Ryan O’Keefe ’25
Bruce Springsteen once wrote “Until I realized that rock music was my connection to the rest of the human race, I felt like I was dying, for some reason, and I didn’t know why.”
Rock music is a genre that has captured the minds of individuals for decades. As the number one charting music genre of the century, people seem to have loved rock music for decades. But why? How did this genre come to be and how is it as popular as it is today?
To start, we need to begin with the king of rock and roll himself, Elvis Presley. Growing up in a small town in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis was constantly exposed to African – American blues and soul music. Blues music had traveled up the Mississippi delta to Memphis, St. Louis, and Chicago. Being white and living off his parents Hank Snow country albums, Elvis was enthralled with rhythm and blues. Other black musicians like Little Richard and Fats Domino architected what Elvis popularized. As he grew older, he began combining the styles of fast upbeat country with deep melodic and soulful blues singing.
As Mr. Dahlke stated “It’s interesting to see a genre go from nowhere to super popular!” I think all can agree. So how did that happen? How did the genre garner the significance in pop culture that we see today? For that, we have to see the popularity and success of Woodstock. In 1969, rock musicians ranging from The Who, The Grateful Dead, and Jimi Hendrix all joined to perform in the most historically significant concert of the century.
Despite the number 1 song of the year being “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies, people still remember the greatness that was Woodstock 1969. Sure “Sugar Sugar” is a catchy pop song, but people at the time wanted something real. They wanted something that spoke the harsh truth of how painful the world around them was. The counterculture that circulated as global tensions grew because of US involvement in Vietnam showed the power people had if they could write.
To this day, documentaries are made about the concert to emphasize its importance and value during a crucial time in not just American history but world history.
As time marched on, rock music grew and evolved. Bands like The Pixies, Velvet Underground, and Red Hot Chili Peppers added funk and alternative elements to rock. With rock truly in the mainstream, more and more people began the journey of underground rock and the more experimental elements of the genre.
No city was more well known for this than Washington, DC. Hardcore punk began to take off inunderground clubs all over the nation, and DC was the headquarters. Clubs like The 9:30 Club and The Black Cat began popping up to give a safe haven and performance studio for alternative rock musicians.
But as rock music became more underground, its mainstream appeal began to fade. Did rock music die? Or, is it just being reborn?
I think it is pretty clear that rock music is the preferred genre of choice for most teachers at this school, but what does that say about young students who want to see such a great genre thrive again? Well that is all up to you.
As stated the key to popular music is playing it live and finding the audience.
As Dave Grohl said on Hot Ones “The secret to success [in the music business] is performing live.”
For me there is nothing like getting together with some friends and jamming all night. If we are lucky, we get to perform some of our magic to audiences and have a great time. That’s what is so fun about Rock music: it requires collaboration.
Without an audience, there is no community to attract. Sure part of the beauty of rock music is writing the songs, but that is only one piece of the puzzle. The other piece is you. Without you there is no one listening.
In the words of Duane Allman, “Rock without fans is nothing.” The reason we think rock is dead is because we do not take the time to listen to it and seek out a concert to support it. And that is missing the very essence of the genre. Rock is not just an escape, it is an experience you have to see to believe. It brings people together in a way that no other genre can recreate.
The very essence of Rock ‘n’ Roll is joining up with people to find a new local favorite band, or starting one yourself.
So now it is up to you to support the genre you love the most. Without you, Rock is nothing.
Photograph by The JUKEBOXY