From the rock ‘n’ roll of the 1950s to the indie rock scene and metal of today, rock music has been continuously evolving.

But is it really still as good?

In the 50s, rock ‘n’ roll emerged with singers like Elvis and Chuck Berry, and in the 60s, became a more refined (while still experimental) sound with artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix.

Critics generally agree that the 70s were when rock started to split into subgenres. Bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin brought heavier riffs and louder music. The punk movement also emerged in this decade. Yacht Rock, too.

Many students here at NASH consider the 80s the best decade for rock music, with bands like Guns N Roses and Def Leppard topping the charts. Major bands would put on theatrical shows that would fill stadiums. Big hair, flamboyant outfits, and makeup paired with guitar-driven music captivated many fans and was generally very commercially successful.

Alternative rock, owing its roots to punk, also came into its own in the 80s, with bands like R.E.M and The Smiths among the standouts.

During the late 90s and 2000s, the metal genre started to expand into a huge grouping of metal subgenres, including nu-metal, death metal, industrial, and many others. 

Rock music has always been influenced by other popular genres of the time, which has been the main factor that makes it so popular. The proliferation of subgenres in recent decades, separating artists and music into a smaller and often highly specific groups, has led some to believe that rock music is dying. Yet from the indie rock of the Arctic Monkeys to the loud metal of Slipknot and everywhere in between, the genre continues to thrive. 

So whether you’re a diehard fan of the classic rock sound, or a casual listener of modern alternative music, we can all come together and enjoy a vast genre that has been evolving for over 70 years.