Tuesday, September 4, 2012

The Rockin' History of Alternative Rock Music

A descendant of punk rock, Nirvana was one of the most famous bands to make alternative rock music mainstream. Ironically, this genre became popular after the grunge period - which deprecated mainstream, commercial types of music. In addition to Nirvana, some extremely well known and highly successful bands formed around alt rock, including REM - one of the earliest "alternative" bands, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Violent Femmes, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and many others.
In the early days, it was mainly the college radio stations that promoted this sound. In fact, 'college rock' was the phrase used to describe alternative rock in the 1980s, before the genre coined as alternative rock music became popular in the mid 1980s. As the popularity of the music grew, other previously separate genres became grouped under alt rock as well. These genres are comprised of post-punk (since alternative rock is offspring of the punk genre), New Wave, indie (also known as independent) rock, pop, and punk rock.
A landmark of alt rock's popularity, Jane's Addiction, a band formed in the mid 1980s, frontlined Lollapalozza - the first festival that catered specifically to alt rock music. This was the mark of the rise to fame for alt rock in the early 1990s. The abundance of the alternative genre in America continued throughout the late 1990s and 2000s. Among these bands are Franz Ferdinand, The White Stripes, and The Strokes.
Across the pond, the American grunge spread like wildfire in the 90s. This resulted in some rebellious British bands that opposed American grunge. To express their opposition, British "Britpop" bands emulated the American explosion of alt rock; some of these famous bands include Oasis, Pulp, and Suede.
Alt rock music was made known almost 30 years ago and is still widespread and frequently played on American radio stations. This is most likely a genre that will continue to evolve and further root itself into American culture as the music continues to evolve.
Paramore is one of the newer alt rock bands to become famous. They have three albums released and their popular "Brick by Boring Brick" single is still played on kroq in SoCal and other rock radio stations throughout the United States. They are scheduled to head the Warped Tour this summer at the San Diego location, and continuously sell out stadiums on their tours.
As you can see, alternative rock continues to have a large following and is here to stay for many decades.
Shelley Foerster is the lead singer for the alternative rock band Almost Dawn. As a musician and songwriter she has played a variety of venues bringing her music to crowds of all ages. Check out Almost Dawn at http://www.AlmostDawn.com for more information

Rock Music Code

Music code is the stuff that computer software writers write. It is all the letters, numbers, symbols, and so on that ultimately add up to calculations and finally becoming images and sounds on the computer. HTML is one type of code. HTML is the basic code for most websites. The content of the HTML code of a website determines what will be shown and where, what will move and how, and what will make noise and when.
Rock music code, therefore, is an HTML code that can be pasted into the existing HTML code that makes up the website. The code will direct the website to play pre-determined rock music when the user accesses the website. Rock music code is available for any type of website. It can also be used for the free template websites such as Blogger, Livejournal, Friendster, and so on. Anything that accepts HTML can allow for rock music code.
First, choose what song you would like. Would you like some Aerosmith? How about some Elvis Presley? Or how about something more modern, like 311, Madonna, Nine Inch Nails, or Rasputina? These codes are available. You can find them online for free or by paying for them a reasonable amount of money. Private individuals often offer these rock music codes to the general public, although copyright infringement can come into play if you're not careful about what you put up on your website or blog.
Whatever rock music code you choose, you can always change it later. So in the meantime, rock and roll, baby.
Rock Music provides detailed information on Rock Music, Rock Sheet Music, Rock Music Code, Download Rock Music and more. Rock Music is affiliated with Musical Instrument Stores.

Gillian Welch Time Rock Music CD Review

Unfortunately, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Time. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.
Rock music fans will recognize some of the well known guests that have been assembled to play along with Welch on several of the tracks. Artists like David Rawlings and Matt Andrews just to name a couple.
Overall Time is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Rock collection. Truly an outstanding Rock CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.
While this entire album is outstanding some of my favorites are track 2 - My First Lover, track 6 - I Want So Sing That Rock And Roll, and track 10 - I Dream A Highway
My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - Revelator. What a nice track!
Time Release Notes:
Gillian Welch originally released Time on July 31, 2001 on the Acony Records label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Revelator
2. My First Lover
3. Dear Someone
4. Red Clay Halo
5. April The 14th Part 1
6. I Want So Sing That Rock And Roll
7. Elvis Presley Blues
8. Ruination Day Part 2
9. Everything Is Free
10. I Dream A Highway
Recorded at RCA Studio B and the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee

Camp Rock Music Storms Teen Charts

Camp Rock's music is young, hip and edgy. The movie's soundtrack contains the voice of a new generation of adolescents and the CDs and videos are selling like hot cakes amongst a tween and teenaged market. Disney has always held a corner on the market of music for a young generation and their latest offering is no exception to this rule. There are three reasons that the soundtrack for this movie is selling so astoundingly well. First, the Jonas Brothers' involvement in this project practically guarantees its success. Second, the power-pop musical genre is historically popular with adolescents. Third and last, the songs are admittedly catchy, easy and fun to listen to.
Jonas Brothers Equal Sales
The off-the-charts popularity of the Jonas Brothers has increased dramatically of late, as they recently signed a two-year touring contract with Live Nation. Their participation in the Camp Rock music soundtrack guarantees a high demand in the tween/teen girls market. The Jonas Brothers write and perform all of their own music, which sets them apart from other similar projects. These brothers star and perform songs in the Camp Rock movie and this was more than enough to generate enough publicity for the later released CD to be a sure-fire success.
If it Ain't Broke...
Camp Rock music is power-pop to the core, which has historically struck a chord with tween/teen aged boys and girls. Bands of yesteryear such as New Kids on the Block were the teenybopper pop chart toppers (say that five times fast!) of their day, using pretty much the same formulaic approach as Camp Rock does to win the hearts of its consumer demographic. The music comes at your fast and the lights and the glitter quickly catches your fancy. Before you know it, tween girls are screaming fans who are ready and willing to plunk down their allowance money in order to buy t-shirts and posters. Admittedly, there is a bit more of an edge to the power-pop music of 2008 but for the most part, it is business as usual for Disney.
There is Something to it
Aside from the Disney and Live Nation publicity machine pushing full steam ahead, you have to admit that Camp Rock music really is sort of fun to listen to. The songs are catchy and well produced. The Jonas Brothers' vocals are full of raw yearning and innocence. The songs and the music bring back fond memories of youth and help parents to relate to the hearts of their children. For better or for worse, the teen pop genre is here to stay. Since we cannot beat it, we might as well just let go and join in on the Camp Rock music craze.
Ivy Johnson is an accomplished niche website developer and author

