Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath are a British rock band formed in 1968, the original members consisted of vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, drummer Bill Ward, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler. Black Sabbath is credited with being the original heavy metal band, basically creating the genre and new sound. They first started out as a hard rock/blues band but evolved with drop tuned guitars, horror themed lyrics, some screaming guitar solos, howled vocals, accented BASS and very impressive drumming to create the original Sabbath sound.

The band released their debut album Black Sabbath on Friday the 13th, 1970. The album did well, and was number 23 on the Billboard 200, where it stayed for a full year. The band went on to release 20+ studio albums...

Black Sabbath has been a massive influence for countless bands all around the world. In my opinion Black Sabbath is always great to listen to... 

Into the void - Black Sabbath

The Doors

The Doors were an American rock band that was formed in 1965 in LA California. The bands original members consisted of vocalist Jim Morrison, drummer John Densmore, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger. The band was very controversial back in the 60's mainly due to Jim's crazy lifestyle, and very poetic lyrics.

They released their self-titled debut album in January 1967, "Light My Fire" was the single from the album that really sparked the beginning of the band's success. The Doors released 5 more studio albums before the tragic death of Jim Morrison in 1971, he was found dead in an apartment bathtub in Paris, no autopsy was performed.

The Doors, in my opinion, were a very unique and different band. Just when the hippie era was exploding, the doors were becoming one of the biggest bands of all time. They're music is awesome, poetic and very meaningful. If you haven't heard any of their music, your definitely missing out...

Break on Through - The Doors

Deep Purple

Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in 1968. They're known around the world as one of the god-fathers of heavy metal/hard rock. The band was formed in Hertford, the band's members currently consist of vocalist Ian Gillan, drummer Ian Paice, guitarist Steve Morse, bassist Roger Glover and keyboardist Don Airey. Deep Purple's been a giant influence on tons of bands all around the world. Deep purple combines different styles of genres like progressive rock, classic music, blues and psychedelic rock.

The band released their debut album Shades of Deep Purple in 1968, the album didn't do so well sales-wise in the UK, but in the US, the album was a huge success. Deep Purple went on to release 15 more studio albums including a couple live albums. My personal favorite album is Deep Purple in Rock

In my opinion, Deep Purple is one of the greatest bands of the era...

Black night - Deep Purple

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is known all around the world as one of, if not the greatest guitarist of all time...

Clapton, a former member of The Yardbirds aswell as Cream, has influenced tons of future guitarists to come. His guitar style is heavily blues-rock inspired.

In my opinion, Eric Clapton's solo work is far superior to the arrangments hes done with former band members. Classic's like : Layla, Tears in Heaven and Crossroads are masterpieces.

           

                                                                

Layla - Eric Clapton

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in 1962 by guitarist Brian Jones, vocalist Mick Jagger, pianist Ian Stewart and guitarist Keith Richards. Drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman later joined to complete the lineup. Although these we're the original members, the lineup has changed since the bands formation and is currently as so : Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood.

In a career thats filled with nearly half a century of rock n roll, The Rolling Stones have been estimated to have sold over 200 million albums worldwide, and have released more than 90 singles, 24 studio albums, and a ton of compilation and live albums... It's clear that The Rolling Stones have made a huge mark in rock and roll history.

Sympathy for the devil - The Rolling Stones

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was a blues-influenced American guitarist and song writer. Jimi is known for his incredible skills at the guitar, very entertaining live shows and instrument destruction! Many consider Hendrix as the greatest guitarist of all time, his raw style of playing made him an icon and one of the most influential acts of his era.

Jimi formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience, his first debut album Are You Experienced, was released in 1967. The band later went on to release the following albums : Axis : Bold as Love (1967), Electric Ladyland (1968) and Band of Gypsys (1970).

Hendrix was ranked number 3 on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Rock N' Roll, behind the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. He has been voted by Rolling Stone, Guitar World, and a number of other magazines and polls as the best electric guitarist of all time.

Death : On September 18, 1970, Jimi had taken 9 of his girlfriend's Vesperax sleeping pills. The normal medical dose was half a tablet. According to John Bannister, the doctor who attended to him, Jimi had asphyxiated in his own vomit, apparently it was mainly red wine that had filled his airways.

Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was one of the most influential acts of the 70's. The English rock band, Led Zeppelin, was formed in 1968 by : Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. Led Zeppelin are known for their much heavier sound, and blues influenced hard rock.They're regularly cited as the grandfathers of heavy metal and hard rock. The band has sold over 200 million albums worldwide. Led Zeppelin are ranked number one on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock''.

The band released the following albums throughout the years : Led Zeppelin (1969), Led Zeppelin II (1969), Led Zeppelin III (1970), Led Zeppelin IV (1971), Houses Of The Holy (1973), Physical Graffiti (1975), Presence (1976), The Song Remains The Same (1976), In Through The Out Door (1979)

John Bonham passed away in 1980, and since then the band released one last studio album : Coda (1982)

The Rain Song - Led Zeppelin

The Who

The Who are an English rock band, they're known for their amazing live performances and crazy shows which often lead to the smashing of their instruments... The band was formed in 1964 by Pete Townshend (guitar), Roger Daltrey (vocals), Keith Moon (drums) and John Entwistle (bass). To date, The Who has sold over 100 million records in the UK and the United States alone. Their debut album My Generation was released 1965.

The Who later released : A Quick One (1966), The Who Sell Out (1967), Tommy (1969), Who's Next (1971), Quadrophenia (1973), The Who by Numbers (1975), Who Are You (1978).

The Who was getting to the top of the UK charts and rose to fame with these albums, and created a new sound of classic rock and roll.

Sadly in 1978, Keith Moon passed away at the age of 32 and The Who would change forever.

They released 2 more albums after Keith Moon's death : Face Dances (1981) and It's Hard (1982) before breaking up in 1983. Although they still played some occasional live performances, and actually released a final studio album Endless Wire in 2006

Behind Blue Eyes - The Who

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band, they are known around the whole world as one of the most commercially successful acts of popular music of all time. The band formed in the early 60's with the original members consisting of : Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best. Stuart left the band 1961, and Pete was eventually replaced by Ringo Starr. The band rushed to create a debut album, "Please Please Me" was released (1963).

The Beatles went on to make : With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles for Sale, Help! and Rubber Soul. Releasing 6 albums in a little over 2 years, these albums are looked back as some of the greatest albums in music history and have influenced tons of bands... As of today, The Beatles have sold more albums in the United States then any other artist.

Creating 7 more albums before finally breaking up, The Beatles created : Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles (The White Album), Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road and Let It Be.

Let It Be - The Beatles

Pink Floyd

Pink floyd was way ahead of their time in rock music, they were one of the most influental psychedelic rock bands of all time. The band was formed in the 60`s with their debut album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" that came out (1967). Pink floyd has sold over 200 millions albums worldwide... The original members of the band are : Roger waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright and Syd Barrett. They we`re all students at university. Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour later joined the band in 1968 as the fifth member, eventually replacing Syd Barrett...

Pink floyd went on to make : A Saucerful of Secrets, Ummagumma, Atom Heart Mother and Meddle. These albums are considered to be the vintage pink floyd sound, in which the band became experimenting with different sounds and a new approach to writing their music. In these albums, pink floyd's style changes slightly from psychedelic to progressive rock.

Moving on, Pink floyd's giant success came threw their next four albums, The Dark Side of the Moon (My personal favorite), Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall. 

Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 - Pink floyd