Over the years, rock and roll has been synonymous with 80s hairstyles piled high with hairspray, throwing televisions out of hotel windows and having huge numbers of fans. However, rock and roll is also now shorthand for anything considered to be associated with mass fandom, wild lifestyles or Hollywood glitz and glamour.
Stadium Rock
When bands such as Led Zeppelin began touring in stadiums, seeing a rock band perform to a large audience became a coveted experience. The millions that this bought the musicians in the process led to infamous stories about rock star’s antics in sports cars and hotels, as well as their larger-than-life production value in their shows. Nowadays, the old stadium rock aesthetic seems a bit dated, but artists such as Taylor Swift can be seen performing at the Hard Rock Stadium instead.
Las Vegas Casinos
Las Vegas’ casinos are the bloodline of this glittering city that’s struck out in the middle of the Nevada Desert. Las Vegas’ loose gambling laws have made it somewhat of a rock and roll city over the years, making it not just a place to let loose in casinos but also somewhere to go and see rock stars perform at local residencies. Not only that but going to the races was associated with a lavish lifestyle, that could be afforded by the rich and famous. Nowadays, gambling can be found globally on websites, such as Unibet sports betting, but sometimes there’s a good excuse to take a trip to the infamous hub of casino entertainment.
Record labels
Record labels are often associated with rock and roll because of the infamous stories that come from recording studios and the deals that were created by major record labels. From punk bands publically slandering labels such as EMI, to major deals being part of the storyline in blockbusters such as Bohemian Rhapsody, labels have birthed some of the world’s most rock and roll moments. Their ability to make or break a band is what makes the world of rock and roll so fickle.
Standup comedy
This is perhaps a surprise entry, but when standup entered its heyday in the 90s and 80s, it was dubbed the ‘new rock and roll.’ This is because standup went through a transitional phase of club comics, to alternative comedy to suddenly being able to fill stadiums. Comics such as Eddie Murphy and the late Robin Williams suddenly got an international reputation that was only previously reserved for the likes of musicians and film stars. In fact, some comedians have even been known to tour with rock bands.
What makes something rock and roll is not necessarily the money associated with it, but the image. The ability to attract a mass audience and have an implied lifestyle that comes with it can be perceived as being incredibly glamorous. While most of the time it can be a complete illusion, the lifestyle is something that continues to pull audiences to the silver screen and go and see their heroes perform in infamous stadiums.
