement already building for their just-announced new album and tour in 2024.
In New Kids on the Block 40th Anniversary Celebration music journalist and proud Blockhead Selena Fragassi explores the band’s origins – from their inception by manager Maurice Starr and early influences – to their pinnacle of success in the 1980s and ’90s, their ongoing achievements, and the enduring legacy they’ve imprinted on the boy-band landscape. Throughout the journey, readers will also delve into:
- The creation of NKOTB’s monumental hits, including «Please Don’t Go Girl» and «You Got It (The Right Stuff).»
- The evolution of fan culture surrounding the band, from intimate gigs and mall tours during their formative years to the inaugural fan convention in 2023.
- NKOTB’s diverse influences, spanning from R&B to pop, and their significant role in the broader context of boy-band history – a lineage extending from the Jackson 5 to contemporary groups like One Direction and BTS.
- The enduring impact of a band proudly celebrating their 40th anniversary.
With engaging interviews, captivating photos, and sidebars brimming with entertaining facts and trivia, each turn of the page unveils a new facet of the band’s captivating journey. This book stands as the perfect companion for those who hold an eternal flame for NKOTB!
About the author
Selena Fragassi is a 15-year music journalist who is currently a featured contributor for the Chicago Sun-Times as well as SPIN and Loudwire. Her bylines have also appeared in The A.V. Club, Paste, Nylon, Popmatters, Blurt, Under the Radar, and Chicago Magazine, where she was previously on staff as Pop/Rock Critic. Artists she’s interviewed include Rise Against, Gene Simmons, Jennifer Hudson, Andra Day, Chrissie Hynde, Demi Lovato, Debbie Harry, Slash, Deftones, Evanescence, Alice Cooper, Jack White, The Black Keys, Charlie Puth, Bon Jovi, and Bonnie Raitt, among many others. Selena’s work has been anthologized in That Devil Music: Best Music Writing and she has appeared on televised panels regarding music matters for WTTW’s Chicago Tonight program. She is also a voting member of The Recording Academy.
Publishing April 23, 2024
Hardcover, 256 pages, 100+ images ∙ $24.99 USD, $32.99 CAN ∙ ISBN: 9780760389850
Epic Ink is an imprint of The Quarto Group, Inc.
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