Rock Legends

Associated with movements for protest and social change, protest music is part of the broader category of topical songs (or songs connected to current events).

A look back at rock's origins as a response to the perceived excesses of the dominant psychedelic and progressive rock scenes.

An underground feminist punk movement that began during the early 1990s in Olympia, Wash.; it has since expanded to at least 26 other countries; combines feminism, punk music and politics.

See how rooted in the 1950s rock and roll and the 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music, typically producing short, fast-paced songs with hard-edged melodies.

From the word modernist, Mod is a subculture that began in the late 1950s and spread throughout Great Britain, before ultimately influencing trends in other countries.

First forged in the '70s and '80s, Heartland Rock displays poetic, socially-conscious lyrics rooted in Americana.

Doo-wop is a genre of acapella rhythm and blues music, which originated in the '30s and '40s across African American communities in Philadelphia and Chicago, among others.

A great drummer must have impeccable timing, rhythm, and co-ordination. Perhaps more importantly, however, they also must have passion something unique that makes them stand out.

Though bordering America, the home of rock and roll, Canadian artists such as Neil Young, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and Arcade Fire have each carved out a sound and style that is uniquely their own.

The love affair between rock and roll and the guitar originally began with the blues, but the real key to the success of the guitarist in rock and roll was amplification.

Learning about yacht rock; a broad music style and aesthetic commonly associated with soft rock, one of the most commercially successful genres from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.

You may know every lyric to your favorite songs, but do you know who wrote them?

Counting Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones, and Amy Winehouse among its members, the 27 Club is equal parts exclusive and tragic standing as a reminder of the talent whose lives and careers were cut at the age of 27.

Both a descriptor used for the bars that provide country music for the entertainment of their patrons and a style of music played in such establishments, honky-tonk is a multifaceted musical experience.

Created by a small group of iconoclastic artists in the 1970s and early 1980s, Outlaw Country represents freedom from the Nashville establishment that dictated the sound of most country music of the era.

Music critics discuss Neil Young's career.

Music critics discuss the career of The Doors.

The story of musical artist and actor Meat Loaf is told using interviews, archived footage, and performances.

Archive footage documents the formation and success of '80s rock band Guns N' Roses.

The formation, following and dissolution of Dire Straits.

Rod Stewart's solo career.

The story of the punk rock band who arose out of West London in 1976.

Pink Floyd's story.

The Allman Brothers Band combines deeply Southern strains of music with boisterous rock 'n' roll and a jazzy, jam-oriented style to created the New South sound, a template to be used for decades by everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd to My Morning Jacket.

A collection of interviews and music videos surrounding the formation and sustained success of R.E.M.'s distinct sound.

Iron Maiden, the giants of the metal scene.

Music critics discuss the career of The Who.

Music critics discuss the band's career.

Music videos and archived footage of the Foo Fighters.

A look back at Scottish rock band Simple Minds; they rose to international stardom in the 1980s with their hit song ``Don't You (Forget About Me).``

Fronted by the extroverted Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath is an influential pioneer of the heavy metal genre; they formed in 1960s Birmingham and enjoy commercial success with their self-titled debut album and ``Paranoid.``

Known for his flamboyant performances, Little Richard's hit songs from the mid-1950s were defining moments in the development of rock 'n' roll.

Born in 1953 in Brooklyn, N.Y., singer Pat Benatar works the club scene and finds her guitarist and future husband Neil Giraldo.

English-American rock band Foreigner forms in New York City in 1976 by veteran English musician and ex-Spooky Tooth member Mick Jones, fellow Briton and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald, and American vocalist Lou Gramm.

Born in Detroit in 1940, Smokey Robinson is second to only Berry Gordy in the founding of Motown; a prolific songwriter, he is credited with 4,000 songs and 37 Top 40 hits, including ``The Tears of a Clown`` and ``The Tracks of My Tears.``

Marvin Gaye sings in his father's church and in the Moonglows before signing with Motown; he records songs by Smokey Robinson before producing the protest album ``What's Going On``; Gaye is killed in 1984 during a domestic dispute with his father.

Al Green is known for the hit song ``Let's Stay Together,`` and for leaving his musical career at its height in the 1970s to become a reverend at his own church.

In the late 1950s, four Detroit schoolgirls form one of the most successful female vocal groups of all time; Diana Ross, Betty McGlown, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson name themselves the Primettes in tribute to a local male group.

American rock band Journey forms in San Francisco in 1973, composed of former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch; the band goes through several phases, with its strongest commercial success occurring between 1978 and 1987.

