Fleetwood Mac: From British Blues to Global Rock Royalty Fleetwood Mac. Formation and British Blues Roots (1967–1974) Fleetwood Mac was formed in London in 1967 by: Named after its rhythm section (Fleetwood and McVie), the band began as a British blues outfit, heavily influenced by John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Peter Green quickly gained acclaim for his…
Blood, Sweat & Tears: Jazz-Rock Fusion with Brassy Power Blood, Sweat & Tears. Formation and Vision Blood, Sweat & Tears (BS&T) was formed in 1967 in New York City by: Their goal was to fuse rock, jazz, and blues with a big-band brass section, a radical concept at the time. Their sophisticated arrangements and technical…
Simply Red: Soulful Pop with a Sophisticated Edge Simply Red. From Manchester to Global Stardom Simply Red, founded in Manchester in 1984, became one of the most recognizable and successful British bands of the late 20th century. Fronted by the charismatic, flame-haired vocalist Mick Hucknall, the band’s sound fused blue-eyed soul, pop, jazz, and R&B,…
Rage Against the Machine: Revolutionaries of Rap Metal and Resistance Rage Against the Machine. Formation and Background Formed: 1991Origin: Los Angeles, California Rage Against the Machine. Members: The band formed when Zack de la Rocha, a hardcore punk veteran with deep roots in social activism, teamed up with Tom Morello, a Harvard-educated guitarist known for…
Porcupine Tree: Modern Architects of Progressive Rock’s Darker Side Porcupine Tree. Formation and Origins Porcupine Tree was formed in 1987 by British musician Steven Wilson as a solo studio project, originally conceived as a fictional progressive rock band with an elaborate invented history. What began as an experimental outlet for Wilson’s love of psychedelia, krautrock,…
The Cure: Masters of Melancholy, Melody, and Modern Romance The Cure. I. Formation and Early Years The Cure was formed in Crawley, West Sussex, England, in 1976, initially under the name Easy Cure. The band emerged from the post-punk and new wave movements and was led by: Robert Smith became the core and constant member…
R.E.M.: Poetic Pioneers of Alternative Rock R.E.M.. Formation and Early Identity R.E.M. formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980, becoming a key part of the American underground rock movement. R.E.M.. Founding members: They built their reputation through college radio, fusing post-punk, folk-rock, and cryptic poetry, all delivered with a DIY ethic. R.E.M.. Early Albums and Rise…
The Eagles: American Rock’s Harmonious Storytellers The Eagles. Formation and Origins The Eagles were formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1971 by four musicians who had been backing Linda Ronstadt: They fused elements of rock, country, folk, and pop into a unique style known as California rock — breezy yet reflective, with smooth harmonies and…
The Allman Brothers Band: Southern Rock Pioneers and Jam Band Legends The Allman Brothers Band. I. Formation and Origins The Allman Brothers Band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969, but quickly relocated to Macon, Georgia, which became their spiritual home. The Allman Brothers Band. Original lineup: Their sound fused Delta blues, jazz improvisation, soul,…
Men at Work: Australia’s Quirky New Wave Ambassadors Men at Work. Formation and Early Years Formed: 1979Origin: Melbourne, Australia Men at Work. Classic lineup: Colin Hay, a Scottish-born singer-songwriter, co-founded Men at Work in Melbourne’s pub rock scene, blending bouncy rhythms with sharp social observation. Their early gigs were marked by humor, energy, and instrumental…