Roots Rock Music - Bringing Back Rock to Its Roots

Whenever someone says "rock music" our minds instantly glide past through thoughts of heavy guitar riffs, men shouting in high pitch tone, spiky hairstyles, glitzy costumes and ruffles hanging from their sleeves. When no one thought that rock could mellow, a sub-genre called "roots rock music" emerged in the '80s.
From roots to rock
During the mid '80s, a number of bands reverted from the slick, traditional pop/rock music to a new rock ensemble that goes back to its roots - country, R&B and folk. The unique fusion of the various genres gave birth to a new sub-genre that honors its native origins.
The first roots type bands managed to resist the modern influence of rock. Instead of heavy metal instruments, they moved back to the guitar-oriented approach and immortalized the emotion and raw energy of R&B, folk music, country, and of course early tunes of rock and roll.
This type of music failed to win the attention of mainstream fans on first try. They instead, found a spot on college radios which played them well. They were appreciated and their music was king on college campuses of young adults. The first roots rock artists, from Southern California rock scene, didn't mind unrecognized for a short period of time despite their soulful combination of traditional and modern melodies. Bands such as the Beat Farmers, the Blasters, and Los Lobos sacrificed to uphold their unique rock genre to enliven and credit the roots of rock.
Roots rock defiance
Roots rock artists understand the complexity of their genre. Up to now, it is loosely defined because it encompasses even Americana music and other various country sub-genres. It runs across many categories and cannot be boxed. Something that pop music must envy. Music is abstract; no one can simply wrap it in boxes with labels. For roots rock artists, their music is free-flowing and the expressions infused within the sound and lyrics are endless. This music has no boundaries and it also has no limits.
Roots rock age
Roots rock musichad a brief taste of the glory in the late '80s. Pioneering artists like Lone Justice, Del Fuegos and Green on Red rose to fame. But on the onset of '90s, roots rock artists began to lose their shine. But then again, they continue to hold on to their craft and managed to catch the attention of America. Thanks to these important artists of the '80s - Steve Earle, Jason and the Scorches, BoDeans, Drivin' N' Cryin', Georgia Satellites, The Long Ryders, Dash Rip Rock, Gun Club and James McMurty.
To hear some really great Roots Rock Music from an up and coming Roots Rock Band, check out www.ErinOBryan.com. There you can learn more about Erin and hear the best songs that she has written throughout her career.

Punk Rock Music History


The widespread of rock and punk songs across the world is not as rapid as pop genre but they're truly controversially known as widely listened by funky and wacky teenagers and liberated crowds. You may have heard of groups called Fallout Boy and Metallica. They're just two of the many contemporary rock artists and bands that pave way for liberation and loudness in terms of music. The earlier bands to be known are Sex Pistols and the Scientists. Following a proto-punk genre in the late 1960's, the punk rock music history kicked off when Ramones Band led the way in said genre.
Rebellion, liberation and victory are the usual themes of punk and rock tunes. Back in the 70's, punk rock music history revealed that the masses never really appreciated the roughness of instrumentals and politically controversial approach of punk rock. In the United Kingdom, early punk bands failed to win the hearts of song fanatics. They didn't establish mainstream success quite easily not until the late 90's due to the emergence of alternative rock tunes. Delusions, depressions and harsh revelations are reflected in the lyrics of punk rock, which is why only certain groups of individuals could adhere to this line of sounds.
As accounted in punk rock music history, the commencements of liberated songs were frequently debated between fanatics of ballads and lovers of alternative rock. There have been varying opinions about punk rock. Some say that they are garage tunes, which actually started when the band called Sonics played without defined musicals, no instrumental standards and lack of music rules. More bands like MC5, Velvet Underground and Stooges made their debut in the late 1960's, and they created a more controversial and vulgar image for the punk rock genre. New York Dolls and David and Bowie delivered influential inspirations of rock and roll that's largely outrageous and far different from the approach that Elvis Presley established long before they launched their music.
At the beginning of 1990's, there surfaced to be a punk revival of a few bands that didn't quite had a good start 30 decades back. The format of punk rock music is usually straightforward and realistic depicting crime issues, government agenda, social ills and other societal struggles. In punk rock music history, Iggy Pop was deemed to be the godfather of punk music. It was apparent that revolutionary scene of music in the 1970's paved way to the distinctiveness of fashion and music style of rockers and punk artists which have their certain niche of followers. Such certain punk look is exemplified in leather jeans and jackets, darkened eyelids, long polished nails and sporty get-up has remained to be apparent among famous punk artists of today's generation.
Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about punk rock music [http://musictorockyou.info/punk-rock-music-history] visit Music to Rock You [http://musictorockyou.info] for current articles and discussions.

