History of Rock and Roll Final Exam

Lollapalooza

- Perry Farrell of alternative band Janes Addiction organized first festival - touring, multistage, outdoor concert - dubbed the audience "Alternative Nation" -Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock, hip hop, and electronic music bands and artists, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths

Rage Against the Machine

- combined elements of metal, rap, funk & thrash with caustic political & social commentary -addressed serious issues like corporatism, imperialism, government, oppression, institutional racism, & police brutality

Pearl Jem

- first name was Mookie Blaylock - "Ten": Lyrics dealt with depression, suicide, alienation, & social concerns - Lawsuit against TicketMaster kept them off the road until 98, but lost case * returned touring at TicketMaster controlled venues - one of most influential bands of the generation

Nirvana

- well established in Seattle grunge scene - "Smells like teen spirit" on college radio & created spike in sales -grunge band that became the pacesetter of the new music style -1987 signed by Sub Pop members: Kurt Cobain (guitarist/vocalist), Chad Channing (Drummer), Krist Novoselic (bassist) -found niche with Punk Rock -mid 1980's Kurt Cobain started the band to showcase his musical influences -abrasive, fast punk music -influenced by Black Sabbath -hardcore and metal influences -pop/metal/punk hybrid -"Smells Like Teen Spirit" -Cobain projected his pain on himself and expressed it in his songs -Cobain committed suicide with a shotgun, highlighting the angry desperation of a generation

REM

-"Radio Free Europe" -american rock band -signed with Warner Bro Records -support of college radio R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, that was formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist/backing vocalist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe. One of the first alternative rock bands, R.E.M. was noted for Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style, Stipe's distinctive vocal quality and obscure lyrics, Mills' melodic basslines and backing vocals and Berry's tight but economical style of drumming. R.E.M. released its first single—"Radio Free Europe"—in 1981 on the independent record label Hib-Tone. best bands the American underground kicked up in the Eighties, R.E.M. were a group of arty Athens, Georgia guys who invented college rock and went on to huge mainstream success. They brought a cagey mix of attitude and poetry to an idiosyncratic sound built around jangling guitars and hazy vocals of frontman Michael Stipe. Relentlessly touring clubs around the country for the first few years, R.E.M. consistently refined their sound: They could be dreamy, abrasive, circumspect, mischievous, and eggheaded. Their 1988 signing with Warner. Bros. netted them $10 million dollars for five records. Fortunately for the band and their fans, the same kind of creative gambits that marked their early days were still in place during the 1990s.

Guns N Roses

-Axl Rose and Slash -emerged out of LA -songs about drug abuse, chaos in the city -seemed like overnight success after video and album came out American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. The lineup, when first signed to Geffen Records in 1986, consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler

James Brown

-Brown was born into poverty in rural Barnwell, South Carolina, around the time of the Depression - Convicted of armed robbery at 16, he spent three years in a juvenile detention institution -In the meantime, Byrd and Brown had put together a gospel group -transforming the group (Johnny Terry, Sylvester Keels, and Floyd Scott) into the Flames -Brown a regional star until "Try Me" became a national hit in 1958, charting Number One in R&B, Number 48 in pop. -The show was precisely choreographed, with Brown pumping his hips, twisting on one foot, and doing splits as the troupe executed their own intricate steps. -"God Father of Soul" soul innovator - influenced funk and hip hop -60s/70s: becomes a spokesman for black community/Civil Rights movement -Black Power -Brown earned the nickname "Mr. Dynamite" and title "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business." - "the Godfather of Soul," "Soul Brother Number One" and "the hardest working man in show business." Michel Jackson cited him as "my greatest inspiration." -James Brown has influenced contemporary artists from virtually every popular music genre — rock, soul, jazz, R&B

CBGB

-Country, Blue Grass, and Blues -venue in the lower east side of NY, -CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in Manhattan's East Village. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar

NWA

-Formed in Compton by Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella - "Straight Outta Compton"(1988)- response to Run-DMC 'selling out' -first album to have mandatory Parental advisory -formed in 1986 by Eazy E -NWA= *****z with attitude -gangsta rap

