Arena rock, also called stadium rock or anthem rock, is a loosely-defined term describing an era of rock music. It was spawned from heavy metal, hard rock, and progressive rock in the 1970s by bands such as Styx, Journey and Foreigner.[1]
Characteristics
Arena rock takes its sound from hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock. Arena rock is "heavy", but it is not as hard and is "more commercially oriented" than other subgenres of hard rock and heavy metal.[2] Songs are often linked by concept albums, a trait inherited from progressive rock. Other features include "slick productions",[3] an emphasis on the verses and vocal harmonies on the choruses, and an "unnatural emphasis on big, anthemic hooks and choruses", the last trait "set[ting it] apart from its influences".[1]
Arena rock is not only defined by its sound, it is also defined by its concerts. It "is music designed to be performed live in stadiums and arenas". Arena rock shows often feature "smoke machines, laser light spectaculars, two-story mega-amps, and JumboTron video screens",[4] as well as "guitar pyrotechnics".[1]
History
Arena rock's origins can be traced to the late 1960s, with bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Who. Those bands "set the stage for huge live performances in stadiums and arenas around the globe."[5] The genre itself, though, was created by bands such as Boston, Styx, Foreigner, Journey, Queen, Kansas, Peter Frampton, and (Phil Collins-era) Genesis. Those bands would go on to "sell-out the world’s largest venues throughout most of (the 1970s) and beyond" and help make arena rock popular in the 1980s.
Arena rock's popularity peaked in the 1980s with bands such as Heart, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Asia, Bon Jovi, KISS and Aerosmith "were at the zenith of their popularity, selling millions of units". At this time, arena rock's popularity "only seemed on the way up."[1]
Eventually, arena rock would lose its popularity to alternative rock and grunge for a number of reasons.[1] One reason was the "limitations in the style". Many of the younger fans felt a more personal connection with genres such as punk, new wave, and indie rock, and the older fans tired of stadium rock, as many of "the performers were ants on the stage from the upper decks." Other reasons include "declining admission sales and album sales" and stadiums decreasing in size. By the time MTV had formed, "it no longer bore any relevance."[1]
References
See also
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