Music of the 70s: Rock

If you’re a fan of rock music from the 1970s, this blog is for you. Here you’ll find posts about all your favorite bands and musicians from that decade.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic and hard rock, in a bid to invigorate the medium of rock music with their songwriting and recordings. They often incorporated classical elements into their music to create psychedelic shimmers of sound that could transport listeners into altered states.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in 1962. They have released 30 studio albums, 23 live albums and numerous compilations. The Rolling Stones have been cited as a major influence on the development of the music of the 1970s. The band’s 1974 album It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll was a major influence on the development of punk rock.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are regularly cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal, although their style drew from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. Pink Floyd’s sound is marked by the use of electronic instruments and innovative album covers. They are one of the most commercially successful and influential groups in popular music history.

David Bowie

David Bowie was one of the most popular and influential musicians of the 1970s. He achieved his first major success with the release of his album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.” This album featured the hit singles “Changes,” “Ziggy Stardust,” and “Suffragette City.” Bowie’s other successful albums from the 1970s include “Aladdin Sane,” “Diamond Dogs,” and ” Station to Station.” Bowie was also known for his fashion sense, which included wearing make-up, brightly colored costumes, and platform shoes.

Queen

Queen was a British rock band that rose to prominence in the 1970s. Formed in London in 1970, the group consisted of lead singer Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, and bass player John Deacon. Queen’s distinctive sound was a blend of Mercury’s powerful vocal melodies, May’s innovative guitar work, Taylor’s forceful drumming, and Deacon’s dynamic bass lines. The band’s debut album, Queen (1973), was a commercial success, reaching number three on the UK Albums Chart and spawning the hit single “Keep Yourself Alive.” Queen’s second album, Queen II (1974), reached number one in the UK and featured the singles “Seven Seas of Rhye” and “Killer Queen.” The band achieved international success with their third album, Sheer Heart Attack (1974), which reached number two in the UK and number 12 in the US. The album spawned the hit singles “Now I’m Here” and “Stone Cold Crazy.”

Queen’s fourth album, A Night at the Opera (1975), marked a major turning point in the band’s career. The album was a huge commercial success, reaching number one in both the UK and US. It featured some of Queen’s most popular songs, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “You’re My Best Friend,” and ” Somebody to Love.” The album also contained one of Mercury’s most famous live performances, “God Save the Queen,” which he performed at Wembley Stadium for Live Aid in 1985.

Queen continued to enjoy success throughout the 1970s and 1980s with such albums as News of the World (1977), Jazz (1978), The Game (1980), Hot Space (1982), The Works (1984), A Kind of Magic (1986), The Miracle (1989), Innuendo (1991), Made in Heaven (1995). The band remained active until Mercury’s death in 1991. In 2005, May and Taylor embarked on a successful world tour with lead singer Paul Rodgers. In 2014, May and Taylor announced that they would be rejoining forces with former lead singer Adam Lambert for a new world tour.

The Eagles

The Eagles are an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971. The Eagles’ musical style has been described as “country-tinged pop rock” and their sound is characterized by Closeharmony lead vocal arrangements and reliance on acoustic guitars. The Eagles enjoyed great popularity during the 1970s with a string of successes including the singles “Take It Easy”, “Witchy Woman”, “Lyin’ Eyes”, and “Hotel California”. The band broke up in 1980 but reformed in 1994 and released a successful album called Hell Freezes Over. The Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Fleetwood Mac

Formed in 1967, Fleetwood Mac was a British-American rock band that became one of the best-selling bands of all time. The group’s 1977 album “Rumours” is one of the best-selling albums in history, with sales of over 40 million copies. The band has released a total of 18 studio albums, and its members have won numerous awards, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

10cc

10cc was a rock band formed in England in 1972. The group initially consisted of four musicians – Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme – who had written and recorded together for three years before assuming the name “10cc”.

Supertramp

Supertramp was a British progressive rock band that achieved commercial success in the 1970s. The band’s music is marked by the use of traditional rock instruments in unconventional ways, often creating atmospheric textures and soundscapes. Supertramp is known for their hits “Dreamer,” “Bloody Well Right,” and “Goodbye Stranger.”