The Sex Pistols

-From England "God Save the Queen" song that got them in trouble One of the most important punk bands -wrote "Anarchy in the UK", wore leather, their music was banned from the radio, couldnt get a job in england, came on tour to america, broke up before cali -punk in the UK ⁃ London Punk bands: suffering economic depression punk was a reflection of anger frustration of unemployment ⁃ only around for 2 1/2 years one album and 4 singles ⁃ start with 3 record deals each dropped them before could get started very hard to work with ⁃ punk became a dirty word

Iggy and the Stooges

-Iggy Pop - vocals Produced by John Cale formerly of The Velvet Underground "I Wanna Be Your Dog" "Search and Destroy" -Punk ⁃ Influenced by Velvet Underground ⁃ outrageous performer cut himself crowd dived before it was a thing ⁃ raw aggressive, distorted guitar sounds ⁃ aggressive vent toward authority ⁃ return of simplicity no complexity from pro rick like 50s rock going back Iggy pop formed this band in Michigan known for wild revolting stage antics, song 1969, i wanna be your dog, search and destroy

Black Sabbath

-Mixing bone-crushing volume with Ozzy Osbourne's keening, ominous pronouncements of gloom and doom, Black Sabbath were the heavy-metal kings of the 1970s. -The four original members, schoolmates from a working-class district of industrial Birmingham, England, first joined forces as the Polka Tulk Blues Company. -They quickly changed their name to Earth, then, in 1969, to Black Sabbath; the name came from the title of a song written by bassist Geezer Butler -Despite the band members' intense drug and alcohol abuse, the constant road work paid off, and by 1974 Black Sabbath was considered peerless among heavy-metal acts, its first five LPs all having sold at least a million copies apiece in America alone. -songs dealing with apocalypse, death, and destruction, the band members insisted their interest in the black arts was nothing more than innocuous curiosity, and in time, Black Sabbath's princes-of-darkness image faded. -Osbourne, reeling from drug use and excessive drinking, quit the band briefly in late 1977 (ex-Savoy Brown and Fleetwood Mac vocalist Dave Walker filled his shoes for some live dates). In January 1979 he was fired. Ronnie James Dio, formerly of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, replaced Osbourne. -at the end of the Forbidden Tour, the band unofficially went on hiatus.

Marvin Gaye

-OG name Gay changed to GayE -First stage production staff as a session drummer -Second stage composer and professional singer -wrote "whats going on" in 1971 controversial song -Father shot and killed him in 1984 -Gaye started singing at age three in church and was soon playing the organ as well. -After a stint in the Air Force, he returned to DC and started singing in street-corner doo-wop groups, including a top local group, the Rainbows -famous for work produced w Motown Records WAS MURDERED (SHOT) BY HIS OWN FATHER "how sweet it is (to be loved by you)" "ain't no mountain high enough" "let's get it on" -Motown hitmakers, with a career that exemplified the maturation of black pop into a sophisticated form spanning social and sexual politics. -He regularly avoided TV, rarely performing live, and sometimes not showing up for the few concerts he did schedule. -working with nearly every producer at Motown (including Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield, and the Holland-Dozier-Holland team), he enjoyed over 20 big hits -Gaye was one of the first Motown artists to gain complete artistic control of his records. What's Going On was a self-composed and produced concept album.

David Bowie

-One of the leading British artists of theater rock Ziggy Stardust He was bisexual -British theatre rock, first artist to proclaim bi-sexuality, played ziggy stardust

