Revelation Records Books, a division of Revelation Records, is proud to announce the reissue of Radio Silence: A Selected Visual History of American Hardcore Music, the essential and long-out-of-print book that helped define the cultural legacy of American hardcore. Originally published in 2008 by MTV Press/powerHouse, the new 2025 expanded edition has been meticulously restored from the original source files and features rare and never-before-seen material from the genre’s most pivotal moments and figures.
Born from a partnership between designer Nathan Nedorostek and writer / musician Anthony Pappalardo (In My Eyes, Ten Yard Fight) in 2003, the original idea for Radio Silence was created from a shared frustration: why did so many punk histories leap from The Ramones straight to Nirvana, leaving behind the radical visual and sonic subculture that thrived in between? Determined to tell that story, the duo spent five years on a grassroots journey across the country—pre-social media—tracking down photographers, flyers, record sleeves, merch and stories from across the landscape of American hardcore.
Now back in print after more than a decade, the updated edition includes unpublished images and ephemera from The Germs, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, SS Decontrol, Die Kreuzen, Youth of Today, Minor Threat and many more. As hardcore has grown from a niche underground movement into a globally recognized and celebrated mode of expression, Radio Silence remains a vital archive of its origins on the fringes of the underground. Incorporating music, design, fashion and fury in equal measure, this book offers a comprehensive window into the ethos behind the early hardcore movement. Purchase it HERE.
“Ian (MacKaye) and Jeff (Nelson) were the first to understand the book’s concept. They were instrumental in shaping the narrative. I’m not sure we’d have the same book without their generosity” says Pappalardo on the initial support of their book from formative members of the hardcore community. He continues, “With how much hardcore’s grown since 2008, we hope multiple generations will find the same value in the book we saw as we were making it.”
“Anthony and I created this book because it didn’t exist.” adds Nedorostek. “We wanted a copy for our own personal bookshelf—and it turns out a lot of other people did too.”
To celebrate the release, Radio Silence will be host a series of in-person launch events and design talks. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, with the authors on site to sign copies.
Thursday July 24th – Brooklyn, NY
5-9 PM: Record Grouch x Radio Silence
Design Talk & T-Shirt Release with Tim Singer (Boiling Point Fanzine, No Escape, Deadguy, Kiss It Goodbye)
Saturday July 26th Philadelphia, PA
3-5 PM: YOWIE x Radio Silence
Design Talk & T-Shirt Release with Jeremy Dean (Designer, WoBF, House Industries)
Radio Silence features commentary by:
Chris Bratton
Shawn Brown
Cynthia Connolly
Vic Dicara
Patrick Dubar
Jason Farrell
Christopher Jones
Ian MacKaye
Tim McMahon
Jeff Nelson
Mark Owens
John Porcelly
Walter Schriefels
Dave Smalley
Drew Thomas
Matthew Warnke
Photographs by:
Glen E. Friedman
JJ Gonson
Dave Mandel
Glenn Maryansky
Rusty Moore
Philin Phlash
Gail Rush
Davo Scheich
Dave Sine
Dave Spataro
Adam Tanner
Scott Winegard
& more
