World Rock and Roll Day (13/04)

World Rock and Roll Day — is a holiday of like-minded people for whom rock and roll has become not only music, but style and way of life.

The holiday is celebrated annually on April 13, although the historical event that served as the basis for the holiday occurred a day earlier: on April 12, 1954, Bill Haley recorded the single «Rock Around The Clock, which became iconic in a new musical direction, which quickly crossed the borders of the United States and spread across countries and continents, challenging society and traditions.

In the mid-20th century, shortly after World War II, people sought peace and a measured life. No one wanted shaking A reflection of public sentiment was the music of the period — calm and sentimental, with sweet-voiced vocals. At the official musical Olympus of the United States, the idea was promoted to protect white culture from the wild culture of blacks and create a respectable American image.

Along with official music, there lived a completely different — loud, rhythmic, full of life — rhythm and blues in America. One evening, Cleveland radio station disc jockey Alan Freed took it upon himself to «play» on the air of a rhythm and blues recording. And in order not to shock the «white» audience, I came up with another name for it — «rock and roll» (rock-n-roll). Thanks to Alan Freed, the disguised rhythm and blues sounded at full strength, becoming accessible to everyone, regardless of skin color.

The first rock and roll star among white performers was singer guitarist Bill Haley. His cocktail of rhythm and blues, country and street slang was a resounding success.

Among the founders of the direction was the legendary Elvis Presley, who became an idol of teenagers and young people. His style of dress, manner and movement became role models.

In the early 1960s, a new style appeared in rock and roll — pop rock. The Fab Four, with their compositions, launched an epidemic of «bitlomania» into the world.

In 1964, the Rolling Stones appeared, distinguished by their fast, powerful and technical sound. In the 1970s, psychedelic rock was born, the prominent representatives of which were the groups Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath. This decade is considered a golden era in the development of rock culture.

The end of the seventies was marked by the emergence of punk rock («-cheesy rock»). The simplified musical scheme brought vocals and lyrics to the fore. They often criticized the government, politics, and rich sections of society. In the wake of punk, the bands Sex Pistols, The Clash, Stooges took off. In the 1980s, women's rock appeared, and in the practical 1990s, the brightest rock and roller was Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana.

Today, rock music has many trends: from light dance rock and roll to brutal aggressive grindcore (Photo: Anatol Misnikou, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

Russian rock originated in the USSR in the second half of the 20th century under the influence of Western music. Among the earliest groups were created by Alexander Gradsky «Falcon», «Scythians», «Skomorohi» and «Slavs». The wave of Beatlemania that reached the USSR led to the creation of its own rock band in almost every school. Some of these groups later became the main faces of the 1970s stage, including the famous «Time Machine». But the spread of rock and roll was restrained by Soviet cultural censorship policies.

Despite this, by the early 1980s a full-fledged rock movement had formed in the USSR. «Thaw» gave birth to groups in the style of «new wave» — «Cinema», «Alice», «AuktYon», «Obermaneken», «Strange games» and others. In 1985, the Moscow Rock Laboratory was opened, allowing the capital's groups to legalize their activities. Popularity comes to the groups «Nautilus Pompilius», «Zoo» and «Brigade C».

The end of the 1980s was marked by the final emergence of Russian rock from underground.

Today, rock music has many trends: from light dance rock and roll to brutal aggressive grindcore. Lyrics range from casual and playful to dark, deep and philosophical. Often rock music is contrasted with pop music, although there is no clear boundary between the concepts of «rock» and «pop». Many musical phenomena balance on the line between them.



• Infographics – poster «April 13 — World Rock and Roll Day» • Article «When will Elvis Presley return?» • Story «Fate rock»

1307