The Ramones

-One of the most important punk groups from the US -The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. -The Ramones began taking shape in early 1974 when Cummings and Colvin invited Hyman to join them in a band. Colvin wanted to play guitar and sing, Cummings would also play guitar and Hyman would play drums. The lineup was to be completed with their friend Richie Stern on bass. However, after only a few rehearsals it became clear that Richie Stern could not play bass, so in addition to singing, Colvin switched from guitar to bass and Cummings became the only guitarist -The Ramones made their CBGB debut on August 16, 1974.[23] Legs McNeil, who cofounded Punk magazine the following year, later described the impact of that performance: "They were all wearing these black leather jackets. And they counted off this song... and it was just this wall of noise... They looked so striking. These guys were not hippies. This was something completely new. -vastly influential in both the United States and the United Kingdom, inspiring also the emergence of hardcore punk, pop punk, and alternative rock -All of the band members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname "Ramone", although none of them were related. They performed 2,263 concerts, touring virtually nonstop for 22 years.[2] In 1996, after a tour with the Lollapalooza music festival, the band played a farewell concert and disbanded.[3] By 2014, all four of the band's original members, lead singer Joey Ramone (1951-2001), bass guitarist Dee Dee Ramone (1951-2002), guitarist Johnny Ramone (1948-2004) and drummer Tommy Ramone (1949-2014), had died. - John Cummings and Thomas Erdelyi had both been in a high-school garage band from 1965 to 1967 known as the Tangerine Puppets. -from NYC, 4 guys, derived their name from paul McCartney's incognito name while travelling Europe, regulars at CBGB's, Bubblegum Punk -NY punk scene ⁃ Stripped down, high energy rock music focused simple fast paced songs first successful in UK then in the US

Pattie Smith

-Patti Smith Group Early Punk Band -deals with poetry and rock, recites poetry while playing music, her words reflected life in NY -Patti Smith is a highly influential figure in the New York City punk rock scene, starting with her 1975 album Horses. Her biggest hit is the single "Because the Night - highly influential figure in the New York City punk rock scene. -Smith, who had experimented earlier with setting her poetry to music, began to more fully explore rock 'n' roll as an outlet for her lyric poetry. In 1974, she formed a band and recorded the single "Piss Factory," now widely considered the first true "punk" song, which garnered her a sizable and fanatical grassroots following. -Smith's 1975 debut album, Horses, featuring the iconic singles "Gloria" and "Land of a Thousand Dances," was a huge commercial and critical success for its manic energy, heartfelt lyrics and skillful wordplay. The definitive early punk rock album, Horses is a near-ubiquitous inclusion on lists of the best albums of all time. -The Patti Smith Group then achieved a commercial breakthrough with its third album, Easter (1978 -Lenny Kaye - guitar Kaye's anthology of 60's garage-rock, Nuggets, helped define a genre Smith was the first artist on the CBGB scene to get signed to a major record label, Arista Produced by John Cale "Gloria"

Talking Heads

-Played at CBGB's --Students of Rhode Island School of Design -Songs praised for intellectual and artsy character -leading edge of the new wave -known for quirky, artsy, intellectual pop, led by Byrne's nervous vocal style -founded in 1974 -members: Davud Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Franz

Aretha Franklin

-She was the first female performer to be inducted into the rock Hall of Fame, Queen of soul, respect is one of her big hits -definitive female soul singer of the Sixties, she's also one of the most influential and important voices in pop history. -"Queen of Soul" ⁃ First signed with Columbia didn't do well so released her to Atlantic and she went to Fame Studios ⁃ Disagreement with husband and house band atlantic wanted to go to NY to finishe without Rick Halls permission = bad blood ⁃ "Respect" Ottis Retting cover became a woman anthem -Franklin fused the gospel music she grew up on with the sensuality of R&B, the innovation of jazz, and the precision of pop -signed by legendary talent scout John Hammond to Columbia -In 1966 she signed with Atlantic, and with the help of producer Jerry Wexler, arranger Arif Mardin, and engineer Tom Dowd, began to make the records that would reshape soul music -By 1968 Franklin reigned throughout America and Europe as "Lady Soul" — a symbol of black pride -born in memphis tennessee 1942 when she was 6 she moved to detroit, sang gospel in church, met mahalia jackson and same cooke. "Respect, The weight, elanor rigby.

The Eagles

-The band was formed by four Los Angeles-based musicians who had migrated to the West Coast from other parts of the country. -The Eagles began in early 1971, when Linda Ronstadt and her then-manager John Boylan recruited local musicians Glenn Frey and Don Henley for her band. -The founding members were Glenn Frey (guitars, vocals), Don Henley (drums, vocals), Bernie Leadon (guitars, vocals) and Randy Meisner (bass guitar, vocals). -The Eagles toured as an opening act throughout 1972 and into early 1973, when they returned to England to record their second LP, Desperado, a concept album about outlaws. -The group's eponymous debut album was recorded in England in February 1972 with producer Glyn Johns.[4] Johns was impressed by the harmony singing of the band,[20] and he has been credited with shaping the band into "the country-rock band with those high-flyin' harmonies."[21] Released on June 1, 1972, Eagles was a breakthrough success -It was the first album to be certified platinum (1 million sold) by the Recording Industry Association of America, which introduced that classification in 1976. They released four consecutive Number One albums between 1975 and 1979: One of These Nights (1975), Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, Hotel California (1976) and The Long Run (1979)

