This Ain't Rock 'n' Roll
Pop Music, the Swastika and the Third Reich
Published on 6. November 2025
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-1-3996-3572-1 (ISBN)
Description
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY BILLY BRAGG
Over the last seven decades, some of rock 'n' roll's most celebrated figureheads have flirted with the imagery and theatre of the Third Reich. From Keith Moon and Vivian Stanshall kitting themselves out in Nazi uniforms to Siouxsie Sioux and Sid Vicious brandishing swastikas in the pomp of punk, generations of performers have associated themselves in troubling ways with the aesthetics, mass hysteria and even ideology of Nazism. Whether shock factor, stupidity, or crass attempt at subversion, rock 'n' roll has indulged these associations in a way not accepted by any other artform. But how accountable should fans, the media, and the music industry be for what has often seemed a sleazy fascination with the eroticised perversions of a fascist regime?
In This Ain't Rock 'n' Roll, award-winning music historian Daniel Rachel navigates these turbulent waters with extraordinary delicacy and care, asking us to look anew at the artists that have defined us, inspired us and given us joy - and consider why so many have been drawn to the imagery of a movement responsible for the twentieth century's worst atrocities. Alongside a sensitive history of the Holocaust and an examination of the place it holds in our cultural consciousness, Rachel asks essential questions of actions often overlooked or underplayed, whilst neither casting sweeping judgement nor offering easy answers. In doing so, he asks us to reassess the history of rock 'n' roll and sheds new light on the grim echoes of the Third Reich in popular culture and the legacy of twentieth (and twenty-first) century history as it defines us today.
Over the last seven decades, some of rock 'n' roll's most celebrated figureheads have flirted with the imagery and theatre of the Third Reich. From Keith Moon and Vivian Stanshall kitting themselves out in Nazi uniforms to Siouxsie Sioux and Sid Vicious brandishing swastikas in the pomp of punk, generations of performers have associated themselves in troubling ways with the aesthetics, mass hysteria and even ideology of Nazism. Whether shock factor, stupidity, or crass attempt at subversion, rock 'n' roll has indulged these associations in a way not accepted by any other artform. But how accountable should fans, the media, and the music industry be for what has often seemed a sleazy fascination with the eroticised perversions of a fascist regime?
In This Ain't Rock 'n' Roll, award-winning music historian Daniel Rachel navigates these turbulent waters with extraordinary delicacy and care, asking us to look anew at the artists that have defined us, inspired us and given us joy - and consider why so many have been drawn to the imagery of a movement responsible for the twentieth century's worst atrocities. Alongside a sensitive history of the Holocaust and an examination of the place it holds in our cultural consciousness, Rachel asks essential questions of actions often overlooked or underplayed, whilst neither casting sweeping judgement nor offering easy answers. In doing so, he asks us to reassess the history of rock 'n' roll and sheds new light on the grim echoes of the Third Reich in popular culture and the legacy of twentieth (and twenty-first) century history as it defines us today.
