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In reply to the discussion: 'How the Beatles Destroyed Rock-n-roll' Has anyone read this book? [View all]MiltonBrown
(322 posts)I like the girl groups, dance crazes and artists like Dion, Chubby Checker, Bobby Lewis, the Contours, the Volumes and so many others from the early 60s but not nearly as much as I like Little Richard, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and Jerry Lee Lewis from the 50s.
The author would argue that Sgt Pep and later Beatles music was no longer rock-n-roll. Since they started out as rock-n-roll they may have saved it only to change it permanently. She's Leaving Home, Fixing a Hole and Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite have very little in common with rock-n-roll/r&b and as such started being called rock music. Right or wrong it was a change.
It is curious how many horrible fates awaited my favorite 1950s rock-n-rollers. in addition to the ones you mention there was the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper and Eddie Cochran. The doo wop groups all seemed to leave the street corner and the rockabillies headed back to the sticks. Jerry Lee was boycotted and Alan Freed ruined. Plus they turned previously cool artists like Johnny Burnette into Fabian/Bobby types.