Arena rock

A Queen concert in Drammen, Norway in 1982, showing the scale and lighting of an arena rock concert.

Arena rock (also referred to as pomp rock, stadium rock, anthem rock, or corporate rock) is a style of rock music that originated in the mid 1970s. As hard rock and heavy metal bands became increasingly popular, arena rock developed from their use of more commercially oriented and radio-friendly sounds, with highly produced music that includes both rockers and power ballads, both often employing anthemic choruses.

History

In the mid-1970s, increased power of amplification and sound systems allowed the use of larger and larger venues. Smoke, fireworks and sophisticated lighting shows became staples of arena rock performances. It has been argued that the rise of arena rock marked the end of the idealism of the 1960s, particularly in the disillusionment that followed the Altamont Free Concert of 1969, for a more commercial form of rock. Key acts included Journey, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Styx, Kiss, Peter Frampton, Boston and Queen. Bands outside hard rock also achieved arena status after taking a more commercial direction. Genesis developed from a cult progressive rock band into one of the biggest stadium bands in the world after Phil Collins became lead singer in 1975, and Supertramp also went from progressive rock to filling arenas around the world when their style of music was supposed to have gone out of fashion.

The use of commercial sponsorship for the large-scale tours and concerts of this era began to lead to the music being branded, usually pejoratively, as corporate rock. The commercialism, and "overblown" spectacle of stadium rock has been seen as promoting a number of reactions, including the pub rock and punk rock movements in the 1970s. In the 1980s, arena rock became dominated by glam metal bands, following the lead of Aerosmith and including Mötley Crüe, Quiet Riot, W.A.S.P. and Ratt. Their popularity was challenged by the alternative rock bands who began to breakthrough to the mainstream, particularly after the success of Nirvana, from the early 1990s.

See also

• Cock rock
• Glam metal