Bands like Led Zepplin, The Who and The Rolling Stones got rock started up (I couldn’t help myself, sorry not sorry) in the 60s. Then in the 1970s there was a true melding of different styles starting to happen. Rock became diverse sometimes becoming more “pop”, sometimes heavier and sometimes more punk. But as the 80s began another evolution was about to happen that would have yet another substantial impact on music … this one technological.
The Synthesizer Steps In
Yes, there was piano in the 70s in a variety of music. For Billy Joel and Elton John, it was at the forefront of their music. Stevie Wonder incorporated it heavily and both Led Zepplin and Queen, among others, certain utilized quite proficiently as well. (Bohemian Rhapsody anyone?) But starting in the late 1970s with artists like David Bowie and bands like Pink Floyd and becoming much more predominant in the 1980s there was a shift from the piano and organ to increased use of synthesizers in rock music. While keyboard instruments had their place for the longest time, synthesizers mainly stood out in progressive rock (Yes, ELP and the like) and some of the more experimental pop and rock bands (Steely Dan, for example). Neither progressive rock or experimental bands were mainstream so the use of synths during the 70s wasn’t as impactful as it was when more mainstream artists incorporated it.
First off, the technology evolved from small-car-sized synthesizers to more portable offerings that were easier to use. Suddenly, a song like Dire Straits’ “Walk of Life” from the Brothers in Arms album in 1985 had a significant synthesizer hook, a 180-degree turn from the guitar hooks in “Sultans of Swing” released only a few short years before in 1978.
And Dire Straights wasn’t the only guitar focused 70s band adding keys. Imagine the shock of ZZ Top fans when they threw on ZZ Top’s 1983 album Eliminator and heard the pulsating rhythm of an arpeggiated synth underpinning songs such as “Legs.” It was a significant shift from the traditional power-trio sound from that little ol’ band from Texas who had 6 guitar driven albums in the 70s. And while Rush’s first six albums in the 70s had a smattering of keys there was a significantly heavier increased presence of keyboards and synths starting with Moving Pictures and then on their subsequent three albums (1984’s Grace Under Pressure, 1985’s Power Windows and 1987’s Hold Your Fire) to the point where some would say it was a little too predominant. While those are just a few examples, but I think you’re keying in (lol I kill me) on what I’m saying. There was a plethora of keys being added into music from classic rock bands such as Aerosmith, Dio, and Van Halen, etc. In fact, Van Halens first number-one hit was the Oberheim-driven song “Jump” that, for me at least, inspired some “air keyboard” playing.
It wasn’t just keyboards and synthisizers though that influenced the sounds of the 80s though. Technology also played a big part in shaping the sound of 1980s rock. Wanting to capture the sound of his rig and records in a compact package, Tom Scholz from the band Boston developed the Rockman Headphone Amplifier. Originally designed as a simple practice device, many bands discovered the colossal sound it created when plugged directly into a recording console. Turn on Hysteria by Def Leppard, and you’d be shocked that the guitar tones were not a stack of amps but a device the size of a Sony Walkman.
I was a sh!tty guitar player in the 80s for a hot second before I switched to bass. (thank god! hahaha) I spent, at the time, a bunch of money on the Eventide H3000 thinking it was going to make me a better guitar player. (please note … it didn’t) But for guitar gods like Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai it added an otherworldly and larger than life character to their already incredible talents.
The Punks Get Sophisticated
The genre that you could say was the antithesis of rock in the late 1970s underwent a similar change at the turn of the decade, going through its evolution. While the DIY ethic of the original movement remained, the desire to branch out and experiment was quite strong.
Many bands that came up during the punk movement found themselves evolving and incorporating different styles into their music, with some including the keyboard sounds that infiltrated rock music.
The implosion of several punk bands led to several different ones that were more exploratory. From the ashes of the Sex Pistols (probably the most influential one-album band), John Lydon formed Public Image Ltd., toying with experimental sounds, dub music and funk. Mick Jones of The Clash formed Big Audio Dynamite, adding hip-hop and reggae elements to his music. Even Dee Dee Ramone stepped into the rap world following his departure from the Ramones.
Along with this came the beginnings of what was called New Wave. Coming from a more experimental side than punk, these kept the DIY ethic and leaned towards a more pop direction. Some early bands, like Devo and Television, had an odd aesthetic, but the music was more accessible to mainstream audiences than their more punk counterparts.
This would eventually morph into a more concrete style of pop music that would permeate the soundtrack of many a John Hughes film and be more removed from its experimental roots. Some bands associated with the genre include Blondie, Squeeze, The Cars and The Knack.
No Keys Here (at least not in the 80s)
Metal music was also alive and well, with two distinct genres emerging during the decade.
One was the heavier metal, which became known as Thrash Metal. This genre was inspired by that other new wave often discussed in late 1970s and early 1980s music, … British Heavy Metal (think Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Tygers of Pan Tang, Venom, etc.). This aggressive sound (and the disillusionment with the direction taken by American metal bands) influenced a new generation of musicians to create groundbreaking metal music. These bands included Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer and their contemporaries, giving fans of aggressive music something new to latch onto.
While some were seeking aggression, others just wanted to party, (this is me raising my hand!) leading to what would be called Glam Metal. While also referred to as “poser” music by some, [c@c#] rock by others (I and the rest of my glam metal cohorts were insulted in a wide variety of ways lol) these were the bands tied closely to the music heard on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip. What began with bands like Van Halen and Quiet Riot in the late 70s later brought us bands such as Poison, Ratt and Motley Crüe. This music was metal with more of a pop edge and loads of glam that made the bands MTV-ready.
The technology, glam and sound of the 1980s were all larger than life. For me it helped me find myself and many of the songs during that decade not only bring back amazing memories (some of which I can never discuss with anyone hahaha) and also defined many of the pivotal moments in my life. However … that was aaallllll about to change when the 1990s rolled around.