Free Essay

The Influence and Legacy of the Rolling Stones and the Beatles

In:

Submitted By Johnstongreg
Words 1096
Pages 5
The Influence and Legacy
Of The Rolling Stones
And The Beatles
By: Greg Johnston

The history of rock and roll music has had many influential and popular bands. Back in the early days when rock and roll music was searching for an identity, along came two unique bands that would change the face of rock and roll music. The Rolling Stones and The Beatles had a uniqueness that was not found in other bands at the time, by fusing blues and rock music into a new sound. With their contrasting style of music and each band having a huge following, they changed the landscape of the music industry forever. And that started the debate of which one was a better band, but this is not a debate on which band was better, but a discussion on their influence, similarities and their differences.

The Rolling Stones when they first started, in an effort to set them apart they were marketed as a wilder and crazier band, with a raunchy and rebellious appearance. Compared to The Beatles and their boy next door image. The Rolling Stones influenced music by covering obscure blues songs and by acting as a bridge connecting the pop youth of the day with blues music developing a different style of rhythm and blues music. The Beatles had such an impact on popular music that they set a new standard, and gave a new popularity to rock and roll music while also giving a new sound to the music industry. Both of these iconic rock and roll bands originated in England in the 1960’s. First came The Beatles in 1960,” Early incarnations of the band included; The Quarrymen, Johnny & the Moon Dogs, and The Silver Beetles”. “John Lennon dreamed up the band’s final name of The Beatles”, and they also had the nickname of The Fab Four. The arrival of The Beatles in New York on February 7, 1964, is credited as opening the doors of a wealth of British music talent, and beginning what would be called the British Invasion. The Rolling Stones got their start in 1962 with the original name of Rollin Stone that came from a” Muddy Waters “album. The manager for The Rolling Stones, Andrew Loog Oldham, a publicist who coincidentally was directed to the band by The Beatles, changed the spelling of the name to The Rolling Stones. While Muddy Waters was the biggest influence on The Rolling Stones along with The Beatles were also influenced by Chuck Berry covering several of his hits.

In an odd similarity between the two bands, both groups have had a member knighted. On March 11, 1997, Paul McCartney, former member of The Beatles became Sir Paul McCartney as he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, at Buckingham Palace in Central London. Mick Jagger followed him on December 12, 2003, being knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. While both of these bands began their careers in the same style of music as rhythm and blues cover bands. The Beatles eventuality developed their own style of playing music. They had a various combinations of rock and roll, skiffle, blues, country, soul, and they later expanded into psychedelic resulting in a cross style of songs. The Rolling Stones are notable for assimilating various musical styles into a unique sound. Throughout the band’s career their musical style has included blues, rhythm and blues, country, folk, reggae, and world music. While The Rolling Stones originally recorded others’ songs in an effort to impress fans, it wasn’t until beginning to play and record their own songs that they hit it big. Their first big hit was “Satisfaction” which went number one on the music charts, and established them as one of the greatest rock and roll bands. They also created their rebellious, bad boy image with incidents of drug use, overdoses, hard partying and arrests. The Beatles, on the other hand, is an example of musical influence, when the country was in a state of cultural flux The Beatles came along and “Beatlemania” was born. That inspired everything from hairstyles to lunch boxes. The Beatles also appeared on TV shows and in magazines and movies. The bands catchy tunes, lyrics and a high visibility drove The Beatles to superstardom.

