Supernatural Strategies for Making a Rock 'n' Roll Group Paperback by Ian F. Svenonius

Product Details

• Publisher: Akashic Books, Ltd. (2026-05-05)
• Language: English
• Paperback: 256 pages
• ISBN-13: 9781636143101
• Item Weight: 187.11 grams
• Dimensions: 17.42 x 10.85 x 1.35 cm

Washington, DC-based rock 'n' roll antihero Ian F. Svenonius provides an unparalleled and exquisitely provocative how-to guide for rock bands.

"Like its author, Supernatural Strategies is part tongue-in-cheek, part deadly serious—a satire of rock's consumerist origins but also a thoughtful treatise on what it means to devote yourself to a collective . . . Drawing from the wisdom of rock 'n' roll's most famous ghosts, Svenonius's advice ranges from hilarious to cryptic to surprisingly useful." —Pitchfork

Ian F. Svenonius's experience as an iconic underground rock musician—playing in such highly influential and revolutionary outfits as The Make-Up and The Nation of Ulysses—gives him special insight on techniques for not only starting but also surviving a rock 'n' roll group. Therefore, he's written an instructional guide, which doubles as a warning device, a philosophical text, an exercise in terror, an aerobics manual, and a coloring book.

This volume features essays (and black-and-white illustrations) on everything the would-be star should know to get started, such as Sex, Drugs, Sound, Group Photo, The Van, and Manufacturing Nostalgia. Supernatural Strategies will serve as an indispensable guide for a new generation just aching to boogie.

About the Author

IAN F. SVENONIUS is the author of the underground bestsellers Against the Written Word, The Psychic Soviet, Censorship Now!!, and Supernatural Strategies for Making a Rock 'n' Roll Group. He was also the host of VBS.tv’s Soft Focus, where he interviewed Mark E. Smith, Genesis P. Orridge, Chan Marshall, Ian MacKaye, and others. As a musician he has created more than twenty albums and countless singles in various rock ‘n’ roll combos (Escape-ism, Chain & the Gang, the Make-Up, the Nation of Ulysses, etc.). He lives in Los Angeles, CA.