Rock music has had a wide-ranging influence, from Little Richard and Chuck Berry’s rebellious spirit to the Sex Pistols’ seductive hairdos; rock has left its mark on popular culture.
But where did this trend originate and develop into such an international movement?
Origins
Rock music has emerged through a mix of cultural influences. In its early days, it was popular among teenagers; played at teenage hangouts and juke joints before being commercialized and sold to adults as an adult genre. Rock’s rebellious streak can be found throughout its history from Bob Dylan’s protest songs to Nirvana’s grunge revolution.
Rock music evolved out of rhythm and blues (R&B), country, jazz and gospel – genres which originated during the 1950s with artists like Bill Haley, Buddy Holly and Little Richard creating styles which combined all these genres. Memphis and New Orleans proved particularly influential to its development due to their vibrant rhythm and blues scenes.
Late in the ’60s, rock bands such as the Stooges, MC5 and Neil Young & Crazy Horse began stamping their mark onto rock music with aggressive songs featuring drums, guitars and vocals. Pink Floyd created long concept albums using psychedelic elements that required time for comprehension.
In the 1970s, rock music experienced a backlash against what many considered pretentiousness, with groups such as Clash, Ramones and Sex Pistols simplifying it to its basic elements: loud guitars and rude attitudes. This movement soon came to be known as punk and led to more experimental forms of it like Jimi Hendrix experimenting with electric guitar chords, rhythmic tone effects and ambidextrous playing techniques.
Sub-genres
Rock music encompasses an abundance of subgenres, each style possessing its own aesthetic and sharing the same basic spirit. Rock is defined by its rebellious, energetic energy which resonates deeply with audiences on an individual level; often including themes related to love, society and politics. No matter the genre of choice there is usually an emphasis on drums and electric guitars with overdriven power chords or shredding solos being frequent occurrences in songs written in this genre as well as verse-chorus structures with 4/4 rhythm.
Due to its diversity, rock encompasses an expansive spectrum of sounds. Some of the more well-known subgenres of rock include glam rock (popular during the 80s with artists like Bon Jovi and Van Halen), grunge rock (originally Punk), Nirvana/Pearl Jam-influenced Grunge rock and Alternative rock; while Hard rock (originating from grunge music) was popular during 1990s with bands like Nirvana/Pearl Jam/Jam being the exceptions), with alternative rock being developed from both Grunge/hard rock genres to produce its lighter sound that evolved between both these genres – commercial/hard rock/hard rock sounds; alternative rock has evolved from both of its parent genres as it evolves from both styles; hard/grimm rock has evolved through both grunge/hard rock/hardrock hybrid.
Through time, other types of rock music have also emerged such as hard rock, pop punk, ska and metal. Some genres have even integrated elements from other musical forms, like jazz or blues; there have even been musical hybrids like blues-rock or country rock!
Though each genre has its own sound, all feature the same basic ingredients – guitars, bass guitars and drums. Depending on the genre or subgenre additional instruments may be added such as keyboards and saxophones; some styles such as funk and jazz feature more complex arrangements with intricate beats and lyrics.
The 1970s
The 1970s marked a period of evolution for rock music. Phil Spector built an orchestrated wall of sound while Motown produced hit factory singles; later evolved into more intricate, progressive rock styles with complex arrangements and concerts featuring theatrical staging and special effects; bands like Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart Blood Sweat & Tears and Rush demonstrated more sophisticated sides while remaining popular.
In the 1970s, hard rock and heavy metal music rose to prominence. British bands such as Black Sabbath helped pioneer this style with heavy sounds featuring distorted guitars and thunderous drums; songs were frequently sung screamed by singer Ozzy Osbourne while covering topic such as war or death; their influence could later be found among bands such as Guns N’ Roses and AC/DC.
Subgenres that emerged during this decade included glam rock and art rock. Glam rock highlighted the theatrical aspects of rock music by featuring performers clad in elaborate costumes or makeup; artists like David Bowie even dared to push gender roles by adopting an androgynous aesthetic that would influence future generations of musicians. Art rock offered an avant-garde take that combined elements from classical music composition with jazz composition techniques, challenging traditional song structures.
Rock ‘n’ roll was also instrumental in breaking down racial divisions during this era, with African-American artists like Little Richard and Fats Domino enjoying great success, drawing together audiences that had traditionally been divided along racial lines. These trends had an indelible mark on rock as it continued its journey across America and worldwide.
The ’90s
Rock music has continuously reinvented itself throughout its long and distinguished history. Its diverse subgenres reflect social and cultural shifts throughout each era; for instance, in the ’90s we saw grunge emerge with its trademark look of flannel shirts and combat boots; in the early 2000s there was an upsurge in rock with artists like Radiohead, Foo Fighters and Muse exploring avant-garde musical techniques while creating thought-provoking lyrics.
Pink Floyd pioneered progressive rock in the ’70s by adding psychedelic elements to their music, producing albums meant to be experienced at one sitting and with complex compositions that included lengthy instrumental compositions and elaborate arrangements. They helped broaden its horizons.
In the ’90s, punk rock made its debut and stripped back rock’s roots while giving it an aggressive edge; groups such as The Stooges, MC5 and Neil Young & Crazy Horse produced some of the hardest, loudest and roughest rock ever heard before; by late 90s though these styles had grown tiresome; bands like Nirvana introduced more emotive music that transcended metal genres.
Alternative rock is an emerging genre within rock, combining elements such as funk, hip hop, electronica and metal into an entirely original style. Artists like Linkin Park and Coldplay have revitalized rock in a contemporary manner while paying homage to its rich legacy while keeping an ear out for new sonic innovations. Rock remains popular today; its infectious beats and catchy melodies uniting audiences of different backgrounds through shared love of its music.
The 2000s
In the 2000s, rock music underwent a dramatic evolution, often incorporating alternative influences and classical elements into its sound. Bands such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs with their dance-punk riffs and Interpol’s moody and atmospheric songs helped redefine rock for a new generation, while guitar virtuosi like Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads continued pushing forward the genre with fast licks and shredding solos.
Rock is an artform that speaks directly to our emotions, transcending both racial and social divides to unite people from diverse backgrounds around a shared passion for its sounds.
From its inception, rock has long been used as a means of protest and change. Artists such as Neil Young voiced opposition to Vietnam with Ohio; U2 addressed Northern Irish violence with Sunday Bloody Sunday; while bands like Rage Against the Machine turned political protest into rock anthems.
As rock music continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to witness where its next wave of talented artists takes it. Female artists like St Vincent, Angel Olsen and Lana Del Rey will bring a fresh take to rock with their emotive music; hard and heavy rock acts such as Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold and Black Sabbath will continue pushing heaviness to new levels.