Battle Axes: A Hard Rockin' History of Pointy Guitars
by Sean Kelly
From $15.31 / copy at 25+ copies; lower per-copy prices at higher quantities (see Volume pricing) As low as $12.72 at 1,000+
Total $382.75
Format
The more copies, the less each one costs
Applied automatically in your cart. No code needed.
Turn this order into a program
Groups that order together often pair the copies with something more. We handle the extras so you don't have to.
Branded cover stickers on paperbacks from 100 copies, plus bookplates, inserts and belly bands. Your specialist confirms what fits your title.
Customization options Ship to every readerOne address, many sites or individual recipients' homes, in the US and abroad.
Fulfillment options Pair it with a branded journalJournals with your logo or each reader's name, for the same group.
Branded journals
Bring in a speaker
BookPal is partnering with Talezo to help you find and book authors, speakers and performers for your event.
BookPal × TalezoBattle Axes
From Flying V to Firebird, Explorer to Warlock—this is the untold story of the most outrageous guitars in rock history.
Why did rock’s greatest guitarists choose instruments that looked like weapons, spaceships, and abstract art?
In Battle Axes, guitarist and music historian Sean Kelly explores the cultural and musical evolution of the world’s most iconic “pointy guitars”—and how they helped define the sound and image of ’70s and ’80s hard rock and heavy metal.
From the Flying V, Explorer, Firebird, and Moderne, to the rise of aggressive 1980s designs from Jackson/Charvel, Kramer, B.C. Rich, Dean, Ibanez, Hamer, and Lado, this is the story of how guitar design went from odd curiosity to arena-rock essential.
Through deep research and interviews with legendary players, builders, and insiders, Kelly reveals how these instruments became more than tools—they became symbols of rebellion, speed, volume, and attitude.
Featuring insights from members of:
KISS, Def Leppard, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, Guns N’ Roses, Skid Row, Autograph, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Savatage, Megadeth, Quiet Riot, Ratt, Stryper, Racer X, MSG, Triumph, and more.
Inside this book:
- The origins of pointy guitars in the 1950s Space Age design era
- How the Flying V, Explorer, and Firebird went from failures to legends
- The explosion of shred culture in the 1980s and the rise of “superstrats”
- How companies like Jackson, Kramer, Dean, B.C. Rich, and Ibanez changed rock forever
- Why visual shock value became as important as sound in arena rock
- The gear, tone, and attitude behind some of rock’s most iconic moments
Sean Kelly—who has performed with artists including Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Nelly Furtado, Lee Aaron, Coney Hatch, Helix, Gilby Clarke, Rough Trade, Glass Tiger’s Alan Frew, Harlequin, Honeymoon Suite, and Crash Kelly—brings an insider’s perspective to the guitars, players, and culture that defined a generation.
Careful with this book… it might just poke your eye out!
Details
- Publisher
- ECW Press
- Author
- Sean Kelly
- Format
- Paperback
- Published
- Aug 25, 2026
- ISBN-13
- 9781770417946
- ISBN-10
- 177041794X
- Pages
- 376
- Carton quantity
- 28 copies
Battle Axes for groups: pricing
Volume pricing applies automatically in your cart. No codes, no account needed.
| Copies | Price per copy | You save |
|---|---|---|
| 25 – 99 | $15.31 | 41% off list |
| 100 – 249 | $14.53 | 44% off list |
| 250 – 499 | $13.75 | 47% off list |
| 500 – 999 | $13.23 | 49% off list |
| 1,000+ | $12.72 | 51% off list |
Popular for
A copy for every member, on one order.
A book for every attendee, delivered to your venue.
For clients, staff, members or volunteers.
Where can I buy 100 copies of Battle Axes?
BookPal sells Battle Axes in quantity. At 100 copies the price is $14.53 a copy, against a list price of $25.95, and the cart applies the volume tier automatically. Free shipping on most orders over $95 in the contiguous US. A specialist can quote a larger or mixed order.
- New books only, straight from the publisher
- Volume prices apply automatically in the cart, with no code needed
- Order at least 10 business days before you need the books (11 from mid-November through December)
What does Battle Axes cost when I buy for a group?
Volume pricing applies automatically in your cart, with no code needed. Price per copy: 25 to 99 copies, $15.31 (41% off list); 100 to 249 copies, $14.53 (44% off list); 250 to 499 copies, $13.75 (47% off list); 500 to 999 copies, $13.23 (49% off list); 1,000+ copies, $12.72 (51% off list). Need a different quantity, or a quote to forward for approval? Ask a specialist and we will confirm pricing before you pay.
How fast can I get copies of Battle Axes?
Need them by a specific date? Request a quote and we'll confirm timing before you pay.
Can you ship to several locations or people's homes?
Yes. We ship group orders to one address, to multiple sites, or to individual recipients, in the US and internationally. See fulfillment options.
Can I get a formal quote for approval before ordering?
Yes. Request a quote and we'll send a PDF you can forward for approval.
Do you accept purchase orders and tax-exempt orders?
Yes. We accept purchase orders upon approval, as well as cards, PayPal, ACH, wire transfers and checks. BookPal is a tax-exempt supplier in all 50 states. See purchase orders and sales tax exemption.
What if I find a lower price?
Send us the link. We match prices from other booksellers and distributors on a new copy in the same edition, available to ship in the quantity you need. Clearance sales and pricing errors are the exception, and we'll tell you quickly if that's the case. Start a price match.
Write a Review
Battle Axes: A Hard Rockin' History of Pointy Guitars
Groups also order
A colleague asked you to approve this order
Your quote list
Add books as you browse, then request one quote for all of them.