Dave Thompson’s short but sweet history of Rocky Horror

book-cover-mof-rocky-horrorDave Thompson is rapidly becoming one of our favorite music writers here at Rock Star Journalist. There’s something about his writing style that’s rather informal and relaxed, as if he’s just a well-informed bar mate. However, the man’s research and facts are spot on, and regardless of how loose his tone may be, he still conveys a lot of information in short order.

The breathless opening to the latest installment of Limelight’s Music On Film series sets the tone for what will follow: this slim volume of less than 150 pages will tell you each and every little thing about Rocky Horror — both as a the Show and Picture Show — from its roots in glam rock with Bowie and Bolan all the way through Glee.

A bit of familiarity with Rocky Horror‘s plot and songs will certainly help, but if you’re looking for an introduction, you could certainly do worse. A reader could easily breeze past all the sidebars and get a straightforward history of the music, but for folks who think they know everything, there’s still a wealth of information. Every reference in “Science Fiction/Double Feature” is explained, the cast is laid out, and the film-making process explained.

You’ll read it in an afternoon or a short plane ride, but despite its short length, Thompson’s analysis and history of the Richard O’Brien musical is essential. It’s the rock opera equivalent of the 33 1/3 series, and much like that batch of books, I’m going to need to track down every volume of Music On Film.