‘Document And Eyewitness: An Intimate History Of Rough Trade’ by Neil Taylor offers a definitive inside account of one of the most influential independent record labels of the past fifty years. First published to critical acclaim, the book returns in a 2026 edition featuring new material from Taylor and a foreword by Morrissey.
Through the voices of Geoff Travis, Jarvis Cocker, Robert Wyatt, Green Gartside and many others, Taylor traces the story of Rough Trade from its early days championing artists such as Cabaret Voltaire, Kleenex and Swell Maps. The narrative moves through landmark releases by The Fall, The Smiths and Scritti Pollitti, documenting how the label helped shape the sound and ethos of independent music.
The book also examines the collapse of the independent collective and the eventual rebirth of Rough Trade at the turn of the century. By weaving together firsthand accounts and cultural context, Taylor captures the urgency and ambition that defined the label’s rise and enduring influence.
A former publisher who worked at Secker & Warburg, Weidenfeld & Nicolson and Sinclair-Stevenson, Taylor also compiled the legendary C86 mix tape during his time at NME. ‘Document And Eyewitness’ stands as an essential chronicle for anyone interested in the evolution of independent music and the artists who changed its course.
