In 1951, Cleveland, Ohio disc jockey Alan Freed began playing rhythm and blues music for a multi-racial audience. Freed is credited with first using the phrase "rock and roll" to describe the music. However, the term had already been introduced to US audiences, particularly in the lyrics of many rhythm and blues records. Three different songs with the title "Rock And Roll" were recorded in the late 1940s; one by Paul Bascomb in 1947, another by Wild Bill Moore in 1948, and yet another by Doles Dickens in 1949, and the phrase was in constant use in the lyrics of R&B songs of the time. One such record where the phrase was repeated throughout the song was "Rock And Roll Blues," recorded in 1949 by Erline "Rock And Roll" Harris. The phrase was also included in advertisements for the film Wabash Avenue, starring Betty Grable and Victor Mature. An ad for the movie that ran April 12, 1950 billed Ms. Grable as "...the first lady of rock and roll" and Wabash Avenue as "...the roaring street she rocked to fame".
Just got back from a poison show tonight! And I guess in my mind it is not who invented it, but who reinvents it every now and agian that gets it going.
Artists are funny that way, to answer the original qeustion, either the cave man or the vikings, because it all comes from a beat.
I would love to say it was maiden or metallica, but they took their roots from soemwhere too.
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE AND BELIEVE, IT CAN ACHIEVE
The correct answer of course is 6., but I had quite a long argument with a couple drunken retards who claimed that Elvis essentially invented everything, including the term "Rock n Roll" which of course is insane as the term had been around since the 20's and was popularized most likely by DJ Alan Freed when relating to music.
Anyway, speaking of Iron Maiden (possibly my favorite band ever), they actually have been not only huge influences on rock/metal, but they oddly have a very large fanbase outside of the hard rock/metal genre. I play bass/sing in a band and play a little blues guitar and I run into folks that range from 16 year old white kids to 70 year old black jazz musicians that have good things to say about the band. There is no denying that in terms of songwriting, instrumentation and sound Iron Maiden are a phenomenal band. Steve Harris is one of the greatest if not the best rock bass players ever, Nicko is a stellar drummer, Bruce has pipes that never end and the A. Smith/D. Murray (J. Gers is kinda an afterthought at this point but certainly a good player) are a phenomenal guitar duo. It's too bad that far too many supposed "music fans" write off the band because they lump it in with "that loud heavy metal crap" or assume they're devil worshippers, etc.
My wife, who is far from a metalhead, has seen Maiden 3 times and is a huge fan. No denying their talent and longevity...
The correct answer of course is 6., but I had quite a long argument with a couple drunken retards who claimed that Elvis essentially invented everything, including the term "Rock n Roll" which of course is insane as the term had been around since the 20's and was popularized most likely by DJ Alan Freed when relating to music.
Anyway, speaking of Iron Maiden (possibly my favorite band ever), they actually have been not only huge influences on rock/metal, but they oddly have a very large fanbase outside of the hard rock/metal genre. I play bass/sing in a band and play a little blues guitar and I run into folks that range from 16 year old white kids to 70 year old black jazz musicians that have good things to say about the band. There is no denying that in terms of songwriting, instrumentation and sound Iron Maiden are a phenomenal band. Steve Harris is one of the greatest if not the best rock bass players ever, Nicko is a stellar drummer, Bruce has pipes that never end and the A. Smith/D. Murray (J. Gers is kinda an afterthought at this point but certainly a good player) are a phenomenal guitar duo. It's too bad that far too many supposed "music fans" write off the band because they lump it in with "that loud heavy metal crap" or assume they're devil worshippers, etc.
My wife, who is far from a metalhead, has seen Maiden 3 times and is a huge fan. No denying their talent and longevity...
Wow! I have to say that I was little metalhead back in the 70's and 80s and I still don't get Iron Maiden. The only album they had worth listening to was the first two which had their original singer.
Bruce Dickenson sounds to me like he wanted to be an opera singer.
You really think they influenced metal bands more than Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Motorhead etc.
In my opinion, if it wasn't for Eddie, they would be about as known as Diamond Head, Tygers of Pan Tang etc.
In my opinion, if it wasn't for Eddie, they would be about as known as Diamond Head, Tygers of Pan Tang etc.
Yikes...how to deal with this. Ummm,...
First of all, certainly "Eddie the 'ead" as he was originally referred to is one of the most recognizable "mascots" or symbols in all of rock and roll for sure. However, that's a gimmick, kind of like Kiss with the makeup or Alice Cooper with all the props, etc. It's part of the show.
Iron Maiden were a great band with Paul DiAnno for certain, very punk inspired and a great part of the later wave of the NWOBHM. However, what Bruce Dickinson did was to CATAPULT them into another universe by having a stronger voice, a greater range, a better stage presence and more influence on the writing, etc. To say the Dickinson era Maiden is "not as influential as Sabbath, Thinn Lizzy, etc" well that's subjective to a degree but you're also talking about (with Sabbath and Priest and Motorhead to a lesser degree) the "Grandfathers of Heavy Metal" so you certainly can't diminish their impact and influence on hard rock. I would say that if Phil Lynott were alive today he'd admit that Steve Harris could outplay him with 1 finger. This doesn't mean TL were a bad band or that Phil was untalented but Iron Maiden, as a band, are just a more well rounded act and have had FAR MORE impact on rock/metal/modern rock than TL ever had.
