Won't Back Down

One of Americas leading music journalists on Heartland Rocks glory days and its role in the populist politics of the 1980s.Erin Osmons rollicking Wont Back Down tells the story of the origins, charttopping development, and tangled legacy of Heartland Rock, the music that ruled the airwaves of the 1980s and remains instantly recognizable to millions. Osmon delves into the making of its classic albums and songs, including Bruce Springsteens Born to Run, Bob Segers Against the Wind, John Mellencamps Small Town, and Tom Pettys I Wont Back Down. She demonstrates the centrality of oftenoverlooked women, including Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, and Lucinda Williams. She traces the genres connections to country and Americana and shows how its success revitalized the careers of figures like Bob Dylan and Neil Young. And she argues that the music played a vital role in opposition to eighties conservatism and in support of LGBTQ rights, labor issues, and the environmental movement. As Osmon makes clear, Heartland Rock at its best connected with millions of overlooked people longing to be heard.