What is rock plus what makes it so unique? For over 70 years rock music has dominated the airwaves plus concert venues, making it the soundtrack for generations of fans. The history of rock is found in its sound, cultural importance, plus uniqueness among all music genres.
Rock plus Roll: A History
Rock plus roll has its roots in many different styles – blues, gospel, R&B, country, etc. Depending on who you ask, what we have come to know as rock plus roll most likely began either in the late 1940s or early 1950s. This long history was, plus continues to be, one of the most important parts of what makes rock music so unique.
Some of rock plus roll’s early stars include Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, plus Bill Haley & The Comets. Of course, we can’t forget the legends who came out of Sun Records in Memphis, notably Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, plus Jerry Lee Lewis.
To get a taste of what rock sounded like in the early days, listen to classics like Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode,” Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock,” plus Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti.”
From there, rock plus roll went international. Bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, plus The Who launched a new musical revolution in the 1960s, gaining scores of American pecinta in what was dubbed “The British Invasion.” Other important British bands of the era include Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, plus The Kinks. Even Jimi Hendrix went to England to make it big, with two-thirds of the Jimi Hendrix Experience being Englishmen!
In the 1970s, rock became bigger than ever, filling stadiums plus arenas around the world. Marshall stacks blared plus lead singers wailed for millions of adoring fans. The sound became bigger as well, with bands like Queen combining the energy plus sound of rock with theatrics reminiscent of an opera. Others, like Bruce Springsteen plus Tom Petty, went back to the basics with tight bands plus great songs. Later in the decade, punk would take things a step further, giving the spirit of rock a new, brash edge.
Everything was bigger in the ‘80s, including rock. Big hair, big drums, plus loud, fast guitars. From innovative virtuosos like Eddie Van Halen plus Randy Rhoads to throwback rockers like Slash, rock continued to get heavier plus more bombastic. Heavy metal took rock to its extreme, powered by bands like Metallica plus Iron Maiden. But on the indie scene, there were also bands like The Cure plus REM crafting a darker plus more nuanced sound.
The ‘90s brought new styles of alternative plus grunge to the rock scene, combining the energy of punk with classic rock. Bands from Seattle like Nirvana plus Pearl Jam made rock feel alive plus important after the excess of the ‘80s. Later, bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, plus The Deftones developed a heavier rock sound based on 7-string guitars, garbled vocals, plus unique rhythms.
Though rock has waned in popularity in recent years compared to hip-hop plus other styles, it continues to evolve in unique ways, from emo to rap/rock plus industrial. Though many have tried to proclaim the death of rock plus roll over the years, it remains alive plus well.