The demand for Beatles records by young people at the time started a new industry. While many homes at the time already had a record player, and because parents were unfamiliar with rock and roll music, and they wouldn’t allow their children to play Beatles records on the family’s living room record players. With the demand for smaller cheaper record players, a new industry was born, and record player sales increased. The Beatles have created over 240 songs, and they have recorded many singles and albums. In their evolution from beginners to the leaders of the music industry, they have learned from many different cultures. They played their last concert in 1969, but they didn’t officially break up until 1975. The Rolling Stones have released an unbelievable 22 albums in total, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide. And they continue to this day to produce new music and to perform live shows. Their last new studio album with brand new music was “A Bigger Bang” in 2005. For the past 50 years, The Rolling Stones have been a big influence on rock and roll music and popular culture. The Rolling Stones and The Beatles are widely recognized as two of the most influential rock and roll bands of all time. They had a uniqueness that was not found at the time in other bands of that era. In the decades after The Beatles broke up, they continue to inspire new generations of music fans. And although popular music has changed. The Beatles are still one of the most enduring groups in the history of rock and roll. The influence of The Beatles was massive, and the decade after decade they are given mention as a musical influence. And The Rolling Stones have become the favorite band of generations of fans who love rock and roll music. Becoming known as ‘The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band”. Both of these bands changed the landscape of the music industry. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones have paved the way of rock and roll music to be loved and appreciated. Still to this day many of the songs they recorded remain a timeless quality. From grandparents to their children, it’s amazing how music can speak to all kinds of age groups no matter how old or young they are.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Beatles: How Four British Lads Shaped America

...Max Ames AP US History Ms. Rizzo June 4, 2010 The Beatles: How Four British Lads Shaped America A musical group of four young British Liverpool natives arrived in the United States in the 1960s to begin their long career of shaping American culture; they were the Beatles. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, like the many predecessors before them who had come from Britain such as Thomas Paine and Andrew Carnegie, became an integral part of the history of the United States, even though they were not true American-born citizens. Beginning with their momentous arrival in the United States in 1964, the Beatles greatly influenced American culture in the 1960s, and left an enduring legacy. The Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, controversy with Christianity in 1966, precedents and influences in music, impact and development of the album as an art form, creation of a variety of movies, and influences in the counterculture as well as the pop culture helped to make American culture what it is today. On February 7, 1964, the Beatles landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, where a crowd of thousands of fans and reporters were waiting. There was such pandemonium, chaos, and screaming that, “One policeman who has worked at the airport for ten years said: ‘I think the world has gone mad.’” Two days after their frenzied arrival, the Beatles made a famous appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. “The broadcast broke all viewing records...

Words: 3569 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Michael Jackson Impact On Society

...There were many influential musicians in the 20th century, but we were able to narrow the list down to our top five most influential musicians. The Musicians we picked were Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Nirvana, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. We chose these musicians because they all left a lasting impact on America, not just on the music industry. All of these musicians are remembered for both their music and their impact on society. Michael Jackson was born in 1958, part of the first generation of Americans who never knew a world without TV, Jackson didn't just grow up with TV. He grew up on it. He was the first great televisual entertainer (Atlantic). You could say that because of Michael Jackson, music videos mean more today. Michael...

Words: 1286 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

The 60's

...Certification: This is to certify that the following essay is my own work and that I have not received any unauthorized assistance with it. Signed: Michael Raymond, November 30, 2013. “Write an essay interpreting how one rock group or singer's music reflected and/or influenced the 1960s.” Living Dead: The Cultural Impact of the Grateful Dead The decade of the 1960’s saw plenty of musicians become involved in the protest movement. Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell, among others, wrote of the injustices of American society. While the Beatles were singing “All You Need Is Love”, the Rolling Stones wrote about the “Street Fighting Man”. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young sang about the Kent State shootings in “Ohio”. Country Joe McDonald encouraged the burning of draft cards while leading the “Fish Cheer”. However, the degree of influence each had on not just the 1960’s, but ensuing decades waned as burnout, family life, and lifestyle choices took their toll. The act whose music reflected and influenced not just the 60’s, but decades to come, was the Grateful Dead. The music of the Dead reflected the counterculture of the 1960’s, fostered a self-sustaining, traveling multicultural community, and delivered a message of peace and love for thirty years. San Francisco was the center of the counterculture movement of the 1960’s. The Haight-Ashbury neighborhood attracted thousands of youths from across the country, looking to drop out of traditional society and build a new society...

Words: 725 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Hippies

...Through out history the world has seen some generations that have made an impact more than all of its predecessors. The decade from 1960 to 1970 was definitely one of those eras. The people didn't follow the teachings of its elders, but rejected them for an alternative culture, which was their very own (MacFarlane124). Made up of the younger population of the time this new culture was such a radical society that they were given their own name, which is still used today. They came to be called the Hippies. The Hippie movement started in San Francisco, California and spread across the United States, through Canada, and into parts of Europe (Hippie). But it had its greatest influence in America. During the 1960's a radical group called the Hippies shocked America with their alternative lifestyle and radical beliefs. Hippies came from many different places and had many different backgrounds. All Hippies were young, from the ages of 15 to 25 (Hippie). They left their families and did it for many different reasons. Some rejected their parents' ideas, some just wanted to get away, and others simply were outcasts, who could only fit in with the Hippie population. Fewer than twenty-five became a magical age. Young people all over the world were united by this bond (MacFarlane, 71). This bond was of Non-conformity and it was the Creed of the Young (MacFarlane, 75). Most Hippies came from wealthy middle class families. Some people said that they were spoiled and wasting their lives...

Words: 2046 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

American and British Cultural Influence 1960s

...British influence on the Australian culture British settlers arrived in Australia in 1788 and the extent of the British influence is still evident today. The British Union Jack features predominantly on our national flag and the Queen is Australia's Head of State. British models also form the basis of Australia's legal and political systems, as well providing our national language. Up until World War II, Britain remained the dominating cultural influence in Australia. Britons also dominated the make-up of Australian society - most of Australia's citizens were either born in Britain, or had British descendants. In the years following the war, British subjects were encouraged to migrate to Australia under an 'assisted package' scheme, which helped with the cost of migrating to Australia and provided housing and employment options upon arrival. Between 1945 and 1972, over one million British migrants settled in Australia. Before 1945, many people, including Australians themselves, considered Australia to be nothing more than a British colony; a nation whose national identity was relatively indistinct from the British. During this period of Australia's history, our modes of entertainment, food, fashion, sporting culture and our social values and attitudes were largely dictated by British culture. American influence on the Australian culture One of the most significant changes to have taken place in Australian society since the end of WWII, however, has been its drift...

Words: 1419 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Sam Cooke

...Sam Cooke In a class titled History of Rock ‘n Roll, one would think that the course would cover almost every major artist who participated in or influenced the rise of the genre. However, due to time constraints and personal preferences, every artist cannot be given the credit they deserve in the proper way—at least not all in one semester! That is okay, though. In this paper I plan on introducing an artist whose career and influence on the creation of the rock n’ roll era both was tremendous in his own right. Sam Cooke was a revolutionary artist who in some instances set the precedent for many artists and movements that followed. His music, singing, and performance helped solidify Cooke as one of the all-time greats. As a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame charter member, the need for his presence on the syllabus and in this class is irrefutable. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 22, 1931, to the Reverend and Mrs. Charles Cook, Sr., Sam Cooke was one of eight Cook children. This son of a Baptist preacher and sibling to four brothers and three sisters was born into a lifestyle conducive to a musical career. The large family and church background provided for the perfect set-up for a gospel family group. That’s just what they did—together forming “The Singing Children”. (Wolff). Cooke’s musical talents and interests continued to thrive in the ensuing years as he moved from one musical group to another, working to make a name for himself and for the African-American...

Words: 2402 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

1960's Influence On Popular Culture

...Sex and drugs and rock and roll Hypothesis: the 1960’s were the most influential decade when popular culture changed the world Of the many significant events in the 20th century, the two world wars, the cold war and Vietnam, space exploration and the dramatic impacts of automation and technology on everyday life, culminating with the popularity of personal computers and the birth of the internet towards the end of the millennium, arguably no other decade had as significant an impact on popular culture as did the 1960’s. What we witness is a transition from a conformist society at the start of the decade to a counter-culture of anti-war protests, pushes towards racial and sexual equality, free love and drug influences like never before. As...

Words: 1985 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

How Did Jimi Hendrix Influence The Development Of Electric Guitar

...The Influence of the Electric Guitar on The Evolution of Music In the history of civilization, music has had a profound impact on cultural development. Over the course of human history, human creativity has produced a plethora of different instruments and musical styles. But amidst the vast expanse of musical expression, the guitar has emerged as a versatile instrument that has revolutionized music. Although its definite origins are uncertain, the first six-string guitar is said to have originated during the 1700s (Heck). Structurally influenced by the lute, the first guitar was rudimentary compared to what would follow. As is the case with any development, the invention of the modern day electric guitar took time. In the 19th century, steel...

Words: 2505 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Black Music and the Civil Rights Movement

...Anna Munoz Dr. Jones DISC 1313 December 4, 2015 Music and The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s All forms of Black music, from jazz to rock and roll, played an important part in the Civil Rights Movement. The songs were sung for multiple purposes and played a critical role in inspiring, activating, and giving voice to the people involved. The evolution of music during the early 1950’s and 1960’s in the Black freedom struggle reflects the evolution of the Civil Rights Movement itself. The progressive thought of the 1950s nurtured new ideas and cultures including the Civil Rights Movement and the fast spread of rock and roll. One such cultural revival occurred after the end of World War II during a time of change, prosperity and restoration.  The “Puritan dicta” outlined by Baldwin represents the American ideology before the Second World War. As the first settlers of this nation, the Puritans set the mold for many common American ideologies.  In the Puritan view white represented good and black represented evil, including Africans and their culture.  After the war, Baldwin states that the former puritanical views of whites will be challenged.  Musicians such as Elvis Presley were the first to issue this challenge to white society.  Early rockers like Elvis would pave the way for social commentary in music that would add much fire to the Civil Rights Movement. To fully understand the explosion of popularity of Black music in the years following World War II, one must understand...

Words: 4492 - Pages: 18

Premium Essay

British Petroleum

...Michael Jackson English Michael Joseph Jackson[1][2] (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter, dancer, businessman and philanthropist. Often referred to by the honorific nickname "King of Pop", or by his initials MJ,[3] Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The eighth child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971. In the early 1980s, Jackson became the dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It," "Billie Jean," and "Thriller," were credited with breaking down racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool. The popularity of these videos helped to bring the then relatively new television channel MTV to fame. With videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" he continued to innovate the medium throughout the 1990s, as well as forging a reputation as a touring solo artist. Through stage and video performances, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot, and the moonwalk, to which he gave the name. His distinctive sound and style has influenced numerous hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B, pop,...

Words: 17422 - Pages: 70

Free Essay

Kpop

...339 What Is the K in K-pop? South Korean Popular Music, the Culture Industry, and National Identity John Lie* In the early 2010’s, the expansion of South Korean popular culture around the world is led by popular music, usually known as Kpop. In this paper I seek to answer two questions. First, what are the sources of its success beyond the South Korean national border? Secondly, what does it say about contemporary South Korean society and culture? Key Words: K-pop, Korean Wave, Hallyu, South Korean Popular Culture, Popular Music I. Introduction T he phenomenal success of the Korean Wave has generated collective celebration in South Korea.1 In the early 2010s, the national self* John Lie is C.K. Cho Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard University. His forthcoming books include The Global University and The Consolation of Social Theory. E-mail: johnlie@berkeley.edu. 1. The Korean Wave is the literal translation of the term which originated in China ( ; Hánliú). The first character refers to “Korea” and the second usually evokes “flow” or “current,” signifying “style.” The same Chinese characters KOREA OBSERVER, Vol. 43, No. 3, Autumn 2012, pp. 339-363. © 2012 by THE INSTITUTE OF KOREAN STUDIES. 340 John Lie congratulation is especially manifest for the popularity of South Korean popular music (K-pop), which has spread from neighboring Asian countries, such as Japan and...

Words: 8875 - Pages: 36

Free Essay

Story of Success

...Outliers THE S T O R Y OF S U C C E S S MALCOLM G LAD W E L L # 1 bestselling author of The Tipping Point and Blink $27.99 $ 3 0 . 9 9 in C a n a d a Why d o s o m e p e o p l e succeed far more than others? T h e r e is a story that is usually told a b o u t extremely successful p e o p l e , a story that focuses o n intelligence a n d ambition. In Outliers Malcolm Gladwell a r g u e s that the true story o f s u c c e s s is very different, a n d that if we want to u n d e r s t a n d h o w s o m e p e o p l e thrive, we s h o u l d s p e n d m o r e time l o o k i n g around them — at s u c h things as their family, their birthplace, or even their birth d a t e . T h e story o f s u c c e s s is m o r e c o m p l e x — a n d a lot m o r e interesting — than it initially a p p e a r s . Outliers e x p l a i n s w h a t the B e a t l e s a n d Bill G a t e s have in c o m m o n , the e x t r a o r d i n a r y s u c c e s s o f A s i a n s at m a t h , the h i d d e n a d v a n t a g e s o f star athletes, why all t o p N e w York lawyers have the s a m e r é s u m é , a n d the r e a s o n y o u ' v e never h e a r d o f the w o r l d ' s s m a r t e s t m a n — all in terms o f g e n ­ eration, family, c u l t u r e , a n d c l a s s . It matters w h a t year y o u were b o r n if y o u want to b e a S i l i c o n Valley billionaire, G l a d w e l l a r g u e s , a n d it matters w h e r e y o u w e r e b o r n if y o u want to b e a s u c ­ cessful p i l o t . T...

Words: 86962 - Pages: 348

Premium Essay

Geiziji

...FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING BIOGRAPHIES OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND ALBERT EINSTEIN, THIS IS THE EXCLUSIVE BIOGRAPHY OF STEVE JOBS. Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. At a time when America is seeking ways to sustain its innovative edge, Jobs stands as the ultimate icon of inventiveness and applied imagination. He knew that the best way to create value in the twenty-first century was to connect creativity with technology. He built a company where leaps of the imagination were combined with remarkable feats of engineering. Although Jobs cooperated with this book, he asked for no control over what was written nor even the right to read it before it was published. He put nothing offlimits. He encouraged the people he knew to speak honestly. And Jobs speaks candidly, sometimes brutally so, about the people he worked with and competed against. His friends, foes, and colleagues provide an unvarnished view of the passions, perfectionism, obsessions, artistry, devilry, and compulsion for control that shaped his approach to business and...

Words: 233886 - Pages: 936

Premium Essay

Micheal Jackson Life

...Michael Jackson fact file: Michael Joseph Jackson   was born August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009 was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor. Called the king of pop his contributions to music and dance, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. Michael Jackson has his own websites so his fans could check out his songs and updates also honour his music. Michael Jackson did his autobiography in a book and was published in February 1 in 1988. Five months after the release of Jackson’s 1987 Bad album, and named after Jackson’s signature dance move, the moonwalk. Michael Jackson was 58 when he died. Dubbed the "King of Pop," singer-songwriter Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana. As a child, he performed as the lead singer of the Jackson family's popular Motown group, the Jackson 5. No single artist – indeed, no movement or force – has eclipsed what Michael Jackson accomplished in the first years of his adult solo career. Jackson changed the balance in the pop world in a way that nobody has since. He forced rock & roll and the mainstream press to acknowledge that the biggest pop star in the world could be young and black, and in doing so he broke down more barriers than anybody. But he is also among the best proofs in living memory of poet William Carlos Williams' famous verse: "The pure products of America/go crazy." When Jackson died on June 25th, 2009, of apparent cardiac arrest...

Words: 16963 - Pages: 68

Premium Essay

Presentation Secret of Steve Jobs

...The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience Carmine Gallo Columnist, Businessweek.com New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan New Delhi San Juan Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto Copyright © 2010 by Carmine Gallo. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. ISBN: 978-0-07-163675-9 MHID: 0-07-163675-7 The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: ISBN: 978-0-07-163608-7, MHID: 0-07-163608-0. All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Rather than put a trademark symbol after every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use names in an editorial fashion only, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. Where such designations appear in this book, they have been printed with initial caps. McGraw-Hill eBooks are available at special quantity discounts to use as premiums and sales promotions, or for use in corporate training programs. To contact a representative please e-mail us at bulksales@mcgraw-hill.com. TERMS OF USE This is a copyrighted work and The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“McGraw-Hill”) and its licensors reserve all rights in and to the work. Use of this work...

Words: 72152 - Pages: 289