Rock ‘n Roll? No, just Rock.

Of course, the Beatles was one of the first bands to redefine Rock ‘n Roll and started to make a new “Rock” sound. The album “St. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band,” which we looked at before. Anther influential band was (and still is) the Rolling Stones, which we have listened to as well.

“Honky Tonk Woman” is a song by the Rolling Stones, dating 1969. The word “Honky Tonk” refers to a pub or bar with live music, and a honky tonk woman is presumably a dancer (maybe an erotic dancer?) in such an establishment.

The Dark Side of Rock-‘n-Roll: Sex, Drugs & Violence: Songs about sex, alcohol and other drug use, and even violence became common themes in Rock music, creating a culture of self-destruction. “Rock music and its stars have demonstrated a tendency toward self-destruction, as the drug related deaths of Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix, all around 1970, attest. In the same period, at the tragic Rolling Stones concert at Altamont, many in the crowd of an estimated 300, 000 were physically assaulted and one person was murdered before the cameras of a documentary film crew. Ten years later eleven people died at a Who concert in Cincinnati, and a year later John Lennon was murdered. The message of rock seemed to encourage violence, sex, and drugs…” Crossroads in Music (p. 222).

Following we will look at a couple other famous rock bands.

The Eagles

One of the most popular artists of the 70s were The Eagles. “Hotel California” is probably their best known song. While listening to the song take note of the orchestration, as well as the use of consonance (harmony).



The lyrics describe another “honky-tonk” scene, this time a hotel with music and dancing. The narrator finds himself imprisoned in the hotel. What do you think is the symbolic or metaphoric meaning of this song?

Pink Floyd

“We Don’t Need No Education” is part of “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)” a section in Pink Floyd’s rock-opera “The Wall,” which was also made into a movie. While listening to it, notice the Disco sounds, mixed with electric guitars, electric bass and other “rock” sounds . Can you hear the vamp / riff played by the bass?



Like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd also hails from the UK.

Led Zeppelin

Considered by some one of the greatest Rock songs of all time Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” has three distinct sections. In the beginning the density is low, starting with the picking of an acoustic guitar and recorder accompaniment. Electric guitars add to the dynamics towards the middle. The final part of the song increases in density as more instruments are added and the rhythmic density and dynamics increases further. While listening to the song, identify the song structure and musical arrangement.



Now focus on the lyrics of this song. It is full of poetic images and symbols. First try to figure out the meaning of the lyrics for yourself, then look at the following interpretation: A Song of Hope. Do you agree with the interpretation?

Edgar Winter Group

This band created quite experimental rock music, almost with jazz-like improvisation, using a range of electric and electronic instruments and equipment. Listen to their rendition “Frankenstein” and try to describe the development of the song.