Pulp: The Defining Voice of Britpop and Chroniclers of British Working-Class Life Pulp. Formation and Early Years (1978–1993) Pulp was formed in Sheffield, England, in 1978 by a teenage Jarvis Cocker, who became the band’s charismatic frontman and principal songwriter. The early years were marked by experimentation and struggle. Initially, Pulp’s sound leaned towards post-punk…
Whitesnake: From Blues Roots to Arena Rock Titans I. Formation and Early Days Whitesnake was formed in 1978 by David Coverdale, former lead singer of Deep Purple (1973–1976), following his solo efforts White Snake (1977) and Northwinds (1978), which gave the band its name. Initially, the band drew heavily from blues rock and classic hard…
Manowar: Defenders of True Metal Glory Manowar. Origins and Founding Ethos Manowar was formed in Auburn, New York, in 1980 by: Joey DeMaio, a former bass tech for Black Sabbath, envisioned a band that would not just play heavy metal — they would live and breathe it, promoting a mythic warrior image with swords, Norse…
King Crimson: The Architects of Progressive Rock’s Outer Limits King Crimson. Formation and Early Vision King Crimson was formed in 1968 in London, England, by guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Michael Giles, alongside lyricist and art director Peter Sinfield, multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, and bassist-vocalist Greg Lake.From their very first performances, King Crimson stood apart —…
The Pretenders: Punk Cool Meets Pop Soul I. Formation and Origins The Pretenders were formed in 1978 in Hereford, England, by American singer-songwriter and guitarist Chrissie Hynde, originally from Akron, Ohio. Original classic lineup: Hynde had worked as a journalist for NME and played in proto-punk circles (including early versions of The Damned and The…
Thy Art Is Murder: The Unrelenting Voice of Deathcore Rebellion Introduction: The Australian Juggernaut of Modern Extreme Metal Formed in 2006 in Blacktown, Sydney, Thy Art Is Murder emerged from the underground as a powerful force in deathcore, blending the speed and technicality of death metal with the breakdown-heavy brutality of hardcore. With themes centered…
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…
Queensrÿche: Visionaries of Progressive Metal Theater Queensrÿche. Formation and Origins Queensrÿche was formed in Bellevue, Washington, in 1982, initially as a covers band named The Mob. Their lineup solidified around a shared interest in British heavy metal (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest) and more complex, thematic songwriting. Queensrÿche. Classic lineup: They soon rebranded as Queensrÿche (adding…
Killswitch Engage: Architects of Modern Metalcore Introduction: Melodic Intensity Meets Raw Emotion Few bands have been as influential in shaping the metalcore genre as Killswitch Engage. With their perfect fusion of crushing riffs, melodic hooks, emotionally charged lyrics, and soaring clean vocals, the Massachusetts-based band redefined what heavy music could be in the 21st century….
Steve Miller Band: From Psychedelic Blues to Hit-Making Power Pop Steve Miller Band. Formation and Early Years The Steve Miller Band was formed in San Francisco in 1966 by guitarist and vocalist Steve Miller, a Wisconsin native who had studied English literature and learned blues from legends like T-Bone Walker. Initially steeped in the psychedelic…
