Rock music is a genre of popular music that originated as "rock and roll" in the United States in the 1950s, and developed into a range of different styles in the 1960s and later, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s' and 1950s' rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by blues, rhythm and blues and country music. Rock music also drew strongly on a number of other genres such as electric blues and folk, and incorporated influences from jazz, classical and other musical sources.
Musically, rock has centered on the electric guitar, usually as part of a rock group with electric bass guitar and drums. Typically, rock is song-based music usually with a 4/4 time signature using a verse-chorus form, but the genre has become extremely diverse. Like pop music, lyrics often stress romantic love but also address a wide variety of other themes that are frequently social or political in emphasis.
The dominance of rock by white, male musicians has been seen as one of the key factors shaping the themes explored in rock music. Rock places a higher degree of emphasis on musicianship, live performance, and an ideology of authenticity than pop music.
AC/DC's guitarist Angus Young is a great musician but very difficult to photograph as he moves non-stop. - Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK.
Martyn Goddard shot AC/DC in 1976 during their first UK tour when they played five gigs at the Marquee Club
Contact sheet of AC/DC photos taken whilst they were completing their 1976 residency at the Marquee Club, London.
Signed limited edition cassette print by Horace Panter of The B-52's
John Lennon in New York City in 1974, this was during the period when he recorded 'Walls and Bridges'.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono In the White Room in Ascot, 1971 where the classic video clip for ‘Imagine’ was shot
This iconic 'Umbrella' image was taken in Scotland in 1964 on the banks of Loch Earn.
John Lennon & Yoko Ono in the kitchen of their home in Tittenhurst Park Ascot, UK in 1971, taken after an on-site press interview.
The Beatles having fun at Cliveden House whilst taking a break from filming the comedy, Help in May 1965.
Iconic photo of John Lennon with a flower in his eye, fondly known as 'Adoration'.
A very relaxed looking John Lennon taken by photographer Robert Whitaker at his studio in London.
Debbie Harry, Blondie recording Parallel Lines at the Record Plant Studio, New York in 1978
Debbie Harry leaning on Martyn Goddard's tripod with his Nikon FE camera. Shot on a New York rooftop in 1978
Early set of contact sheet photos by Don Hunstein taken of Bob Dylan in his New York apartment on West 4th Street in 1963.
Bob Dylan looks out of the window of the Roxy Hearts Diner in Portland, Oregon whilst on the second leg of his Gospel Tour in January, 1980
Bob Dylan relaxing and having a pint during the recordings for his BBC concert at BBC Studios in June 1965
In the studio in Santa Monica, California in 1980, Bob Dylan is captured whilst leaning on his guitar case.
Bob Dylan during his recording sessions for 'Highway 61 Revisited' at Columbia Studios in June 1965
At Columbia Studios, New York 1963 Bob Dylan crouching with his guitar during a recording session for his second studio album 'Freewheelin''
Bob Dylan relaxing in the studio in Santa Monica in September 1980
Bruce Springsteen captured during The River Tour in 1981 at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam
U2 on top of a hotel roof in Cork, Ireland on a cold February morning in 1980
The Clash on stage at the the first large scale Rock Against Racism/Anti Nazi League carnival at Victoria Park, April 1978.
A unique collection of images of Pink Floyd, one of the worlds most successful and influential rock bands.
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band who were in the vanguard of the British music Invasion that became popular in the US in 1964–65.
Amy Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter known for her deep expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres.
Blondie is a American rock band founded by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein that pioneered the New York new wave & punk scenes of the 1970s.
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Our contact sheet print collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.
During his 30 year career Jake Chessum has shot defining images of musicians such as Amy Winehouse, Jay Z, The Beastie Boys & David Bowie.
Jill Furmanovsky is one of the greatest ever rock & roll photographers with a huge archive of iconic shots of the world's best music artists