Paramore Albums - Riot! Alternative Rock Music

Paramore is said to have risen fast in the music charts. Having been formed just in 2004 and with three best selling Paramore albums to their names, they have literally stormed the world and grabbed everyone's attention with their music. They are now at the forefront of alternative rock. And while the band is still relatively young, there is indeed more to expect from them.
Paramore was formed in 2004 in Tennessee in the United States. Their band members include: Hayley Williams at the vocals, Taylor York with the rhythm guitar, Josh Farro as the lead guitarist, Jeremy Davis at base, and Zac Farro at the drums. They have now released three albums, each reaching great success.
The Paramore History
Josh and Zac Farro are brothers and back in 2002 while they were studying in a private school they met Hayley Williams who was then only 13 years old. At that age Hayley was already serious with her music as she was also taking vocal lessons during her free time. The two brothers were then playing in a different band while Hayley and Jeremy Davis were part of a funk band called The Factory. When they finally decided to form their own band, some of the members were a bit apprehensive as to having a girl as their vocalist. However, Hayley had proven her own right to be a member of the band because of her songwriting skills as well as her own singing voice, putting her own marks into the kind of Paramore music that will soon evolve.
As to the band's name, Paramore, it is said to have been the maiden name of the mother of one of their former band member. They liked the sound of it and especially when they learned that it is related to the word "paramour" which means "secret lover". The band then decided to retain the name.
The 3 Paramore Albums
The first album that showcased the Paramore music was the album All We Know Is Falling which was released on July 24, 2005. It reached No. 8 om the UK Rock Chart and No. 30 on the Billboard's Heatseekers Chat.
Before the release of the album, Jeremy Davis decided to leave the band. He was able to play in some of the songs and was also part of some of the music videos shot for the album. However, he soon realized that he made a mistake and he returned after the album's release.
The second of the Paramore albums is the Riot! which was released on June 12, 2007. A year later it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album released four hit singles: "Misery Business", "Hallelujah", "Crushcrushcrush" and "That's What You Get".
Their latest album is Brand New Eyes which was released September 29, 2009 and is Paramore's most successful album in terms of sales. On January 19, 2010 the RIAA already certified it as a gold record album.
There is more to the current successes of Paramore. With their own brand of music which is said to be a mixture of emo and pop punk, it is great alternative music nonetheless. And with their continuous writing of their own hit songs, Paramore fans the world over have so much more to expect from them.

Famous Rock Music Artists and Their Histories

What few people realize is that most musical talents get their start in classical music and by working with traditional instruments. Some of these instruments include pianos, violas and other such instruments from the baroque era and other time periods. Many musical performers in the modern era transition from piano and classical music to more popular genres such as rock and classic rock. Many people learn to work on the piano initially, and they can use piano benches, a piano bench, or a sheet music cabinet to learn their trade and become better at their jobs. One of the more popular genres in modern music is rock, and amongst that subset there are tons of famous musicians and people who have made their mark on the world of modern music. In the upcoming paragraphs some of the more famous rock acts of the modern era will be discussed and some bands who have done an excellent job of becoming famous and making a name for themselves in modern rock.
One of the more famous rock bands of the modern era is Green Day. Green Day is from Oakland, California and has produced a lot of brilliant music that has reached a global audience. One of their more popular and famous albums is called American Idiot, which was also possibly their most famous album and produced numerous number one hits in the American pop charts. The album that really set the band apart from other groups was called Dookie, which was the group's debut album that really brought them to fame and made them stand out from all the other punk bands that are around in the modern music scene. The band's most recent album is called 21st Century Breakdown and is apparently themed around the pitfalls of modern American society and the problems that exist in the country.
Another famous rock group in the modern era is Blink 182. Blink 182 gained their notoriety in the mid to late 1990's when they came out with a string of records that captured the angst and anger of the teenage population of the country. Recently, and unfortunately, the band has split up and there are a number of different side projects that the various band members are taking part in to take up their time. Blink 182 is probably most famous for their drummer Travis Barker, who is recognized as one of the best drummers in the world, and who was up until recently involved in a high profile relationship with his ex wife.
Finally, a famous rock group from the recent era is Nirvana. Since the death of lead singer and main artistic influence Kurt Cobain, the band split up into numerous projects amongst their members which include Christ Novocelic who plays in the band the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dave Grohl who is the lead singer and main influence behind the band the Foo Fighters. Something that few people know is that much modern rock music is influenced by classical music and older instruments.
Connor R Sullivan researched purchasing piano benches online. He ordered a beautiful piano bench online which goes well with his grand piano

Guitar Chords - The Foundation for Rock Music

Guitar chords can be considered the foundation for rock music. Many times, a songwriter will put together a chord progression, which is just a sequence of chords that is repeated in the song verses, the chorus, or both. From that initial chord progression, every other aspect of the song can be imagined and written - the bass line, drum riffs, tempo, guitar lead, etc. You get the picture.

To illustrate this point, this is how The Beatles began writing. Early in their careers, John Lennon and Paul McCartney would get together with their guitars and come up with the chord progressions and riffs that would later turn into some of the most memorable music of all time.

As a guitarist songwriter, whether you start a song with a guitar riff or a chord progression, you will be working with chords early in the songwriting process. Sometimes the tune will call for a different tone, one that a basic chord doesn't provide. This is why it is important to build your arsenal of guitar chords.

I've talked about basic guitar chords and their forms in previous articles. You'll find once you've learned these, there are some additional forms that you will want to learn to round out your tonal palette. For example, there are sustained chords, diminished chords, minor seventh chords and barre chords. All in all, there are thousands of potential chords.

Fortunately, you don't have to learn them all. As long as you memorize the handful of chord forms (check out my other articles), you'll have no trouble coming up with interesting chord changes and substitutes for basic chords in your songs. It will take some time to put your knowledge into practice, but it is time well spent.

To expand your knowledge and enable you to play all the guitar chords for songs, visit http://www.guitar-chords-for-songs.info today.

Dave "Eddie" Vance is a rock guitar enthusiast and gear nut. He has been playing guitar for over 30 years. He also runs Learn-To-Play-Rock-Guitar.com, where you can find beginner rock guitar lessons for n00bs and rusty rockers. From chords basics to guitar maintenance, gear to song instruction, you'll find it here. Heck, with some practice, you could wind up being a real "Guitar Hero"!

