Inconsequential Rock Sub-Genre: Glam Rock

1858 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: History of rock music

Glam rock is usually viewed as an inconsequential rock sub-genre. It is often forgotten in the abundance of genres that originated in the 1970s, and it is often neglected completely as a major genre at all in America. Critics slammed the new genre, calling it hype-driven and plastic. One argument held that glam rock was typically seen as insignificant because it did not have a long life, nor did it capture the attention of the world. Glam rock was popular in the UK, but even there, it was short-lived and only popular amongst teens who missed out on the pop culture and hippie ideology of the late 1960s. Glam rock, then, may seem a genre that is worth forgetting, except that glam rock laid the foundations of the modern popular music industry. Between 1970 and 1977, glam rock commercially remodeled the traditional approach to popular music following the hippie movement of the late 1960s, it did this by focusing on stimulating stage performances, theatricality, fashion, revolutionary management techniques, and endorsing fringe social issues such as: alienation, introspective reflection, and sexual exploration—artists such as David Bowie and Marc Bolan, were the figureheads of glam rock that paved the way for the future of the commercial music industry.

Before examining the impact of glam rock, one must look at the historical beginnings of rock and roll as a whole and how glam rock arrived in popular culture. Music in America after the Civil War consisted of a few genres: orchestral, hymnals, gospels, and ethnic folk were the most common. By 1900, country music had achieved national status. In 1912 blues music gained national attention when W.C. Handy released the song “Memphis Blues”, which unleashed a new approach to music. Off-shoo...

... middle of paper ...

.... "David Bowie." 20/20 Recorded Marth 19 2010. American Broadcasting Company. Web, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoaQVd1fP10.

-Howard, Jan. "Needle Sharing in the Haight: Some Social and Psychological Functions." American Sociological Association. no. 3 (1970): 221. Retrieved from J-stor. (accessed April 8, 2014).

-Pearl. "Glam Rock Documentary 70's" Recorded October 04 2008. Pearl. Web, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_upoa-FLUM&list=PL725C87C255B94B8D.

-Quatro, Suzie. "The Final Word." Marc Bolan - The Final Word Recorded February 15th 2013. British Broadcasting Company. Web, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgCNm6eNLAw

-Thomas, Michael. “T. Rex is Gonna Fuck You into the Mick Jagger Gap.” Rolling Stone March 16, 1972: 32.

-Russell, Ethan. Let it Bleed: The Rolling Stones, Altamont, and the End of the Sixties. New York City: Grand Central Publishing, 2009.

Show More
Related

  • Synopsis of The Grateful Dead

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The Grateful Dead”, Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone; Jann S. Wenner. Edition And publisher, 2014, web, 16 April 2014.

    Read More

  • Rock and Roll in the Early Fifties

    1698 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Rock- The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Yorke provides a chronological approach to rock and roll from 1877- 1974. Although it is not extremely detailed, a general overview of each year’s music is presented. Throughout the book, many descriptive summaries of individual artists may be found along with classic pictures.

    Read More

  • Needle Exchange Programs: Effective or Ineffective?

    1999 Words  | 4 Pages

    Strathdee, S.A., (2000). Trends in crime and the introduction of a needle exchange program. American Journal of Public Health, 90(12), 1933-1936. Retrieved from PsycINFO.

    Read More

  • Rock And Roll Impact On Culture

    956 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although considered the day Rock ‘n’ Roll was born, many other events in American history have given foundation to this much loved idea. Rock ‘n’ Roll is much more than just music, rather it is the movement which underlines cultural imperialism. Rock had been promoting a culture of comfort and freedom from social constraints as well. Although the style of ‘Rock music’ is easily adaptable into many different sounds, it is still thoroughly identified by its definingly amplified rhythm. The sudden worldwide popularity of rock and roll resulted in an unparalleled social impact. Rock ‘n’ Roll influenced lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language in a way few other social developments have equaled. The social impact is so large that rock stars are worshipped worldwide. In its early years, many adults condemned the style of music, placing a stigma on its name, and forbid their children from listening and following its ways. Many considered Rock ‘n’ Roll culture as a bad influence to all people, but as the genre aged and the now not-so-young crowds had matured, Rock was respected and

    Read More

  • The History Of Rock And Roll

    816 Words  | 2 Pages

    I believe that the history of rock and roll demonstrates a link between culture and social class race, and age; by the way a genre brings all the people in these different categories into one big group. When rock and roll began to emerge people from different cultures and social classes started to come together as a group by the way they dressed. It was not only the music but also the fashion it brought along with it. People from this era changed the way they dressed, styled their hair and their means of transportation. This brought together people from different cultures and social class, race and age all together.

    Read More

  • Why is Authenticity Important In Rock Music?

    912 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...le genres of music have been accused of selling out during the 80's Heavy Metal and Glam Rock were fused by bands such as Motley Crue and Poison to make Glam Metal which hardcore metal fans hated as it was not deemed authentic due to its over the top and feminine feel.

