“Rock and Roll” music emerged from gospel and blues and redefined the limits of guitar-playing in the 1950s. B.B. King, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash and others pioneered the original rock sound. The next decade, the genre expanded to include a diverse range of sensational guitarists like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Santana, and more. 

The iconic image of a “rockstar” was born in the 1970s. Bands like Aerosmith, Van Halen, Queen, and KISS produced unchecked, explosive rock anthems that remain influential. Albums like Moving Pictures by Rush marked the beginning of synthesizer and hinted at the sound of the following decade.

In the 1980s, “rock” became harder to define. Hair Bands like Bon Jovi and Poison delivered high pitched male vocals and piercing, distorted guitars. Rob Zombie, Slayer, and Megadeth legitimized the vigorous, heavy metal sound. Non confined, innovative sounds from U2, REM, and Sonic Youth imposed a new genre: alternative rock. 

The two West Coast attitudes dominated 1990s rock music: Seattle and Southern California. Seattle bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden invented the raw, grunge sound. Further down the coast, Sublime, No Doubt, and Weezer released funkier rock hits.