Who were the oldest people who liked rock music? By that, I don't mean those who are the oldest now, but who were born the earliest.
I remember reading that Jimmy Carter (born 1924) listened to Led Zeppelin records while he worked in his office.
I was shocked to hear that my grandparents liked rock music, but I don't think they really did, except for an occasional soft rock song like "Show Me The Way" by Styx. One day, we had the radio on, and my grandmother started talking about what a great song that was.
I had teachers who didn't like most rock, but it turned out they were a lot younger than I thought.
My maternal grandmother was an Elvis fan. She was born in 1917. Elvis fans in general may be some of the oldest, since he was the first really big name rock artist.
Before rock & roll, there was rhythm and blues, which became popular after the war. But if you're talking how the mainstream version is defined today, it has to start with Bill Haley and his Comets, with Rock Around the Clock in 1955. Those who were in high school at the time were born around 1940, plus/minus a couple of years, making them 80ish today.
Quote from: bandit957 on January 03, 2022, 11:05:00 PM
Who were the oldest people who liked rock music? By that, I don't mean those who are the oldest now, but who were born the earliest.
Whomever gave Mozart his first commission, back in the 1700s, in Austria.
Ed Sullivan?
I'm not sure whether you'd consider the Beatles "rock," but the late Queen Mother (born in 1900) was reportedly a big fan of theirs.
My great grandfather (1902-2007) liked some "˜80s power ballads. I'm not sure you could say he was really a fan of the artists, but more impressed with the synth sounds.
My parents were born in the 1920s and had no use for Rock. My sisters and I (born 1951-1960) are huge fans. I would guess that people born before 1940ish would not be fans.
A couple funny stories, relating to this topic.
1. A couple years ago, when the movie Bohemian Rhapsody was released, I was telling some friends (three friends, all born in the late 1940s) about it, and they had *never* heard of Queen. I literally asked them what rock they had been living under. They would have been under 30 when Queen first came on the scene.
2. In 1979, I was in the car with my grandfather, who was born in 1899, and Janis Joplin was mentioned on the radio. He said "Janis Joplin? She's been dead for several years" I was shocked that he knew who she was. Turns out my grandparents used to play bridge with Janis's parents.
My grandma who was born in 1920 used to play Eagles songs on her organ when I was a kid.
My father's favorite station was the "Big 89" WLS. It became a rock & roll (Top-40 for the older crowd) station when he started high school, and that was all he says he'd ever listen to. After WLS flipped formats to News/Talk, he decided that he'd had enough and tuned into oldies stations WJMK (104.3), and later WLS-FM (94.7) after the former station changed formats.
My dad, back in the day, would tune in to 102.7 WNEW-FM (which was once tied to what is now WNYW on Channel 5, but there was no such thing as a Fox affiliation in those days, as then-WNEW-TV was already a former Dumont station, with Dumont having gone defunct around the time that my dad was born). WNEW-FM was one of those historic progressive rock FM stations (it was once owned by Metromedia, another defunct company), home to the likes of Alison Steele (AKA The Nightbird (RIP)). Unfortunately, the station isn't what it used to be, a victim of changing times (and changing tastes).
My dad's parents were more old-school. For example, my late grandmother (who died last year) had enjoyed the likes of Tom Jones ("She's A Lady" (1970), originally a song by Paul Anka-both artists were on Columbia AKA CBS).
My mother's younger sister is a fan of the Eagles' "Hotel California" (1976), specifically the title track (1976) from the album of the same name (1976). My mother and her younger sister would have both been in high school when that song was a hit (in 1977), though, by the time it topped the charts (in May of 1977), my mother was about to graduate from Jackson Memorial High School (and then Elvis would die in August of that year). My mother apparently remembers when some of the Beatles' songs were translated into Mandarin Chinese, such as "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" , a single off their White Album (1968). Her favorite Beatle would have been George Harrison (RIP).
Back in the day, I believe that there was Dave Matthews Band and ELO music played at my uncle's house in Jackson, NJ (according to my uncle Bill). Dave Matthews Band was one of my favorites growing up.
Buddy Holly's last concert was at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, about 10 miles west of where I live. And one of the women I work with, who must be 60 or so, likes to talk about how her parents were there. Presuming they are alive, they would have to be in their 80's for sure.
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 04, 2022, 07:39:41 AM
I'm not sure whether you'd consider the Beatles "rock," but the late Queen Mother (born in 1900) was reportedly a big fan of theirs.
If the Beatles aren't rock, I don't know who or what is.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 05, 2022, 01:07:13 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 04, 2022, 07:39:41 AM
I'm not sure whether you'd consider the Beatles "rock," but the late Queen Mother (born in 1900) was reportedly a big fan of theirs.