The Velvet Underground

-The ultimate New York band — and, arguably, the most influential of all the proto-punk groups — the Velvet Underground were unique among Sixties rockers in their intentional crudity, in their sense of beauty in ugliness, and in their dark and risqu é lyrics. -During the age of flower power, the Velvets spoke in no uncertain terms of social alienation, sexual deviancy, drug addiction, violence, and hopelessness, evoking the exhilaration and destructiveness of modern urban life -In 1964 John Cale met Lou Reed in New York City. Both had been classically trained — -Cale as a violist and theorist, and Cale was engaging in avant-garde experimentation with La Monte Young -Reed as a pianist. By the time of their first meeting, and Reed was writing poems about down-and-out street life. -Cale, Reed, Sterling Morrison, and Angus MacLise (the percussionist in Young's ensemble) formed a group that played under various names — ----the Warlocks, the Primitives, the Falling Spikes — in galleries and at poetry readings around lower Manhattan. - As the Primitives, they recorded a series of singles on Pickwick Records, for which Reed had once worked as house songwriter. -In 1965 the quartet became known as the Velvet Underground. -On November 11, 1965, the group played its first gig as the Velvet Underground, opening for the Myddle Class at a high school dance in Summit, New Jersey. Within a few months, Reed, Morrison, Cale, and Tucker had taken up residency at the Cafe Bizarre in Greenwich Village, where they met pop artist Andy Warhol. -After the band was fired by the Bizarre's management for performing "Black Angel's Death Song" immediately after being told not to, Warhol invited them to perform at showings of his film series, Cinematique Uptight. He soon employed them as the aural component of his traveling mixed-media show, the Exploding Plastic Inevitable, augmenting the lineup with German singer/actress Nico. -With Warhol's blessing and Nico guesting on three lead vocals, the band recorded its debut album in 1966. The Velvet Underground and Nico languished in record-label red tape for a year before its release, but it nevertheless proved one of the most forward-thinking records of its time and remains one of the most important debut albums in rock history -early proto punk, style was a combo of music and art( not art rock), had live acts involving S&M

Stevie Wonder

-Was 11 years old when joined Motown -early age for Motown -sang played keyboards and or harmonica -fusion of pop and soul, -an ambitious hybrid of Tin Pan Alley chords and R&B energy, inflected with jazz, reggae, and African rhythms. -A synthesizer and studio pioneer, -Stevie Wonder is one of the few musicians to make records on which he plays virtually all the instruments -Stevie Morris' prodigious musical talents were recognized when Ronnie White of the Miracles heard the 10-year-old boy, playing the harmonica for his children, and introduced him to Berry Gordy Jr. of the Hitsville U.S.A. &Number 8212; soon Motown &Number 8212; organization. -Gordy named him Little Stevie Wonder -blind from infancy, -Both on records and in live shows he was featured playing harmonica, drums, piano, and organ, as well as singing &Number 8212; sometimes all in one number. -As his adolescence came to an end, Wonder took charge of his career. By the time of Signed Sealed & Delivered (Number 25, 1970), he was virtually self-sufficient in the studio, serving as his own producer and arranger, playing most of the instruments himself, and writing material with his wife, Syreeta Wright. -When he reached his 21st birthday in 1971, he negotiated a new contract with Motown that made him the label's first artist to win complete artistic control (also at 21 he was due the money he had made as a minor; despite earning over $30 million, he received only $1 million). -which incorporated gospel, rock & roll, jazz, and African and Latin rhythms). To his panoply of instruments, he added synthesizers; -played with rare invention and funk, they became the signature of his sound. -In 1972 his marriage to Wright ended after only a year (later, with companion Yolanda Simmons -Working with B.B. King, the Jacksons, the Supremes, Minnie Ripperton, Rufus, and Syreeta Wright, he established himself as a major songwriter and producer -by the end of the decade becoming Motown's first artist to play the Eastern bloc