Music critics discuss the career of the brother-sister duo, The Carpenters.

An exploration of Sting's successful solo career as one of the great rock legends using interviews and music videos.

Country music legend Glen Campbell's hits include ``Rhinestone Cowboy,`` ``Wichita Lineman`` and ``By the Time I Get to Phoenix.``

ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Groves, Texas; since 1970, the band consists of bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill, guitarist and lead vocalist Billy Gibbons, and drummer Frank Beard.

The self-described ``rock 'n' roll band with horns,`` Chicago is one of the longest-running and most successful rock groups and one of the world's best-selling groups of all time, having sold more than 100 million records.

Music critics discuss The Monkees' career.

Multiple Grammy winner and ``Queen of Soul`` Aretha Franklin is known for hits such as ``Respect,`` ``Freeway of Love`` and ``I Say a Little Prayer.``

Founded in 1981 in Queens, N.Y., Grammy-nominated hip-hop trio Run-DMC help usher in the genre's increasing popularity in the 1980s.

With his signature vocal hiccup and hits like ``That'll Be the Day,`` ``Rave On,`` ``Peggy Sue`` and ``Not Fade Away,`` Buddy Holly was a rock 'n' roll pioneer, as well as one of the genre's first great singer-songwriters.

Blind musician Ray Charles was a pioneer of soul music, integrating rhythm and blues, gospel, pop and country to create hits like ``Unchain My Heart,`` ``Hit the Road Jack`` and ``Georgia on My Mind.``

Influential rock 'n' roll pioneer Chuck Berry is known for songs including ``Maybellene`` and ``Johnny B. Goode.``

Singer-songwriter James Taylor creates music that combines folk, rock and pop sensibilities, including such hit songs as ``Fire and Rain`` and ``Shower the People.``

Grammy-winning contemporary jazz and rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears took a hiatus from 1981-1984, but has otherwise been active since their founding in 1967.

Piano-playing rock 'n' roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis becomes famous for his high-energy stage presence and controversial life.

With its rock-ribbed, austerely precise arrangements and a catalog of songs that linked American folklore to primal myths, the Band -- four Canadians and a Southerner -- makes music that is both earthy and mystical.

Leading music critics cast fresh light on the career of singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, responsible for hits such as ``Both Sides, Now`` and ``Big Yellow Taxi`` and widely considered 1960s and '70s folk royalty.

Fronted by Eric Clapton, power trio Cream plays a mix of blues, rock and psychedelia while focusing on chunky riffs and fiery guitar solos; in a mere three years, the band sells 15 million records and redefines the instrumentalist's role in rock.

The Byrds pioneer folk rock, combining traditional acoustic music with early Sixties pop; the group's signature sunny melodies, lush harmonies and ringing 12-string guitars make for some of the decade's best singles.

The pioneering blues-based combo, The Yardbirds, introduced three famous and influential guitarists of the rock era: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page; their innovations paved the way for rock, heavy metal, Southern boogie and even punk.

The Ramones, a group of ``brothers`` from Forest Hills, Queens, help invent punk rock by mastering a simple but extremely effective sound: a combination of speedy grooves, sing-along tunes and deadpan lyrics.

The Kinks were a key part of the 1960s British Invasion, and their early hits such as ``You Really Got Me`` and ``All Day and All of the Night`` paved the way for the next decade's hard rock.

The Allman Brothers Band combines deeply Southern strains of music with boisterous rock 'n' roll and a jazzy, jam-oriented style to created the New South sound, a template to be used for decades by everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd to My Morning Jacket.

Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd rises to prominence in 1973, stressing boisterous hard rock as opposed to the Allman Brothers' more open-ended blues; tragedy strikes in 1977 when Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines die in a plane crash.

The story behind the iconic band is highlighted in performances and interviews.

Journalists discuss the rise of Tina Turner and her successful solo career.

Music critics discuss the singer-songwriter's career.

Music critics discuss the Mamas and Papas' career.

The life and career of Otis Redding.

Leading music critics discuss Earth, Wind & Fire's career.

Leading music critics cast light on The Pretenders' career.

Leading music critics discuss the Talking Head's career.

Leading music critics discuss the Police's career.

Music critics discuss Creedence Clearwater Revival's career.

Music critics discuss Grateful Dead's career.

Music critics discuss Jefferson Airplane's career.

Music critics discuss Santana's career.

No episode description is available yet.

Music critics discuss Tom Petty's career.

Cher is an iconic figure of music, film and TV with a career spanning over 50 years.

