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What Is Rock Music?
A Brief History of Rock Music

Rock music has been a unpredictable creature that has constantly redefined and reinvented itself. Can be extremely difficult to apply astraightforward definition to such a restless musical format.
While people may quibble over specifics, rock music can generally be described as hard-edged music performed with electric guitars, bass, anddrums and usually accompanied by lyrics sung by a vocalist. A closer look at the evolution of rock music suggests how different styles and influences have shaped its development over the years. Let’stake a look back at its formations.

Rock Music's Origins (1940s-‘60s)
Rock music has been a volatile, unpredictable creature that has constantly redefined and reinvented itself since its emergence inthe late 1940s. The rock music can generally be described as hard-edged music performed with electric guitars, bass, and drums and usually accompanied by lyrics sung by a vocalist. That sounds simpleenough, but a closer look at the evolution of rock music suggests how different styles and influences have shaped its development over the years.

Rock Music's Evolution (1970s)
As rock musicbecame the dominant form of popular music, new bands built on their predecessors’ strengths while branching out into new sonic territory.
Led Zeppelin gave rock a darker, heavier tone, becoming one ofthe ‘70s’ most popular bands and helping to kick-start a new genre known as hard rock or heavy metal. Around the same time, Pink Floyd added psychedelic elements and complex arrangements, creatingconcept albums tied together by a single theme and meant to be absorbed in a single sitting. Records like Dark Side of the Moon were credited with spawning the progressive rock movement.
In the late ‘70s,as a response to what they perceived as pretentious “hippie” bands such as Pink Floyd, groups like the Sex Pistols and the Clash simplified rock down to its core ingredients: loud guitars, rude...