Superb look at the heady thrill of glam rock’s rich pageant

One of the hallmarks of a great music book is that it tells you umpteen things you didn’t know

David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust in 1973, at the height of his glam period Pic: Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns

MUSIC: Shock And Awe, By Simon Reynolds, Faber & Faber, €33.25

There’s a strong case to be made that the entire glam rock movement was consecrated at the precise moment when a young David Bowie and an even younger Marc Bolan first met in July 1964. The two teenagers had paint-rollers in their hands at the time, decorating the office of impresario Tony Howard, who managed them both.

After a wary introduction, Bowie ...