The journey of a piano player who became a rock star and continues to top the charts 45 years later.

Music critics discuss The Monkees' career.

Music critics discuss the career of the brother-sister duo, The Carpenters.

Music critics discuss the Mamas and Papas' career.

Music critics discuss the supergroup's career.

Music critics discuss the supergroup's career.

Music critics discuss the singer's career.

No episode description is available yet.

The love affair between rock and roll and the guitar originally began with the blues, but the real key to the success of the guitarist in rock and roll was amplification.

Music critics discuss the singer-songwriter's career.

Music critics discuss the career of The Who.

Music critics discuss the band's career.

Music critics discuss the band's career.

Queen's early influences.

Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd rises to prominence in 1973, stressing boisterous hard rock as opposed to the Allman Brothers' more open-ended blues; tragedy strikes in 1977 when Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines die in a plane crash.

Music critics discuss the band's career.

Music critics discuss the band's career.

Music critics discuss the singer-songwriter's career.

Music critics discuss Neil Young's career.

A look back at rock's origins as a response to the perceived excesses of the dominant psychedelic and progressive rock scenes.

Music critics discuss the career of The Doors.

Music critics discuss the career of James Brown.

No episode description is available yet.

Music critics discuss the musician's career.

Interviews, news archives, and performances tell the story of Australian rock band INXS.

The story of the Black Eyed Peas told through interviews, news archives and performances.

The story of The Cure, from its formation in 1976, their dark and tormented music of the 1980s, and their present success told through interviews, news archives and performances.

Peter Gabriel's career, from his time in Genesis to his solo pursuits, is chronicled with interviews, news archives and performances.

See the successful career of British musician Eric Clapton; he participates in bands such as Yardbirds and Cream, and is considered one of the most influential guitarists in the history of world rock.

The story of musical artist and actor Meat Loaf is told using interviews, archived footage, and performances.

A look at the life and music of the flamboyant singer-songwriter who sold more than 13 million copies of his 1984 album Purple Rain.

The story behind the iconic band is highlighted in performances and interviews.

The story of the band known for their face paint and elaborate outfits is told through interviews, news archives and performances.

A look at the iconic band through interviews, media archives and performances.

Interviews, news archives and performances of the artist who began as a member of Generation X and rose to solo fame.

Journalists discuss the rise of Tina Turner and her successful solo career.

The story of the punk rock band who arose out of West London in 1976.

Coldplay, originally formed as Pectorals, has gone on to worldwide fame and had numerous successful hits.

Cher is an iconic figure of music, film and TV with a career spanning over 50 years.

Journalists and critics examine the rise of The Bee Gees.

The life and times of Blondie.

A look at the life of the singer and her impact on the music industry.

American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor, arranger, Grammy Award winner and record breaker Lenny Kravitz.

Johnny Cash's career.

Music critics discuss the band's career; featuring classic music videos.

No episode description is available yet.

Music critics discuss the band's career; featuring classic music videos.

Music critics discuss Billy Joel; featuring classic videos.

Music critics discuss the Beastie Boys' career with archive material and music videos.

Music critics discuss the band's career.

Archived interviews and videos documenting Nine Inch Nails.

Music videos and interviews documenting the formation and success of Aerosmith.

A collection of music videos, interviews and performances from Simply Red.

A collection of interviews and music videos surrounding the formation and sustained success of R.E.M.'s distinct sound.

New Order was formed by the remaining members of Joy Division following the suicide of vocalist Ian Curtis; archived interviews and music video dating back to their 1980 formation.

Featuring singles ``Time is Running Out`` and ``Hysteria`` by Muse.

Iron Maiden, the giants of the metal scene.

Archive footage documents the formation and success of '80s rock band Guns N' Roses.

Music videos and archived footage of the Foo Fighters.

Critics and journalists take a look at the career of British rock band Depeche Mode; featuring music videos ``I Feel Loved`` and ``Wrong.``

Fronted by the extroverted Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath is an influential pioneer of the heavy metal genre; they formed in 1960s Birmingham and enjoy commercial success with their self-titled debut album and ``Paranoid.``

A look at the career of successful Swedish group, ABBA, including their music videos, interviews and highlights.

Archive material, music videos and insights from music critics and journalists tell the story of Phil Collins.

Music critics provide insight into Pearl Jam's career; classic music videos.

Music critics discuss Bon Jovi; featuring classic music videos and news archives.

The story of Eurythmics' rise to fame, starting with Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart and their difference in backgrounds.

An exploration of Sting's successful solo career as one of the great rock legends using interviews and music videos.

