Rocker-historian Julian Cope turns his obsessive nature to Motor City rock & roll

British rocker Julian Cope is known equally well for his politically charged lyricism and his more recent second career as a self-taught historian. The musician turns his focus to the sweet sounds of Detroit rock in the '60s and '70s. He's created a playlist of some of the era's greatest songs, from artists as big as Bob Seger and Stooges to the vinyl enthusiast gems by almost-forgotten groups like Tidal Waves and Mynah Birds.

Have fun with this enthusiastic screed, heavy music fans everywhere.

Excerpt:

While Detroit's Black Panthers were getting set up by the CIA and the MC5 had tanks at their doors, Third Power's singer/bassist Jem Targal screamed 'persecution' just because his friends didn't like the way he played guitar. Hail kiddies, they even called him names! Okay okay, forget the nancy subject matter and just dig the fucking Heavy will ya? I mean musically this is an 'I Can See For Miles'-style display up there with the baddest. And, mercifully, there's little in this song of the turgid Mountain and Cream influence known to permeate much of Third Power's other material, instead this epic Power statement handles like a purple 1970 Dodge Challenger -- at its happiest around 90 mph -- indeed, it probably appealed to the very same Viet Vets that Chrysler were courting.

Listen to the two-part Detroit rock sampler here.