    Read More

  • Rock-N-Roll Music

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    After many of World War II’s harmful effects, the 1950s served as a period of time of musical change that reflected the dynamic of society as well as the traditional norms and values. Many factors contributed to this transformation. For example, the civil rights movement heightened many racial tensions, and the music produced consequently manifested this tension in itself. Rock-n-roll and R&B music universalized music typically associated with African-Americans, and many African-American musicians gained fame; however, as with any relatively-widespread success, there were many musicians as well who missed their opportunities due to the same racial segregation. While “radical” genres such as R&B and rock-n-roll laid the foundation for music future forms of music, the standard pop, jazz, and country music adhered to traditional values, and thus continued to maintain popularity amidst phenomena such as the Elvis craze.

    Read More

  • Rock n Roll & 20th Century Culture

    1464 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rock ‘n’ roll and 20th Century Culture According to Philip Ennis, rock ‘n’ roll emerged from the convergence of social transformations which resulted from World War II (Ryan 927). Despite its pop culture origins, rock music is arguably one of the strongest cultural factors to develop in this century. Artists such as Lennon, McCartney and Dylan defined the emotions of a generation and, in the last decade, it as even been acknowledged by members of the establishment which it hoped to change as a major influence in the country. In order to understand how rock went from a sign of rebellion to a cultural icon, it is necessary to understand where it came from.

    Read More

  • Culture and Music of the 70's

    1856 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... Kiss. Kiss called attention and became popular through eccentric effects such as explosives, police lights, rocket-firing guitars, and bizarre make-up. The music scene was making a movement to a more flashy appearance rather than simply the music itself. This fit the culture that was stuck on the appearance of things and didn’t want to become too involved.

    Read More

  • All Shook Up: How Rock 'n' Roll Changed America

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    The development of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the late 1940s and early 1950s by young African Americans coincided with a sensitive time in America. Civil rights movements were under way around the country as African Americans struggles to gain equal treatment and the same access to resources as their white neighbors. As courts began to vote in favor of integration, tensions between whites and blacks escalated. As the catchy rhythm of Rock ‘n’ Roll began to cross racial boundaries many whites began to feel threatened by the music, claiming its role in promoting integration. This became especially problematic as their youth became especially drawn to ...

    Read More

  • Chuck Berry

    1841 Words  | 4 Pages

    McPherson, Ian. “The Salt of the Earth: 1955-1960 R&B-Derived Rock & Roll.” Time Is On Our

    Read More

  • The Similarities Between The 1960s And 1970's

    822 Words  | 2 Pages

    Funk, Soul, R&B, Pop, Hard Rock, Soft Rock and Disco were popular all over the world at this time, and in the late 1970s a new type of genre of music was born, hip-hop. Some of the best Rock and Roll we have ever seen was recorded in the 1970s, such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie. The early 70s was a lot similar to the late 60, The Rolling Stones, Beatles, Doors, and Jimi Hendrix were all very popular at this time. That was until Led Zeppelin formed and changed everything, “It’s truly impossible to oversell how brilliantly these records are produced; “rock” as an idea is really a ’70s idea, and Led Zeppelin established what that would mean and what it would sound like.”(Pitchfork, 2014) Led Zeppelin came along and emerged into something like The Beatles of the 70s. Every member in that band is considered one of if not the best in that field, and it is debateable that they are one of the best bands ever

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Rock And Roll Today And 1950's

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    The rise of rock and roll into the limelight is to a large extent attributed to the teenagers of the 1950’s. Early rock music listened to by teenagers during the 1950’s was formed by blending together Rhythm and blues with country music. This kind of ...

    Read More

  • The Impact of Rock 'n' Roll on the Civil Rights Movement

    1581 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rock 'n' roll came from a type of music called rhythm and blues (R&B), which consisted of doo-wop and gospel music. It was popular mostly in the south during the 40’s but it soon grew to urban cities. It was Les Paul’s invention of the electric guitar in 1952 that added a new sound and made rhythm and blues into the rock 'n' roll we all know and love today. Most of the artists from R&B were African American, and in their song they would reference sexual matters. So together it gave a bad connotation towards the music and their race, therefore both were never fully accepted in the north. The term “rock” was slang mostly used by African Americans meaning a form of music that was easily danced to. Meanwhile “roll” was usually a euphemism for sex, such as “a roll in the hay”. It was Alan Freed who first popularized the term “rock and roll” for this gen...

    Read More

  • Nirvana’s Effect on American Culture and Society

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    The American rock band Nirvana impacted American culture and society by paving the way for the punk rock subculture into mainstream corporate America. Punk rock music stems from the rock genre but has its own agenda. The crux of punk rock is that it is a movement of the counterculture against the norms of society. Punk rock in itself is made up of a subculture of people who rejected the tameness of rock and roll music during the 1970s. (Masar, 2006, p. 8). The music stresses anti-establishment and anti-authoritarian ideas in its lyrics as well as scorns political idealism in American society. Before Nirvana unintentionally made punk rock a multi-million dollar commercialized genre of music, underground rock paved the way for the punk rock genre by creating core values that punk rockers drew upon.

    Read More

More about Inconsequential Rock Sub-Genre: Glam Rock

Open Document