Critics and journalists take a look at the music of the Pet Shop Boys; listening to their hits like ``Vocal`` and ``Love etc.``

The formation, following and dissolution of Dire Straits.

The story of Fleetwood Mac; featuring videos for ``Dreams`` and ``Landslide.``

A look at the life of the singer and her impact on the music industry.

Queen's early influences.

In the late 1950s, four Detroit schoolgirls form one of the most successful female vocal groups of all time; Diana Ross, Betty McGlown, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson name themselves the Primettes in tribute to a local male group.

See the successful career of British musician Eric Clapton; he participates in bands such as Yardbirds and Cream, and is considered one of the most influential guitarists in the history of world rock.

Pink Floyd's story.

A look at the career of successful Swedish group, ABBA, including their music videos, interviews and highlights.

The life and career of Otis Redding.

Influential rock 'n' roll pioneer Chuck Berry is known for songs including ``Maybellene`` and ``Johnny B. Goode.``

The journey of a piano player who became a rock star and continues to top the charts 45 years later.

Known for his flamboyant performances, Little Richard's hit songs from the mid-1950s were defining moments in the development of rock 'n' roll.

The story of The Cure, from its formation in 1976, their dark and tormented music of the 1980s, and their present success told through interviews, news archives and performances.

Leading music critics discuss the Talking Head's career.

Leading music critics discuss the Police's career.

Piano-playing rock 'n' roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis becomes famous for his high-energy stage presence and controversial life.

Music critics discuss the career of James Brown.

With his signature vocal hiccup and hits like ``That'll Be the Day,`` ``Rave On,`` ``Peggy Sue`` and ``Not Fade Away,`` Buddy Holly was a rock 'n' roll pioneer, as well as one of the genre's first great singer-songwriters.

Journalists and critics examine the rise of The Bee Gees.

Music videos and interviews documenting the formation and success of Aerosmith.

Using interviews, news archive and performance we will reveal the unique aspect of this iconic star.

The story of Fleetwood Mac; featuring videos for ``Dreams`` and ``Landslide.``

American rock band Journey forms in San Francisco in 1973, composed of former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch; the band goes through several phases, with its strongest commercial success occurring between 1978 and 1987.

Music critics discuss the singer-songwriter's career.

An underground feminist punk movement that began during the early 1990s in Olympia, Wash.; it has since expanded to at least 26 other countries; combines feminism, punk music and politics.

Music critics discuss the Beastie Boys' career with archive material and music videos.

The story of Green Day from their start as the band ``Sweet Children`` to the present.

Archived interviews and videos documenting Nine Inch Nails.

Music critics provide insight into Pearl Jam's career; classic music videos.

Founded in 1981 in Queens, N.Y., Grammy-nominated hip-hop trio Run-DMC help usher in the genre's increasing popularity in the 1980s.

Leading music critics discuss Neil Diamond's career.

Singer-songwriter James Taylor creates music that combines folk, rock and pop sensibilities, including such hit songs as ``Fire and Rain`` and ``Shower the People.``

The Kinks were a key part of the 1960s British Invasion, and their early hits such as "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night" paved the way for the next decade's hard rock.

ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Groves, Texas; since 1970, the band consists of bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill, guitarist and lead vocalist Billy Gibbons, and drummer Frank Beard.

Meet some of the secret songwriters responsible for some of music's greatest hits.

Counting Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones, and Amy Winehouse among its members, the 27 Club is equal parts exclusive and tragic, standing as a somber reminder of the incredible talent whose lives and careers were cut short at the age of 27.

Created by a small group of iconoclastic artists in the 1970s and early 1980s, Outlaw Country represents freedom from the Nashville establishment that dictated the sound of most country music of the era. Outlaw Country has its roots in earlier subgenres like Western, honky-tonk, rockabilly and progressive country, and is characterized by a blend of rock and folk rhythms, country instrumentation, and introspective lyrics.

Al Green is known for the hit song "Let's Stay Together," and for leaving his musical career at its height in the 1970s to become a reverend at his own church.

Grammy-winning contemporary jazz and rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears took a hiatus from 1981-1984, but has otherwise been active since their founding in 1967.

The Ramones, a group of "brothers" from Forest Hills, Queens, help invent punk rock by mastering a simple but extremely effective sound: a combination of speedy grooves, sing-along tunes and deadpan lyrics.

Blind musician Ray Charles was a pioneer of soul music, integrating rhythm and blues, gospel, pop and country to create hits like "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack" and "Georgia on My Mind."