Rock Music

The term rock music is an extremely popular genre of music which has its roots, deeply embedded in rock and roll, country music and blues music. Centered on the guitar, it has many subgenres like the ones mentioned below to name a few.
>> Alternative rock
>> Art rock
>> Baroque pop
>> Beat music
>> Britpop
>> Emo
>> Experimental rock
>> Garage rock
>> Glam rock
>> Grunge
>> Hard rock
>> Heavy metal
>> Instrumental rock
>> Progressive rock
>> Psychedelia
>> Punk rock
>> Soft rock
>> Symphonic rock
Characteristics:
One of the main traits of the rock music is the eternal sound of guitar which may or may not be electric in nature. Apart from guitar, this form of music also has two more elements to it namely the percussion and electric bass guitar. Normally, the rock band consists of 2 to 5 members that include the main vocalist, lead guitarist, guitarist to play the rhythm, the bass guitarist, the drummer and sometimes another person to play any other instrument. The lyrics of the rock form of music deal with varied issues unlike the Blues music which revolves around melancholy and sadness. In fact, it is difficult to define rock music as it has a tendency to absorb a lot from the other form of music and hence does not have a rigid definition to it.
Social effects of this revolution:
Rock music has been associated with rebellion and a desire to break free form of the prevalent customs and norms of the society. This rebellion is not only against the social scene but also the ongoing political scenario during those. Perhaps this was the reason why the rock scene was perceived as a medium to divert youth and encourage non cooperation and disobedience of the prevalent societal norms. This form of music is also associated with the rising awareness of gender bias prompting equality. This was a major source of ideas especially for the world of fashion and cinema where one could clearly see the outright influence of the rock revolution.
Rock culture in the new millennium:
Coming to the new millennium, it is a term that encompasses a lot more than the traditional form of this type of music. In fact, it is used for all genres of music which are even remotely influenced by the rock movement. Popular additions are as follows:
>> Contemporary heavy metal, metal core and retro metal
>> Garage rock/post-punk revival
>> Digital electronic rock
The world famous contributors to this culture are Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix to name a few. Beatles, Eagles, Rolling stones and the Beach boys are the bands that stormed music scenario and were almost a cult movement during their hay days. Even today, very few rock bands or solo artists can claim even half the popularity that those group or solo performers had

Rock Music Transformed Our World

Once upon a time, before Rock arrived on the scene, music was classified by the culture or location that inspired. There were Polish Polkas, Spanish Sambas, Argentine Tangos, Irish Jiggs, and in the US, because of our ethnic diversity, there was music taking on the Rock sound within all the various ethnicities. Louis Prima is an example. He started out as a Jazz trumpet player, in the 30s, along with the New Orleans trumpet player Louis Armstrong, who is, by the way, in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. By the 50s, having moved through R&B, Prima arrived with an Italian-Rock song, Come On-A My House, with the now familiar backbeat that is decidedly Rock, though the lyric style is not common in Rock. An ethnic classification for this song might have been Italian-Rock. Louis Armstrong, originally a Jazz and Blues musician, was classified with the new Rock musicians coming out of the South, a location classification. Memphis is Rock's hometown. During these early years before Rock had a name, it was simply an outgrowth of Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Country, and probably some influences no one even remembers.
In the early 50s all the separate genres, were playing their music using Rock sounds, Country singers added Rock beats to their broken hearts, calling it Rockabilly, Cajun music became Zydeco, British music became Skiffle, classed as Roots-Rock. These innovations eventually developed into the many variations of Rock we have today. Rock is really beyond the concept of genre. There are Soft Rock ballads, love songs, intense progressive sound experiences like Stan Kenton's contributions, songs with thoughtful lyrics, some with political messages and all are considered Rock.
Because of all this crazy variety, radio DJs had an awful time announcing songs; they didn't know what to call them. Then, finally, Moondog, a DJ at WXEL in Cleveland, came up with the term Rock 'n Roll, and Rock was officially a musical. Moondog's real name was Alan Freed. Freed's live Rock 'n Roll shows were packed with people and drew national attention. The first Moondog Coronation Ball was on March 21, 1952. Some consider Cleveland, and not Memphis, to be the home of Rock because of Freed's promotional activities there and because it is the home of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It seems Rock just can't be pinned down to particulars.
Elvis Presley recorded the song That's All Right on July 5, 1954, it is thought, by some people, to be the song that started the Rock 'n Roll craze. That is so firmly believed by some that in July 2004, 1,500 radio stations played the song, simultaneously via satellite, to commemorate its 50th anniversary. This could be debated but it would be futile to try to settle on a precise beginning for a phenomenon like Rock, as far as anyone knows there has never been another phenomenon like it. This would be a study for a Cultural Anthropologist. It's a result of the musical passion of many people.
In the end, the wide acceptance of Rock has actually changed the way we classify music. It is now classified by the musical properties that are most common in the style. The top four are Pop/Rock, Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, and Folk.
Some of the varieties of Rock music today are evident at http://origin-music.net, where independent musicians have albums and songs for sale. Origin-music is focused on indie musicians, to give support them and provide exposure. Linn creates websites for the indie musicians on this site

Acid Rock Music - A Blast to the Past

Most people have heard the term Acid Rock Music. Many of them have listened to it. If they've lived their childhood in a house with parents from the 1960's and 1970's it was probably their cradle music. A few of them may have even spent some of those teenage years of theirs lounging around the house and classroom in passed along Grateful Dead Tee Shirts, ripped jeans, and experimenting with some old records of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.
When they were your age...

What they may or may not know is that this music was created for experimentation, of the drug induced variety. It is a trivial fact that most of the artists who wrote these songs were under the influence of acid at the time. Thus the penned name Acid Rock Music came to be. If they were not then the people who were listening to it were. With songs like "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane and group names like Bubble Puppy, it was easy to see the attempt at recreating the tripping experience. There was a long list of groups and bands honoring their musical genre. A few more examples are 13th Floor Elevators, the Blue Magoos, the Bermuda Triangle band, Zakary Thaks, Foghat, and Molly Hatchet.