If the Beatles aren't rock, I don't know who or what is.
Some people consider the Beatles to be "pop" and regard that as a separate genre from the heavier "rock."
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 05, 2022, 01:41:45 PM
Some people consider the Beatles to be "pop" and regard that as a separate genre from the heavier "rock."
Those people are wrong.
"Pop" isn't a genre as far as I'm concerned.
My father's parents (born in the early 1920s) like listening to Janet Jackson.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on January 05, 2022, 03:54:14 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 05, 2022, 01:41:45 PM
Some people consider the Beatles to be "pop" and regard that as a separate genre from the heavier "rock."
Those people are wrong.
"Pop" isn't a genre as far as I'm concerned.
I think "pop" has become a catch-all for music from any genre that becomes popular, or music that doesn't really fit into a more neatly-defined category.
How would you classify old songs like "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree" or "Bad Bad Leroy Brown?" Songs like "Come Sail Away" or "More Than A Feeling" were rock songs that became pop songs, but while it's easy to categorize Boston or Styx as rock, I'm not sure where Tony Orlando & Dawn or Jim Croce fit.
Quote from: Rothman on January 05, 2022, 09:17:06 PM
My father's parents (born in the early 1920s) like listening to Janet Jackson.
Does she count as rock because she won a grammy for best female rock vocal performance one time?
No one in my grandparents generation (born 1908-1925) liked it. My grandmother (God rest her soul) was so cute about my mom and aunt's (mom currently 73 and aunt would be 68) taste in music. She'd always talk about them playing Bob Dylan records and how he sounded like a "sick cow" and "Oh that awful dirty song that went Lady lay across my bed." They were too into polkas and big band, but my uncle got her into some modern soft rock and country in her final years. As for my parents: my mom was at Woodstock in 69 and knew a couple famous musicians when she lived in Boston for a summer. My dad was more into early 70's prog rock like Yes, King Crimson and the like.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on January 06, 2022, 04:58:15 PM
.... She'd always talk about them playing Bob Dylan records and how he sounded like a "sick cow" ...
She wasn't wrong.
I'm sure that there was a 90 some year old born in the 1860s who liked Elvis.
Quote from: wriddle082 on January 03, 2022, 11:28:06 PM
My maternal grandmother was an Elvis fan. She was born in 1917. Elvis fans in general may be some of the oldest, since he was the first really big name rock artist.
My Dad's mother, born in 1913, was a Willy and Dolly (and Lawrence Welk) fan -- Not exactly the champion of rock, but "Hip Country" at the time. My Mom's mother, born 1920, loved Elvis and Buddy and Richie. Her son, my uncle, was a Country-Rocker (at one of his first gigs in Tahoe, the promoters made them change their band's name as "too suggestive").
I was lucky to go to Vancouver's Expo 86 on B.C. Weekend when I got to see a free performance by Chilliwak, a group I had seen on MTV and I was a fan. The group has been around for a while, and there was a late-middle-aged woman dancing in the aisle. On the trip to Canada a year earlier, I went to a restaurant and saw what looked like a teenager and her mom with the same new wave haircut. Things are different in Canada.
Muddy Waters (born 1913) had a high enough opinion of the Rolling Stones to cover one of their songs in 1967.
Ronald Reagan (born 1911) claimed to be a Bruce Springsteen fan. He played "Born in the USA" at one of his rallies for the 1984 election, which left the Boss fuming.
Far from the oldest, but my maternal grandfather (born 1939) had "Wonderwall" by Oasis in his banjo repertoire.
Quote from: GaryV on January 04, 2022, 07:12:41 AM
Ed Sullivan?
Ed Sullivan was born in about 1890. I'm sure that there were some record company executives and talent scouts were born before that who also liked Rock-and-Roll. Keep in mind that Bill Haley and Elvis Presley were only the first
European-Americans to get involved and popular with it. African-Americans
invented both the concept of Rock-and-Roll and its name. The term "rock" was already in current use by the time that Hailey's group recorded "Rock Around the Clock". That was sort of the reason for the song's popularity! It's sort of like Blondie using the term "rap" in "One Way or Another". Apparently, it was already a term that had current use by 1978. Nigel Harrison (one of the authors of "One Way or Another") was born in 1951.
Quote from: Osthagen on December 17, 2022, 11:47:52 AM
Ronald Reagan (born 1911) claimed to be a Bruce Springsteen fan. He played "Born in the USA" at one of his rallies for the 1984 election, which left the Boss fuming.
