In the early 1980s Sonic Youth regenerated the spirit of punk by creating their own spectaular brand of noise rock. Without SY much of the independent rock community that followed would never have come into being, and it was as a direct result of their influence that Nirvana released Nevermind on a major label. Twenty years on and SY are still admired for never having sold out. They charted an abrasive course through record labels and music trends alike while pursuing a wide range of individual projects outside of just music. Drawing on interviews with the group and the people closest to them, author Stevie Chick gives a fascinating insight into this most fearless and adventurous of bands, charting their revolutionary path and exploring the aftershocks they left on both pop culture and the counter-culture.