Hard rock bands have come from many different places all over the world. This genre (which has also been referred to as “heavy” rock) features musicians that emerged out of 1960s blues, garage rock and psychedelic rock. The typical lineup is very similar to other rock genres, with a drummer, bass player, guitarist and vocalist however hard rock bands identify themselves with significant use of distorted electric guitars. These bands sometimes also incorporate piano and keyboard into their music.
Early hard rock bands were not immediately welcomed with open arms. For example, the Rolling Stones released their hard rock album, Exile on Main Street in 1972. At the time, the album was met with mixed opinions from critics. Despite any negative reactions (and with the encouragement of positive reactions), the Rolling Stones continued with their edgy, hard sound. Today, Exile on Main Street is often regarded as one of the band’s best albums.
Led Zeppelin is also listed as one of the most popular hard rock bands to ever play. Even today, Led Zeppelin’s music can be heard in movies, on the radio and played as MP3s. The band’s song Stairway to Heaven would later become the most played song on the radio. The group also worked in elements of other genres, including folk and world music. Shortly after Led Zeppelin released their first album, Deep Purple appeared and began defining the genre.
Deep Purple released Machine Head in 1972, which included two hugely popular songs: Smoke on the Water and Highway Star. Even now, both songs are heard on the radio and Highway Star was even included as a part of the popular video game, Rock Band. Deep Purple was once included in the Guinness Book of World Records with the title of the “loudest pop group.” They were also given 22nd place as one of the bands on the Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, a program aired on VH1. Throughout their career, Deep Purple sold more than 100 million albums all over the world.
During the 1970s, hard rock bands were growing in quantity and popularity. Some of the most famous musicians were born out of this era. By the 1980s, things started to evolve for the genre. Sadly, two of hard rock’s heaviest hitters lost members with the deaths of AC/DC’s lead vocalist Bon Scott and Led Zeppelin’s drummer John Bonham. Led Zeppelin broke up after the loss, although AC/DC continued on with Brian Johnson in Scott’s place. The 80s brought about glam metal, which highlighted the evolving talent of Ozzy Osbourne and Queen. Some bands actually turned back to the original roots of hard rock sound, including Rush who released their eighth studio album, Moving Pictures, in 1981.
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