Carly Simon

-Witty -Hit the charts in 1971, one of the top selling artists until the mid 1970s -"You're So Vain" --Everyone argues over the songs meaning. --About a man who took advantage of her when she was young, and no one knows who it was - American singer-songwriter, musician and children's author -worldwide hit "You're So Vain", for which she received three Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year - Early career Simon's career began with a short-lived music group with her sister Lucy as the Simon Sisters. -Going solo Simon was signed by Jac Holzman to Elektra Records in 1970.[27] She released her self-titled debut album, Carly Simon, in March 1971. The album contained her breakthrough top-ten hit "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be". -Success The subject of the "You're So Vain" song itself became one of the biggest mysteries in popular music, with the famous lyric "You're so vain/I bet you think this song is about you." -press speculation considering Mick Jagger, who sings backup vocals on the recording -Possessed with a tremendous voice, a magnetic personality, and good looks, Simon married fellow singer-songwriter James Taylor in 1972. Their relationship proved to be a stormy affair, ending in divorce eleven years later.

Frank Zappa

-composer/arranger/guitarist/bandleader Frank Zappa demonstrated a mastery of pop idioms ranging from jazz to rock of every conceivable variety, penned electronic and orchestral works, parlayed controversial satire, and testified in Congress against censorship. -Named his son Dweezil and his daughter Moon Unit Frank Zappa and The Mother of Invention One of the most accomplished composers of rock history -He befriended future Mothers of Invention members Ray Collins and Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood, and formed a band with Beefheart called the Soots. -Zappa was charged with conspiracy to commit pornography by the San Bernardino Vice Squad after an undercover policeman requested some sex "party" tapes: Zappa delivered tapes of faked grunting, and served 10 days of a six-month jail sentence -His montage production techniques - mingling tape edits, noise, recitative, free-form outbursts, and Varèse-like modern classical music with rock - were coming into their own. In 1967 Zappa and the Mothers also recorded Lumpy Gravy, with a 50-piece orchestra, including many Mothers, and Cruising With Ruben & the Jets, an homage to Fifties doo-wop. -The Eighties saw Zappa consolidating his business affairs and becoming more politically active.

Prince

-grafted rock guitars and overtly sexual lyrics onto a soul-pop sound for an innovative hybrid of the Michael Jackson formula for success -signed with Warner Brothers -had attained international stardom through video -hard to pin down genre- blending more seamless than with MJ -"one-man band" production style

New York Dolls

-group of men that wore girls clothes to look like dolls - one of the first bands of the early punk rock scenes. - they donned an androgynous wardrobe, wearing high heels, eccentric hats, and satin -New York Dolls predated the punk and glam metal movements, and were "one of the most influential rock bands of the last 20 years -When the New York Dolls formed in late 1971, they were not only creating some of the most passionate music of the new glitter era (and in fact defining a new New York rock style) but setting the stage for the punk movement that followed five years later. -The band members were born and grew up in various boroughs of New York City and played in local bands -During the Dolls' first tour of England, Murcia died after mixing alcohol with pills; the official cause of death was suffocation. The band replaced him with Jerry Nolan, who would appear on its Todd Rundgren-produced debut -The Dolls' music was strongly influenced by the Rolling Stones, the MC5, the Stooges, and the Velvet Underground, but deliberately more amateurish. And their cross-dressing captured the outrage and threat of glam. Despite this, their music and attitude were down to earth, and their stardom-by-self-definition stance served to keep most record companies at a distance. Still, a local glam scene of sorts developed around the group. -When no new record contract developed, both Nolan and Thunders left the band, and Johansen and Sylvain continued to tour with various backing musicians under the Dolls name through 1977.

