Hey Joe: The Unofficial Biography of a Rock Classic Just pubbed

The innovative, hybrid book publisher, Riverdale Avenue Books is pleased to announce the release of their new pop culture title based on the iconic rock song Hey Joe. The new book Hey Joe: The Unauthorized Biography of a Rock Classic is by New York Times best-selling author, Marc Shapiro, chronicles the history and origins of the song.

Legend goes that Hey Joe was a momentary blip on the pop music scene in 1965 courtesy of a Southern California band named The Leaves. It would be their only hit. But over the next 50-plus years, the quirky song about premediated murder went on to become something special, a musical rite of passage for legends like Jimi Hendrix, Patti Smith, Led Zeppelin, and countless others. Nearly 3,000 versions of Hey Joe have been recorded and release, which range from familiar, obscure and, in many cases, downright impossible to find.

“Marc’s deep research answers the questions listeners are dying to know such as who are the authors of the song and which musicians actually recorded it first,” said Publisher Lori Perkins. “Plus aren’t we all are curious to know where Joe goes with that gun in his hand?”

“Hey Joe was a rite of passage for me in the 60’s,” said Shapiro. “When I discovered the song it was literally on and off the radio in a matter of weeks and had gone on to have such a profound impact on the world of music on such a massive level. I knew it was a story that had to be told.”

The book is part, history, part mystery and part memoir. Hey Joe includes the memories of countless well known musicians who were part of the Hey Joe odyssey, a detailed look at the history of Hey Joe, the song that few have ever thought to think deeply about  and the rumors, legends and outlandish tales surrounding the song that ultimately culminate in the ultimate question.