Pay Tribute to the Music...Man.

Acid Rock first started making its appearance in the sixties. It carried on a long line of hits and wonders through the eighties. The Grateful Dead gained popularity in and around 1969 and continued on to the end. They still have an avid fan base. At one point the rock sensation The Beatles, a British group popular with the main stream, tried a bit of psychedelic acid rock their selves. The genre had then reached a whole new level.

Time for Some New Threads

From the music came the style. Out were their parent's conservative dress and in came the hippie. Jeans, crazy colored tee shirts and long hair dominated the Acid Rock Music generation. They were all about those other realities instead of the one they were in. People shopped at stores called Mr. Fish and spent their nights with friends getting high.

Rock on!

Acid Rock Music is a definitive aspect of the sixties and seventies generation. From this came the Hair Metal of the eighties and the hard and alternative rock of today. It was the music that your parent's parents hated just like your parents hate yours. It is a musical experience grounded in drug use. Confusing phrases, wild rides, and colorful beats, the music is a trip within itself. No one can say for certain however, just how enjoyable it would be unless you understood the phrase 'being under the influence'.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about acid rock music [http://www.themusicalplanet.info/acid-rock-music-a-blast-to-the-past/], please visit The Musical Planet [http://www.themusicalplanet.info/] for current articles and discussions

Rock Music - The Popular Type of Music

Rock music is a well accepted form of music, which is a combination of drums, guitars and bass. This music uses keyboard instruments like piano, synthesisers, organ, etc. There is a band of musicians who focus only on rock music and they are called rock band. Rock music is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. Hard rock is specially liked by the western youth.
Today, people are crazy about music. They want to listen their favourite music whenever they have leisure time. Music is created to give you pleasure. The fascinating world of music lets you enjoy music in one form or other. There are various types of music these days: pop music, folk music, jazz music and rock music. All these type of music are enjoyable to hear. The songs take you through different emotions. Rock music is loud and fast than anything you've heard before.
In 1960, British and American rock bands became popular. Bands like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Queen, Black Sabbath, etc. are some of the famous bands. In 1980,the genre that was quite popular was glam metal. The various artists like Twisted Sister, Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, Queen, Kiss, Sweet and the New York Dolls were the artists of 1980's.
This type of music became popular in the 1950s in America and Europe. This famous music is mainly based on older musical styles like the rhythm and blues music originated by African American performers such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard. The music has a heavy focus on guitar, drums and powerful vocals. The most popular artist of rock music in the early days was Elvis Presley. His dance and powerful music can surprise anyone. "The Beatles" became successful in the 1960's. This group was inspired by Blues and rhythm.
Rock music is evolving itself and coming in a variety of styles. Other music forms like heavy metal are also a form of rock music. Some of the heavy metal bands include Metallic and Megadeth. Rock music comes in a wide range of forms like soft pop and heavy metal. This "Rock 'N Roll" type of music became popular in 1950s and 1960s. This new sound came from many musical styles.
In the initial days, this music was admired only in small clubs and on radio. Afterwards, it became famous with the programs like American Bandstand. Then, people could view their favourite bands on the television. Many people criticised about this type of music as they did not like the loud and fast lyrics.
Rock music began with jazz music, blues tunes, etc. It also featured electrically amplified guitars, drummers and harmonicas. By the mid-1950, performers like Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Joe Turner became famous with the white audiences. Radio disc jockeys named this music rock 'n roll.
One of the best musical album, "Sticks and Stones" has everything from fun to catchy guitar riffs. It covers a range of emotions and depicts the depth of their talent. The album grabs attention with the song "Cathedral.". The catchy rock beat combines with a variety of instrumentation. The title track "Sticks and Stones" is also worth listening. The hard to resist lyrics would make your day. The instrumental track "ZOZ" is a classic jam track with brilliant double guitar interface. Another noteworthy feature of this track is the striking beats. Another beautiful track is "All Roads Lead to Home". This track shows the fast and catchy style of the band. Lastly, there is a song that most college students can appreciate. "Raise a Glass", an old Irish folk song has people singing along in the background. The album is a mixture of a broad variety of the music in the history of rock. This rock album is definitely worth listening and deserves a space on your iPod.
You can find a variety of rock music videos online and find the top tracks in the rock music charts. Don't wait, just browse the internet to get your favourite rock