Pixies

-members: Black francis (vocals, rhythm guitar), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), David Lovering (drums), Kim Deal (bass, vocals) -formed in Boston 1996 -style: blending psychedelic-rock, noise, hard rock, surf pop, to create something truly unique -emulated by bands as diverse as Nirvana, The Strokes and Weezer (primarily in their classical "loud-quiet-loud" textual song structure

The Clash

-political in nature, fused punk and reggae - Clash signed to CBS Records for £100,000 --Greater stylistic range among later UK punk groups -Political protestors -Wide range of musical styles --Greater stylistic range among later UK punk groups -Political protestors -Wide range of musical styles -English rock band formed in London, England in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk rock. Along with punk rock, the Clash also have played music genres such as post-punk, experimental rock, and new wave and their music often also incorporated elements of reggae, dub, funk, ska and rockabilly. For most of their recording career the Clash consisted of Joe Strummer (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar, lead vocals), Paul Simonon (bass guitar, vocals) and Nicky "Topper" Headon (drums, percussion) -The Clash's politicized lyrics, musical experimentation, and rebellious attitude had a far-reaching influence on rock, and alternative rock in particular.[2] They became widely referred to as "The Only Band That Matters", originally a promotional slogan introduced by the group's record label

Michael Jackson

-signed to Epic records -collaborated with Quincy Jones -The King of Pop -dance oriented music, influenced by disco and motown -Slick, choreographed dance moves - his father, Joe Jackson convinced Berry Gordy to sign the Jackson 5 to Motown records -was taught to mimic James Brown's frenzied dancing and the romantic pleadings of Smokey Robinson -Jackson 5 became the last major recording act signed by Motown -13 consecutive top twenty singles with Jackson 5= most successful african american pop vocal group -Jackson 5 signed with Epic records, the group changed their name to the Jacksons -enjoyed successful solo career as well -While filming "The Wiz" he met producer Quincy Jones, who arranged the music for the soundtrack -Jackson again teamed with Quincy Jones on "Thriller" -perfected dazzling choreography unlike most other rock acts -music appealed to both blacks and whites -most important star of the early 1980's -epitomized the growing conservation in America --> he did not smoke, drink, or take drugs -paved the way for soul pop artists -child phenom of 70s Motown

Metallica

-started in LA -Influences: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Motorhead -Embraced speed metal -Modern heavy metal band ___ music is an archetypal representative of the heavy metal style. Their music features pounding distorted low guitar riffs, an insistent heavy beat, lightning fast guitar solos and gloomy lyrics.

Van Halen

-virtuosic guitar by Eddy Van Halen -not good relationship with lead singer (got a new one) --Eddie Van Halen's guitar technique -As seen in "Eruption" -no strumming, a new virtuosic technique -extremely fast --lead guitarist, keyboardist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen -one of worlds greatest guitarist -archetype for the metal bands of the 1980s -began playing rock and roll -Van Halen brothers joined bassist Michael Anthony and singer David Lee Roth to form a band -presented a more polished smooth sound -varieties of tempos; rapid-fire, arpeggio guitar solos much shorter than the extended guitar breaks of the original heavy-metal groups; fast-paced, light bass lines, and periodic harmonies -featured frequent falsetto screams -mass notoriety for his guitar work in "Beat it" -founded 1974 -propelled to success by Eddie van Halen's virtuosity -two-handed tapping, wide vibrato, extreme tremolo, use of harmonics -factors in success: athletic and theatrical voice of David Lee Roth, California good looks -more polished sound, quicker tempos, lighter bass lines, brighter tonalities, and lightning-fast guitar bursts -Pop-metal -1984: embraces the era by incorporating synthesizers and pop-friendly hook

Madonna

-⁃ professional dancer NY demo tapes of singing to local DJ's -signed to Sire records -one of most controversial figures in the video scene. -music was driven by a dance beat combined a decadent sex appeal with African-American dance rhythms to attain stardom -pursued a career as a dancer -formed a band with drummer Steve Bray -videos accentuated her sexually aggressive, Marilyn Monroe-like image -trademark attire of lace wear -began as a dancer, became one of the most important stars of the MTV era -Chameleon-like image -Savy business sense -Careful tracking of musical trends -diverse musical explorations: gospel, R&B, techno, electronica

Queen

Hard rock band from UK that successfully fused aspects of Hard Rock, heavy metal, arena rock, and progressive rock into a unique sound built around the operatic singing and classical piano training of Freddie Mercury

