Manny’s is the best-known instrument store on the planet, with famous clients from every era of pre- and post-war music, from swing and big band to rock’n’roll, psychedelia and beyond. Paul Simon (who wrote a foreword), the Stones, Frank Zappa, Charlie Parker, Led Zeppelin – you name them, they’ve ogled the Strats and bequeathed a signed photo for Manny’s legend-splattered murals. Henry Goldrich (who is Manny) and his daughter Holly provide images galore and reveal the easy-going side of even the toughest rebel rockers who’ve patronised the shop. Lou Reed? “When he was a druggie he was horrible. Today, he’s one of the nicest guys.”
Road Runner has a wider geographical remit, taking us on a journey around rock’s premier city (with New York, LA, Liverpool and Manchester as arguable runnersup). Unlike The Wall Of Fame, it doesn’t cover the waterfront, timewise, sticking to the 60s, although the author does describe how the landmarks look, and explains what tours you can take, today. Amid lavish photography and period newspaper cuttings (of, for example, the July 1967 ‘Love-In’ at Alexandra Palace), Madelid guides us from the Marquee to Hendrix’s pad in Montagu Square to Jagger & Richards’ dive in Edith Grove, to name just three stops on this trip.
