National Public Radio dubbed Janis Joplin “the Queen of Rock” on a segment that aired this morning. Instead of the typical “best of” (read: “most famous”) track selections, the producers included a live version of “Women Is Losers” from a 1966 performance at San Francisco’s Avalon Ballroom. “Ball and Chain” from Monterey Pop followed and it was rounded out by the famous “Me and Bobby McGee.” They did not credit Kris Kristofferson with the song, which is too bad, as many people erroneously believe was written by the Queen of Rock. For more Janis Joplin on NPR, be sure to listen to the interview about The 27s from 2009.

There is little doubt that Janis Joplin’s iconic voice and wild lifestyle in the midst of the counter cultural sixties opened up the playing field to female rock stars, but although there have been countless famous singer-songwriters in the Joni Mitchell-vein and divas such as Madonna, not nearly enough larger-than-life Queen-bee rock personalities have emerged. Courtney Love and Amy Winehouse stand out like an open bottle of Jack at Sunday mass of course. Who else?

The 27s praise and quotes

“The deaths of these rock stars at the age of 27 really changed the way we look at rock music.”

—Robert Smith, National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered”

“As much as this book is about The 27s, it is about music; about America; about the art and perils of the music industry; about the mystique behind death at age 27; and finally about history itself. The 27s is a must read for anyone interested in knowing more about the greatest musicians of modern times. It’s presented like a resonance of sound in the clearest grain of a violin. Well done!”

—Ian Halperin, NY Times bestselling author/filmmaker, Director of The film The Cobain Case, Author of Who Killed Kurt Cobain and Love and Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain

“If you’re a rock-an-roller, watch out once you hit the age of 27.”

—Patricia Sullivan, Washington Post

“In addition to a music history, The 27s is also an artistically arresting book, thanks to Hunter’s eye-popping artwork, which is woven through the text in the manner of a graphic novel. It can be read linearly, or at random.”

—Phil Kloer, Atlanta Journal of Constitution

“A wild and creative romp through the crazy but true world of the phenomenon of rock stars dying far too young. The graphic novel approach to this book is vividly wild, and fantastic…”

—Charles R. Cross, author of Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix and Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain

“Segalstad and Hunter take the reader on a journey through 4 decades of Rock N Roll history and mythos without sinking into sycophantic hero worship. Think Allred’s Red Rocket 7 meets Rock and Roll 101 with great graphic design and a little bit of numerology and geometry thrown in for good measure.”

—Widespread Panic bassist Dave Schools

“This Rock Epistle goes from cool to creepy and back to cool. The tone of the book is magical and modern, a little sad but goes to the wealth of material these artists produced and applauds their passion. Hendrix did Carson? Yes! Some amazing facts come to light in this amazing new book.”

—Victoria Joyce of Sugarbuzz magazine

“The paradoxically lively tome explores the grisly mystery in vivid yet reverential detail, from household names like Janis and Jimi to lesser known but nonetheless influential artists such as early R&B singer Jesse Belvin, Big Star’s Chris Bell and more recent inductees including The Mars Volta’s Jeremy Michael Ward.”

—Dan Bolles of Burlington’s Seven Days

“Despite never focusing on a single person for long, it’s clear that they fully understand the essence of each subject’s artistry.”

—Performing Songwriter

“What you’ve put together really is amazing… The illustrations are integral to the whole presentation… It’s fascinating; it’s truly unusual.”

—legendary Canadian radio personality Roy Green

“The 27s maps out the stories of some of our most beloved musicians through a very compelling myth and, in that way, brings to life the musicians whose deaths seemed so untimely. Hunter’s graphic novel-styled illustrations—drawings of musicians, colorfully stylized quotes and sidebars, maps, silhouettes, images of the roads and pills that killed The 27s, scraps of the suicide notes—swirl around Segalstad’s intriguing, non-linear storylines, creating a highly-stylized but absolutely in-depth snapshot of the history of rock & roll.”

—Erika Fredrickson of the Missoula Independent

“The 27s uses stylized artwork, and employs music history, maps, timelines, musical references and recommendations, mysticism, and involved essays to provide various theories on why the phenomenon of musical geniuses dying by 27 exists.”

—Mike Ragogna, Huffington Post