Studio 54

In 1970s New York City, Studio 54 is the epicenter of sex, drugs and disco music. It's there that up-and-comer Shane O'Shea (Ryan Phillippe) endeavors to make his big-city dreams come true

James Taylor

James Taylor's upbringing: Upper middle class, depression and drugs The band played in Greenwich Village and was signed to a fledgling record label, Rainy Day Records (the name taken from Taylor's song "Rainy Day Man"). It released one single, "Brighten Your Night with My Day"/"Night Owl," both songs written by Taylor. The record was unsuccessful, and the band broke up in the spring of 1967 -got his artist's unsuccessful debut album was released on Apple Records -American, but got his start in Britain. -Signed with The Beatles, Apple Record label. -Was sent back to America to complete rehab, after his first album failed. --Song about his friend that died while he was in rehab. -The second album he released after his rehab sold very well and launched his career. - Taylor signed to Warner Bros., moved to California, and, retaining Asher as his manager and producer, recorded his second album, Sweet Baby James. It was released in February 1970 and became a major success during the course of the year, spurred by the single "Fire and Rain," a song that reflected on his experiences in mental institutions -1970 breakthrough Sweet Baby Jame

Napster

Napster was the name given to two music-focused online services. It was founded as a pioneering peer-to-peer file sharing Internet service that emphasized sharing digital audio files, typically audio songs, encoded in MP3 format peer-to-peer file sharing program that allowed users to download files quickly and easily from other users

Bruce Springsteen

New Jersey rocker ___ represents quintessential mainstream rock and roll with his hard rocking band, raw unsophisticated voice and working class lyrics. -described as a 'second Dylan' by publicity folks -mainstay of blue-collar rock 'n' roll -after commercial success in the 1970s, Nebraska embraced a raw sound, bleak lyrical themes -nicknamed the Boss -sang about americans who felt the hard times -1971: formed the ten-piece Bruce Springsteen Band -solo act by 1972 Springsteen signed a contract with manager Mike Appel, who arranged an audition with Columbia records talent coach John Hammond, who signed him to a label -influences in "Born to Run" include dylan elements, rapid-fire lyrics, harmonica playing, dramatic stylings of Roy Orbison, wails of Little Richard, and operatic sweep of Phil Spector -In 1979 Springsteen changed and it was shown in his music --> rather than focusing exclusively on cars, girls, and images of street toughs, his music began to deal with the plight of average Americans trapped by circumstances -"Born in the USA (1984): fused his vision with the infectious rock 'n' roll of the E Street Band -sought a renewed commitment to a 1960s social conscious -gave back to community a lot -Born in the USA appealed to many baby boomers who had protested the war in vietnam and during the 1960s had hoped for a better world -*This artist was known for his "working man" populist image -- and for helping create the biggest backbeat in rock

Slayer

One of "big four" speed metal bands, death metal band, frequent references to satan in lyrics, 1980's, violent lyrics Physical side of the music, had to be athletic to properly play their music

Genesis

Prog Rock theater ⁃ dress up and act out songs -Peter Gabriel was a member and usually the only one in costume acting out the music ⁃ focused lengthy carefully carried out arrangement

Radiohead

Radiohead were one of the most innovative and provocative bands of the 1990s and 2000s, five very serious Englishmen guys who developed their own sound and always tried really, really hard. The band, who were also the biggest art-rock act since Pink Floyd "Creep," a song that remains Radiohead's most lasting and successful single even though they've all but disowned Pablo Honey in the shadow of their later work

The Smiths

The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. The band consisted of vocalist Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. Critics have called them one of the most important bands to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s

Carol King

This singer/songwriter's first career was as a Brill Building pop writer -Throughout the 1960s she was one of pop's most prolific songwriters, writing the music to songs like the Shirelles' "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" and the Drifters' "Up on the Roof," with most lyrics by her first husband, Gerry Goffin. -Then in 1971 her multimillion-selling Tapestry helped popularize the 1970s pop-rock singer/songwriter genre. -1960s stepped out from behind the scenes, became one of most important and influential female artists of the 1970s -Taylor encouraged King to write her own lyrics and finally record solo again, resulting in 1970's Writer, with a backup band that included Kortchmar and others -She switched to Capitol Records in late 1976, and her first album for the new label, Simple Things (#17, 1977), went gold. -Wrote for girl group's -Solo artist, in the early to mid 1970s -Songs are witty and realistic -Audience was the same little girls she wrote for that have grown up and can relate to her new, mature, topics.

