History of Rock Music 11/10

Chapter 13: Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

Early Influences in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

  • Key Influence: Cream

    • One of the earliest bands influencing the genre, especially with the track "Sunshine of Your Love".

    • Notable Characteristics:

    • Organized around a blues-derived bass riff.

    • This repeated bass riff becomes a characteristic feature of hard rock and heavy metal.

    • Introduction of a bottom heavy sound involving the use of two bass drums.

Historical Context of Cream

  • Farewell Performance of Cream

    • Date: November 26, 1968

    • Venue: Royal Albert Hall, London

    • Background of Members:

    • Jack Bruce: Lead singer and bass guitarist, previously with Manfred Mann.

    • Eric Clapton: Rated as one of the finest guitarists in the world, formerly a stained glass window designer.

    • Ginger Baker: Renowned drummer with a legendary status.

    • Overall Impact: Credited with giving rock music a significant musical authority.

American Hard Rock Pioneers

  • Key Bands Mentioned:

    • Bad Company

    • Notable songs:

      • "Feel Like Making Love" (1975).

      • "Can't Get Enough" (1974).

      • Reached No. 5 on the Billboard charts, its highest chart position.

    • Steppenwolf

    • Iconic track: "Born to Be Wild"

      • Famous for the phrase "heavy metal thunder" which is widely considered as one of the first uses of the term "heavy metal".

      • Link to cultural context: Featured in the movie "Easy Rider" about motorcycles.

    • Heart

    • Known for their powerful song "Barracuda" and remarkable vocal skills, particularly by Anne Wilson.

    • Other notable track: "Crazy On You".

Birth of Heavy Metal

  • Key Figure: Ozzy Osbourne

    • Context: Grew up in industrial cities in England, shaped by the hardships of factory life.

    • Quote: "We got sick and tired of all the BS, love your neighbor, love your brother, and flower power. We brought things to reality."

    • Musical Characteristics:

    • Heavy metal is rooted in the blues with an emphasis on aggressive dynamics, loudness, and technical virtuosity.

    • Notable guitar distortion techniques by bands like The Kinks using razors on speakers to create unique sounds.

Distinction Between Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

  • Key Differences:

    • Heavy metal emphasizes darker themes such as death, evil, cults, mythology, satanic worship, etc.

    • More extreme in terms of volume, speed, intensity, and heaviness compared to hard rock.

British Heavy Metal Bands

  • Black Sabbath

    • Credited as the first real heavy metal band, originating from Birmingham, England.

    • Core Members:

    • Ozzy Osbourne (Lead vocals), Tony Iommi (Guitar), Geezer Butler (Bass), Bill Ward (Drums).

    • Noteworthy Albums:

    • Black Sabbath (1970)

      • Reached No. 8 in Britain and No. 23 in the United States, eventually selling a million copies.

    • Paranoid (1970)

      • Reached No. 4 in the UK and No. 12 in the US, known for its iconic guitar riff.

    • Characteristics: Known for their heavy riffs and themes of darkness, leading them to have a loyal fan base despite sometimes polarizing opinions about their music.

  • Led Zeppelin

    • Evolved from Yardbirds with a lineup including Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham.

    • Recognition:

    • Characterized as one of the most important and influential rock bands of all time, selling over 111 million albums.

    • Their album "Led Zeppelin IV" contains the classic track "Stairway to Heaven".

    • Known for dynamic performances and incorporation of diverse musical styles, including classical and folk influences.

    • Challenges: Experienced tragedies that affected the band, including Robert Plant's family accidents and the death of John Bonham in 1980.

  • Deep Purple

    • Formed in 1968, initially intended as a hard rock band that transitioned into heavy metal.

    • Known for their 1969 concept album "Concerto for Group and Orchestra" and later successes with "Machine Head", featuring the legendary riff of "Smoke on the Water".

    • Background of "Smoke on the Water": Based on an incident where a fire destroyed the casino where they were scheduled to record, and the riff was inspired by the sound of fire truck sirens.

  • Judas Priest

    • Pioneers of heavy metal sound with the addition of a second lead guitarist, enhancing their sound from 1974 onwards.

    • Notable Album: Stained Class (1978), which established them as pivotal in the metal scene.

    • Their LP British Steel helped them tap into the American market, followed by successful albums in the 1980s, such as "Screaming for Vengeance".

  • AC/DC

    • Formed in Australia in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, with themes of sex and violence in their lyrics, causing some controversy with radio stations.

    • Their style, rooted in British blues, became influential in shaping the American heavy metal scene, especially in Southern California.

Conclusion

  • Multiple bands and characteristics set the foundation for what would evolve into the hard rock and heavy metal genres.

  • The rich history of these musical movements illustrates the cultural and social influences that shaped their development, showcasing the evolution from blues to a more aggressive and diverse sound in rock music.