As we all know, rock music is and always been one of the
most popular and established genre in music culture. Now days when we watch music
channels like VH1 and MTV, we can clearly see the change in style of rock n
roll. What was rock music 50 years ago and what it is now is one interesting
question everyone wants to know. So, I am just trying to put a light in some of
the major elements that helped in the evolution of rock music.
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| ROCK LEGENDS FROM DIFFERENT ERA |
Origin of rock music
(40s and 50s)
Rock music was actually originated in late 40s when blues
and country music where given new sound by the use of electric guitar and drum beats.
But 50s is known as the decade where rock music gain attention. The fusion of blues,
jazz and country with new sound of electric guitar became one of the
fundamental music genre of that period. Talking of the early rock pioneers, we
can name Elvis Presley on top along with other artists like Chuck Berry and Little
Richard.
New age of rock (60s)
60s was the time when America was introduced to the British Invasion
and soon British Invasion overcame the music culture of America with the band
named as “The Beatles”. The reason for me for making Beatles one of the most talked,
popular and influential band of all time is because they took the music that
was created in late 40s and made it a whole different things with more melodic
and psychedelic music and make that genre their own, thus giving birth to the
new age of rock music. Following the path that Beatles polished and carved, many
new bands and artists began to rule the world by their music. Bands like The Rolling
Stones, Pink Floyd, Cream, The grateful dead and Jimi Hendrix and experience.
This is the period when hippy evolution was originated and soon became popular
counterculture movement. Because of that, drugs and sex became one of the most
prominent topic for the lyrics and necessity for the rock stars. Similarly,
with many bands following rock music, new sub-genre of rock started to originate.
Psychedelic rock and blues rock was popularized by Eric Clapton, The Doors and Jeff Beck and Progressive rock was made
popularized by Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and The Who, whereas folk rock
was gaining fan following due to artists like bob Dylan and Janis Joplin. In
the year 1969, First Woodstock festival was held in which many artists like
Santana, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Who, Sly and the family stone
performed and was headlined by Jimi Hendrix.
Rock Evolution and Mainstream Success
(70s and 80s)
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FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
JOHN FRUSCIANTE(RHCP),TOM MORELLO(RATM,AUDIOSLAVE)
JIMMY PAGE(LED ZEPPELIN),SLASH(GNR,VELVET REVOLVER),JOE PERRY(AEROSMITH),
DEAN DE LEO(STONE TEMPLE PILOTS),ZACK WYLDE(OZZY OSBOURNE,BLACK LABEL SOCIETY)
BOTTOM(SITTING DOWN):
DARON MALAKIAN(SYSTEM OF A DOWN),JAMES"MUNKY"SHAFFER(KORN) |
70s is probably known for the evolution of rock music with
the bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin’s creation of separate tone that
would later be iconic in its own way. They gave rock a heavier, thicker and
darker tone which will eventually create the genre of hard rock and heavy metal.
Also in 70s, New Wave Of British Heavy Metal evolution bring forward the bands
like Iron Maiden, Diamondhead, Judas Priest and Motorhead who will later be
prominent name in evolution of metal with the bands like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth
and Pantera citing them as an influence. Likewise, Pink Floyd added more
elements on their rock flavor and paved a road for the progressive rock
movement with the album like ”Dark Side of the Moon”. In the 70s,world witnessed
huge movement in rock n roll with the artists like Queen, ACDC, Yes, David Bowie,
Eagles setting a new dimension in rock music.70’s rock n roll artists are known
to be the most influential artists of all time. Aerosmith fused blues rock with
hard rock thus giving a new sound to rock fans. But 70s revolution in rock is
best known for the establishment of the new genre called PUNK. Teenage rage and
anarchism led to the creation of music called Punk rock. Fathers of punk rock
genres are undoubtedly The Ramones but later bands like Sex Pistols and The Clash
helped to spread it and influenced many youngsters to follow the punk culture.
Likewise, 80s is best known for the
establishment of metal and hard rock. Bands with tight leather pants, jackets, bikes,
insane hair styles and faster guitar solos like Guns N Roses, Van Halen, Bon Jovi,
Motley Crue, Poison, Whitesnake and Def Leppard were topping the chart and
playing large Arenas. Similarly, in early 80s, fusion of funk, rap and heavy
metal created the genre like funk rock or metal. Red Hot Chili Peppers can be
named as early pioneer of funk metal. Alternative rock also came in attention
with the bands like REM, Sonic Youth and later Nine Inch Nail and Jane’s
addiction help to popularize the sound. Likewise, another biggest evolution was
the evolution of thrash metal. Four big names in metal scenario Slayer, Anthrax,
Megadeth and mighty Metallica revolutionized the genre that black Sabbath created
decades ago. Thrash metal created their own style of music with bone crunching riffs,
faster solos, and over the top attitude. The rivalry between glam metal and
thrash metal was talked about topic in the 80s.
Evolution of Alternative
and Grunge (90s)
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| NIRVANA AND PEARL JAM(PIONEER OF GRUNGE) |
The era of 90s is the period for grunge and alternative revolution.1991
was the year when the album like Ten (Pearl Jam), Blood Sugar Sex Magik (Red Hot
Chili Peppers) and biggest of them all Nevermind by Nirvana was released. Pearl jam and nirvana created a
new genre of grunge with their strong guitar tone with over distortions. Nevermind
ultimately sold over 30 million copies worldwide and pearl jam debut album "TEN" received diamond certification by RIAA. Alice in chain, Soundgarden
were among other artists who popularize this genre. Similarly, many bands from
80s bring a bit of change in their genre and experimented more diverse field of
music. Metallica who were thrash metal band also reduce their sound and
abandoned fast tempos and created the rhythmic soft rock ballads like ”Nothing Else
Matters” but without letting their heavy flow die. Similarly the band like Red Hot
Chili Peppers also experimented their genre of funk rock with more polished
music rather than extreme ones and eventually became the alternative
heroes with the albums like BSSM, One Hot Minute and Californication. Likewise,
bands like Rage against the machine, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit and Korn again
repopularized the genre of funk metal and rap rock. Similarly, punk rock gained
mainstream attention with the bands like Green Day, SUM 41, Blink 182 followed
the path created in 70s by The Ramones.
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| ROCK CONCERT AUDIENCE EVOLUTION |
Present Time (2000
- till now)
As we can see people walking around with t-shirts of bands
from 70s and 80s and their playlist full of the old school music, we can say
rock music from the past decades still exists. Still old bands who helped to
shape the music of rock n roll are active and getting more recognition with
help of hall of fame and Grammies honoring bands that helped in the evolution
of rock music. Heavy metal has now many sub genres like death metal, black metal,
hardcore metal and nu metal and the bands like Children of Bodom, Cradle of
Filth, Cannibal Corpse, Slipknot, Norma jean popularizing the sub genres.
Alternative rock is still active with the bands like Foo fighters, Coldplay, Incubus
and Nickelback who are giving us good music keeping alternative rock alive. Likewise,
pop rock has become very popular among the audience now a days with the artists
like Avril Lavigne, Fall Out Boys and many more on the list.
Thus, rock music has passed through many eras and decades to
be as influential as it is now. Everyone who loves music can’t forget the gift
and music of Beatles that they gave to us. Every single artists who is now in
the eye of media, charts and awards are somehow influenced by the past bands
and artists. Without the founding bands and artists of rock music, today’s
artists like Katy Perry, Rihanna and kids like Justin Bieber wouldn’t have been
in existence.
