The Thousands

Immortalised first in vinyl, then polycarbonate plastic, later in concrete, recently in steel and now on paper, Robert Forster is one of Brisbane’s most esteemed protagonists of the music world. Who better to take us through the ins and outs of rock and roll?

The 10 Rules of Rock and Roll, a collection of columns and short essays, is a High Fidelity-esque roll-call of Forster’s favourites, fiascos and fantasies. From ‘The 10 Rules…’ to ‘The 10 Bands I Wish I’d Been In’, this paperback debut is delivered with all the sagacity of a seasoned performer, the enthusiasm of a die-hard muso and the nonchalance of a born-and-bred Queenslander. Analysing acts from Leonard Cohen to The Velvet Underground to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, when this musical evangelist says that the number of tattoos a band has is proportionate to their success and that three is the magic number when it comes to lineups – you better take his advice as gospel.