With its rock-ribbed, austerely precise arrangements and a catalog of songs that linked American folklore to primal myths, the Band -- four Canadians and a Southerner -- makes music that is both earthy and mystical.

The Byrds pioneer folk rock, combining traditional acoustic music with early Sixties pop; the group's signature sunny melodies, lush harmonies and ringing 12-string guitars make for some of the decade's best singles.

The pioneering blues-based combo, The Yardbirds, introduced three famous and influential guitarists of the rock era: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page; their innovations paved the way for rock, heavy metal, Southern boogie and even punk.

The self-described "rock 'n' roll band with horns," Chicago is one of the longest-running and most successful rock groups and one of the world's best-selling groups of all time, having sold more than 100 million records.

English-American rock band Foreigner formed in New York City in 1976 by veteran English musician and ex-Spooky Tooth member Mick Jones, fellow Briton and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald, and American vocalist Lou Gramm.

Country music legend Glen Campbell's hits include "Rhinestone Cowboy," "Wichita Lineman" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix."

Marvin Gaye sings in his father's church and in the Moonglows before signing with Motown; he records songs by Smokey Robinson before producing the protest album "What's Going On"; Gaye is killed in 1984 during a domestic dispute with his father.

Born in 1953 in Brooklyn, N.Y., singer Pat Benatar works the club scene and finds her guitarist and future husband Neil Giraldo.

An exploration of American singer-songwriter Patti Smith, her impact on the punk rock movement and her fusion of the genre with poetry.

The history of the Scottish rock band formed in 1982 in Glasgow, the changes to their sound and the various band members.

A look back at Scottish rock band Simple Minds; they rose to international stardom in the 1980s with their hit song "Don't You (Forget About Me)."

Born in Detroit in 1940, Smokey Robinson is second to only Berry Gordy in the founding of Motown; a prolific songwriter, he is credited with 4,000 songs and 37 Top 40 hits, including "The Tears of a Clown" and "The Tracks of My Tears."

Both a descriptor used for the bars that provide country music for the entertainment of their patrons and a style of music played in such establishments, honky-tonk is a multifaceted musical experience.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

The life and career of George Michael; music videos ``I Want Your Sex,`` ``Too Funky.``

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

Leading music critics discuss Earth, Wind & Fire's career.

Learning about yacht rock; a broad music style and aesthetic commonly associated with soft rock, one of the most commercially successful genres from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

A look at the life and music of the flamboyant singer-songwriter who sold more than 13 million copies of his 1984 album Purple Rain.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

A great drummer must have impeccable timing, rhythm, and co-ordination. Perhaps more importantly, however, they also must have passion something unique that makes them stand out. This is a celebration of those percussion pioneers with the perfect blend of talent, passion, and the drive to be legendary.

No episode description is available yet.

Though bordering America, the home of rock and roll, Canadian artists such as Neil Young, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Arcade Fire have each carved out a sound and style that is uniquely their own, leaving a mark that continues to influence and inspire generations of musicians.

No episode description is available yet.

Coldplay, originally formed as Pectorals, has gone on to worldwide fame and had numerous successful hits.

New Order was formed by the remaining members of Joy Division following the suicide of vocalist Ian Curtis; archived interviews and music video dating back to their 1980 formation.

The life and times of Blondie.

Featuring singles "Time is Running Out" and "Hysteria" by Muse.

Critics and journalists take a look at the music of the Pet Shop Boys; listening to their hits like "Vocal" and "Love etc."

Doo-wop is a genre of a cappella rhythm and blues music, which originated in the '30s and '40s across African American communities in Philadelphia and Chicago, among others. Focusing on vocal harmonies, doo-wop provides a beautiful layering between a lead vocal and strong underlying voices mimicking instruments.

First forged in the '70s and '80s, Heartland Rock displays poetic, socially-conscious lyrics rooted in Americana.

From the word modernist, Mod is a subculture that began in the late 1950s and spread throughout Great Britain, before ultimately influencing trends in other countries. Elements of the mod subculture include fashion, music (primarily jazz), and motor scooters.

See how rooted in the 1950s rock and roll and the 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music, typically producing short, fast-paced songs with hard-edged melodies.

Critics and journalists take a look at the career of British rock band Depeche Mode; featuring music videos "I Feel Loved" and "Wrong."

Associated with movements for protest and social change, protest music is part of the broader category of topical songs (or songs connected to current events). It came to prominence in the United States during the 1960s Vietnam War Era, and may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre.

A collection of music videos, interviews and performances from Simply Red.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.

No episode description is available yet.