Reviews / Votes
Daniel Rachel has dug deep into rock and pop's enduring obsession with Nazism. Why is this still going on? -- WILL HODGKINSON * THE TIMES * A timely book exposing the complicated history of the use of Nazi symbols in popular music culture since the last world war. As the powers-that-be lurch towards a far-right future, there is no longer any hiding place for those pretending to be ignorant about the true meaning of Nazism, or using its emblems for their supposed subversive 'cool' factor. They have a choice, own their perverse fascination when exposed or apologise -- PAULINE BLACK While it's slightly incredible nobody has before published a book on rock's periodic spasms of flirtation with Nazism, one could picture it as a dry, academic thesis rather than the absolute banger Daniel Rachel has written. It's hard to imagine there will be a more original book of non-fiction this year -- EMMA FORREST In this important exploration of the relationship between pop music and the Third Reich, Daniel Rachel challenges the motivations of those artists who sought glamour and notoriety in exploiting Nazi imagery -- BILLY BRAGG A deeply thought-provoking work, and long overdue -- John Harris * MOJO * A timely, wide ranging and eye-opening overview of music's fascination with the Third Reich, from moronic edgelord stupidity to studied, cold hearted hate. Thorough, calm and at times heart-breaking, This Aint Rock 'n' Roll is surely the most necessary music book of the year * JOHN HIGGS * Highlights both the stupidity and subversion of musicians' flirting with Nazism ... the book astutely traces the global rise of fascism and its reverberations in pop culture * Irish Times * A shocking and highly necessary book * YORKSHIRE POST * The cognitive dissonance between rock's rebellious use of Nazi imagery and the actual horror of the Nazi regime. There are surprising details everywhere in this book * JEWISH TELEGRAPH * A catalogue of Rock's flirtation with fascist symbolism that builds into a relentless polemic. Important and timely * JON SAVAGE * From Bowie and punk to contemporary provocation. Daniel Rachel examines the uneasy intersection between pop culture and fascist imagery. Deeply research and provocative, it asks why artists flirt with dangerous symbols and what that says about society's memory. This is history, ethics, and pop theory colliding in one compelling study. A must-read for anyone who believes music can challenge as well as charm * ROUGH TRADE * Rachel's book is compelling - not an easy read, but as essential now as at any point in our history * LOUDER THAN WAR * A brilliant book * ROBIN INCE * An important book about an uncomfortable history . . . Rachel is a gifted writer of evocative prose and a diligent historian, and here he assembles a responsible, questioning and thought-provoking examination of wider social and cultural consciousnesses. It's a fascinating chronicle of both human atrocities and the often dubious psyche of rock's legacy that ought to be taught in colleges -- Terry Staunton * RECORD COLLECTOR * Brilliant . . . Daniel writes with such energy and thoughtfulness * SAMIRA AHMED * A thorough and fascinating examination of the flirtations pop musicians have made with the aesthetics, language, and occasionally, the ideology of Nazism * MALCOLM RUSSELL * I hadn't considered before the relentless frequency with which rock musicians have been bewitched by the surface glamour of fascism and its hideous ideology. The author is to be congratulated for compiling this dismal and sometimes bizarre history! * Neil Tennant * A sadly rather timely book . . . deeply researched and provocative. A must-read for anyone who believes music can challenge as well as charm. * Wallpaper * Educational . . . This Ain't Rock 'N' Roll points up extraordinary examples - "from Tommy Steele to Kanye West" - and how our reaction intensified over the years -- Mark Ellen * Word In Your Ear * An incredibly sobering, fascinating, serious, but uplifting book -- Miranda Sawyer * We Have Notes Podcast * A brilliant text and substantive exemplar of historical inquiry * Winnipeg Free Press * Remarkable. An urgent, intense examination of how one malevolent movement in the course of world history has remained relevant and powerful * Sampan Newspaper * Timely and relevant * Booklist * Far-reaching and meticulous * Moment Magazine * Rarely has a book felt so timely . . . a brilliant book! * Music Connection * Equal parts enlightening, troubling, and wildly compelling, with This Ain't Rock 'n' Roll Rachel tackles one of the more taboo aspects in the history of pop music with grace, nuance and narrative flair * New Noise * Vital * Toronto Sun * The book presents a multigenerational supergroup of stupidity, opportunism and, occasionally, earnest morbidity * Wall Street Journal *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 161 mm
Width: 241 mm
Thickness: 36 mm
Weight
608 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3996-3572-1 (9781399635721)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2025
White Rabbit
€14.99
Available for download
Person
Daniel Rachel is a former musician turned award-winning and bestselling author. His previous books include Too Much Too Young: Rude Boys, Racism and the Soundtrack of a Generation (aTimes, Uncut, Rough Trade US and Resident Musicbook of the year) and Isle of Noises: Conversations with Great British Songwriters (a Guardian and NME book of the year). He lives in London.