The term “rock music” is a generic one for the rhythm-and-blues based music that dominated the world music scene for the second half of the 20th century. Rock music may be divided into rock’n’roll, which developed in the U.S. from 1954 to about 1964, and rock, which developed in the U.S. and the U.K. from early 1963. The evolution of rock worldwide occurred during the last quarter of the 20th century.
Rock as a genre can be subdivided into subgenres such as classic, progressive, acid, art, country rock, folk rock, jazz rock, and hard rock. Each of these subgenres has specific musical traits, and is related to the others through the general characteristics of rock.
Rock evolved in the early 1960s, when rock musicians began combining the musical characteristics of different rock’n’roll styles. Of particular influence were the Chicago style of rock’n’roll, represented by Chuck BERRY and Bo DIDDLEY, and country rock, exemplified by Scotty Moore. Singing styles of rock performers were influenced by Elvis PRESLEY, LITTLE RICHARD, and Buddy HOLLY; vocal harmonies were inspired by vocal group rock’n’roll and by the EVERLY BROTHERS. Many early rock bands were influenced by the urban blues style of Muddy WATERS and Howlin’ Wolf. The ROLLING STONES based their early career on new interpretations of Chicago blues. Bands such as the Hollies, the Stones, the BEATLES, THE WHO, and the BEACH BOYS were greatly indebted to rhythm-and-blues (R&B) and soul artists such as Ray CHARLES and Marvin GAYE.
The rock bands of the 1960s were guitar-oriented, featuring lead and rhythm guitars. The standard format was a lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, and drums, with all band members singing. Although some bands, such as the Rolling Stones, had an extra person singing, the basic format was two guitars, bass, and drums.
In the early 1960s, rock bands mostly played songs previously recorded by other groups. By 1965, rock bands were including traditional orchestral instruments, such as in the Beatles’ “Yesterday” (1965) and the Rolling Stones’ “As Tears Go By” (1965). Folk rock and psychedelic bands incorporated musical elements from India and others used Western folk instruments. Several rock composers began to conceive their music as multiple-movement works, and the concept album was developed. Early examples include Freak Out (1966) by Frank ZAPPA and the Mothers of Invention, and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) by the Beatles. Later rock groups experimented with the form, yielding classic albums such as The Village Green Preservation Society by the KINKS (1968).
In the 1960s, rock styles were represented by mainstream or commercial rock; the music that was prominently performed on radio and television and that sold well. There were many rock subcategories, including ragga rock and baroque rock, but only a few have stood the test of time. The most prominent and influential of these subcategories were surf rock, folk rock, and psychedelic (acid) rock.
Surf rock developed in southern California in the subculture of surfing enthusiasts. Much of the surf style was instrumental, performed by guitar-oriented groups like the Ventures, the Surfaris, and the “King of the Surf Guitar,” Dick Dale. Dale’s sound is augmented by an affinity for Middle Eastern modes (“Miserlou,” 1962). Vocal surf rock, celebrating the southern California lifestyle of fun in the sun, is represented primarily by the Beach Boys. The sound of the Beach Boys is characterised by strong four- and five-part vocal harmonies and clear, high-pitched lead vocals. Their vocal style was influenced by vocal group rock’n’roll, primarily the Four Freshmen, while their instrumental style was inspired by Chuck Berry. Although leader Brian Wilson attempted a more experimental rock style in the song “Good Vibrations” (1966) and the album Pet Sounds (1966), the Beach Boys largely remained within their surf sound.
Folk rock was developed in the mid-1960s by Bob DYLAN and the Byrds. The style combines elements of rock and folk music, with folk instrumental playing styles. Prominent folk rock acts include Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and Simon and Garfunkel. Folk rock evolved in the 1970s to include country rock represented by groups such as the EAGLES, Poco, and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Other offshoots in the 1970s were the singer-songwriters such as James Taylor and Carole KING. Southern rock, related to folk rock, developed in the late 1960s and was very popular through the 1970s. It combines musical elements from rock, blues, and country music, each band varying the mixture to create their own sound. Southern rock defines a rock spectrum from blues-based (the Allman Brothers), through rock-oriented (Lynyrd Skynyrd), to country-based (Charlie Daniels Band).
