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First Rock and Roll Song
There has been a lot of debate over the years about what song sparked the revolutionary music of rock and roll. Some say it's "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley, but ultimately the unanimous answer is "Rocket 88." Chess Records recorded this groundbreaking song at Sam Phillip's studio. It is credited to the band Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats. Numerous artists have covered this catchy tune and the beat has been emulated in many songs. (No attribution required for photo credit). -
The Swinging Sixties (Woodstock)
Rock and roll took a psychedelic turn in the '60s and it dominated the charts with albums like Revolver by The Beatles and In-a-gadda-da-vida by Iron Butterfly. Outdoor music festivals such as Monterey Pop and Woodstock became popular. These festivals of sex, drugs and rock and roll are now synonymous with the '60s. Woodstock was one of the largest concerts in history. It was held in Bethel, New York and not the town of Woodstock. Photo by Derek Redmond. Licensing under Creative Commons. -
The Beatles Breakup
Paul McCartney announced his split from The Beatles. However, all four members trudged on with fairly successful solo careers that influenced the sounds of the '70s. In the beginning of this decade, three great rock legends died: Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix. All of these aforementioned artists died at the age of 27, which will become part of the live fast and die young mentality of rock and roll. Photo by Flickr user Zoli Erdos. Licensing under Creative Commons. -
The Birth of MTV
During the year 1980 John Lennon was killed by a fan and this sent sudden grief and sorrow throughout the music world. Also, in 1981 MTV emerged. It launched on a measly 300 U.S. cable TV systems. This completely changed music because all of a sudden music videos became crucial to the success of a song and a band. This all led to the infamous sessions known as "MTV Unplugged." Photo by Flickr user Fred Seibert. Licensing under Creative Commons. -
Let's Get Digital in the '90s
Nirvana came out with the album "Nevermind" in 1991 and it suddenly seemed like alternative rock and grunge was in bloom. The '90s brought about the age of pop punk as well. This decade additionally introduced MP3 players. Bands at this time that were popular include: Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, REM, Oasis. The look of rock changed with this decade and flannel shirts and ripped jeans became the fad. Photo by Flickr user Guille.17. Licensing under Creative Commons.