Indian Rock Music: Between Rock and a Hard Place

Enough has been written about the Indian rock scene. Maybe you even registered the first few lines you read from impassioned rants before losing interest. Are Indian rock acts brimming with originality or did they use it all up in their names?
Didn't we see you at that gig last week? The one you checked out because the front man is your roommate's college bud. You heard the opening number, bobbed your head and then proceeded to drink till you found the bottom of the barrel during happy hours, while managing to annoy fans with your indifference. Remember the name of that song or even a verse? If you don't, you are not alone. If instead you are filled with indignation since you were the one enduring the moaning about how not enough respect is paid to bands on stage, we feel your pain. This is the dichotomy of the "Indian rock scene." A term as scattered as the phenomenon it's meant to characterize.
The past few years have seen a steady increase in venues, a slow influx of sponsorship, a rise in independent record labels and sporadic foreign attention, but there are still miles to go before we sing. Granted the scene has stepped out of the shadow of a rebellion and is trotting the path to becoming a way of life but the tattooed sleeves and drumming fingers still hide behind collared shirts and the sound of hammered keyboard as Indian artists' continue trudging between the musician's life and the salaried world. Holding down day jobs while spending evenings at rehearsals, recordings and gigs. Can you fault them? With college festivals still being the biggest revenue generators, gigs bringing in more money than album sales and even the best of venues acting as F&B spaces that use music for entertainment value; the Indian model is running on a trajectory opposite to the international one. Festivals that attempt venturing into uncharted territory are hailed in their first year and abandoned the next, because they don't pay bands their worth since the organizers don't manage to get adequate support and enough takers. Here festivals are sponsorship based unlike internationally where tickets sell like hot cakes. They are held in metropolises already reeling under rigid licenses, unrealistic deadlines and overbearing policing. So initiatives never get a chance to grow into a full-fledged movement.
More than anything, it's a numbers game, literally and figuratively. However much we hate admitting it, Indian rock largely appeals to a minuscule demographic. Unlike the westward shores where it's layman's music, here it's a luxury or the rich man's guilty pleasure if you will. A comma in this sentence is imposed by regional language bands especially those churning fusion rock and Bangla rock but they still don't account for a big enough slice of the pie. If you can tell us the last time you went to a store to buy an album of an artist you claim you love, we'll rest our case. It would be easy to blame the ones who run things - Entrepreneurs, label managers, artist managers and their lot. Fact is the best and longest lasting bands are backed by a sturdy manager juggling many hats and the lone activist encouraging fresh talent (you know who you are, pat your back please). While their counterparts have an entourage of managers, producers, publicists, designers, tour managers, booking agents and the record label working for them. Our homegrown rockstars rely on a Man Friday who is mentor, mom and best friend and sometimes a roller. Who has time to pay attention to finer details, what with live performances being the only format that works, bands consider time on stage as the be all and end all. Behind the spotlight is the real action - building the PR, cutting records, interacting with fans, understanding the technical aspects. That is a loose end waiting to be tied up. Or you can just stick a pretty bow on it and not point out how competitive it can get, made obvious by the truth that many bands won't go for another show. Camaraderie is reserved for non-headlining days. On this platform, one must also bitch out the media. While this piece was commissioned by an exception, not many radio stations, print mediums or TV channels would give dedicated pages to the cause of the indie scene. Some do their bit with an hour long music show every weekend or the obligatory band on their cover every other month yet you can't pitch the most deserving names from this industry to an editor. What we want, nay need is a ballsy venue that holds 800 plus people, a proper setup not based on middlemen and sale ability with an infrastructure that lends itself to the scene and not the other way around. A wish list if there ever was one. And as artists learn to grow at par with the listener, to our resilient rockers we say, "Thank you for the music!"
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What Music Theory You Need to Know to Play Rock Music

Playing in a Rock Band was always an interesting experience for me. I am a drummer, and I played in a wide variety of different bands - from hard Rock through to soft pop, blues and even Jazz (well I was pretty bad at that, but if needed I could fill in).

I came from a classical music background - my mother made me play piano as a young child, and I went on to study classical percussion at University, so I never really had one of the issues that most drummers face: Problems reading music.

It was always interesting playing in Rock Bands with other musicians who often couldn't read any music. They had a great way of communicating with each other - they could start playing a song and the other musicians would just "pick it up" by ear. This was something I always struggled with.

Admittedly I'm a pretty average guitar or bass player, but if I was taught the chords or a riff I can certainly play it. With it written down on paper I'd have no trouble learning it, however I just couldn't pick up a song and play it without first learning it. However this is not the case for most Rock musicians. For most Rock musicians its the other way around - they can pick stuff up, but give them some dots on a piece of paper and they are lost!

So what do Rock musicians really need to know about music theory? and how can we best help people who really want to be able to read and are prepared to make the effort, but still struggle.

Here are some tips:

Only learn what you need for your instrument

There is very little point in Bass guitar players learning to read treble clef notes, or drum notation. Concentrate on the Clef that is used by your instrument, and the aspects that are most important to it. For Guitar it really is rhythm. Most guitarists can work out the tablature ok, but I've found that they struggle when reading rhythm. For bass players it is reading the bass clef notes.

Focus on rhythm and pitch as separate things

Each musical event has both a pitch (what note it is) and a duration (how long it is played for). Make sure that you are taking note of both things, and practice drills and games to develop your skills in both areas, not just one.

Practice score reading while listening to recordings

A great thing to do is listen along to recordings and follow along with the printed music, naming the notes as you go, and finding them on your instrument

Analyse real sheet music as much as possible

There used to be loads of Ascii Tabs around on the internet for guitar, bass and drums, but there is nothing like real sheet music for learning to read music. Go to the music store and buy some. Support the artists that created it and do your music reading a favour at the same time!

Hopefully this has given a couple of ideas for Rock Musicians who want to improve in this area. With a little bit of the right training and a good attitude it really isn't that difficult to learn to read music.