Psychedelic rock developed in the mid-1960s, in an attempt to duplicate the acid trip through sound. Important acid rock groups include Jefferson Airplane, the Doors, and the Grateful Dead. Several psychedelic bands chose names that were ambiguous or presented cross-images: Iron Butterfly, Electric Flag, and the Grateful Dead. In the 1970s, elements of psychedelic rock evolved into hard rock or heavy metal, represented by bands such as Deep Purple, LED ZEPPELIN, and Black Sabbath, and into progressive rock represented by groups such as PINK FLOYD and YES.
In the late 1960s, several bands began combining elements of jazz—horn improvisation, extended chords, and complex chord progressions—with rock sounds. The most successful of the jazz rock bands included Blood, Sweat and Tears. Other bands combined jazz and funk elements with soul characteristics to create funk rock. Funk rock, represented by bands such as Sly and the Family Stone, was popular through the 1970s and the 1980s. The thudding drumbeat, the rhythmically intricate bass lines, and the punching horn arrangements became crucial to the funk-pop sound of the 1980s, as well as in rap.
Rock after about 1973 turned to more pop-oriented sounds. Groups that were popular at this time included America, with a folk-rock sound, and Bread. Pop artists such as Barry MANILOW and Neil Diamond enjoyed great success in the 1970s, along with singer-songwriters such as Billy Joel and Bruce SPRINGSTEEN. Fleetwood Mac created a successful pop/rock band with their album Rumours (1977). Also extremely popular in the mid-1970s was disco, which influenced songs such as the Rolling Stones’ “Miss You” (1977) and Paul McCartney’s “Good Night Tonight” (1979).
As a reaction against pop/rock and disco, punk rock arose in the mid-1970s in London, Los Angeles, and New York. Punk was derived from the styles of New York’s VELVET UNDERGROUND and the Ramones. Punk rock was against all kinds of established authority and social norms. The lyrics were antisocial simply for the sake of being antisocial, as in the SEX PISTOLS’ “Anarchy in the U.K.” (1977), or else they explored social injustice, as in the Clash’s “White Man in Hammersmith Palais” (1977). With the addition of synthesizers and pop-oriented lyrics, bands like the Cars and Elvis Costello established what became known as “new wave.” The computer technology used in new wave led to the techno rock of the 1980s, represented by bands such as the Talking Heads.
In the mid-1980s, the most popular rock styles were heavy metal, techno rock, and rap. Heavy metal was characterised by extreme instrumental technique and loud volume. Techno rock, on the other hand, was highly dependent on computers and synthesizers. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, groups such as NIRVANA and Pearl Jam returned to the hard-edged sound of the 1960s, with lyrics about the problems of the 1980s and 1990s. Their desire was to create an alternative to the flashy styles of heavy metal and techno rock, returning to the root sound of rock’n’roll.
Steve Valdez
SEE ALSO:
FOLK ROCK; FUNK; HEAVY METAL; JAZZ ROCK; PROGRESSIVE ROCK; PUNK ROCK; RAP; ROCK’N’ROLL; SOUL; SURF MUSIC.
Covach, John, and Graham M. Boone, eds. Understanding Rock: Essays in Musical Analysis (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997);
De Barres, Pamela. Rock Bottom: Dark Moments in Music Babylon (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1996);
Paraire, Philippe. 50 Years of Rock Music (Edinburgh: Chambers, 1992).
AC/DC: Back in Black; Elvis Costello and The
Attractions: Imperial Bedroom; Grateful Dead:
From the Mars Hotel] Led Zeppelin: Remasters;
Nirvana: Bleach; Oasis: Be Here Now; Pink Floyd:
Delicate Sound of Thunder; Lou Reed: Walk on the
Wild Side: The Best of Lou Reed; Rolling Stones:
Rewind; Soundgarden: Ultramega OK; Frank Zappa:
The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life.