I've wondered about this kind of thing. Especially when Trump would use music for his rallies, the musicians would be all "I won't allow you to do that". But, is it even the musician that the White House contacts for permission? Isn't it the record label? Can't the label do basically whatever they want, whether the musician likes it or not?
For anyone who's not Trump, the song will generally be allowed as long as it actually fits. The problem with Born in the USA is that everyone thinks it's a patriotic song when it's not.
Quote from: 1 on December 19, 2022, 07:15:02 PM
For anyone who's not Trump, the song will generally be allowed as long as it actually fits.
It's a little more than that. John McCain's campaign used Heart's "Barracuda" in 2008 and the Wilson sisters spoke out against it. Other artists might generally ask a campaign not to use their music just because they don't want to feel associated with the candidate, regardless of whether they approve or disapprove of the candidate themselves.
But that's not my point. Is it even the musician's decision to make?
Quote from: kphoger on December 19, 2022, 07:13:12 PM
Quote from: Osthagen on December 17, 2022, 11:47:52 AM
Ronald Reagan (born 1911) claimed to be a Bruce Springsteen fan. He played "Born in the USA" at one of his rallies for the 1984 election, which left the Boss fuming.
I've wondered about this kind of thing. Especially when Trump would use music for his rallies, the musicians would be all "I won't allow you to do that". But, is it even the musician that the White House contacts for permission? Isn't it the record label? Can't the label do basically whatever they want, whether the musician likes it or not?
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on December 19, 2022, 07:25:08 PM
Quote from: 1 on December 19, 2022, 07:15:02 PM
For anyone who's not Trump, the song will generally be allowed as long as it actually fits.
It's a little more than that. John McCain's campaign used Heart's "Barracuda" in 2008 and the Wilson sisters spoke out against it. Other artists might generally ask a campaign not to use their music just because they don't want to feel associated with the candidate, regardless of whether they approve or disapprove of the candidate themselves.
Quote from: kphoger on December 19, 2022, 08:21:37 PM
But that's not my point. Is it even the musician's decision to make?
While record companies often own the rights to music (unfortunately), it is usually the musicians themselves who are actually associated with the music in question in the public mind. Songs being used in movies and shows, and even video games as well, can often be quite beneficial for both parties (the music and the work of art the music is being used in), and even forge pop cultural connections and lasting nostalgic associations, especially if the music works really well in the medium. However, politics is a completely different animal, and if a politician decides to use a work of music in their campaign they should expect a high probability of opposition to that. The musicians blocking the candidates from using the song is an effective form of protest against said candidate if the purpose is because the artist wants no association whatsoever, which would be very understandable. And then, as mentioned, there's also the irony of using "Born in the USA" as a song for candidates that espouse "patriotism," when the song is actually a heavy critique of the happenings in America. It would probably usually be best to keep music and art out of the machinations of politics, but political candidates seem to find that out the hard way time and time again. :) :-D :no:
So, it sounds like I was thinking correctly.
– Hello, copyright holder for Tom Petty's Famous Song? We'd like to use the song for our Midwestern Whirlwind Political Rally Tour.
– Yes, of course, Mister Campaign Dude. That will be $8550 per rally, please.
– Great! It's been a pleasure doing business with you.
– ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
– Hey, this is Tom Petty here, and I hate your candidate. I refuse to let you use my Famous Song at your rallies.
– Uh, nobody asked you.
Wasn't the electric guitar invented in the 1930's? Its inventor, Beauchamp, was born around 1900, so he's the earliest known Rock music pioneer I would believe.
What kphoger suggests has more or less happened on occasion when a candidate has validly licensed a song through ASCAP or BMI and then the musician objects.
One of the more reasonable comments I've heard came from Tom Scholz (who is hardly known for being one of the more reasonable rock musicians, to be sure) when Mike Huckabee used a Boston song. Scholz asked him not to play it and said, "I'm flattered that you like my music, but I ask you not to play it at your rallies so as not to imply that I support you." Compare to famously liberal Jackson Browne, who rushed to sue John McCain after he played "Running on Empty" to refer to Obama's energy policy.
From what I understand when you publish a song you have written, the song technically is no longer your personal property. It belongs to them and is public domain after one obtains ASCAP or BMI.
The same happened with Galveston when Glen Campbell covered it. He made it more conservative from what the author intended the song to be, and there were some sparks there as well.
Quote from: jgb191 on December 20, 2022, 01:34:40 AM
Wasn't the electric guitar invented in the 1930's? Its inventor, Beauchamp, was born around 1900, so he's the earliest known Rock music pioneer I would believe.
