Important Moments in Rock History

This article was written by Phineas Upham

Rock and Roll has had a storied saga since day one. Full of great moments, sad down falls and a ton of great music, the genre has given birth to many amazing artists. Their stories could fill libraries worth of books. These moments are only a few of the most amazing events in rock history.

The Beatles

When the Beatles first appeared on Ed Sullivan, the world had no idea what it was in for. Over a third of Americans were tuning into the variety show when the British bob-cut musicians took the stage. Their performance pushed folk music into the side wings, ushering in the era of the electric guitar.

Elvis Sings “That’s All Right”

Prior to July 5, 1954, Elvis was just a truck driver with a failed career as a gig musician. He tried his hand at singing ballads, but his talent just didn’t come through with other people’s music. After he took a break and started singing “That’s All Right” at Sun Records, his position as a rock n’ roll phenomenon was cemented.

Jimi Hendrix’s Star Spangled Banner

Hendrix Star Spangled Banner came from a very personal place. Though Hendrix had passed basic training, he was honorably discharged as unsuitable for service in the military. He despised the army, calling it “hell” in letters home to his family. So when he put his guitar behind his back and turned the anthem into a screeching mix of turmoil and war, he was working out many of those emotions through song. It was a unifying moment for the youth of the 60s.

Run DMC and Aerosmith

When Steven Tyler used his mic stand to break down a wall and enter a rap concert, he was literally breaking the walls of music. Aerosmith’s collaboration with Run DMC gave rock n’ roll fans their first taste of rap. Not all would find it accommodating, but the partnership built a foundation for other innovative stunts like Symphony and Metallica.