Jeff Rougvie on AllMusicBooks Podcast 9/15/2020

Discussing Gunning For Hits, the forthcoming Rykobook and lots more. Check it out wherever great podcast are found!

PAPERBACK COLLECTION & DX SIGNED & NUMBERED HARDCOVER @ SDCC

Standard trade paperback edition. At comic shops and from digital providers (kindle & ComiXology) on July 17, available from your local bookseller and Amazon and Barnes & Noble on July 23rd.

Back in 1989, when I first started working with David, before the release of Sound + Vision, we had invested a lot of money (for us) in his catalog. If it hadn’t worked out - if he wasn't self-aware enough to know he needed to take steps to reinvigorate his art - we would’ve gone out of business. For a second I pondered that possibility and the germ of Gunning For Hits was born, and it burned inside me for decades.

30 years later, the loss of many of my heroes in 2016 finally motivated me to bring it to life as a comic book, which I’ve been very fortunate to have published by Image (Walking Dead and Saga, to name a few). They connected me with the amazing artist Moritat, who brought aboard the incredible Casey Silver to color and letter. Now all six issues are collected in a graphic novel so you can read it in one sitting.

If you’re interested in the music business and enjoy shows like Madmen and The Wire, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this book, which crosses crime with an inside-baseball look at the music business. I assume you, it’s a lot better than HBO’s Vinyl.

Here’s the publisher’s blurb: “Record company talent scout Martin Mills jumps at the chance to make a comeback album with his favorite rock legend, Brian Slade. But when it goes sideways, Martin is forced to use deadly skills from his past in a desperate bid to save his reputation, and the artist’s career. Set in the 1980s New York City music scene, this real-world music business crime thriller from writer/music producer JEFF ROUGVIE (David Bowie, Big Star) and artist MORITAT (Spirit, Harley Quinn, Hellblazer). Check out the massive Spotify playlist! Collects GUNNING FOR HITS #1-6.”

Bowie fans will get the Brian Slade reference of course. The book contains an all-new essay answering the much-asked question: “Brian Slade & Brian Slade & David Bowie - Are They The Same Character?” Also included are a new intro and a cover gallery with commentary and gorgeous book design by the Image team including Deanna Phelps, who, like all my collaborators, performed with generous grace under pressure and delivered the goods every time.

Barnes & Noble has picked it as one of the best graphic novels of July and I’ve been truly overwhelmed by the response from the comic community (see some pull quotes below). It’s going to be exciting to see what the larger world makes of it.

“Fucking amazing! This book was phenomenal – above and beyond! 5/5” - Geek Brunch Podcast

“I give GFH 4.8 out of 5 Bowie Blackstars.” - Thecomicslounge

"When Jeff Rougvie describes the '80s record industry as the "only business dirtier than killing people for money" in Gunning For Hits, he's speaking from experience. Only a seasoned A&R pro could so easily weave insider details into this fast-paced tale of ego, power and greed." - S.W. Lauden, author of the Greg Salem Punk Rock PI series and That'll Be The Day: A Power Pop Heist

“Rougvie continues to parley his industry experience into platinum level hits. The fully realized characters. The Mad Men-like interactions and A, B, and C plots, and the air of danger and excess that this book breathes make it a must for heavy rotation. This is definitely a book for everyone that absolutely everyone should read.” – Comic Watch

“nearly flawless” – you don’t read comics

“dripping with authenticity. The premise (and the clever title) is very original. The dialogue is West Wing and Mad Men-level good. The theme and feel reads like a Neil Strauss music bio.”  – popcult HQ

If you’re attending San Diego Comicon, I’ll be signing the book at the Image Comics booth at the following times: 

Thursday 11am

Saturday 11am

Sunday 1pm

If not, I’m planning to do a tour throughout the Northeast celebrating the 30 year anniversary of the Sound + Vision box (!!!) in the fall, and will bring copies of the signed hardcover if any remain.

Issue 6 - Out June 12, 2019

Image Comics’ Gunning For Hits #6: Surprise Cover By (In)famous Pop Artist Butcher Billy!

Image Comics acclaimed crime and music mash-up, Gunning For Hits, will have a cover by internationally renowned pop artist Butcher Billy. 

Mash-ups are the Butcher’s specialty, frequently combining 80s music figures and comic book imagery, making him the perfect cover artist for the last issue of Gunning For Hits first arc. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, NME, Wired, and Vanity Fair. He’s exhibited in London, San Francisco, Miami, Lisbon, Chicago and Dubai. 

Created by noted music producer Jeff Rougvie (David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Big Star), Gunning For Hits has been praised as “dripping with authenticity.” Artist Moritat (Harley Quinn, Jonah Hex) and colorist/letterer Casey Silver complete the creative team.

An immersive experience, every issue of GFH has an exclusive background feature and Spotify playlist. The main character’s journals are being excerpted on the twitter account @MartinMillsHits, providing clues about his mysterious past.

From the publisher: Set in the shady New York City music scene of the mid-80s, GUNNING FOR HITS stars Martin Mills, a record company talent scout with an inscrutable past. Follow Martin as he attempts to sign a rock band that’ll conquer the world in this music business crime thriller. 

Issue 6: 29 pages of all-new story & backmatter! Brian Slade returns to the stage for a make-or-break worldwide TV broadcast, but not everyone wants him to make it through the show. Billy has that “one bad day” everyone talks about. 

Published: June 12, 2019

Diamond ID: APR190145 

Age Rating: M

ISSUE 5 - OUT May 8, 2019

COVER BY DAN VEESENMEYER

It all goes crazy.

Publisher’s description:

“Things are working out pretty good for Stunted Growth’s career, but they’ll find a way to screw that up. Things aren’t so hot for Brian Slade, but he’s oblivious, and these are all Martin’s problems anyway.”

This issue has a great cover by Dan Veesenmeyer, former storyboard artist for the X-Men Animated Series, the Batman Animated Sub-Zero movie and currently the artist on many Lego DC & Marvel video games.

Pretty proud of this one - things are going wildly off the rails for Martin, setting up next issue’s climactic last-ditch attempt to save his ass from a myriad of forces conspiring against him. The ending of this issue is as shocking as the first, don’t miss it!

Creator Jeff Rougvie Signing #1 @ Harrison's Comics January 9th

Stop by Harrison’s Comics on Essex Street in Salem, MA between noon and 4pm on Gunning For Hits street date and Jeff will gladly sign your copy (or any Bowie stuff he worked on)!

See you there!