Sonic Youth

band can be viewed as part of New York's noise rock scene and the "no wave" movement

Rush

canadian rock band formed in 1968, Geddy lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Pearl, Moving pictures album canadian power trio, expand progressive rock concepts into harder sound with lyrics dealing with fantasy science fiction

Public Enemy

chuck d, flavor flav, terminator X. militant rappers. "fight the power" rapped about the political state of black america. they had a dense overlapping sound. didn't rap about things such as partying and were excluded from being shown on MTV before MTV created its own rap segment. Produced by the bomb squad

Pink Floyd

formed in 1965, one of first big London underground bands -got name from two American blues performers -super experimental -album Piper At the Gates of Dawn was very successful and is an important album in history recorded at Abbey Road studios at the same time as Sgt. Pprs -shows accompanied by light show

BeeGees

had a major his "staying alive" from saturday night fever phenomenal disco crossover success of their Saturday Night Fever era and modern romantic standards they'd created earlier, like "To Love Somebody," to "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" — and the Bee Gees versatility and knack for creating hits have earned them a belated critical respect. Cracks in their facade began to show in 1969, when the nonfamily members left the group and reports of excessive lifestyles and fighting among the brothers surfaced Bee Gees leaned toward ornate orchestration and sentimentality as opposed to American-style straight-ahead rock. Bee Gees started Music for UNICEF, donating the royalties from a new song and recruiting other hitmakers to do the same. They also appeared in Stigwood's movie fiasco Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and continued to record.

Yes

incorporate a wide variety of stylistic elements writing extended compositions, concept albums, all with a very polished technical flair

MC5

laid the foundations for the emergence of punk; deafeningly loud and uncompromisingly intense, the group's politics were ultimately as crucial as their music, their revolutionary sloganeering and anti-establishment outrage crystallizing the counterculture movement at its most volatile and threatening MC5 celebrated the holy trinity of sex, drugs, and rock & roll, their incendiary live sets offering a defiantly bacchanalian counterpoint to the peace-and-love reveries of their hippie contemporaries. Manager- John Sinclair White Panthers- founded by john Sinclair, a militant leftist organization where white people worked to assist the black panthers. Black Panther Party founder Heuy P Newton prompted MC5's manager, John Sinclair, to found the White Panthers, a militant leftist organization of the white people working to assist the Black Panthers. Song: Kick out the Jams

Blondie

mu wave punk, was a waitress named debbie harry, attempted rap her song "rapture" songs about rebelling, played CBGB band was a pioneer in the early American new wave and punk scenes of the mid-late 1970s. Its first two albums contained strong elements of these genres, and although successful in the United Kingdom and Australia, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the United States and became noted for its eclectic mix of musical styles incorporating elements of disco, pop, reggae, and early rap music.

MTV

receives much criticism for being white-centric Michael Jackson first black person - thriller violence and objectification of women 1981 cable television Music television Format called visual radio

Nine Inch Nails

sing Hurt example of industrial rock art and anti-conformity, moody, depressing Trent Reznor

Donna Summer

was a strong supporter of counter-patriarchal culture and empowering women. She gave a critique on sexism. Known best for her song and music video for "She Works Hard for the Money" (1981) where she is actually the narrator instead of the actor in the video.

Led Zeppelin

• focus on albums not singles • influenced on what they played: ⁃ Electric blues ⁃ acoustic folk ⁃ experimental ⁃ sex and spiritual enlightenment two huge topics in their songs ⁃ layered instrumentation and changing meters ⁃ "Four Sticks" --formed in 1968 -modeled on Cream and Yardbirds -insistently not metal -blues foundation -inspired by the Blues but also traditional folk and "exotic" musics -members: Jimmy Page (guitar), Robert Plant (vocals), John Paul Jones (bass), John Bonham (drums) -1973: embarked on a 36-date tour of America where they played to sold-out stadiums, beat US attendance record, treated the show as "an assault" with theatrics and excess (lasers, cannons, smoke), extended songs to 30 minutes (never seen before)