An online acquaintance asked me the following question:
Define the term “Alternative Rock”?
I wondered about this for a moment and replied:
That depends on how you define the term Rock.
Define the word Rock.
Now whatever that definition isn’t, is what you call Alternative Rock.


3 comments
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June 30, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Bill Thurman
when I think of the term “Rock” I go back to people like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and all the other black musicians who started doing it. later comes people like Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis and their thousands of followers (in bands/performers). Everything else that comes later is just alternative rock to me. the Beatles started out as a band loving and copying rock, but they didn’t end up that way. the Eagles were a “mix up ten different styles” band if there ever was one. you can’t say that the many English or American bands of the 70’s and 80’s were really “Rock” bands in the original sense of the word. they were all alternative rock. if you really want to have an original “rock” party, then go back to Chuck Berry, Little Richard
Chubby Checker, then maybe some Elvis, Jerry Lee and a few others.
all the rest of the later stuff might be loud and proud, but they ain’t something that fits with the truly original idea of “Rock”.
July 1, 2009 at 7:43 am
musicworthbuying
Good point Bill…..As for me, I keep thinking of the lyric to that Billy Joel Song:
Everybodys talkin bout the new sound
Funny, but its still rock and roll to me
TJR
July 3, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Big Al
I agree with ol’ Billy here. I think someone over at Music Thoughts summed it up perfectly. The label is just so store owners know where to put the albums out for display. (^_^)