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"We
don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out."
- Decca Recording Company rejecting the Beatles, 1962
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ROCK For starters, Rock and Roll (also spelled Rock 'n' Roll, especially in its first decade) also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. Away from the hackneyed 'dhinchak' beats that rule the world almost killing freshness in music... here's my short Rock-n-roll anthology.......
Pink Floyd: Please check this separate link for band information. As is obvious, my most favorite band.
I know I missed a lot of other artists... but hey... its a musical anthology and that never has any limits, does it ? |
Bill Haley and the Comets : "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets set the rock boom in motion, though. The song was one of the biggest hits in history, and frenzied teens flocked to see Haley and the Comets perform it, even causing riots in some places; "Rock Around the Clock" was a breakthrough for both the group and for all of rock and roll music. If everything that came before laid the groundwork, "Clock" certainly set the mold for everything else that came after. 
Elvis Presley: Elvis
Aaron Presley, also known as The
King of Rock 'n Roll, had an immeasurable effect on Rock and more widely, the world culture.
The King started his career under the name the Hillbilly Cat, and by the end of his career had 146 Hot 100 hits, 112 top 40 hits, 72 top 20 hits and 40 top 10 hits; all of these are the most anyone has yet achieved.
Personal Favorites: "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog"
The Beatles: The Beatles were the most influential music group of the rock era. They affected a generation during the 1960s. Certainly they are the most popular group in rock history, with global sales exceeding 1.1 billion records.The classic Beatles lineup consisted of John Lennon (guitar), (James) Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (guitar), and Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) (drums), all from Liverpool, Merseyside, in England.
Personal Favorites: Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band Album.
The Doors: The Doors were a musical band of the 1960s and early 1970s. To fans of the Doors, the music included socially and politically charged lyrics mostly written by Jim Morrison. The jazz drumming of John Densmore, the swirling keyboards of Ray Manzarek, whose left hand played the parts typically associated with bass guitar, and Robby Krieger's guitar playing, which showed the influence of flamenco, Indian, the blues and classical music, combined to form a distinctive sound. The Doors were unusual among rock groups in that they did not use a bass guitarist in concert, with Manzarek playing the bass lines.
Personal Favorites: Morrison Hotel (includes Roadhouse Blues & Peace
Frog) and L.A. Woman (includes Riders on the Storm)
The Who: The Who were noted for the dynamism of their live
performances and for their thoughtful music, including Tommy, one of the first rock operas. While not a heavy metal band themselves, their distorted guitars, epic songwriting, and over-the-top stage show were an influence on the genre. The Who's shows have often had an extraordinary decibel output. For a period of time during the 1970s, they were listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the loudest rock band in the world, though other bands have since taken the title.
Personal Favorites: My Generation & Who's Next
Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin was a British band noted for their innovative, influential approach to heavy blues-rock and as one of the most popular and influential bands of all time.
The band was originally formed in 1968 by guitarist Jimmy Page under the name The New Yardbirds. Vocalist Robert Plant, drummer John Bonham. Bassist John Paul Jones were later added after the original Yardbirds split.
The band's varying musical tendencies were fused on their best yet untitled fourth album, which is usually called either "Zoso," "Runes," "Four Symbols," or just "Led Zeppelin IV." This record included rock classics such as "Black Dog", "The Battle of Evermore" and "Stairway to Heaven", a massive FM radio hit that has been acknowledged by many as the all-time greatest classic rock song. The album winds up with one of their best blues songs, "When the Levee Breaks".
Personal Favorites: The list is too long to fit the page !!!!
Queen:
The beginnings of Queen can be traced to 1968,
when Brian May and Roger Taylor formed the trio Smile, at Imperial College,
London, where they were both students. After the group's bassist and lead
singer Tim Staffell departed in the spring of 1970, May and Taylor took on
vocalist Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Pluto Bulsara) in April 1970 to form
Queen. In 1971 John Deacon completed the lineup as bass guitarist. With
a wide vocal range and a somewhat operatic technique, Freddie Mercury was
one of the most versatile and technically accomplished singers to work in
the pop idiom. He was the composer of many of Queen's hits, including "Bohemian
Rhapsody", "Somebody to Love" and "We Are the
Champions". In 1984, Queen successfully bridged the gap between
hard rock and pop with the album The Works, which included the
incredibly successful glitzy rock anthem "Radio Ga-Ga," the
gorgeous pop of "I Want to Break Free," Queen never
actually disbanded, although their last album of original material (not
including compilations) was released in 1995, titled Made In Heaven, put out
four years after Freddie Mercury's death, and constructed from Freddie's
final recording sessions in 1991. At the end of 2004, it was announced that
Queen will reunite and return to touring in 2005, with Paul Rodgers (founder
and former lead singer of Free, Bad Company, and The Firm) who will be
singing in Freddie Mercury's place
Alan Parsons Project:
The Alan Parsons Project is a
"project" of acclaimed English producer Alan PARSONS, best known
for his works with The BEATLES's "Abbey Road" and PINK FLOYD's
"Dark Side of the Moon". Along with songwriter Eric WOOLFSON,
PARSONS created a series of 10 (and counting) albums of progressive rock,
employing a rotating cast of session musicians to do most of the performing.