Rock Music and Its Genres


Rock music comes in a range of forms so the chances are good that everyone on this planet will be able to appreciate at least a few songs. Having said that, rock music is not a style that appeals to everyone. It can be a bit hard and loud for those who prefer their music light and airy. The lyrics can also be on the dark side and depending on the genre, a little depressing. Those who love rock have their particular genres and tend not to stray too much. Those who love soft rock for instance, won't spend much time or money on the punk rock or metal scene. Likewise, metalheads wouldn't be caught dead cruising the pop rock aisle. Alternative rock is a genre that encompasses many others, some of which are included below.
Punk rock is one of those fiercely anti-establishment music genres that your parents hate. It developed between 1974 and 1977, mainly in the US, UK and Australia. Punk rock moved away from mainstream 70s rock by stripping down the instrumentation, playing faster and harder and writing more political or nihilistic lyrics. Writing also confronts sex and relationships in a manner that was scandalous at the time for its anti-sentimentality. It struck a chord with rebellious youths of the time who adopted a particular style of dress and developed their anti-authoritarian philosophies. It was a scornful answer to the political idealism of the time and strongly rejected the flower-power hippie movement. Punk resulted in a total cultural revolution, which gradually led to the development of the alternative rock movement.
Alternative rock serves as an umbrella term for all underground music that has come about since the mid 80s. Its characterised by its rejection of mainstream culture and materialism. Those who feel cast aside by society or who feel like they don't fit in anywhere else often embrace it. It has no set musical style and ranges from grunge to gothic rock. Lyrics are often concerned with social issues like drug use and depression.
Pop punk combines punk rock and pop music and is thus known as a fusion genre. Pop influenced punk has been around since the 70s. It has a faster rhythm than hardcore punk, from which it mainly originated. Their approach is more positive and sarcastic than other punk genres and this is their distinguishing characteristic. Their brattiness also provided many punk fans with relief from the moodiness and nihilistic lyrics of the grunge and hardcore punk bands.
Heavy metal, or simply metal developed in the 60s and early 70s. Vocals vary widely from a multi-octave theatrical approach (Bruce Dickenson from Iron Maiden), to a gruff style (James Hetfield of Metallica), to screaming and growling and a phlegm-clogged, possessed style. Lyrics most commonly revolve around sex, violence, death and the occult. They also feature fantasy inspired themes.
Thrash metal emerged in the early 80s, with a sound that was faster and more aggressive than traditional metal bands. Lyrics dealt with social or political issues or were nihilistic in content.
Death metal came about as thrash evolved into more extreme genres. It is characterised by lyrics that emphasise blasphemy, aggression, violence and Satanism. Vocals tend to include guttural "death grunts", high-pitched screaming and various other hardcore techniques.
Emo is a sub-genre of hardcore punk. It began in the mid 90s and was used to refer to the indie scene. These days the term has expanded to include such a wide variety of bands that very few of them have anything in common. This expansion makes the term very difficult to qualify. It has become so broad, in fact, that many bands and fans of the bands have rejected the "emo" label as it does nothing to distinguish them from hundred of others. It merely lumps them into a single category because they may dress in a similar fashion to other bands, or some of their songs may be popular within the "emo" scene. However, those who identify strongly with the "emo" scene and label are severely offended when the term is applied loosely to so many bands that don't fit the profile. Guy Picciotto of Fugazi and Rites of Spring was once asked how he felt about playing an instrumental role in creating the emo genre. This was his reply, " I don't recognise that attribution. I've never recognised "emo" as a genre of music. I always thought it was the most retarded term ever. ... every band that gets labelled with that term hates it. They feel scandalised by it. But honestly, I just thought that all the bands I played in were punk rock bands. ..."
Some other famous rock stars have their say.
"We weren't too ambitious when we started out. We just wanted to be the biggest thing that ever walked the planet." -- Steven Tyler
"... I don't want you to play me a riff that's going to impress Joe Satriani; give me a riff that makes a kid want to go out and buy a guitar and learn to play- ..." Ozzy Osbourne
"We never thought of ourselves as a 'heavy metal band' we've always regarded ourselves as a rock band. The big difference we've always thought we had a lot more feel for rock, we always went out for songs, not riffs or heavy, heavy sounds. But every now and again it does come on like a sledge hammer." -- Angus Young, guitarist with AC/DC

The History of Rock And Roll - How It All Began

Rock is one of the most popular genres of music that is loved by over billions of fans all over the world. It is characterised by its heavy instrumentation, and extreme use of heavy and loud sounds in various songs. The lyrics too are very unconventional. Mostly, rock music has been associated with rebelliousness.
This is the reason why the youth of every generation simply fall madly in love with this kind of music. They completely identify with the rebellious music that ask people all kinds of soul searching questions, and question the various rules and conventions of the society. Rock music is also famous because of the various transformations it has gone through over the past 5 decades.
But how did it all start? It started out in the 50s. Before this period, mostly music was all about normal, conventional stuff, and was mainly dominated by the rules of the Church. In the late 1940s, a form of music started gaining a lot of popularity. This form combined gospel music, country and classical music elements and gave out a sound that was so different and was completely different. It caught on really quickly.
The name "rock and roll" was first coined by a DJ in Ohio called Alan Freed when he played a combination of gospel music, country and rhythms for the audience of the local disc. This then soon spread like wild fire all across the USA. It took on various forms, and each decade saw an improvement with the help of several creative geniuses. They reshaped instruments, and created new sounds that took over the world by storm. Rock also spread to other parts of the world like wild fire. Today, there are several forms of rock, including heavy metal, nu metal, trance, alternate rock, and so on.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Rock Music Fiction

