Rock Music example essay topic

Seventies and Eighties Rock Music The term? rock music? has long been a subject of debate. With such a broad variety of artists under that genre, it is difficult to give rock a definition. Rock music today is the result of almost 60 years of popular music development, a descendant of 1950's rock? n? roll. Originating in the mid-50?'s, from Afro-American Rhythm and Blues music, artists such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard paved the way for? white rock music? and the likes of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison. This group of artists became the first generation or wave of rock music, and from the word go, launched the genre headlong into controversy. The next generation came in the shape of a?

British invasion of rock bands? [1] followed by new American artists as Bob Dylan and The Monkees. Rock? n? roll in the early 60's gave way to? rock? , which was deemed not only a style of music, but a way of life. This? way of life? was exhibited with enthusiasm by bands and artists throughout the decade, leading to the aptly named? unholy trinity? , sex, drugs, and rock? n? roll. Together with the likes of Cream, Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles, these bands became the predecessors, and in many cases major influences for the further two generations of rock artists. By the seventies, the very different brands of rock music were becoming apparent.

These included, Art Rock, Glam Rock, Pop Rock, Punk Rock and Hard Rock. Art Rock: Pink Floyd, Genesis Glam Rock: Marc Bolan, Kiss, David Bowie, Queen Pop Rock: Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Boston Punk Rock: Sex Pistols, the Clash Hard Rock: Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple The fourth generation brought with it a host of Heavy Metal bands, such as Metallica, Van Halen, and Guns? n? Roses, as well as many bands still surviving from the previous decade. These bands profited from the growing interest in rock, and after tailoring their styles to an eighties? audience, continued to prove popular, despite the growth of electronic and pop music. Genesis Formed in 1967, it was ten years before this progressive rock band broke through with their first hit. While their live shows were spectacular events, with Peter Gabriel's wild use of costumes and props, their songs were? long, radio-unfriendly epics?

[2]. Their seventh album? The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway? , a soundtrack to their stage show was a huge success, but led to the departure of Gabriel in 1975, leaving the band with no frontman. This position was filled by the drummer at the time, Phil Collins. Their next album outsold all of their previous releases. When Collins moved up front, they sidestepped punk, and with their art rock inclinations encouraged by a new producer, they changed their direction in the 80?'s, introducing shorter songs, and a more mainstream sound, leading them to great success with a string of Number One albums.

By 1987, they were named Band of the Year by Rolling Stone Magazine. The song? Land of Confusion? is from their best-seller 1986 album? Invisible Touch?

Fleetwood Mac The saga of this rock band spans over 30 years. Probably the most well-known line-up of the band was the 1975 combination of Mick Fleetwood, John and Christine Movie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. The ongoing personal problems for all members, combined with immense musical talent, provided the basis for the phenomenally successful albums? Fleetwood Mac? in 1975, and? Rumours? in 1977.

In addition to one of the most solid rhythm sections in rock, the strong vocals, and creativity of the songwriters made these albums both sophisticated and melodically sound. During the eighties, Fleetwood Mac released two albums, but the members were each drawn to solo careers, and with the breakdown of relationships within the band, their enthusiasm and success lessened. The song? Rhiannon? is from the 1975 album? Fleetwood Mac? , and became Stevie Nicks? signature song. The song?

The Chain? is from the 1977 album? Rumours? and demonstrates the tightness of the rhythm section. Led Zeppelin. Formed in 1968 as? The New Yardbirds? by Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin got their name from a remark made by Who drummer Keith Moon, who said something to the effect that they would? go down like a lead balloon? With Page's heavy guitar riffs, and Robert Plant's raw vocals, they combined the power and intensity of hard rock with the finesse and delicacy of British folk music, and redefined rock in the Seventies.

Their music ranged from acoustic, folk-oriented tracks such as the infamous? Stairway to Heaven? (1971), to the groove-oriented? D? Yer Mak? er? (1973), and the len g thy, exotic-flavoured?

Kashmir? (1975).? We all had ideas, and we? d use everything we came across, whether it was folk, country music, blues, Indian, Arabic.? [3] Led Zeppelin always focussed on the larger than life, and their reputation as one of the most indulgent and hedonistic of all rock bands, is an undeniable fact of rock history. Although their success continued into the late 70?'s, they were criticised by younger artists and fans for being? bloated practitioners of dinosaur rock? [4].

When drummer John Bonham died in 1980, the group disbanded. The song? Immigrant Song? is from the 1970 album? Led Zeppelin ? The song? D?

Yer Mak? er? is from the 1973 album? Houses of the Holy?

Bibliography

Philip Dodd, 2001, The Book of Rock, Hardie Grant Books, Australia.
Michael Heatley (ed. ), 1997, The Encyclopaedia of Rock, Grange Books, London.