(PARSONS does play keyboard and sings on some tracks.). He creates the
concept, writes some of the music and hires the artists, while WOOLFSON
writes the lyrics, some of the music and sings on many tracks. Some of my
personal favorite songs by APP are Eye in the Sky, Can't Take it with
you, Sooner or Later & Traveler ( Days are numbers)
Dire Straits: Dire Straits formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals), David Knopfler (guitar), John Illsley (bass) and Pick Withers (drums). In an era when punk rock reigned, they played subdued, almost old-school rock and roll. Mark Knopfler (the band's frontman) was heard to have asked pub managers to turn down the sound, so people could talk over the music, while they were still in their early days. Despite this complete antithesis to popular culture at the time, Dire Straits still became hugely successful.
Some of their greatest works were Making Movies (1980), Love over Gold
(1982), Brothers in Arms (1985) & On Every Street (1991). Mark
Knopfler continues the legacy of Dire Straits, although Mark doesn't use the
name Dire Straits anymore, the music is still the same. When you listen to
his recent solo-album 'Sailing To Philadelphia', you will recognize the
typical Straits-sound in many songs.Mark Knopfler released his new album
entitled 'Shangri-La' in September 2004. The album is peppered with
fascinating stories and lyrics and some of the most engaging melodies
Knopfler has ever devised, all beautifully realised by Mark and his usual
group of players.
Metallica: Metallica is
perhaps the best heavy metal band active from the 1980s to the 2000s. After building a loyal following through its role in the development of metal in the 1980s, Metallica successfully broadened its audience in the early 1990s. Metallica was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981 by drummer and former tennis prodigy Lars Ulrich, and guitarist and vocalist James
Hetfield. The longtime line-up for the best parts of Metallica's career was
Lars Ulrich (Drums), James Hetfield (Vocals & Guitars), Kirk Hammett
(Lead Guitars) and Jason Newsted (Bass Guitars). Early in 2002, Metallica unexpectedly split with
Jason Newsted. In 2003 Metallica picked Ozzy Osbourne's bass player Robert
Trujillo as Newsted's replacement. Most notable works of the band include Master of Puppets, ...And Justice for All, and their self-titled album, Metallica (popularly known as The Black Album) among many others.
Their latest album St. Anger got some tepid reviews although the band
documentary 'Some Kinda Monster' won rave reviews for its blatant portrayal
of the band's resurgence as a group from adversities of individual members.
Joe Satriani: Joe "Satch" Satriani is an instrumental rock guitarist notable in a genre typically unfriendly to instrumental musicians. It is notable that while his non-musician fans tend to call him "Satch", other guitarists more typically call him "Saint Joe"; Satriani is recognized as one of the most technically proficient guitarists in rock. He has mastered nearly every performance technique on his instrument, including two-handed tapping, sweep picking, volume swells, tap harmonics, etc. He is also a renowned guitar teacher, whose students have included Steve Vai, David Bryson (Counting Crows), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Larry LaLonde (Primus), and Slash (GNR), among others. In 1994, Satriani joined the band Deep Purple to replace guitarist Ritchie Blackmore during the band's tour. In 1996, Satriani formed G3, a concert tour featuring three instrumental rock guitarists -- originally Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson.
The G3 concerts still go on and I was a proud attendant of the 2003 G3
Concert featuring Joe Satriani, Steve Vai & Yngwie Malmstien. More info
at 
Steve Vai: Steve Vai, born Steven Siro Vai, is a guitarist and composer known as the 'Italian Virtuoso', born June 6th, 1960 in Long Island, New York (making him six years old on the sixth day of the sixth month in 1966, as he noted in the introduction to his guitar transcription book of Frank Zappa). Vai is best known for his self-composed, performed and produced guitar instrumental music, but he has also played on the recordings of several other rock acts. Steve Vai made his name playing 'stunt guitar' with the legendary rock performer, composer, music producer, and publishing mogul Frank
Zappa. More info at