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Howling to the Moonlight on a Hot Summer Night: The Tale of the Stray Cats
“Stray Cats fans and music lovers in general will appreciate this exhaustively researched document of the group’s influential and lengthy career.” ― Booklist
Read an interview with Christopher McKittrick about the book on New Jersey Stage!
While New Wave pop music was dominating the charts in the early 1980s, one band made up of a trio of throwback-loving musicians from the suburbs of Massapequa, Long Island—guitarist/singer Brian Setzer, drummer Slim Jim Phantom, and bassist Lee Rocker—returned rockabilly to the international pop charts as the Stray Cats, releasing such infectious Top 10 singles “Rock This Town,” “Stray Cat Strut,” and “(She’s) Sexy + 17.” Over forty years and many classic studio and live albums later, the Stray Cats still epitomize the spirit of the founding fathers of rock and roll—a coolness that never goes out of style.
Howling to the Moonlight on a Hot Summer Night: The Story of the Stray Cats tells the full story of the band’s history and catalog as musicians. It not only celebrates the Cats as one of the most successful rock revival groups, but follows their exploits as a throwback act in the years when MTV was still new, going on to enjoy long-lived popularity in rockabilly culture across the globe from Massapequa to Memphis and beyond.
Amazon (Paperback, Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback, Nook)
Gimme All Your Lovin’: The Blues, Boogie, and Beard of ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons
“McKittrick has provided the most factual volume on Gibbons and the band to date.” ― Houston Press
“Plentiful guitar morsels abound in the book, Gibbons’ tones, his first guitar/amp combo, and the spinning Dean solidbody in the ‘Legs’ video.” ― Vintage Guitar
“There is so much in this book of interest to the diehard fans and the casual observer as well … [McKittrick] has clearly done a ton of research and has, in my opinion, written an excellent book that gives great insight into the band.” ― Steve Hoare, The Blues Lounge Radio Show
Before launching the iconic Texas blues-rock trio ZZ Top, a young Billy F. Gibbons was hustling through the Lone Star State with a band named the Moving Sidewalks. The small-time band had the chance of a lifetime when they opened for legendary rock guitar maestro Jimi Hendrix. Over fifty years later, Gibbons is one of the most recognizable rock musicians in American history. From ZZ Top’s early work in creating classic rock radio staples like “La Grange” and “Tush” in the 1970s to becoming a global phenomenon with innovative music videos in the early years of MTV, Gibbons has been the guiding hand behind ZZ Top’s evolution from the “Little Ol’ Band from Texas” to pop culture behemoth with the 1983 album Eliminator, which has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. As the guitarist and main singer of ZZ Top, Gibbons has gained immense respect among other music luminaries with guest appearances and collaborations with legends like B. B. King, Les Paul, Jeff Beck, John Mayall, and Sammy Hagar before releasing solo albums like The Big Bad Blues (2018), which was named Blues Rock Album of the Year by the Blues Music Awards. He has continued to lead ZZ Top in the aftermath of the death of longtime bandmate Dusty Hill in 2021 and shows no signs of slowing down from bringing his unique brand of Texas blues to the world.
Amazon (Paperback, Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback, Nook)
Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty and Los Angeles
On Best Classic Bands’ list of “Best Music Books of 2020”
Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty and Los Angeles explores the artistic life of Tom Petty through his career-long relationship with Los Angeles and the many colorful characters and venues that inspired him and his music—including his work with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Johnny Cash, Roger McGuinn, Leon Russell, Rick Rubin, and Del Shannon.
Amazon (Paperback, Kindle, Audible Audiobook)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback, Nook)
Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty and Los Angeles
On Best Classic Bands’ list of “Best Music Books of 2020”
Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty and Los Angeles explores the artistic life of Tom Petty through his career-long relationship with Los Angeles and the many colorful characters and venues that inspired him and his music—including his work with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Johnny Cash, Roger McGuinn, Leon Russell, Rick Rubin, and Del Shannon.
Amazon (Paperback, Kindle, Audible Audiobook)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback, Nook)
Can’t Give It Away on Seventh Avenue: The Rolling Stones and New York City
On Best Classic Bands’ list of “Best Music Books of 2019”
Can’t Give It Away on Seventh Avenue is an intense and incredibly fun adventure, stuffed with fascinating trivia and bizarre anecdotes that feels like a virtual den packed with rock-and-roll memorabilia. – The Bowery Boys
…well-written and beautifully researched, and more importantly, the author’s enthusiasm for the subject that this work of his revolves around shines through on every page. – Eternal Terror
McKittrick gives a gift to lifelong Stones fans with this book – Independent Music Promotions
Can’t Give It Away On Seventh Avenue is an essential text for any serious scholar of both popular music and American culture. – Culture Sonar
Can’t Give It Away On Seventh Avenue stands as an object lesson in the craft of summer reading. – All About Jazz
Christopher McKittrick has authored a must have, and a must-read book for anyone who over the years have grown up with “The World’s Greatest Rock ‘n Roll Band.” – Boomerocity
While one might connect The Rolling Stones more immediately with London, Chicago, or Memphis, Christopher McKittrick reminds us of the multifarious adventures of the world’s greatest rock n’ roll band in this most musical of municipalities. – Hot Press
An engaging exploration of the connection between the iconic rock band and the city that embraced it like no other. – The Village Beacon Record
Amazon (Paperback, Kindle, Audible Audiobook)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback, Nook)
Other Work
Okun, Jeffrey and Susan Zwerman, eds. The VES Handbook of Visual Effects: Industry Standard VFX Practices and Procedures. Burlington, MA: Routledge, 2020. (Christopher McKittrick: Co-Editor) Amazon
“How Comics Helped Save America.” The 1930s: The Reality and the Promise. Ed. J Bret Bennington, Zenia Sacks DaSilva, Michael D’Innocenzo. London: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Inc., 2016. Amazon
“Building Character: The Writers Who Shaped Dick Grayson’s Personality.” Dick Grayson, Boy Wonder: Scholars and Creators on 75 Years of Robin, Nightwing and Batman. Ed. Kristen L. Geaman. London: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2015. Amazon
“Fan phenomena: Batman.” Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics. Taylor & Francis. 16 Dec. 2014. Published Online
“Jim Henson,” “John Hughes,” “Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster,” “Howard Stern,” “Billy Wilder.” 100 Entertainers Who Changed America: An Encyclopedia of Pop Culture Luminaries. Ed. Robert C. Sickels. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2013. Amazon
“What Does It Mean When Agents Say They Have Too Many of ‘Your Type’?. Samuel French Actors Guide to Agents (Aug. 2013): 13-14.
“From off the Streets of Poland: Harvey Pekar on History, Israeli Nationalism, and Exploiting the Holocaust.” Graphic History: Essays on Graphic Novels And/As History. Ed. Richard Iadonisi. London: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2012. Amazon
“The Secret History of New York Blues.” Artéfact Magazine 1 (Sept. 2012): 35-43. Available Free Online
“Blasphemy in the Name of Fantasy: The Films of Terry Gilliam in a Catholic Context.” Roman Catholicism in Fantastic Film: Essays on Belief, Spectacle, Ritual, and Imagery. Ed. Regina Hansen. London: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2011. 29-40. Amazon
“Obituary: Ronnie James Dio: Heavy Metal Icon.” Good Times Magazine 1043 (June 8, 2010): 6.