Rock's great moments in time
Robert Morast - Argus Leader 3/19/2004
Wow. Suddenly I'm an "expert." Earlier this week, I received an e-
mail from a PR agent requesting my votes for the Top 10 moments in
rock 'n' roll history. Apparently, he's surveying various music
"experts" to compile the 50 greatest moments in rock history.
The master list will be presented in tandem with the Hard Rock Cafe's
celebration of rock's 50th anniversary (even though the actual birth
date of rock 'n' roll is completely debatable). Now, there's little
doubt that 92 percent of people polled will list such expected
examples as the Beatles' first Ed Sullivan performance, the original
Woodstock, MTV going on the air, Dylan going electric at the Newport
Folk Festival, etc., etc.
That's not how I'm playing. Rather than commemorate the obvious, here
are 10 of the most important rock moments people overlook. They're
listed in importance to each other, not in the grand scope of rock
history. Feel free to disagree.
1. Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil at the Crossroads:
Whether this story is true isn't important. When the classic Delta
bluesman sold his soul in exchange for guitar virtuosity, edgy music
(later dubbed rock 'n' roll) and Satan started an eternal
partnership. Even though most historians don't agree, rock music was
born the moment Johnson bartered with the dark lord. Johnson also
became the first rock martyr when he was poisoned by a jealous
girlfriend in 1938.
2. Lloyd Loar invents the electric guitar in 1923: His "guitar"
didn't resemble the instrument we know today. But Loar's designs and
electric pickups foretold the future of loud rock music for decades
to come. Without Loar, Bob Dylan doesn't shock his fans by going
electric, Jimi Hendrix is musically useless, metal music never is
invented and banjo deity Earl Scruggs is worshipped by guitar-starved
music geeks everywhere.
3. Journalist Al Aronowitz introduces the Beatles to Bob Dylan in
Aug. 1964: More than just a meeting of musical icons, this planned
encounter exposed the Beatles to marijuana and Dylan's ideals.
Supposedly, Dylan said something like "Your songs don't say anything"
and offered the Fab Four some reefer. They allegedly got high,
considered Dylan's words, and rock history was drastically altered.
After this meeting, the Beatles begin making "profound" music that
influenced every rock musician. It also made sly drug references a
rock lyric habit. If the two biggest artists of the day don't meet,
future audiences fail to see the humor in Afroman's song "Because I
Got High."
4. The stabbing at Altamont in 1969: One of the more dubious rock
history highlights. When a Hell's Angel security guard stabbed a
teenager to death during the Rolling Stones' set at the Altamont
Speedway outside San Francisco, every mother's rock nightmare was
realized. With a slip of the knife, all the claims of rock's
dangerous qualities are confirmed. Hippie ideals are lost, and a
perceived cultural Utopia is destroyed. Coincidentally, the stabbing
also made rock music exponentially cooler.
5. Sex Pistols playing "God Save the Queen" on the River Thames in
1977: During the Queen's Silver Jubilee, the Pistols performed its
banned song on a boat while floating down the River Thames. The band
promptly was arrested. It's not exactly the coolest moment in rock
history, but it set the tone for future connoisseurs of musical
rebellion.
6. Van Halen brothers swap instruments: Originally, Eddie started on
drums, and his brother Alex played guitar. But when Eddie was on his
paper route, Alex would mess around with his bro's drums. Soon, Alex
was a more accomplished drummer, and the brothers switched
instruments. Eddie eventually laid the groundwork for an influential
guitar style that would popularize two-hand tapping.
7. Two weird rockers and John Denver vs. censorship in 1985: In front
of a Senate subcommittee, Frank Zappa, Twisted Sister's Dee Snider
and John Denver convince the group - led by Al Gore - that censoring
music and instituting a ratings system to control lyrical content is
unjust. The government still decides to institute "parental advisory"
labels on some albums.
8. Shawn Fanning slacks off and invents Napster: Fanning ignored his
college studies to develop the most efficient Internet file-swapping
software available, and suddenly anyone with a computer had access to
anything ever recorded. Musicians and fans had a greater library to
reference and imitate. Not to mention, Napster further legitimized
the indie-music scene by improving its promotion and business models.
9. Nirvana releases "Nevermind" in 1991: This may be the most obvious
moment on my list, but it's impact is monumental and sometimes
overlooked. Aside from providing a cultural shift from glamorous
excess to artistic integrity, this album convinced people they could
start a garage band by learning three chords and screaming. This
album started more dreams than Ambien.
10. Aerosmith and Run DMC remake "Walk This Way": Two decades later,
this forced synergy of rock and rap feels dated and cheesy. But the
collaboration plants the seeds for all future rap-rock and nu-metal
bands and gives Fred Durst a reason to exist.
Rock's Great Moments In Time
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