I can't tell if he actually personally liked rock and roll or not.
The nursing home I work in runs Spotify or suchlike on the overhead in the daytime. Usually 70's and 80's hits. Nobody seems to mind, and it's contemporary music for a lot of the residents. Just a note, Peter Crowley, who produced a lot of shows at Max's Kansas City is in his 70's, and keeps threatening to retire from producing Max's Kansas City tribute shows. Walter Lure literally played Heartbreakers songs until he passed away, Mickey Leigh (Joey Ramone's brother) has started a new group and has an album out. Phillipe Marcade(The Senders) shows up at the Bowery Electric now and again.
Quote from: roadman65 on December 20, 2022, 07:57:57 AM
From what I understand when you publish a song you have written, the song technically is no longer your personal property. It belongs to them and is public domain after one obtains ASCAP or BMI.
This. If you pay the royalties, then you have a license for public use. There's also SESAC, in addition to BMI and ASCAP. If a politician pays the licensing fees, there isn't a whole lot the artist can do other than complain publicly.
It's how Rush Limbaugh was able to use The Pretenders' "My City Was Gone" as his theme music. He had paid the licensing fee, much to the chagrin of Chrissie Hynde. There was a brief period when the license had expired and he experimented with other theme songs -- Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold" being one I remember -- but eventually he regained usage rights to the song.
Same with some of the tunes he used as bumper music. Some artists objected, some for specific political reasons while others on the premise that they didn't want to be connected to any political movements or opinions, but in the end those objections were treated as requests and not legal "cease and desist" orders.
That's the perks. You write a song. Sell it to the publishers. Then anyone can buy the rights to the song including political adversaries of yours.
I'm sure they're songs out there that have been covered in the industry by artists who the original disliked the way the song was taken. I imagine that many rappers who covered rock songs are not appreciated by their original authors.
I'm sure Dean Martin would be rolling in his grave if he heard his version of Jingle Bells used as part of a rap song. Of course Christmas music is exempt from being used unless its Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You, which she co-wrote herself and I'm sure Michael Buble had to acquire the rights on his last Christmas Album to use when he covered the track.
My understanding is that most of the time candidates will comply with cease-and-desist orders issued by musicians even though they have no legal basis to issue them. Even if the candidate has a legal right to play the song, if the musician sues, there is the potential of negative publicity for the candidate since the musician is more likely to have a bigger fan base than the politician does. It also means that coverage of the court case will probably drown out whatever the politician wants to communicate about their candidacy. It doesn't really serve the candidate's interest to have their right to play the song validated in court but lose the election, so it's easiest to just pick a different song.
And see, I figured it would be bad publicity to have the whole country know that no musician out of the twenty you've tried will let you play his song.
Quote from: kphoger on December 24, 2022, 02:08:45 PM
And see, I figured it would be bad publicity to have the whole country know that no musician out of the twenty you've tried will let you play his song.
Most of the time, I think it's handled on the down low. Candidate plays Song A by Musician X, Musician X issues cease-and-desist to campaign lawyers, the campaign switches to Song B by Musician Y without so much as acknowledging it publicly, and it never hits the news. For all anyone knows the campaign manager simply thought Song B was a better fit for the campaign.
And, well, worse comes to worst, there's always royalty free/public domain music! The author can't object if they're dead! (It might be kind of funny for a candidate to use "Swan Lake" just to see how much Putin freaks out.)
Quote from: kphoger on December 20, 2022, 10:44:58 AM
Quote from: jgb191 on December 20, 2022, 01:34:40 AM
Wasn't the electric guitar invented in the 1930's? Its inventor, Beauchamp, was born around 1900, so he's the earliest known Rock music pioneer I would believe.
I can't tell if he actually personally liked rock and roll or not.
I just googled him:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Beauchamp
He was actually born in 1899, and his creations were nicknamed "frying pans" based on their resemblances to the cooking apparatus. In addition, he also invented the electric bass, electric violin and instrument amplifiers. Sadly, he didn't live to see the birth of rock & roll itself, as he died in 1941, two days after his 42nd birthday and at least a decade before his inventions truly took off, thanks to companies like Fender and Les Paul.
I wonder if Christine McVie approved of Bill Clinton using her song when he won the 1992 election?
Quote from: roadman65 on January 06, 2023, 04:53:36 PM
I wonder if Christine McVie approved of Bill Clinton using her song when he won the 1992 election?
I'd assume she did based on Fleetwood Mac playing at Clinton's inaugural (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fleetwood-mac-reunite-to-play-dont-stop-at-bill-clintons-first-inaugural-gala).