Rock N Roll

The Rolling Stones began their journey in 1962 and are still going strong today. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger became childhood friends and shared a mutual interest in music and all things rock and roll.

They formed a band called Blues Inc with Brian Jones and Tony Chapman had their first ever recorded hit was actually rejected by the record label EMI. They changed their name to The Rolling Stones and played their first ever gig at the Marquee in 1962. Some changes were made and Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts gave a new look and feel to the group.

The Rolling stones were released to the public when a manager called Andrew Loog Oldham decided to market them as the ‘wicked’ opposite to the very wholesome and clean Beatles.

The marketing worked and they soon became huge thanks to their hit songs, unique style and charisma. They have had a few stumbling blocks and tragedies throughout their time: Brian Jones left the band after not seeing eye to eye with other band members. He wanted to create a band of his own, but this plan was cut tragically short when he was found dead at his home in his swimming pool.

Another tragedy struck during the Thank You America concert when the Stones hired the hells angels as security. They murdered a young, black fan called Meridith hunter while the Stones sang Under My Thumb.

Many changes have befallen the Stones, but the main members of the group still rock the world today.

Rock and roll keeps defining eras throughout history. Not only has it been associated with hatred, protests and drugs; it is also strongly associated with peace, love and happiness.

Love and peace took a prominent place on the stage during the 60’ and the 70’s. Social issues and problems were often addressed using music and this made it possible to convey messages of peace and love all over the world.

Folk artists such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie made a huge impact on the social messages that the music conveyed. Other artists such as John Lennon, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s also made songs that held strong, social and personal messages.

Spiritual messages have also featured heavily in rock and roll music. Many artists have explored many areas of spirituality in their work, artists such as Pete Townsend and the Beatles to name but a few.

Many bands and artists have used God and religion as a foundation for their music and many are very religious. Some artists have even become born again Christians after overcoming drug and sex addictions due to their fame and money.

Rock and roll music has changed the world that we live in forever. It can be accredited with spreading and promoting the message of love and peace, but many still believe that it is nothing short of evil. While everyone is entitled to their opinion on all forms of music and the message they convey to the masses, most would agree that rock and roll has given the world something that many could not – soul.

It was official in the 60’s and during the height of rock and roll – adults didn’t get it, kids loved it and many thought rock and roll was the work of the devil! Rock and roll music was a way for the younger people to rebel against society, the government, their own lives and their family.

Living in the rock and roll lifestyle usually meant dabbling in sex and drugs. This wasn’t the same for everyone, but many artists and fans used drugs and had unprotected sex with, well anyone!

Psychedelic music became prominent in the 60’s and so did the drug use of everyday people. This is partly due to the fact that many of the artists and the bands actively encouraged their listeners to appreciate the music while being under the influence of drugs.

The rise of drug use coincided with artists and bands openly admitting that they too took the drugs. A famous case of this includes the Beatles. Once they had admitted to taking cannabis and writing songs while under the influence, the fans followed suit. Drugs and rock and roll soon became intertwined with each other and one of the main reasons why adults and parents hated it with a passion.

Many famous and legendary rock stars have died from drug abuse and many wear the scars and the tell tale signs of hard rug use on their faces today. Of course today, we are a little wiser about drugs and stars try not to promote taking illegal substances.

There are many contributing factors to the changes that rock and roll went through in the 50’s and the 60’s. Here are just a few of the major impacts on rock and roll.

The Beatles – The Beatles came from Liverpool in the UK and changed the face and the sound of rock and roll for a whole generation. The Beatles came into America and made the states go wild! They stayed as a group for ten years creating hit after hit.

Motown – Motown made a huge impact on rock and roll, giving it a different edge and opening the doors for many great artists to shine. The sound of Motown made it big in the 60’s and still presides in music today.

Surfers – The surfer sound in rock and roll came mainly from The Beach Boys in the 60’s. They made beaches, beautiful girls, fast cars and surfing extremely popular!

Protests – Rock and roll became an outlet for many to be able to freely express their views. Artists started creating songs that had special meaning and targeting one group or another. Social protest became largely popular in the 60’s and the music of this time reflects the feelings of the times. Folk music was integrated into the rock and roll creating mellow and soft tones for the protest songs that included singing of peace and love.

There are many things that have influenced the sound and the feel of rock and roll in our past, present and in the future.

Many people believe that Elvis is still alive. This may not necessarily mean alive and walking around, but alive in their hearts, on their stereos and in their minds. Known as the king of rock and roll, Elvis is still firmly in the heart of everything rock and roll.

Born in 1935 into humble beginnings, Elvis and his family had no idea how he would change the world and the music that was in it. He began his singing career in 1954 and went on to change the face and the sound of music forever. People loved him, people still love him and many want to be able to emulate just a little bit of his worldwide success.

A mix between gospel, country and pop, Elvis created some of the most memorable songs ever. Elvis was also a movie star, putting his name in every household in the world. He has sold more records than any other artist, alive or dead, and still continues to dominate the selling charts. He made history in so many areas, such as selling records, combining songs and movies, sell out performances and creating hysteria in women and men all over the world.

Millions of people flock to Graceland to see where he lived, breathed and created many famous songs that still ring out over the airwaves today. His death in 1977 was considered untimely and devastated a world as the king lost his life to heart failure. Many people still consider his death to be a conspiracy of some sort.

Elvis was and still is very much a legend.

Rock and roll is a term that is specifically used to describe a musical sound and style that is ever changing throughout the years. Rock and roll has changed many patterns in life including, musical sounds, fashion, dancing trends and social aspects.

It was Bill Haley and the Comets that are credited for creating the first ever rock and roll song. However, the young, handsome Elvis Presley was only a heartbeat behind him. This is what most people think of as rock and roll and the beginning. However, it is thought that the origins of rock and roll go much further back than the 50’s.

Rock and roll goes much further back because Elvis and Bill Haley used other forms of music as their foundation for their sound. Church music and gospel music is a huge part of rock and roll and features heavily in Elvis’s musical tastes. Jazz also creates a basis for rock and roll, even today it can still be heard in many forms of music. Urban and rural jazz is also a factor, as well as Hillbilly music, country music and popular music.

So, even though the term rock and roll was new, the actual style and sound of the music was not. Rock and roll will continue to evolve as new bands come to the forefront of the sound and old bands reappear. Just because rock and roll is penned as other sounds now, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

Rock and roll comes in many forms. It all began back in the 40’s and has been evolving ever since. Rock and roll is usually created by guitars, bass and drums. This, of course, doesn’t have to be the sound of rock and roll. A few people have changed the look and the sound of rock and roll, such as Elvis.

Rock and roll not only changed music, but every other type of media available. Movies started to be about gorgeous teenagers singing songs of love and hate, print started to feature big stars, fashion changed dramatically and language also changed.

It is thought that rock and roll music originated from African American roots and featured a mix of the blues, folk music and also church gospel. There is piano based rock music, gospel based rock and roll, and country and western music had a big influence on the flavour and the sound of rock and roll music as well as jazz and blues. All of these sounds were thrown into a huge musical melting pit and created the rock and roll we all know and love.

Many people are involved in the debate of who actually had the very first rock and roll record. Some believe that the main contender for the title of first ever rock and roll record to be Jackie Brenston with the song called ‘Rocket 88’. There has since been hit after hit after hit for many rock and roll artists in every generation.

Rock and roll has a wonderfully rich history, a history that is still being written today.