Prince: The Purple Genius of Pop, Funk, and Rock Prince. Early Life and Musical Roots Full Name: Prince Rogers NelsonBorn: June 7, 1958 – Minneapolis, MinnesotaDied: April 21, 2016 – Chanhassen, Minnesota Prince was born into a musical family: A prodigious talent, Prince taught himself to play piano, guitar, bass, and drums by age 12….
The Cranberries: Ireland’s Melancholic Voice of the ’90s The Cranberries. I. Formation and Early Days The Cranberries formed in Limerick, Ireland, in 1989, initially as a band called The Cranberry Saw Us. The Cranberries. Original lineup: Originally fronted by Niall Quinn, the band’s direction changed completely when Dolores O’Riordan auditioned and was hired. Her ethereal…
The Zombies: Baroque Pop, British Soul, and Psychedelic Elegance I. Formation and Early Years The Zombies formed in 1961 in St Albans, England, and quickly distinguished themselves from other British Invasion bands with their: Founding members: They won a local talent contest, which led to a recording contract with Decca Records. II. British Invasion Breakthrough…
Disturbed: The Unyielding Voice of Modern Metal Disturbed. Origins in Chicago: The Rise of a Powerful Force Disturbed is one of the defining bands of the nu metal and alternative metal era, rising from the underground scene of Chicago in the late 1990s to global acclaim. Their music blends aggressive guitar riffs, dark lyrical themes,…
Bee Gees: Harmony Kings of Pop, Soul, and Disco Bee Gees. Formation and Early Years The Bee Gees were formed by the three Gibb brothers: Born on the Isle of Man and raised in Manchester, England, the brothers later moved with their family to Australia, where they began performing in the early 1960s. Their first…
Poison: Glam Metal’s Loudest, Flashiest, and Catchiest Hitmakers Poison. Formation and Early Struggles Poison was formed in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983 under the original name Paris. Seeking bigger opportunities, the band moved to Los Angeles, changed their name to Poison, and began performing in the thriving Sunset Strip scene. Poison. Classic lineup: After struggling in…
Scorpions: German Rock Legends Shaping Hard Rock History Scorpions. Formation and Early Years Scorpions were formed in 1965 in Hanover, Germany, by guitarist Rudolf Schenker. Initially, the band’s lineup went through several changes before settling on a core group. Vocalist Klaus Meine joined in 1969, marking the beginning of the classic lineup that would define…
The Clash: Defiant Voices of Punk Rock Revolution The Clash. Formation and Early Days The Clash was formed in 1976 in London, England, during the explosive rise of the punk rock movement. The original lineup included Joe Strummer (vocals, rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar, vocals), Paul Simonon (bass), and Terry Chimes (drums). Shortly after,…
Jane’s Addiction: The Theatrical Architects of Alternative Rock Jane’s Addiction. I. Formation and Origins Formed: 1985Origin: Los Angeles, California, USA Jane’s Addiction. Classic lineup: Jane’s Addiction formed out of the ashes of Perry Farrell’s previous band, Psi Com. Named after Farrell’s housemate Jane Bainter (a muse, not a girlfriend), the group fused the wildness of…
Barclay James Harvest: Symphonic Rock’s Unsung Storytellers Barclay James Harvest. I. Formation and Origins Formed: 1966Origin: Oldham, Lancashire, England Barclay James Harvest. Classic Lineup: Initially inspired by The Beatles, The Moody Blues, and classical music, the band started as The Blues Keepers before adopting the more distinctive name Barclay James Harvest — a fictional composite…
