abstract

For my paper, I will be exploring a few of the major artists in the classic rock genre of the late 70’s to 80’s. Specifically, I would like to examine the different ways that these bands impacted society through their music. For example, Bruce Springsteen, arguably the most influential artist in the subgenre of heartland rock, had songs that related to the blue collar workers of America. Springsteen and similar artists focused their music on the earlier influences of rock in folk, blues, and country music. These references back to the roots of rock generally identified with a less rebellious youth than the music of some of the more hard rock artists. In addition, these artists were also seen to be much less controversial than hard rock artists such as The Who, whose drummer died of a drug overdose.