Now, comparing Iron Maiden, one of best live rock acts, and a band that have made a career of writing some of the most interesting and powerful (if not astonishing at times) hard rock songs, complete with numerous time changes and soaring (yes operatic) vocals to TOPT and DH is just plain foolish. Those bands were good, without a doubt, but it's not Eddie that took them to the mainstream and allowed them to stay relevant all through the Grunge/Alternative/Hip Hop generation, it's their talent and their amazing ability to keep cranking out albums (with the exception of the brief hiatus of Bruce) that are well written, heavy and exciting. To say that Maiden "hasn't had anything worth listening to since the first 2 albums" is almost like saying "Internet connection speeds have not gotten any better since 1996"...HUH?? Apparently you have not been paying attention, as in that time they have composed such epics as "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "22 Acacia Ave", "Where Eagles Dare", "Two Minutes to Midnight", "Run to the Hills", "Flight of Icarus", "Seventh Son...", "The Trooper" and many, many more that remain classics in the hard rock/metal world.
There is not a current generation hard rock/metal act that doesn't cite these guys as a huge inspiration (Trivium, Dragonforce, Between the Buried and Me, Opeth, Fair to Midland, Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage...etc, etc), and there are also very few unsold tickets to any of their shows, which (as I have seen them twice in the last 18 months) are AMAZING considering the age these guys are at and they type of music they're playing. Look at some of their contemporaries like Def Leppard. Sure, more commercially successful overall but have you seen one of their shows of late? I did, at the Big E state fair a couple years back packed in among the livestock rings and deep friend twinkies, and they sounded decent at best. I saw Iron Maiden at MSG a month-ish ago and the place was packed and they were as tight as when I saw them in 1984 the first time.
I could go on all day about my worship of Judas Priest as well and their influence is not in question at all, but you simply cannot diminish the role Maiden has had in rock/metal and the fact that they're still doing it and doing it well is fantastic. JP still sound strong live but comparing their latest release of new material vs. Maiden's is a huge victory for the Maiden camp. Bruce Dickinson is also a commercial airline pilot and Maiden HAS THEIR OWN PLANE! My guess is that, with or without Eddie, Tygers of Pan Tang and Diamond Head are lucky if they get a magnetic sign slapped to the side of their generic white van at the height of their popularity!
Up the Irons, byaaaatch!
Last edited by CT Insure Guy : 08-11-2008 at 04:16 PM.
Reason: sp
Anyway, speaking of Iron Maiden (possibly my favorite band ever)
I might give you a free leads for life account for this comment, although you will have to add some states other than CT to actually get some volume I am big fan of Bruce's solo work as well - very talented guys, it ticks me off people group them with the no talent hair metal bands of the day. Their were plenty of 80's metal bands with talent - Dream Theater is a great band as well, not sure if you are into them at all.
I have my tickets to Judas Priest / Heaven & Hell concert next week - yes priest rules and so does Dio. I need to go find my leather biker outfit and spikes... ummm... nevermind, wrong thread.
As for the originators - I wouldn't even put Elvis in the top 20, not even close. Elvis meant nothing to me. I would much rather listen to Jazz / R&B , to me he was the one man boy band before there was such a thing.
Maybe it is the generation difference, I am not sure - I just never grasped the talent at all. My mother would argue otherwise but I was only a year or two old when he died - long before my time.
I might give you a free leads for life account for this comment, although you will have to add some states other than CT to actually get some volume
Hey, I am licensed in CT, NH, AZ, RI and soon to be more!
Anyway, people who knock Maiden are usually guilty of assuming they are a certain way and like you said, lumping them in with "hair bands". These guys ooze talent and as I said earlier I know guys that play music from very different genres that dig them.
I saw the Heaven and Hell tour with Megadeth last year and it was STELLAR. Sabbath with Dio is extraordinary and I was real impressed with how well RJD sounded at his age. Hearing "Voodoo" and "Sign of the Southern Cross" live made my year.
Last time I saw JP was with Queensryche and that was a great show as well. Judas Priest are the kings of just pure metal. Kick ass, snash ya in the teeth metal, and Halford hasn't lost a step vocally. Although Geoff Tate from Queensrych is (and certainly was that night) the master of melodic/operatic metal vocals, though he's a bit of a c**k as I met him in 1986 and he pretty much called me a "punk kid" even though I was there to see his band (was backstage with a band called Fates Warning who I knew)!
Anyway, I like all kids of music for sure (though I was raised on hard rock/metal), including Elvis, but he sure as hell did not invent Rock and Roll!
Ok now you guys have me regressing to 1980 again. There I am with my mullet and all drunked up on one of my first beers...
I'm 3-people back from the stage and Halford is cracking his bullwhip right over our heads (we didn't know he was a Nancy back then so it was cool.)
Later he pulled out a big heavy chain and swung it down like an ax on a wooden railroad tie in time with the bass drums. Wood splinters flying everywhere.
That my friends...was rock and roll!
Today they would be jumping out of their assigned seats and sueing the promoter for getting hit with a splinter.
Iron Maiden simply put is one of the greatest acts pf all time. Can't say they are my absolute favorite in the genre, but def top 3. In my day I had the Killers cover airbrushed on the back of my jean jacket. Probably have seen them 25 to 30 times.
Metallica is 1/100 more my favorite band as far as metal. Some of the best guitar combos ever, and master of puppets can't be denied as a classic.
If you are going to talk about frontmen, and performance value, I have to give it to diamond dave. That man put on a show, and back then van halen had a ton of energy, always a great show.
However, 2 of the greatest shows I have ever seen were Prince and John cougar Mellencamp. I know, but they blew the stage out when I saw them.
P.S. My wife laughs at me everytime I order a concert tee off of 80tees, but she is only 26 and has never heard real music.
Who Invented Rock and Roll?
I am big fan of Bruce's solo work as well - very talented guys, it ticks me off people group them with the no talent hair metal bands of the day. Their were plenty of 80's metal bands with talent - Dream Theater is a great band as well, not sure if you are into them at all.
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