Rock band (or rock group) is a generic name to describe a group of musicians specializing in a particular form of electronically amplified music. Deriving its name from the musical style which was its immediate progenitor, rock and roll, the type of music played by rock groups has its roots deeply steeped in both rock and roll, and its immediate forebear, rhythm and blues.
In Britain in the early 1960s, the term rock group was not used; instead, the common term in use was pop group, and the individual musicians were known as pop stars or pop singers, who were described as working in the genre of pop music. However, as psychedelia approached, two changes in terminology emerged: first, the name band rather than group came into vogue, typified by The Band; second, the term "pop" was dropped in favour of "rock".
A rock group or band tends to have a heavy focus on certain instruments, principally electric guitar, bass guitar, and drums. Keyboard instruments such as electronic organs were featured from the outset by groups such as Manfred Mann and The Animals, and later in the 1960s, rock bands such as The Who, Pink Floyd and Hawkwind experimented with synthesizers. Practically any other musical instrument, however, may be deployed within the context of a rock band, for example the flute (Jethro Tull), pipe organ (Arcade Fire), or theremin (Pixies).
A rock group or band usually consists of at least four musical roles: lead singer, guitarist, bass guitarist, and drummer, forming a quartet (group of four). A band comprising only three members, often called a "Power Trio", with one of the instrumentalists singing as well, is also common. Examples include Rush, ZZ Top, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Nirvana, Chevelle, and The Police.
Many rock bands also include a rhythm guitarist and/or a keyboardist, who work with the bassist and the drummer in the rhythm section. The role of these instruments is to identify and play chords and chordal accompaniment for the soloist and to merge with the overall groove of the rhythm section.
The lead singer may also play an instrument while singing, most commonly the guitar, bass guitar, or keyboard. When the lead singer role is taken by one of the other primary musicians, unusual configurations are possible, such as the three-guitar model of such bands as Molly Hatchet and Radiohead. One of two or more guitarists in a band may usually play either rhythm or lead exclusively, especially when performing live; however, when they are in the studio, they may switch roles.
Furthermore, some bands, especially in nu-metal and rapcore, may even have rappers and/or turntablists in the line-up.
If there is an addition of instruments from other areas of music, such as stringed instruments like a violin or cello, or horns like trumpets or trombones, the band is seen as diverging too far from the main four roles, creating a tendency to classify the group not as a rock band, but with a genre seen as more specific than "rock" (e.g. heavy metal or progressive rock).
While some rock bands may add several additional singers and instrumentalists, they hardly ever lose the four primary roles. Some notable exceptions are The White Stripes, Local H (who consist of only a drummer and a guitarist/singer), and Ben Folds Five (who consist of only drums, bass, piano and vocals).
The most common formation for rock/metal bands in recent times is a quintet consisting of vocalist, lead and rhythm guitarists, bassist, and drummer. Bands using this lineup include Before Their Eyes, My Chemical Romance, MindTrip (www.myspace.com/mindtriprocks), Norma Jean, Atreyu, DragonForce and Underoath (the latter two having the addition of a keyboardist). Many bands with this formation feature the dual vocals of the frontman and an instrumentalist (typically the drummer).
On another note, a great deal of pop punk bands tend to be power trios. Bands like this include Green Day, Blink-182, Sum 41, and MxPx.
Rock bands rely heavily on their image, or appearance both on and off stage. They often dress in a nonconventional or otherwise notable style, such as AC/DC's Angus Young. In the late 1960s, rock bands would dress in non-conformational fashions, with colors and other garb associated with the hippie movement, both on-stage and in everyday life (Jimi Hendrix wore an authentic 1800s British Army Officer's jacket). See Kiss.
Each member of a band typically has an on-stage role; usually, the lead singer is the "frontman," who addresses the audience in between numbers, while the other members take a back-seat. Another common setup is to have the lead guitarist and lead singer both act as frontmen, or to act as onstage foils (see Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith and Pete Townshend of The Who. Also Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor from Queen).free
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