The Endless Refrain

"David Rowell is the kind of music fan who scares us musicians. He really gets it, maybe even more than we do." —Stewart Copeland, the Police

“David Rowell’s deep knowledge of music—and sense of humor—make you feel at least some hope that somebody’s still listening. And who else would call up McDonald’s management to find out why they pump endless ’80s songs into his local chain? David Rowell is the cultural anthropologist we need.”

—Geoff Edgers, author of Walk This Way: Run-DMC, Aerosmith, and the Song that Changed American Music Forever.

“David Rowell’s quest to examine the relationship that some Americans have with popular music today lands him in a kind of cultural funhouse … A wild ride indeed, fueled by deft reporting, genuine curiosity, and Rowell’s irrepressible belief in the power of music to transform our lives.”

—Howard Fishman, author of To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse