Top 10 Things that Define Rock Music

Hair... Lots of It

Most metal and rock band members liked to grow out their hair, sometimes even going overboard with it like the guys in the above image.

Interesting list. I must agree that hair was a defining characteristic of a good chunk of rock bands.

Europe, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, and many others had ridiculously wild hairdos.

Loud Concerts

Volume turned up to 11... get ready for a night of ringing ears and floors sticky with beer.

Is there such a thing as a "quiet" concert? Unless you're seeing Mozart, no.

Leather Jackets and Denim

To hell with scene kid haircuts and sagging pants. This is what rock 'n' roll is about!

Yep. This is the stereotypical look of someone who came off of a '70s or '80s album cover.

Guitar Solos

Guitar solos are the thing in rock music, in my opinion. Now that you have mentioned Slash, November Rain certainly has one of the best rock guitar solos. It perfectly fits the song's atmosphere.

We often hear epic guitar solos in epic rock and metal songs, and it makes the songs more fun to listen to.

Very common in heavy metal and hard rock music. Some can be complex, while others are much more simple.

Drugs and Booze

This is sad but true. Jon Bon Jovi says "last cigarette" in half the songs from *Destination Anywhere*. Although I have to wonder: was that tame in contrast to other rock stars? Yes, it probably was.

A lot of '80s rock stars were heavily addicted to drugs like cocaine and heroin. Thankfully, most of them are sober now, but a lot of people still associate drugs and alcohol with rock music.

Guitar Smashing

I thought this was just in cartoons and corny movies. If this is real, you have to wonder how much money was wasted on guitars that just got smashed in the long run (which probably isn't that long at all).

The Who actually wrecked all of their instruments in concert.

AC/DC

AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band founded in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Bon Scott was the lead singer from 1974 until his death from acute alcohol poisoning in 1980. He was succeeded by Brian Johnson.... read more

When you think of rock music, the first band that usually comes to mind is AC/DC. With their shrieking vocals, sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll lyrics, and distinctive guitar work, AC/DC is one of the most popular and recognized rock bands in the world.

I am not really a fan, but when I think of a non-specific rock band, this is probably the band they sound most like.

Drums

Whatever the first band is that comes to your mind at the mention of rock music, it's always the characteristic drumbeat that they all (well, most of them - there are still lots of obscure bands out there, you know) have in common.

Rebellion

The funny thing is that more tame characters than the dudes you're probably alluding to were considered rebellious - namely, the Beatles.

Groupies

Groupies were women who followed rock and metal band members around for, you guessed it, sex.

?

Avril Lavigne

Avril Ramona Lavigne (born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. At age 14, she won a radio contest singing with Shania Twain, performing before a large arena crowd. By age 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records, reportedly worth over $2 million.... read more

?

Devin Bronson

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson is an American motorcycle manufacturer renowned for its heavyweight motorcycles with a distinct design and signature exhaust sound. Founded in 1903, the company is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Harley-Davidson aims to deliver a unique riding experience and has built a loyal global community... read more

Harley Davidson is a well-known motorcycle brand that is still around today. In the '80s, rock bands like Mötley Crüe and Guns N' Roses were often seen sporting Harley Davidson merchandise.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular... read more

Ritchie Blackmore

Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter best known for his work with the hard rock and heavy metal bands Deep Purple and Rainbow.

In 2004, Guitar World ranked him number 16 on its list of the "100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time," and in 2011, Rolling Stone... read more

Queen

Queen is an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar). Before Queen, May and Taylor had played together in a band named Smile. Freddie Mercury, a fan... read more

Sweating

Slash

Saul Hudson, known professionally as Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He has also released solo work and collaborated with... read more

KISS

Kiss, commonly stylized as KISS, is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. The original members were Paul Stanley on vocals and rhythm guitar, Gene Simmons on vocals and bass guitar, Ace Frehley on lead guitar and vocals, and Peter Criss on drums and vocals. Known for their face paint... read more

Evan Taubenfeld

Evan David Taubenfeld is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for being Avril Lavigne's lead guitarist, music director, and frequent collaborator. Taubenfeld was also the lead singer of the band the Black List Club.

Eddie Van Halen

Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen (January 26, 1955 - October 6, 2020) was a Dutch-American musician, songwriter, producer, and inventor. He was best known as the lead guitarist, occasional keyboardist, and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. He is widely recognized for popularizing guitar techniques... read more

Ian Gillan

Ian Gillan is an English singer and songwriter. He first gained fame as the lead singer and lyricist of Deep Purple, contributing to iconic songs such as Smoke on the Water. Gillan also performed the role of Jesus on the original 1970 rock-opera concept album Jesus Christ Superstar, composed by Andrew... read more

Deep Purple

Deep Purple is an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. They are regarded as pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has changed over the years. They originally played progressive rock but shifted to a heavier sound around 1970.... read more

Chuck Berry

Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. He is known for songs such as "Johnny B. Goode," "Roll Over Beethoven," and "Maybellene." Berry died on March 18, 2017.

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury was a Zanzibar-born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter, and record producer best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Queen. He achieved fame for his flamboyant stage persona and remarkable four-octave vocal range.... read more

The Who

The Who is an English rock band formed in London, England, in 1964. The most recognizable lineup consisted of Roger Daltrey (lead vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar), John Entwistle (bass guitar), and Keith Moon (drums). They are best known for their live performances and hit songs "Baba O'Riley," "My Generation... read more

Scorpions

Scorpions are a German rock band formed in 1965 in Hanover by guitarist Rudolf Schenker. Vocalist Klaus Meine and guitarist Michael Schenker joined several years later. Michael Schenker was succeeded by Uli Jon Roth, while Matthias Jabs became the band's lead guitarist in 1978. The band first gained... read more