Looking for something different to read? Tired of the same old chick-lit, thrillers, romances, and teen vampire books? If you're like most people you listen to rock music-on the radio, on CDs, and at concerts. Believe it or not, there is a growing genre of fiction devoted to rock music and rock musicians.
They aren't all just about sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll (although a generous sprinkling of these ingredients doesn't hurt!). Many rock music novels strive to capture something about the creative process, the everyday life of a musician, or the impact that rock music has on listeners. Here are a few choice examples of works of fiction that are based in the punk, pop, heavy metal, or rock genre.
The Best in Rock Fiction (June Sawyers and Anthony DeCurtis, editors. Hal Leonard, 2004). This engrossing collection features short stories including T. C. Boyle's "All Shook Up" and Tom Piazza's "Burn Me Up," plus more than a dozen excerpts from published novels. Authors include Nick Hornby, William Gibson, Sherman Alexie (with an excerpt from Reservation Blues), Don DeLillo, Madison Smartt Bell, Jeffrey Eugenides, Rick Moody, and Scott Spencer. In "Ground Beneath Her Feet," Salman Rushdie explores the Orpheus and Eurydice myth in a rock 'n roll context.
Carved in Rock: Short Stories by Musicians (Greg Kihn, editor. Thunder's Mouth Press, 2003). A collection of short stories written by some of the biggest names in rock including Joan Jett, Kinky Freidman, Jim Carroll, Richard Hell, Ray Davies, Graham Parker, Eric Burden, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Exene Cervenka, and Wayne Kramer. Given the success that many of these legends have as songwriters, it's no surprise that these engaging and varied tales open new doors of literary experience.
Pistonhead (Thomas A. Hauck. Something.hot Communications, 2009). My own entry into the rock fiction arena. Pistonhead reveals the daily life of Charlie Sinclair, a struggling Boston musician who works in a factory by day and plays guitar for his band Pistonhead at night. He's stressed-out, confused, oversexed, underfed, has an apartment full of mice, and can't get rid of his overbearing ex-girlfriend who tries to make booty calls. When his life can't get much more depressing, he faces a personal crisis and it looks like his dreams of a career in music are over. They aren't--he just has to change his idea of success.
High Fidelity (Nick Hornby. Riverhead, 1995). Although the protagonist is the owner of a record store (remember record stores?), this classic novel is the most successful of the rock music genre. We meet Rob Fleming, owner of a vintage record store in London, whose girlfriend, Laura, leaves him for another man. Rob realizes that he lives not for sexual conquest but for the monogamy that he, until now, dismissed as hopelessly square. The 2000 movie version starred John Cusack and Danish actress Iben Hjejle, and was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Noise: Fiction Inspired by Sonic Youth (Peter Wild, editor. Harper Perennial, 2009). A collection of stories inspired, as the title says, by the music of punk rock legends Sonic Youth. The all-star contributors include Hiag Akmakjian, Christopher Coake, Katherine Dunn, Mary Gaitskill, Rebecca Godfrey, Laird Hunt, Shelley Jackson, J. Robert Lennon, Samuel Ligon, Emily Maguire, Tom McCarthy, Scott Mebus, Eileen Myles, Catherine O'Flynn, Emily Carter Roiphe, Kevin Sampsell, Steven Sherrill, Matt Thorne, Rachel Trezise, Jess Walter, and Peter Wild.

1970s Rock Music

1970s Rock music is part of a popular genre because people are searching for something genuine and classic. It has been said that 1970s rock music is a lot better than the style people listen to today because 1970s rock music was a legitimate form of music. There were extremely talented composers of 1970s rock music, and many were even considered to be Masters.
The 1970s rock era looks more and more like the last great era of rock music experimentation and creative upheaval. When I consider the range and diversity of the music that was being produced and selling well, Joni Mitchell, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, and Led Zeppelin come to mind as top producers of 1970s rock music.
The top 20 rock, (or related sub-genre) songs of the 1970s were:
1. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
2. Imagine - John Lennon
3. Hotel California - The Eagles
4. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
5. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
6. Layla - Derek and the Dominos
7. Superstition - Stevie Wonder
8. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
9. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
10. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
11. Let It Be - The Beatles
12. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
13. American Pie - Don McLean
14. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
15. Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees
16. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
17. Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
18. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
19. Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
20. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
1970s Rock had several sub genres, some of which include progressive rock, heavy metal, and punk rock.
Progressive rock
Two of the most popular progressive rock bands of the seventies were Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues, because they played music that was more intricate.; At times progressive rock meant using different instruments or producing music with unusual sounds.
Heavy Metal
Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath are examples of Heavy Metal bands from the 1970s rock era.; They originally played blues based music that was very loud.
Punk Rock
Punk rock from the 1970s was straightforward, loud and rough.; Punk musicians quite often had bizarre hair, ripped clothing, leather jackets and leather boots.; The Sex Pistols, the Clash and the Ramones were a few of the most well-liked.
Some of the most well-known bands from the 1970's era were: Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, The Bee Gees, Black Sabbath, Blondie, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen,; Chicago, David Bowie, Elton John, James Taylor, John Lennon, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney; Wings, Paul Simon, Pink Floyd, Queen, The Eagles, The Osmonds, The Police, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Village People, ZZ Top.
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Rock Music

The term rock music is an extremely popular genre of music which has its roots, deeply embedded in rock and roll, country music and blues music. Centered on the guitar, it has many subgenres like the ones mentioned below to name a few.
>> Alternative rock
>> Art rock
>> Baroque pop
>> Beat music
>> Britpop
>> Emo
>> Experimental rock
>> Garage rock
>> Glam rock
>> Grunge
>> Hard rock
>> Heavy metal
>> Instrumental rock
>> Progressive rock
>> Psychedelia
>> Punk rock
>> Soft rock
>> Symphonic rock
Characteristics:
One of the main traits of the rock music is the eternal sound of guitar which may or may not be electric in nature. Apart from guitar, this form of music also has two more elements to it namely the percussion and electric bass guitar. Normally, the rock band consists of 2 to 5 members that include the main vocalist, lead guitarist, guitarist to play the rhythm, the bass guitarist, the drummer and sometimes another person to play any other instrument. The lyrics of the rock form of music deal with varied issues unlike the Blues music which revolves around melancholy and sadness. In fact, it is difficult to define rock music as it has a tendency to absorb a lot from the other form of music and hence does not have a rigid definition to it.
Social effects of this revolution:
Rock music has been associated with rebellion and a desire to break free form of the prevalent customs and norms of the society. This rebellion is not only against the social scene but also the ongoing political scenario during those. Perhaps this was the reason why the rock scene was perceived as a medium to divert youth and encourage non cooperation and disobedience of the prevalent societal norms. This form of music is also associated with the rising awareness of gender bias prompting equality. This was a major source of ideas especially for the world of fashion and cinema where one could clearly see the outright influence of the rock revolution.
Rock culture in the new millennium:
Coming to the new millennium, it is a term that encompasses a lot more than the traditional form of this type of music. In fact, it is used for all genres of music which are even remotely influenced by the rock movement. Popular additions are as follows:
>> Contemporary heavy metal, metal core and retro metal
>> Garage rock/post-punk revival
>> Digital electronic rock
The world famous contributors to this culture are Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix to name a few. Beatles, Eagles, Rolling stones and the Beach boys are the bands that stormed music scenario and were almost a cult movement during their hay days. Even today, very few rock bands or solo artists can claim even half the popularity that those group or solo performers had.